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. There are a number of appealing value options, and we'll highlight several priced no higher than $4,650, leaving plenty of room to fit in a few superstars.
Guards
Rodney Hood, UTA vs. MIN (Fri.) ($4650)- A week ago we tabbed Hood as a good weekend value play at a price of $4,550, and even after tallying 21.75, 31.50 and 36.50 fantasy points over the seven days since, his price has only risen $100. The second-year pro's confidence appears to be skyrocketing, and he's continued to be a primary source of offense for the Jazz even after Derrick Favors' return over the last two games. Hood has scored over 20 points in three of his last four and has been hot from beyond the arc, draining 10 treys in his last two games. The Timberwolves also check in as a bottom 10-unit in both points (103.6) and field-goal percentage (46.3) allowed, adding to Hood's appeal.
Norris Cole, NOP vs. BKN (Sat.) (Price TBD)- With the disheveled condition of the Pelicans' backcourt, Cole figures to continue receiving a heavy workload. He's played 34 and 37 minutes the last two games, respectively, and put together a 17-point, 10-assist double-double that netted 39.75 fantasy points against the Kings on Thursday. He was priced at $4,100 for that contest, and it's very likely he'll remain parked at that spot for a favorable Saturday matchup against a Nets defense that yields the seventh-most fantasy points and fourth-most assists per game to point guards. Tyreke Evans (knee) will either miss the game or have his minutes capped, leaving Cole with plenty of opportunities to once again return outstanding value.
Avery Bradley, BOS vs. ORL (Fri.) at ORL (Sun.) ($4400)- Bradley has the good fortune of drawing a home-and-home series over the weekend against the Magic's exploitable shooting guard defense that resides just outside the bottom 10 in points allowed per game. He's also continued to serve as one of the most dependable forms of cost-effective fantasy production league-wide at the guard spot, scoring no fewer than 20.50 fantasy points over his last nine games. He also scored over 30 fantasy points three times and over 40 in another over that span. Throughout that stretch, his price has remained in the lower-to-mid $4K range, providing him with an opportunity to return 5x-9x value on a consistent basis.
Zach LaVine, MIN at UTA (Fri.), at POR (Sun.) ($4000)- LaVine looks set to continue as the first two-guard off the bench Friday at a minimum, with Kevin Martin doubtful with his wrist injury. Considering it could be Martin's third consecutive missed game and that the injury has proven to linger in the past, LaVine could well see another healthy heaping of minutes Sunday against Portland as well. If that's the case, he'll be in prime position to continue the torrid stretch he's been on over the last two games. LaVine has scored 36.00 and 41.00 fantasy points while playing 30 and 29 minutes, respectively, over that pair of contests. He's also shooting a scorching 68 percent (22-for-32) over that span, and has already demonstrated that he's capable of multi-game heaters during his young career.
Forwards
Spencer Hawes, CHA at POR (Fri.), at LAL (Sun.) ($3850)- Based on original estimates regarding Cody Zeller's shoulder injury, Hawes will draw at least one more start for the Hornets over the weekend at center, and he will likely have a solid allotment of minutes in Sunday's contest. He'll face off against two units that have proven vulnerable to opposing big men, with the Trail Blazers surrendering 47.7 fantasy points per game to the position, and the Lakers ranking as the worst unit in the league versus fives, allowing 51.4 fantasy points per game (and a whopping 57.2 over their last 10). Before an encounter with Rudy Gobert on Wednesday, when he had a modest 16.00 fantasy points, Hawes had scored 34.00, 25.00 and 29.75 fantasy points over the previous three games, respectively. He would appear to have a solid opportunity to approximate the latter totals in his two weekend tilts.
P.J. Tucker, PHX at NYK (Fri.), at DAL (Sun.) ($4100)- Tucker continues to quietly go about the business of returning outstanding value on his very reasonable price, regardless of matchup. Factoring out a six-minute appearance against the Spurs on Jan. 21, Tucker has scored between 21.25 and 31.00 fantasy points over his last eight games. He's also been particularly hot as of late, scoring 28.50, 28.75 and 25.75 fantasy points over his last three, with the most recent total coming against LeBron James and the Cavs. While he draws two more tough individual matchups over the weekend, he's proven capable of returning a minimum of 5x value lately, regardless of who is guarding him.
Luol Deng ($4150) and Justise Winslow ($3900), MIA at MIL (Fri.), vs. ATL (Sun.)- The Heat's small forward tandem both bear mentioning, considering their recent playing time and performances. Deng has received between 28 and 38 minutes over his last 10, and has scored between 21.75 and 27.50 fantasy points in six of those contests. Meanwhile, Winslow has finally started putting together a string of solid performances, as the 2015 first-round pick has scored between 21.00 and 28.25 fantasy points over the last four while playing between 35 and 40 minutes. They're both receiving sufficient minutes to return value on their modest prices, and they'll face off against two defenses ranked in the bottom half of the league in fantasy points surrendered to small forwards.
Centers
Mason Plumlee, POR vs. CHA (Fri.), vs. MIN (Sun.) ($4300)- Plumlee continues to be one of the best fantasy-point-per-dollar values at the center position, as the cost to acquire him has remained largely stagnant despite some very productive outings. He scored, 21.50, 36.25, 23.25, 36.00 and 29.50 fantasy points over his last five, respectively, solid-to-outstanding returns on his very modest price tag. He'll also draw two favorable matchups over the weekend against the Hornets' depleted frontcourt and a Timberwolves defense that is surrendering the sixth-most points per game to centers this season (21.0).
Myles Turner, IND vs. DEN (Sat.) (Price TBD)- Turner is increasingly becoming one of the hot topics around the league, prompted by the tear he's been on over the last seven games. Despite Ian Mahinmi's return two games ago, the rookie found a way to stay productive, scoring 24.50 fantasy points off the bench against the Clippers. That performance apparently earned him re-entry into the starting five, as he supplanted Lavoy Allen at power forward for the Pacers' tilt against the Hawks on Thursday and promptly produced a 20-point, six-rebound effort that netted 29.00 fantasy points. That should be more than enough to keep Turner in with the starters for a plum matchup against a Nuggets defense that yields the second-most fantasy points and points per game to opposing fours. While his price will likely be in the $4,600-range, Turner has managed no fewer than 24.50 fantasy points in his last seven games, and he has scored over 40 fantasy points twice during that span.
