Happy Monday, RotoBallers! Usually, I'm the Tuesday and Thursday guy around here, so seeing a 10-game slate has my brain in DFS-overload. There are so many options compared to my usual three, five, or six-game slates during the middle portions of the week. It's fascinating, and I can't wait to break it all down.
From the tip-off, the Phoenix-San Antonio game jumps off my sheet. This contest owns the second-highest over/under and second-fastest projected pace on the slate. Houston and Boston sit atop my projected pace standings, but the 210 over/under has me a little concerned. Then, on the other side, Memphis and Utah's late-night game has a 220-point over/under but features two teams who don't mind slowing things down.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 11/22/21. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. Remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before lineups lock.
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DraftKings Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Tyrese Maxey - PG, PHI at SAC ($7,400)
Ben Simmons (personal) and Joel Embiid (protocols) are still missing for the 76ers. However, their continued absences allow Tyrese Maxey to keep his excellent start to the season chugging along. The sophomore guard has been outstanding in season-long and DFS formats through the first 15 games, and now he has a matchup against a leaky Sacramento Kings defense.
In his last five games, Maxey averages 24.6 points, 4.6 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 three-pointers, and 1.6 stocks (steals+blocks) per game. Those numbers equate to 39.3 FPPG (fantasy points per game), despite a sub-par 24.5 points just four games ago. Maxey has scored at least 49 fantasy points in three of his last six contests and will have a great shot to make in four in seven versus this King's defense allowing the fifth-most FPPG to point guards this season.
Josh Giddey - PG/SF, OKC at ATL ($6,000)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (ankle) is questionable for tonight's game, but Giddey should be solid play regardless of his teammate's health. He's scored at least 32 fantasy points in four straight games but seems to be hitting his stride over his previous three matchups. The rookie averaged 14.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, three assists, and 1.3 three-pointers per game in those three outings. Giddey's also racked up his first two career double-doubles in the last three games.
If SGA does miss the game, it only raises Giddey's floor in a plus matchup. Atlanta gives up the second-most FPPG to point guards this season (52.26), and giving Giddey more of the ball-handling duties seems like a great idea to me, the guy touting him for DFS success tonight.
Patty Mills - PG/SG, BKN at CLE ($4,500)
Bruce Brown (hamstring) and Joe Harris (ankle) are out against Cleveland. Therefore, there's a little more room in the offense for Patty Mills to get his shots off and help out our DFS lineups in this process. The Australian's played 31 minutes or more in four consecutive games and had at least 29.5 fantasy points in three of them. Mill's price tag has risen because of his injured teammates, but I'm still willing to roster him.
In the three games where he reached the 29.5-point benchmark, Mills averaged 24 points and 6.3 three-pointers per game. Unfortunately, I have this game with the slowest projected pace on the slate, so I won't universally roster Mills tonight. Still, he's going up against the third-worst defense versus point guards, and 30 fantasy points are still within reach with how he is drilling his three-point shot.
Others to consider: James Harden ($11,600), Ja Morant ($9,700), Cole Anthony ($7,700)
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DraftKings Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Jayson Tatum - SF/PF, BOS vs. HOU ($10,100)
Jaylen Brown (hamstring) is set to return tonight after three weeks on the sidelines. While that may have Tatum managers scampering for the hills, I'm steering into the skid and looking forward to a lower-than-usual roster rate for the first time in a while. If Boston knows what's good for them, they aren't putting Brown out there for a full workload. He's already suffered knee and hamstring injuries this year, and they need to be thinking about March, April, and May, rather than the middle of November.
Therefore, I'm riding Tatum even if it's an unpopular opinion. He's clawing the Celtics back into the playoff race with five wins in their last seven outings while averaging 53.05 FPPG in those five wins. Boston won't have much trouble with the 1-15 Rockets tonight, and Tatum will have another big performance in another victory.
Cam Reddish - SG/SF, ATL vs. OKC ($3,600)
Cam Reddish will be a big beneficiary if Bogdan Bogdanovic (quad) misses tonight's contest against the Thunder. Oklahoma City gives up the third-most FPPG to small forwards and would offer Reddish a fantastic opportunity to return eight or nine times his value on Monday. However, Atlanta is an 11-point favorite and should blow out this OKC team. So even if Bogandovic plays, Reddish may be seeing more playing time down the stretch if Atlanta is up big.
The third-year wing has played at least 27 minutes in three of his last six games, averaging 26.75 FPPG. If he can hit that mark again, he provides over a seven-times return in value and is easily worth a roster spot in one of your DFS lineups.
Others to consider: Kevin Durant ($11,000), Grayson Allen ($5,400), Lauri Markkanen ($5,00), Cameron Johnson ($3,500)
DraftKings Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Giannis Antetokounmpo - PF/C, MIL vs. ORL ($12,000)
This is what Giannias Antetokounmpo did to the Orlando Magic last time out...
Giannis becomes the first player with 30 points, 20 rebounds and 5 assists in less than 35 minutes since Willie Naulls in 1959! #NBA75 @Giannis_An34: 32 points, 20 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks in 30 minutes pic.twitter.com/K208KqDMYv
— NBA (@NBA) November 21, 2021
Maybe DFS managers have the guts to fade the two-time MVP, believing he can't produce similar results, but I am not one of them. The Magic come in as bottom-six defense versus power forwards and centers. So wherever Antetokounmpo plays, he's going to dominate. There's not much to debate here with Giannis in cash games, and I'm not sure it's even that sensible to get off him in tournaments despite the probability of a massive roster rate.
John Collins - PF/C, ATL vs. OKC ($7,200)
The inconsistency with John Collins will drive any DFS manager insane. He'll drop 40 fantasy points for you one night and then a sub-25 night the next. However, tonight is too good of a matchup to pass over a player with Collin's talent, and I expect a big game from the rollercoaster-like forward. Oklahoma City gives up the most points to power forwards and the seventh-most points to centers. So the fifth-year big man should have no problem against this frontcourt, as he's grabbed at least 39 fantasy points in three of his last five games and has a significant opportunity to make it four of six on Monday.
Others to consider: Rudy Gobert ($8,300), Christian Wood ($7,600), Bobby Portis ($7,200)