Let’s start at the top on a busy Monday. The top of the DraftKings salary scale, that is. Russell Westbrook $12600 did it again yesterday — not quite a trip-dub (36 PTS, 11 REB, 6 AST) but another huge victory. Though he may eventually get tired from carrying his team, Russ is a better bet to repeat those heroics 24 hours later than LeBron James $10900, who finished the Cavs’ win over Orlando with a sore knee and may not be 100% if he plays.
DeMarcus Cousins $9800 is basically a one-man show with Rudy Gay $7600 (knee) questionable; the Kings have lost six of seven despite his big numbers. Boogie is the only one of the three highest-priced stars I’m considering tonight. The Hawks will have only Mike Muscala $3000 and Pero Antic $3000 to defend him because Al Horford (rest) is out.
Plays of the Day
Still not playing at DK? They match your first deposit 100% ($5 to $600) with bonus funds that convert to cash, plus you get a FREE entry in the $100K Sharpshooter — the top score earns $10,000 and 7,850 of 38,315 teams win cash. Win even more in the $100K Crossover, with its $27 buy-in also FREE to new depositors. That contest has 840 cash prizes ($15,000 for first) and a maximum 4,225 teams.
The Fantasy Basketball World Championship offers a million dollar first prize, to be awarded March 23. There are only 40 seats in the Final; you have just one more week to finish first in a Qualifier and win a spot, which includes a 5-day VIP trip to Las Vegas (worth $55,000) plus at least $7,000 in cash.
Stephen Curry $9600 tops the remaining PG, but Kyrie Irving $8100 is on fire and especially if LBJ sits, can score 30+ for a third consecutive game. In other price ranges, George Hill $6800 is having a great March, a rested Jeff Teague $6700 has an ideal matchup and Shaun Livingston $4300 might see plenty of action off the bench against the tired Lakers.
At SG, Dwyane Wade $7500 is the Heat’s MVP and Klay Thompson $7300 has an easy matchup. Take your pick. You can try to save money with J.R. Smith $5500 or Avery Bradley $5400. We touted Kent Bazemore $3400 yesterday, he did not disappoint, and may continue to start because Kyle Korver is out with a broken nose. Justin Holiday $3200 scored 23 points as a starter on Friday, added 13 off the bench the next night and (like Livingston) might get extra run in garbage time.
If not LeBron at SF, who? Gordon Hayward $7700 is the safe choice, and Chandler Parsons $6200 seems to be back in form (22 PTS vs. the Clippers) after an ankle injury ruined his February. DeMarre Carroll $5200 (rest) was a DNP-CD last night and scored 20 points against Sacramento a week ago. The stealth play is rookie Rodney Hood $4100, now starting for the Jazz (as a 6’8″ SG) and doing a nice job.
LaMarcus Aldridge $8900 is the top-salaried PF, but I also like Derrick Favors $8300 and a freshened Paul Millsap $7500. Facing his former teammates in Minnesota, Thaddeus Young $5900 might be inspired.
If you don’t like DMC, Rudy Gobert $8300 had a career night (19 PTS, 22 REB, 4 BLK) against Houston on Thursday and with Al Jefferson $7100 (knee) questionable, Charlotte will try to stop him with Bismack Biyombo $4000. Despite a great matchup, Marc Gasol $7300 does not look 100% healthy. You could go cheap at C (or Util) with Steven Adams $3500, who started alongside Enes Kanter $6100 yesterday — both played very well. Tyler Zeller $3800 might have edged ahead of Kelly Olynyk $3800 in their timeshare and centers usually perform well vs. the Sixers.
In addition to contests that span all ten games and close at 7:00 EDT, there are 7-game Turbo events (8:00), Late action at 9:00 spanning three games and Later (10:00) play covering only the final two games. That’s four different opportunities to invest in those mismatches — Hawks-Kings and Lakers-Warriors.
| Pos | Premium | Midrange | Bargain |
| PG | R. Westbrook $12600 | Kyrie Irving $8100 | S. Livingston $4300 |
| SG | Dwyane Wade $7500 | Avery Bradley $5400 | Justin Holiday $3200 |
| SF | LeBron James $10900 | Gordon Hayward $7700 | Rodney Hood $4100 |
| PF | Derrick Favors $8300 | Paul Millsap $7500 | Thaddeus Young $5900 |
| C | D. Cousins $9800 | Enes Kanter $6100 | Steven Adams $3500 |
The Fantasy Spin features DFS advice every day of the NBA season. Follow Kent Williams @SheridanFantasy for updates.