Which players should you build around and which players should you fade in DFS as we tip off Monday's NBA action? Our experts have the answers.
Today's panel includes ESPN Fantasy's André Snellings, Renee Miller, Joe Kaiser and Kyle Soppe.
Players to build around
André Snellings -- Jrue Holiday, New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans' starting backcourt of Rajon Rondo and Holiday has been regularly outproducing value, and the team seems to be finding a balance with the duo's production as the counter to the interior dominance of DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis. Their Monday opponents, the Houston Rockets, are tough on opposing backcourts, allowing the tenth- and eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing point guards and shooting guards, respectively. Still, in a game that the Pelicans will need to score in bunches to keep the Rockets in sight, I look for them to continue to get production from Holiday. In an all-or-nothing kind of way, Rondo also makes for an admittedly risky play on Monday, as well, especially in light of his long-running rivalry with Chris Paul.
Renee Miller -- Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors
When a key star player goes down on most teams, we look to the positional back up. With the Warriors, it's generally one (or more) of the other stars on the team who absorbs the missing usage. That's been the case since Stephen Curry hurt his ankle last week. Shaun Livingston and Quinn Cook have technically split the point guard duties, but Durant's usage has skyrocketed. With over 70 fantasy points in each of the last two games, Durant now gets to face one of the friendliest small forward defenses in the league. Portland ranks fourth in fantasy points allowed to the position and will already have its hands full with Klay Thompson making a ton of shots and Draymond Green seemingly everywhere on the court at once. The stars align for a third-consecutive monster game from Durant, and he's the guy I'm paying up for every time tonight.
Joe Kaiser -- David Nwaba, Chicago Bulls
Poll 100 random NBA fans and only 5-10 have probably even heard of Nwaba, but the second-year player has earned praise from coach Fred Hoiberg in the last two games for his hustle and energy. He is priced at $4,500 or less on both DraftKings and FanDuel, even after scoring over 28 DFS points in back-to-back games. The matchup against the Boston Celtics isn't ideal, but Nwaba doesn't just generate points by scoring; he gets them with rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. He's a name to remember and a tremendous value tonight.
Kyle Soppe -- Al Horford, Boston Celtics
If I told you that there was a player in December averaging over 21.5 rebounds-plus-assists per 48 minutes while blocking at least one shot and shooting at least 50 percent from the field and 38 percent from distance? "LeBron James" would probably be your initial response, and you'd be right. But Horford also checks all of those boxes this month, and while we aren't looking at a large sample of games, the versatility is impossible to overlook. Tonight's opponent is the Bulls, owners of the fourth-worst defense, the ninth-worst rebound rate and no real inside/outside type of defender to matchup with Horford. He seems like a lock to achieve value tonight, so the question is just how high is his ceiling in this good spot?
Players to fade
André Snellings -- DeMarcus Cousins, New Orleans Pelicans
This fade is built on the assumption that Anthony Davis plays again on Monday. Davis had a big game on Sunday, but he missed three games last week with a groin injury and did come up limping early in the fourth quarter on Sunday before remaining in the game. Cousins has underwhelmed (relative to his max price) in his last eight or nine games next to Davis, and with the aforementioned backcourt production boom for the Pelicans, it is unlikely in any given game for Cousins to earn that lofty price tag while the rest of the starting lineup is intact.
Renee Miller -- Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Brown has not been himself since being away from the team in late November. Now dealing with eye inflammation which will cause him to wear protective goggles and at a salary that's been hard to justify, there are plenty of reasons to fade him. Brown has exceeded his season-average fantasy points just once since November 25. Chicago is a reasonably good matchup for opposing 2-guards and ranks 26th in defensive efficiency. This game could get out of hand, and the Celtics could elect to get Brown some additional rest. All in all, he's overpriced for what he's been doing, and there aren't enough indicators that things are going to change for the better to risk it.​
Joe Kaiser -- Carmelo Anthony, Oklahoma City Thunder
Anthony's salary has risen to right around $7,000 on both DraftKings and FanDuel, and that oddly coincides with a major shooting funk. The 15-year veteran has made only 34.2 percent of his shots over the last five games, despite taking 15.2 per game in that span. Since his only other real contribution in DFS is rebounding, it's going to be difficult for Anthony to be much of a value at this price range. Basically, he will need to score 21-22 points and grab 10-11 rebounds, which has happened only once all season (vs. Indiana Pacers on Oct. 25).
Kyle Soppe -- Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
I don't like what I've seen to kick off December from Westbrook, and while I have no doubt that he will make adjustments, I'm not paying top dollar until I see it. In his first five games this month, he is jacking up nearly 25 shots per game with 29.8 percent of those attempts coming from distance. I thought we were past this. He's shooting 53.8 percent on shots from inside of eight feet, but just a tick over 30 percent elsewhere, so why play to your weaknesses? The Charlotte Hornets boast a top-10 defense and are allowing the sixth-fewest point guard points per game this season, so while I don't think they hold Westbrook completely in check, this price point leaves little room for upside. Sure, there are some numbers to suggest that fading Westbrook is a good idea, but let's be honest, there is one big reason I'm not going Westbrook's way this evening: If I take him, I can't get James Harden against a bottom-10 defense that is on the second night of a back-to-back.
