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 this weekend that can help you build your lineups. Injuries continue to create starting opportunities across the league recently, which in turn present us with some appealing value propositions to consider in DFS.
With a heaping selection of the elite in action over the weekend, we'll hone in on some of that value priced no higher than $4,200, leaving you plenty of room to fit in a few superstars.
Guards
Jeremy Lin, CHA at NOP (Fri.), vs. MIL (Sat.) ($4100): Lin continues to serve as an important component of the Hornets' backcourt rotation, scoring between 17.25 and 30.00 fantasy points in nine of his last 10 games, including at least 20.75 in eight of those. The playing time has been solid as well, as Lin has played no fewer than 21 minutes over that span, and over 30.0 minutes five times. The matchups line up nicely this weekend as well, with the Pelicans and Bucks checking in as bottom-half defenses versus shooting guards this season in terms of fantasy points allowed.
C.J. Miles, IND vs. WAS (Fri.), at DEN (Sun.) ($4150): Miles is undeniably one of those players who inexplicably goes into the tank once a month or so, but his price and matchups are both right this weekend. Miles has 27.75 and 35.00 fantasy points in two of his last four, and has returned tolerable 18.00 and 19.50 fantasy point-totals in the other two contests over that span, which are acceptable given his very modest price. He also provides solid upside for tournaments and will face off against two generous defenses in the Wizards and Nuggets, games that could turn into relatively high-scoring affairs.
Mario Chalmers, MEM vs. NY (Sat.) (Price TBD): Chalmers will likely get the starting nod again Saturday versus the Knicks, given that Mike Conley has now missed five consecutive games with his Achilles injury and is still very limited in practice. If so, look for a price around the $4K mark for Chalmers, which would give him yet another terrific opportunity to return outstanding value. The eight-year veteran exploded for 45.75 fantasy points versus the Pistons on Thursday, and has six straight double-digit scoring performances. While the 25 actual points he scored against Detroit may be too much to expect against a solid Knicks defense versus point guards, Chalmers figures to receive abundant playing time to reach the high teens in scoring and supplement that with the solid rebound and assist totals he's generated during his starting tenure.
Forwards
Amir Johnson, BOS vs. PHX (Fri.), at WAS (Sat.) ($4100): Johnson's price remains extremely reasonable given his recent production. He exploded for 48.50 fantasy points against the Pacers on Wednesday, but nabbing him this weekend wouldn't just be a case of chasing that performance. He has scored between 21.00 and 35.75 fantasy points in seven of the eight contests prior, and he is receiving solid minutes. He also draws a couple of timely matchups over the weekend, as Phoenix has surrendered 53.7 fantasy points per game to opposing centers over the last five, while the Wizards could very well be without Marcin Gortat's (knee) stout presence in the middle Saturday.
Jabari Parker, MIL vs. ATL (Fri.), at CHA (Sat.) ($4250): Parker appears to be getting increasingly stronger in his recovery from ACL surgery as the season progresses, and is back to being firmly entrenched as the starting power forward. He's scored 20.00, 29.00, 24.75 and 30.00 fantasy points in his last four, respectively, and draws two favorable matchups over the weekend. The Hawks and Hornets have surrendered an average of 46.8 and 42.8 fantasy points, respectively, to opposing fours over the last five games.
Trey Lyles, UTA vs. LAL (Sat.) (Price TBD): The increased playing time he's received in Derrick Favors' absence has done wonders for the rookie, who will likely be priced in the upper $3K-range for Saturday's favorable matchup against the Lakers. Lyles has scored 16 and 19 actual points over his last two games, respectively, his two best scoring totals of the season. He managed 28.75 fantasy points against the Kings on Thursday and could produce similar numbers against the Lakers if Favors is out once again.
Nene Hilario, WAS at IND (Fri.), vs. BOS (Sat.) ($3800):Marcin Gortat (knee) has already been ruled out for Friday at a minimum, giving Hilario another opportunity to pay off his sub-$4K price. He'll draw a Pacers defense Friday that allowed 48.50 fantasy points to Amir Johnson on Wednesday and would see the Celtics' own beatable frontcourt on Saturday if Gortat sits again. Hilario scored 22.50 and 26.00 fantasy points over the two games he's started in Gortat's stead, which are excellent returns on his very modest price.
Center
Ian Mahinmi, IND vs WAS (Fri.), at DEN (Sun.) ($4200): On the flip side of the Pacers-Wizards matchup down low is Mahinmi, who continues to be priced very affordably despite his solid, multi-category production. He's scored between 20.25 and 38.00 fantasy points in nine of the last 10 games, and his minutes, while modest, are consistently in the mid-20s. He'll see a Gortat-less Wizards squad Friday and will draw a Nuggets defense Saturday that has surrendered 45.3 fantasy points per game to the position this season.
Cody Zeller, CHA at NOP (Fri.), vs. MIL (Sat.) ($3900): Zeller could be one of the best fantasy-points-per-dollar bargains on the weekend slate. He draws two tasty matchups with which to build on his stellar recent production, which includes 33.75 and 40.0 fantasy point-totals in two of the last three games. He posted double-doubles in both of those contests, and has tallied double-digit scoring in three straight, and six of his last 10. Meanwhile, few teams have been worse against centers than the Pelicans this season, who are fourth-worst by allowing 50.1 fantasy points per game to the position this season. The Bucks, Zeller's Saturday opponent, have actually been worse lately, yielding 56.3 fantasy points per game to opposing centers over their last five, worst in the league over that span.
