This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Monday's main DraftKings slate features seven games and offers a mix of star power and emerging young talent. With the All-Star break approaching, there are multiple NBA injuries worth monitoring, although those absences could create opportunities for other players to step into expanded roles. In this article, I'll break down today's top DFS options, including elite players, expected chalk and value picks across a range of salaries.
Try our DraftKings NBA Lineup Optimizer to discover more expert recommendations, customize the player pool, set exposure percentage and mass-enter DFS lineups.
DraftKings Main Slate NBA Games Today
DET at CHA: Pistons 16-7 on road; Hornets on nine-game winning streak, 11-13 at home
CHI at BKN: Bulls on four-game slide, 9-17 on road; Nets 7-18 at home
MIL at ORL: Bucks on three-game winning streak, 9-17 on road; Magic 16-8 at home
UTA at MIA: Jazz 6-20 on road; Heat 16-10 at home
ATL at MIN: Hawks 16-13 on road; Timberwolves 17-10 at home
SAC at NOP: Kings on 12-game slide, 3-23 on road; Pelicans 8-19 at home
CLE at DEN: Cavaliers on three-game winning streak, 15-10 on road; Nuggets 14-10 at home
For the latest spreads and over/unders, visit RotoWire's NBA Odds page. There you can also find player props, futures, picks, articles and sportsbook bonus codes.
NBA Injury Report Today
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report.
DET - Jalen Duren (knee): Probable; Ronald Holland (personal): OUT
CHA - Liam McNeeley (ankle), Coby White (calf): OUT
CHI - Jalen Smith (calf): Questionable; Josh Giddey (hamstring), Tre Jones (hamstring): Doubtful; Zach Collins (toe): OUT
BKN - Michael Porter (knee), Egor Demin (rest): OUT
MIL - Cam Thomas (recently signed): Questionable; Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf), Taurean Prince (neck): OUT
ORL - Colin Castleton (thumb): OUT
UTA - Keyonte George (ankle), Kevin Love (rest): OUT
MIA - Bam Adebayo (hip): Probable; Norman Powell (back): Questionable; Pelle Larsson (elbow): Doubtful; Tyler Herro (ribs): OUT
ATL - Jalen Johnson (knee), Dyson Daniels (ankle): Questionable; Jonathan Kuminga (knee): OUT
MIN - Terrence Shannon (foot): OUT
SAC - Domantas Sabonis (back), Zach LaVine (finger), Malik Monk (illness), De'Andre Hunter (eye), Keegan Murray (ankle): OUT
NOP - Dejounte Murray (Achilles): OUT
CLE - Jaylon Tyson (ankle), Dean Wade (ankle), Tyrese Proctor (illness): Questionable; Evan Mobley (calf), Max Strus (foot): OUT
DEN - Nikola Jokic (ankle), Christian Braun (ankle): Probable; Jamal Murray (hip): Questionable; Aaron Gordon (hamstring), Peyton Watson (hamstring), Spencer Jones (concussion): OUT
Elite NBA DFS Players
Guards
Cade Cunningham, Pistons 
($10,000) at Hornets
Cunningham closed with only 27.3 DK points in Friday's blowout win over New York, though he logged just 22 minutes. Entering Friday's contest, the star point guard had recorded at least 46.3 DK points in seven straight outings, during which he averaged 26.1 points, 10.0 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.6 combined steals-plus-blocks across 33.9 minutes per tilt.
Isaiah Collier, Jazz 
($7,300) at Heat
Keyonte George is out with another ankle sprain, which should result in Collier getting the starting nod. The 21-year-old point guard has racked up 39.5-plus DK points in four consecutive contests (three starts), averaging 20.3 points, 12.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals in 39.5 minutes per game during that span.
Forwards/Centers
Jalen Johnson, Hawks 
($10,700) at Timberwolves
Johnson was a late addition to the injury report Monday due to left knee inflammation, so his status will be worth monitoring ahead of tipoff at 8:00 p.m. ET. The star forward has posted at least 60.3 DK points in four straight outings and 41.3 or more in each of his last nine. If he's unable to give it a go, Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($7,000) will likely take on increased playmaking duties against his previous club.
Julius Randle, Timberwolves 
($8,300) vs. Hawks
Randle and the Timberwolves are on the second night of a back-to-back set, though he posted 33.8 DK points in a loss to Atlanta on Dec. 31 and offers a relatively safe floor in this one. The star forward has racked up at least 36.8 DK points in five of his last seven outings, averaging 21.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 34.3 minutes per contest during that period.
Jalen Duren, Pistons ($7,700) at Hornets
Duren exited Thursday's loss to the Wizards with right knee soreness after just 13 minutes and was held out of Friday's win over the Knicks. However, the fourth-year big man is listed as probable for Monday's matchup against Charlotte. The 22-year-old has delivered 39.8 or more DK points in each of his last four completed games and dropped 38.8 in just 25 minutes during a blowout win over the Hornets on Dec. 20.
Expected NBA DFS Chalk
Nikola Jokic, Nuggets 
($12,100) vs. Cavaliers
Jokic is dealing with a left ankle sprain but is likely to suit up against Cleveland. The three-time MVP appears to be off his minutes restriction following a 16-game absence due to a left knee bone bruise, as he has logged at least 33 minutes in three straight outings. During that stretch, he has averaged 25.3 points, 14.3 rebounds, 10.3 assists and 2.7 combined steals-plus-blocks per contest.
Mid-Range NBA DFS Picks
Kon Knueppel, Hornets 
($6,400) vs. Pistons
Knueppel has been productive of late, providing 28.0 or more DK points in five straight games. Over that stretch, the rookie first-rounder has averaged 22.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.2 three-pointers and 3.0 assists while shooting 47.7 percent from downtown in 35.0 minutes per game. Knueppel had 37.3 DK points in a loss to the Pistons on Dec. 20.
Andrew Wiggins, Heat 
($6,300) vs. Jazz
Wiggins has chipped in at least 32.3 DK points in three straight appearances and enters a favorable matchup against Utah. He could also see increased usage if Norman Powell (back) joins Tyler Herro (ribs) on the sidelines. In a blowout win over Utah on Jan. 24, Wiggins posted 17 points, six rebounds, six assists and one steal across just 27 minutes, ending with 36.0 DK points.
NBA DFS Value Picks
Nique Clifford, Kings 
($5,200) at Pelicans
Clifford is coming off a career-high 50.5 DK points in Saturday's loss to Cleveland and will have another opportunity to impress with the Kings missing multiple key contributors. The rookie first-rounder has generated at least 19.3 DK points in five straight games, averaging 16.2 points, 3.2 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 combined steals-plus-blocks across 32.4 minutes per contest over that stretch.
Danny Wolf, Nets 
($4,900) vs. Bulls
With Michael Porter (knee) unavailable, Wolf is a top candidate to join the starting five. The rookie first-rounder has registered 24.5 or more DK points in four of his last five appearances (two starts), averaging 11.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 23.6 minutes per tilt during that span.
Maxime Raynaud, Kings ($4,700) at Pelicans
The rookie second-rounder is expected to get the starting nod Monday due to Domantas Sabonis (back) being sidelined for a third consecutive contest. Raynaud has contributed 23.8-plus DK points in each of his last four starts, during which he has averaged 13.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.1 combined steals-plus-blocks in 28.0 minutes per game.
