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. We'll highlight several priced no higher than $4,650, leaving plenty of room to fit in the many elite options that will be in action as playoff races up the intensity around the league.
Guards
Shelvin Mack, UTA vs. MIN (Fri.), at PHO (Sun.) ($4,650)- Mack continues to fill out the stat sheet on a regular basis, and he draws two appealing matchups over the weekend. He's scored 26.25 and 34.00 fantasy points over his last two, respectively, and finished between 31.25 and 39.75 in five other games over the last 10. His prospects are further enhanced by a matchup versus the Timberwolves' third-worst defense in fantasy points allowed per game to point guards (66.5), and a Sunday tilt against a Suns unit ranked last in that category (69.4).
Shane Larkin, BKN at NYK (Fri.), vs. NOP (Sun.) ($3,950)- Larkin has scored between 22.50 and 31.25 fantasy points over the last four games. He's been generating solid assist numbers to supplement his double-digit scoring, and will draw two defenses over the weekend that could facilitate solid fantasy production. The Knicks surrender 63.0 fantasy points and 21.6 points per game to point guards, while the injury-riddled Pelicans backcourt yields the seventh-most fantasy points (64.8), fifth-highest points (22.8) and third-highest field-goal percentage (45.6) to the position.
J.J. Barea, DAL at DET (Fri.), at MIN (Sun.) ($4,250)- Deron Williams (abdomen) continues to be listed as questionable for Friday's game, placing Barea squarely in consideration. He's scored 31.75, 38.75 and 40.75 fantasy points in three of his last four games, while scoring in double figures in five straight. He's in line for a solid allotment of minutes if Williams remains out or is limited, and Barea figures to be heavily involved while on the court as Dallas makes a push for a playoff spot.
Toney Douglas, NOP at BKN (Sun.) ($4,550)- Douglas has been highly productive as the veteran leader of a Pelicans backcourt that has been wiped out by injury. He's scored between 22.25 and 42.25 fantasy points in nine of his last 10 games, with many of those totals coming while Jrue Holiday (orbital) was still healthy. With a matchup against a Nets defense surrendering the eighth-most fantasy points (64.8) and highest field-goal percentage (45.9) per game to point guards, he stands an excellent chance of providing a handsome return.
Forwards
Markieff Morris, WAS at PHX (Fri.), at LAC (Sun.) ($4,550)- Morris will undoubtedly have a little extra motivation in his return to Phoenix on Friday night, and he will draw a very favorable matchup. The Suns rank in the bottom half of the league in fantasy points allowed to power forwards (62.7), as well as rebounds (11.0) and field-goal percentage (47.5). Meanwhile, the Clippers rank just below Phoenix in fantasy points given up to the position (62.0) and actually yield more rebounds per game (11.2). Morris has also started to find some consistency in Washington, scoring between 22.00 and 30.75 fantasy points in five of his last six games.
Marcus Morris, DET vs. DAL (Fri.), at CHI (Sat.) ($4,500)- It's a double dose of the Morris Twins, as Marcus' price refuses to budge while his production continues to be that of a much higher-priced player. The Pistons forward has scored between 25.75 and 36.75 fantasy points in his last five games, and he has two other games over 30 in the last 10. The Mavericks have struggled guarding small forwards ever since Chandler Parsons went down, while the Bulls check in as a bottom-10 unit in fantasy points allowed per game to the position (55.3).
Hollis Thompson, PHI at CHA (Fri.), vs. IND (Sat.) ($3,800)- Due to the fact that he toils away on the worst unit in the league, Thompson's fantasy contributions tend to go a bit under the radar, and his price reflects it. He's scored over 20 fantasy points in six of his last 10 games, and over 30 once during that span. Even when his scoring is slightly down, he's provided solid work on the glass, and is coming off a 10-rebound effort against the same Hornets squad he'll face Friday. He's also still receiving solid minutes despite Robert Covington's return to the starting lineup.
Centers
Willie Cauley-Stein, SAC vs. MIA (Fri.), at DEN (Sat.) ($4,100)- With DeMarcus Cousins suspended for Friday's game and likely to rest Saturday, our final two picks encompass the players most likely to benefit from his absence. Cauley-Stein has hit his stride in the latter stages of his up-and-down rookie campaign, scoring between 30.75 and 40.50 fantasy points in a recent three-game stretch. He managed 34.50 fantasy points against Portland the last time Cousins sat, and he should be in line for a solid amount of playing time against both the undersized Luol Deng on Friday and the poor Nuggets frontcourt on Sunday.
Kosta Koufos, SAC vs. MIA (Fri.), at DEN (Sun.) ($3,300)- Koufos will likely draw the start at center both Friday and Sunday in Cousins' stead, and he has proven to be capable of prolific production relative to his price in past starting opportunities. He scored between 21.50 and 35.75 fantasy points in a recent three-game stretch, which included a start against the Trail Blazers where he scored 25.25 fantasy points. He'll have his work cut out for him against some Hassan Whiteside defense on Friday, but his ability to score away from the basket should help him avoid some of the Heat center's outstanding rim protection. He'll then take aim at a Nuggets frontcourt that can struggle against opposing bigs, providing Koufos with ample opportunity to provide what could realistically be a 7x-8x return on a near-minimum price.
