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's seven-game slate.
A number of values at under $4,000 and a couple of mid-$4K options in appealing scenarios are available Monday, providing the cap flexibility to roster the likes of Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins.
Guards
Zach LaVine, MIN at CHA ($4,650): LaVine put together a pair of nice outings over the weekend, and he now draws a solid matchup to kick the new week off. He's scored between 28.50 and 32.75 fantasy points over his last five and will look to capitalize on a Hornets defense giving up the fourth-most fantasy points (58.9) and second-most points (22.5) per game to shooting guards this season.
Toney Douglas, NOP vs. SAC ($3,600): Douglas looks like a sure bet for some added playing time Monday against one of the worst defenses against two-guards in the league, as Eric Gordon (finger) will definitely miss the game against Sacramento, and Norris Cole (back) could be out as well. Douglas received a small boost in minutes Saturday against the Jazz after Gordon's injury, finishing with nine points, including three three-pointers, in 18 minutes. He's scored over 20 fantasy points in two other games over the past 10 and could see minutes in the mid-20s Monday even if the offensively-challenged Alonzo Gee gets the start. Playing against a unit that surrenders the most three-pointers per game (2.6) to shooting guards this season, Douglas could potentially do some damage in even a modest amount of playing time.
Manu Ginobili, SAS at IND ($3,700): Ginobili left no doubt as to his readiness to return Saturday, scoring a season-high 22 points in just 15 minutes. The performance netted 23.75 fantasy points, a handsome 7x return on his price. His minutes figure to creep up Monday in what will be his second game back, and he'll have the benefit of facing a Pacers defense that has given up its share of productive outings to shooting guards this season.
Forwards
David Lee, DAL vs. LAC ($3,500): Lee's price remains unchanged, but this clearly won't be the case much longer. He's scored between 28.25 and 44.50 fantasy points in four of his last five games, and has double-digit boards in three contests over that span as well. With 18-year veteran Dirk Nowitzki having played 35 minutes in the Mavs' overtime loss to the Nuggets on Sunday, Lee could potentially see some extra run against a Clippers frontcourt that has allowed 59.5 fantasy points per game to power forwards this season.
Shabazz Muhammad, MIN at CHA ($3,950): Muhammad has scored between 20.25 and 29.25 fantasy points over his last four games, returning 5x-7x value on his sub-$4K price. He's also played between 19 and 34 minutes in those contests, an allotment befitting his integral role in the Timberwolves' second unit. He'll draw a nice matchup Monday against a Hornets defense that is allowing the ninth-most fantasy points per game (55.5) to small forwards this season.
Lance Stephenson, MEM at CLE ($3,850): Stephenson has taken advantage of his trade-deadline move to Memphis, scoring between 20.50 and 28.25 fantasy points in six of eight games since his arrival. He's received some extra minutes as a result of the multi-game absence of Tony Allen (knee), who could potentially miss Monday's game as well. However, Stephenson has also done a solid job as Matt Barnes' primary backup at the three, and at his sub-$4K price, he could well return the 6x-9x value that he's generated on multiple occasions over the last few games.
Jeff Green, LAC at DAL ($4,500): Green has seen some playing time at power forward in the absence of Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (eye), who could potentially miss another game Monday. If so, Green will often find himself matched up against a potentially weary Dirk Nowitzki, who is coming off a 35-minute stint in an overtime loss to the Nuggets on Sunday, and who facilitated a monster 25-point, 22-rebound double-double to Kenneth Faried in that game. While Green typically won't provide explosive production unless he happens to get hot from long range, he's posted a pair of 29.25-fantasy point outings and another with 28.25 since joining the Clippers at the trade deadline.
Centers
Zaza Pachulia, DAL vs. LAC ($4,750): Pachulia could make for a nice contrarian value play in tournaments given his subpar performances in the last two games. He scored 8.50 fantasy points in 10 minutes against the Nuggets on Sunday, and he also totaled 15 fantasy points in 23 minutes against the Kings last Thursday. Pachulia figures to be well-rested for Monday's tilt against DeAndre Jordan, a game in which he should see a nice boost in minutes due to the matchup. The Clippers are allowing 48.4 fantasy points per game to the position this season, and a fifth-worst 54.7 per game over the last five.
Cody Zeller, CHA vs. MIN ($4,000): Zeller has remained in the starting lineup despite Al Jefferson's return, and has produced a nice stretch of productive outings. He's scored between 20.25 and 32.50 fantasy points over his last four games, while playing over 20 minutes in each. Although Timberwolves rookie sensation Karl-Anthony Towns has certainly been spectacular on offense, he's been somewhat of a liability defensively at times. Minnesota surrenders 20.4 points per game to centers, ranking them in the bottom half of the league. With his recent track record of returning 5x-8x value, Zeller makes for a nice cost-conscious option that allows for paying up elsewhere.
