These fantasy basketball picks will help you dominate tonight’s short slate!

After sitting out Sunday’s short slate, I’m ready to get back at it for Monday’s six-game slate. Klay Thompson earned every bit of his salary on Saturday night, anchoring many teams with his 53.50 points. Rajon Rondo only scored 4 points, but managed to post 30.25 FP. Isaiah Thomas finally cooled down off the bench, and Anthony Davis continued his dominance over the NBA with an impressive 59 FP against Dallas.

Today’s Top Plays

Guard:

Darren Collison ($11,750) at Denver – Collison is one of the few backcourt players in the NBA who will eat up minutes every single night. Averaging 37 minutes per game through three games this season, Collison is a solid anchor for cash games. He is averaging just over 35 FP per game thus far, and Denver struggles to defend opposing guards. He is a safe bet with a floor around 25 FP, and a ceiling of just over 40. This price tag allows you to pay up elsewhere without punting at the point.

James Harden ($19,950) at Philadelphia – James Harden is the focal point of the Rocket’s prolific offense, and an elite option in any matchup. Fortunately for you, he gets a matchup with the Sixers backcourt today. Matchups don’t get any better than this for a player of Harden’s talent, and he should have his way with anyone that Brett Brown puts in front of him. Expect Harden to be among the highest scorers tonight. He could easily eclipse 50 FP.

Tony Allen ($8,200) vs New Orleans – Allen is known primarily for his defensive prowess, and for that reason alone, he sees a ton of court time. He will likely be locked up with Tyreke Evans all night long, and Memphis will need him to be at his best if they want to win this one. He is averaging 4 steals per game over the first three contests this year, and can contribute even when he isn’t scoring. His ceiling is low, but his floor is around 20 points. Plug Allen in, expect 20-25 FP, and use the savings to pay up for Harden and Davis.

Joe Johnson ($13,300) vs Oklahoma City – The Thunder are a complete mess right now, and have nobody in their backcourt who can defend Johnson one on one. We all saw the Pistons struggle to slow him down, and while I don’t expect 34/8/6 in this one, Johnson should have a nice night. Due to his inconsistencies at times, he is a GPP-only option for me, but an elite one at that in this plus matchup.

Forward:

Rudy Gay ($14,750) at Denver – Notice a theme? I’ll be targeting Kings players heavily tonight, and I suggest you do the same. Gay has totaled 65 points over his last two games against the Clippers and Blazers, and I’ll be riding the hot hand this evening. Wilson Chandler is a decent defender, but Gay is hard to contain when he gets going. I expect him to continue his recent success tonight in Denver.

Anthony Davis ($22,500) at Memphis – When you see a player matched up against the Grizzlies, you are generally hesitant. However, “The Brow” may be the most matchup-proof player on the planet. He is averaging an insane 65.75 FP through two games. Remarkably, he has 32 rebounds and 12 blocks in two games, but just 3 personal fouls and a single turnover. His efficiency is astonishing, and despite his price tag, he will be in every single one of my rosters. Fade him at your own peril each night.

Terrence Jones ($12,2000) at Philadelphia– In case you weren’t aware, here is an easy strategy for NBA DFS. Target the 76ers, rinse, repeat. Jones has already bested 40 FP twice this season, and should reach that mark again this evening. Nerlens Noel was manhandled by Chris Bosh, and Jones is even more aggressive down low. Expect Harden to feed Jones all night long. He is a nice pivot off of Harden if you can’t afford his salary but want some exposure to the 76ers tonight.

Brandon Davies ($5,000) vs Houston – Davies is a very risky option, but he could easily pay off his minimum salary. He is an effective player down low, but the main concern is playing time. He has played 18, 5, and 24 minutes in the Sixers’ first three games. He did score 18 points in 24 minutes last time out, so it seems that Brett Brown may utilize him more in the next few games. At this price, you just hope he can find his way on the court for 20+ and contribute 15-20 FP as a salary cap saver.

Center:

DeMarcus Cousins ($17,250) at Denver – If you are paying up at Center, you’re paying for Cousins. Period. He had his first breakout game of the season against the Clippers with 34 points, 17 boards, 5 assists, and 3 blocks for a tidy 66.50 FP. Denver is known as the primary target for opposing big men in DFS. When Cousins has his head in the game, he dominates down low better than anyone. These are the types of matchups to exploit with Cousins, as Timofey Mozgov and Javale McGee stand little chance of slowing down DMC.

Steven Adams ($7,350) at Brooklyn – If you can’t afford Cousins, you are likely looking to save down low, and Adams is your man. He is averaging just over 27 minutes per game, and is a decent rebounder. His upside is very limited, but you can look for Adams to post 20-25 FP in a decent matchup and save you some cap to spend elsewhere.