This article is part of our FantasyAces NBA series.
RotoWire aims to help you win on Fantasy Aces, as we break down a few value plays for Monday night's robust 10-game slate that features the likes of James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and LeBron James. With that much upper-tier talent, it becomes vital to find some viable lower-and-mid-tier options.
Some key injuries have resulted in a few solid values, and there's also the usual array of appealing and reasonably priced options that are producing with the solid playing time they've been receiving. With that in mind, here are some selections that come in no higher than $4,200, leaving you plenty of room to fit in some of the elite:
Guards
Shane Larkin, BKN vs. BOS ($3,500): Starting point guard Jarrett Jack suffered a torn ACL in Saturday's game versus the Celtics, opening up a golden opportunity for Larkin. Although he was only able to muster two points, four rebounds and four assists in 24 minutes in that contest, Larkin should come into Monday night's game fully prepared to take the reins as the Nets' primary ball handler. While he won't light up the scoreboard, Larkin is a proficient facilitator and active enough rebounder to generate enough production to pay off a near-minimum salary. Larkin scored over 20 fantasy points on three occasions and over 30 in two others in the 10 games prior to Saturday, providing a glimpse of the fantasy potential he'll bring to the table in his new role.
Ian Clark, GSW vs. CHA ($3300): While Shaun Livingston ($3,500) also makes for a nice value play if he starts in place of Stephen Curry (shin), Clark checks in slightly cheaper and with recent similar production. The third-year pro has four consecutive double-digit scoring performances, and received a healthy 37 minutes Saturday due to Curry's early exit and Livingston's foul trouble. While he didn't offer much in other categories, he scored 15 points on 7 of 8 shooting, continuing a stretch of solid performances from the field. Clark should be in line for a decent share of playing time if Curry is out, and he has been able to produce each time he's received at least 20 minutes.
Rodney Hood, UTA vs. HOU ($4,000): Hood's price pleasantly remains unaffected by his latest pair of games, during which he's scored 39.75 and 44.00 fantasy points, respectively. While tangling with James Harden won't be any picnic on the defensive end, Hood's recent play suggests he may be able to exploit a Rockets defense versus two-guards that's surrendered 40.3 fantasy points per game to the position over their last five, as well as a healthy shooting percentage of 44.9 from three-point range over the course of the season.
Marcus Smart, BOS at BKN ($3,900): Smart has been progressively working back up to a regular allotment of playing time after missing 18 games with a lower leg injury, and coach Brad Stevens had already announced he would see an increase in minutes prior to last Saturday's game versus the Nets. Smart then played 24 minutes in the game, which also saw Avery Bradley exit with a left hip contusion. Bradley has already been ruled out for Monday's return game with Brooklyn, which figures to give Smart a bit more run. He'll also be matched up against Shane Larkin in the latter's first start in place of Jarrett Jack (knee), and he should have plenty of opportunity to pay off a very modest price tag.
Forwards
Trevor Booker, UTA vs. HOU ($3,800):Derrick Favors tested his ailing back in Saturday's shootaround and it promptly tightened on him, causing him to miss a fifth straight game. With the Jazz likely to exercise caution with their star forward following the setback, Booker could be in line for an extended opportunity Monday. He's scored 21.25, 27.25 and 24.25 in three of his last four games, while posting double-digit rebounds in two of them. He'll also draw a Rockets defense that allowed 53.9 fantasy points per game to power forwards over their last five, which is last in the league, along with league-worst figures of 23.7 actual points and 12.2 rebounds surrendered per game over the course of the season.
Frank Kaminsky, CHA at GSW ($3,600): Kaminsky displays some of the inconsistency that can be expected from a rookie, but he is going to continue receiving a solid allotment of minutes with Al Jefferson (knee) out. He's played no fewer than 20 minutes in seven straight games, and he's played 28, 27 and 32 over his last three, respectively. He'd also scored 23.50 and 26.00 fantasy points in back-to-back games before an underwhelming 14.50 on Saturday versus the Thunder. His price remains very reasonable as well, and he'll draw a Warriors defense that has surprisingly surrendered 46.5 fantasy points per game to opposing fours over their last 10.
Tristan Thompson, CLE vs. TOR ($4,200): Thompson has apparently emerged from an early-to-mid-December slump, having scored at least 21.75 fantasy points in five of his last seven games. He's also hauled in double-digit boards in six of his last seven, and draws a matchup Monday that should feed into his strengths on the glass, as the Raptors check in as a bottom-10 unit versus opposing fours, surrendering 20.8 points and 11.4 rebounds per game to the position this season. They've also yielded 44.5 fantasy points per game to the power forwards over their last five.
Centers
Jeff Withey, UTA vs. HOU ($3000): Withey is the other Jazz player whose price thankfully remains stagnant despite outstanding recent production. The third-year center could be the best fantasy-points-per-dollar play on Monday's slate, considering his minimum price and average of 28.50 fantasy points per game over his last five. That type of production is never associated with a bargain basement price tag, and exploiting the opportunity will naturally give you an optimal level of roster flexibility.
Cody Zeller, CHA at GSW ($3,900): As is the case with Kaminsky, Zeller continues to receive ample playing time in Al Jefferson's absence following knee surgery. He's primarily maximized his opportunity, his most recent game notwithstanding. Although he too underperformed in Saturday's tilt versus the Thunder, Zeller had otherwise scored between 21.75 and 33.75 fantasy points over his previous nine games. He's been solid both scoring-wise and on the glass, and he will match up against a Warriors defense that's surrendered the third-most fantasy points per game over the last five games to opposing centers (57.6), while also ranking in the bottom 10 in actual points allowed (20.7) to the position this season.
