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 on a nine-game slate.
We'll hone in on some of the low-to-mid-tier bargains priced no higher than $4,850, leaving you plenty of room to fit in the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
Guards
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, DET at BKN ($4,500)- KCP has taken his game up a notch this season, yet he continues to be very reasonably priced relative to production. He's scored between 22.00 and 36.75 fantasy points in nine of the last 10, scoring double-digit points in all of those contests. Monday, Caldwell-Pope also draws a Nets defense that's surrendered the most fantasy points, third-most points (22.3) and most assists (4.9) per game to opposing two guards this season.
Derrick Rose, CHI at UTA ($4,600)- Factoring out a 13-minute, injury-shortened outing against the Heat on Jan. 25, Rose has scored between 24.00 and 36.25 fantasy points over his last seven games. The Jazz's solid defense has nevertheless been middle-of-the-pack against point guards, surrendering 21.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game to the position. They've also proven vulnerable to some big performances this season, including Kemba Walker's 52-point outburst back on Jan. 18.
Jared Dudley, WAS at OKC ($3,800)- Dudley's price won't budge, but he continues to produce virtually every time he takes the floor. He scored 29.00 and 29.25 fantasy points in his last two games, respectively, and has scored over 20 in three other games during his last 10. Just as important, he's played between 25 and 41 minutes in those contests, providing him ample opportunity to return solid value more often than not. The Thunder have also been more vulnerable to opposing fours of late, yielding an average of 45.2 fantasy points per game to the position over the last 10.
Forwards
Jeff Green, MEM at NOP ($4,300)- Green appears locked in with his shot, and he has always been a streaky player to jump on when the iron is hot. He's scored 45.50, 26.75 and 38.00 fantasy points in his last three, respectively, and now draws a Pelicans defense that is ranked in the top half of the league in pace while checking in fifth-worst in defensive efficiency. Green's floor time has also been plentiful over his last four, with the veteran playing between 26 and 31 minutes per game over that span..
Ryan Anderson, NOP vs. MEM ($4,750)- Anderson demonstrated his ability to offer outstanding production in a hurry during Saturday's game versus the Nets. Despite heading back to the bench due to Davis' surprise return from a concussion, Anderson went off for 24 points and six rebounds in just 25 minutes, netting 45 fantasy points. That was just below his outstanding 52.25 fantasy points in a starting opportunity against the Kings on Thursday. Anderson has proven capable of handsome returns off the bench on countless occasions, as he scored 32.50 and 34.75 fantasy points as a member of the second unit in two other games over the last five, and impressively tallied double-digit scoring games in 14 of 15 January contests while shooting a stellar 44 percent from beyond the arc. The Pelicans are certainly not averse to using Anderson in a variety of personnel combinations through the game, supplying him with plenty of minutes.
Jabari Parker, MIL at SAC ($4,400)- Parker's surgically-repaired knee continues to get stronger as his sophomore campaign goes on, and he's now scored between 19.00 and 36.50 fantasy points in nine of his last 10 contests, with eight double-digit scoring games in that span. The production has been facilitated by Parker's heavy load of playing time, as he's received between 30 and 39 minutes in eight of his last 10 games, and 27 and 29 minutes in the two other contests in that run. His numbers have progressively improved in each month of the season, and he'll have a chance to get February off to a strong start against the Kings porous defense. Sacramento comes into Monday's game giving up the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards on the season, and sixth-most over the last five games (47.2).
Joe Johnson, BKN vs. DET ($4,450)- Johnson has somewhat surprised with both the heavy minutes he's played and the consistency he's demonstrated recently. He's scored between 18.00 and 36.75 fantasy points in nine of his last 10 games, with the sole exception being a clunker against the Cavs when he only mustered 3.75. He's come on over his last five, scoring 21.25, 24.00, 27.00, 22.75 and 25.25 fantasy points, respectively. The seemingly ageless veteran has been bringing the proverbial lunch pail to work as well, playing 30 to 38 minutes in eight of the last 10 contests, including between 34 and 37 in the last four.
Centers
Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. TOR ($4,300)- The 20-year-old big man continues to take advantage of extended playing time to develop his game, and he has been putting together some solid fantasy outings recently. He's gone off for 36.00 and 39.75 in his last two games, respectively, and also registered 38.00 and 37.75 fantasy points in two other contests over the last five. That sample includes some outstanding work on the glass by Jokic, who's turned in three double-doubles over that span. He's encouragingly received 25 and 35 minutes in the last two, respectively, as Jusuf Nurkic continues to be brought along slowly. Monday, Jokic will also draw a solid matchup against a Raptors defense that's surrendered an average of 48.0 fantasy points per game to opposing centers over the last 10.
Jonas Valanciunas, TOR at DEN ($4,850)- Valanciunas is in play on the other side of the Raptors-Nuggets tilt, having scored between 23.50 and 38.75 fantasy points in nine of his last 10 games. He's been very good on the glass recently, posting four double-doubles and five double-digit rebound games in his last six. That includes a whopping 30 boards over the last pair of outings, as well as tallies of 13, 12, 12 and 11 in four others over the last 10. While the Nuggets have somewhat improved their defense down low this season with Jokic guarding the basket, they still rank in the bottom half of the league in points allowed per game (20.6) to the center position, and have surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing fives (52.9) over the last 10 contests. Both centers in this matchup should have plenty of opportunity to return solid value in what could be a competitive and relatively high-scoring affair.
