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 $4,500, leaving plenty of room to fit in some elite options on the last weekend of the regular season.
GUARD
Bradley Beal, WAS at DET (Fri.), vs. CHA (Sun.) ($4,500)- John Wall remains questionable for Friday with his knee injury, and we saw Beal explode for 25 points, five assists, three rebounds, one block and one steal Wednesday night in his absence. That performance netted 39.25 fantasy points, which marked Beal's fourth game over 30 fantasy points in the last 10. The Wizards are hanging onto their playoff hopes by a thread, and the Pistons are precisely the team they have to catch. Sunday, he'll draw a Hornets defense that surrenders the seventh-most fantasy points per game (57.7) to two-guards this season.
J.J. Barea, DAL vs. MEM (Fri.), AT LAC (Sun.) ($4,500)- Barea has been outstanding in Deron Williams' (sports hernia) absence. He's scored between 34.25 and 43.25 fantasy points in his last five games, while playing between 30 and 36 minutes in four of them. He's contributed across the stat sheet, and has drained multiple threes in each of the last five games. With as much playing time as he figures to receive in two important games for the Mavericks' playoff prospects over the weekend, he stands an opportunity to provide a potentially handsome return.
Tim Frazier, NOP vs. LAL (Fri.), vs. PHO (Sat.) ($4,300)- Frazier rolled his left ankle versus the Celtics on Wednesday but remained in the game, finishing with 35.25 fantasy points off the bench in a hard-fought defeat. He also scored 33.25, 47.00 and 38.00 fantasy points in the three prior games, respectively, while playing between 29 and 37 minutes. He'll draw the two most appealing matchups for point guards over the weekend, as the Lakers and Suns rank as the worst pair of defenses in both fantasy points and points allowed per game to point guards, and he find themselves in the bottom five in field-goal percentage allowed to the position.
FORWARD
Thomas Robinson, BKN at CHA (Fri.), at IND (Sun.) ($3,700)- Robinson has been outstanding since being handed the starting power forward reins, once it was decided that Thaddeus Young would rest for the remainder of the season. He's scored between 27.25 and 41.75 fantasy points over his last five games, which have all been double-doubles. He draws two matchups over the weekend that should continue his recent success, as the Hornets give up the 10th-most fantasy points (63.6), 10th-most points (21.2) and seventh-most rebounds (11.0) per game to power forwards, while the Pacers are in the bottom half of the league in fantasy points allowed to the position over the last five (44.8).
Carl Landry, PHI vs NYK (Fri.), vs. MIL (Sun.) ($4,200)- Even though Nerlens Noel (knee) returned Tuesday versus the Pelicans and Elton Brand drew the start at center, Landry still played 26 minutes and responded with 38.75 fantasy points. He'd also scored over 30 fantasy points in three other games over the last 10 and figures to continue seeing solid playing time for the remainder of the season. He'll draw two attractive matchups on the weekend, as the Knicks are likely to be without Kristaps Porzingis (shoulder) down low, and the Bucks are one of the most permeable frontcourts in the league.
Luke Babbitt, NOP vs. LAL (Fri.), vs. PHO (Sat.) ($3,600)- Babbitt has been impressively consistent in his recent starting stretch, scoring between 22.00 and 42.00 fantasy points in eight of his last 10 games. He's racked up double-digit points in nine of those and will have a chance to return similar production over the weekend, considering his opponents. The Lakers are allowing the fourth-most fantasy points (58.8) per game to small forwards this season, while the Suns are third-worst with 59.5 while also giving up the second-most points (21.0) and the highest field-goal percentage (46.3) to small forwards.
Maurice Harkless, POR vs. MIN (Sat.) (Price TBD) Harkless seems to be getting better with each game, and he will likely be priced in the $4K-range for his Saturday tilt versus the Timberwolves. That price pales in comparison to his recent production, as he's scored between 19.75 and 45.00 fantasy points in nine of his last 10 games. That stretch includes five games with more than 20 fantasy points and two over 30. He's been much more active on the glass in addition to improving his scoring contributions, having posted double-digit boards in three of his last five games. He'll draw a Minnesota defense that ranks in the bottom half of the league in fantasy points (63.0), points (21.5) and field-goal percentage (48.2) surrendered per game to the position this season.
CENTER
Derrick Williams, NYK at PHI (Fri.), vs. TOR (Sun.) ($3,600)- Williams appears to be assured of at least one start over the weekend, as Kristaps Porzingis is doubtful Friday with his shoulder injury. The Sixers have given up the fifth-most fantasy points (66.4), fourth-most points (21.8) and fifth-most rebounds (11.3) to power forwards this season, furthering Williams' appeal. While the Raptors have been much more formidable, they have given up the sixth-most fantasy points (48.2) to the position over the last five games.
Tyson Chandler, PHO at NOP (Sat.) ($4,400)- Chandler continues defying Father Time, as he's playing his most productive basketball as the season winds down. He's scored over 30 fantasy points thrice and over 40 once in the last five games, and managed 29.75 fantasy points in the other contest during that span. He's also ripped off five straight double-doubles and will face a Pelicans defense that has struggled against centers all season long, allowing the second-most fantasy points (50.3), fifth-most points (21.6), sixth-most rebounds (15.2), third-most blocks (2.7) and fifth-highest field-goal percentage (54.6) to centers this season.
