RADIO
We're set for a solid nine-game Monday night slate to kick off the first full week of the new NBA season. There have already been several surprises on both an individual and team level, making for an intriguing start to the new campaign overall.
As is often the case with a larger slate like Monday's, we have a robust allotment of elite players sporting five-figure salaries, making it critical to be selective in who we choose to invest the big bucks in and what mid- and value-level plays we opt to round out our lineups with. We'll attempt to help you do just that by making a case for multiple options at each position across the salary spectrum.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 10/25/21. I’ll be providing multiple player suggestions for players at guard, forward and center on FanDuel, aiming to highlight one option apiece at the high, middle and lower end of the salary scale. You can also check out DraftKings lineup picks and injury news before lineups lock. Good luck, RotoBallers.
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FanDuel DFS Guards
Paul George, SG – vs. POR ($10,500)
George is unsurprisingly already taking on a massive workload in the absence of Kawhi Leonard (knee), posting a 33.1 percent usage rate and averaging 58.1 FD points overall in his first two games. The veteran wing will undoubtedly continue to feel the pressure of having to not only carry the team, but to get it to its first win Monday night. The Trail Blazers have allowed 42.1 FD points per game to small forwards early and are ranked in the bottom half of the league in offensive efficiency allowed to the position (20.7), while George lit up Portland last season for 30.7 points (on 58.7 percent shooting, including 46.2 percent from three-point range), 8.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.7 steals over 33 minutes across three games.
LaMelo Ball, PG – vs. BOS ($8,200)
Ball has immediately thrived as the full-time starter at point guard to begin the season, putting up 44.1 FD points per contest over the first three games while leading Charlotte to a surprising undefeated start. The second-year star is once again contributing across the board and even furnishing a an impressive 2.3 steals per contest, giving a nice boost to his already robust fantasy upside. Monday, Ball faces a Celtics squad giving up 47.3 FD points per contest to point guards in the early going and playing on its third game in four nights, which certainly could lead to some fatigued defense against him.
Spencer Dinwiddie, PG – at BKN ($6,500)
Dinwiddie has a well-established track record of blowing past his current salary, and he's already off to a strong start in his new Washington digs and could once again be taking the floor without Bradley Beal (hip) for Monday's game. Dinwiddie went off for 53.7 FD points in Beal's absence on Friday against Indiana, posting 34 points, nine assists and six rebounds across 34 minutes. The veteran is a good play against his old Nets squad and some James Harden defense at his current salary whether or not Beal is in the backcourt with him, especially considering he's started the season off with a hot hand (50.0 percent shooting, including 66.7 percent from distance).
Also consider: Trae Young ($9,300)
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FanDuel DFS Forwards
Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF- at IND ($11,200)
Giannis is naturally always under consideration, but especially against an opponent that has had plenty of trouble defending him in the past and that's already playing some suspect defense early in the new season. Antetokounmpo averaged 30.5 points (on 80.8 percent shooting), 14.5 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.5 steals across two games versus the Pacers last season, and Indiana is already allowing the fourth-most FD points per game (46.8) to power forwards. Antetokounmpo hasn't been as efficient with his shot over the first three games as in previous seasons, but he's still averaging 49.3 FD points and could be set for one of his 50-plus performances Monday.
Jimmy Butler, SF – vs. ORL ($8,900)
The Magic did notch an impressive upset over the Knicks on the road Sunday night, but they might be ripe for the picking Monday on the second game of the back-to-back set. Orlando looked mostly non-competitive during its first two games of the season and is already allowing the second-most FD points per game (44.4) to small forwards. Meanwhile, Butler might once again take the floor without Kyle Lowry (ankle) on Monday and just put up 22 shots without his teammate in Saturday's loss to the Pacers. Jimmy Buckets is also averaging 38.5 FD points over his first pair of contests and could certainly exceed that number against a porous Orlando defense.
Evan Mobley, PF – at DEN ($6,400)
Mobley has wasted no time making his early case for Rookie of the Year, averaging an extremely well-rounded line of 15.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.3 blocks and 1.3 steals on his way to 39.5 FD points per contest over his first three. The third overall pick is averaging a robust 35.3 minutes per game as well on the rebuilding Cavs and should be in for another heavy workload on the road against the Nuggets on Monday. Denver can be tough down low with Aaron Gordon helping patrol the post, but the 7-foot Mobley owns a four-inch height advantage on his opponent and could certainly exploit it. What's more, there could be a healthy amount of rebounding opportunities on the offensive glass for Mobley, considering the Nuggets are allowing just 44.4 percent shooting thus far.
Also consider: Kevin Durant ($11,000)
FanDuel DFS Centers
Nikola Jokic – vs. CLE ($11,100)
Jokic is off to a prototypical start, already averaging 58.2 FD points on the strength of 29.5 points, 14.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.5 steals. The big man has averaged 58.9 FD points per 36 minutes since Jamal Murray began his absence with a torn ACL last April 14, posting a 31.5 percent usage rate during that stretch as well. Jokic should be primed for another explosive outing Monday against Jarrett Allen and the Cavs, with Cleveland allowed 53.6 FD points per game to centers thus far.
Robert Williams III – at CHA ($7,100)
Williams could be primed for a bounce-back effort after mustering just two points and four boards over 27 minutes against the Rockets on Sunday on his way to a disappointing 14.3 FD points. The big man had put up 56.5 and 26.2 FD points in his first two contests, and the Hornets check in allowing 53.7 FD points per game to centers over the first first three games, including the second-most rebounds (16.9) and 2.2 blocks per contest to the position. Big men regularly racked up big performances against Mason Plumlee last season when he was in Detroit, and given Williams' rebounding and shot-blocking prowess, Monday could well bring more of the same.
Jonas Valanciunas – at MIN ($6,600)
Valanciunas struggled with his shot in his first game with the Pels, but he's quickly made up for it by posting a 66.7 percent success rate from the floor and averaging 44.8 FD points over his subsequent pair of contests. The big man just put up a big 20-point, 17-rebound double-double against these same Timberwolves on Saturday as well, and Minnesota is already allowing 55.3 FD points per contest to centers and the third-highest offensive efficiency (40.5 percent) to the position. Valanciunas offered at least a 5x return on his current salary in 43 of 62 games last season (and in two of the first three games in the current campaign), making him all the more appealing as a value option Monday in what could be a wire-to-wire battle.
Also consider: Bam Adebayo ($8,100)
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