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 the coming days that can help you build your lineups.
There is value to be had on Fantasy Aces, and identifying that value will allow you to spend on top-tier players to round out your lineup. With a number of bargains Monday, I've kept each recommended value play at no more than $4,100, but have briefly noted two additional options that, while fairly priced, have some caveats associated with them.
G: Will Barton vs. DEN ($3,800)- Barton's pricing is neither reflective of his solid 25.3 Fantasy Aces points-per-game average this season, nor his new starting shooting guard role. The 24-year-old was already providing solid production off the bench over the first five games, and he then had 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists over 39 minutes in his first start, which came against the Warriors on Friday. On Monday, Barton also draws a Blazers defense that has allowed an average of 24.6 actual points per game to the shooting guard position, seventh-worst in the league this season. In what should be a fairly high-scoring game (considering both teams' respective defensive ranking sits in the bottom half of the league), Barton checks in as a great value proposition at a true bargain-bin price of $3,800.
G: T.J. McConnell vs. CHI ($4,000)- McConnell has taken ownership of the point guard role since former starter Isaiah Canaan was shifted to backup shooting guard last week. He's posted 35.25 and 34.50 Fantasy Aces points in two of his first three starts, and though the shot volume has been a tick below ideal for fantasy purposes, he has tallied a solid 47 percent field goal percentage on 9 of 19 shooting over that span. Meanwhile, his pass-first mentality has netted an outstanding 37 assists over his last four contests (two when he was still coming off the bench). McConnell has also been considerably active on the boards, hauling in 25 rebounds over that four-game strech. With a matchup against a Bulls defense that allows an average of 9.2 assists per game to point guards (ranking them third-worst in that category), McConnell could be primed for a solid, stat-sheet-stuffing night.
G: Marco Belinelli vs. SAS ($3,700)- Belinelli has apparently vaulted back into the top shooting guard role, as both Ben McLemore and James Anderson have essentially flopped in their opportunities. While he didn't acquit himself well in his own right when initially handed the starting reigns Friday, Belinelli snapped back into form Saturday versus the Warriors while playing a starter's allotment of minutes off the bench. Considering that he'd tallied double-digit scoring in three consecutive games prior to Friday's outlier performance—and then posted 22 points in 35 minutes Saturday—Belinelli shapes up as a solid value play against his former Spurs teammates.
NOTE:Evan Fournier at IND ($4,600)- Fournier has cooled off since a two-game stint last week when he tallied 44.25 and 43.50 Fantasy Aces points, respectively. He also draws a Pacers defense that's stingy to opposing shooting guards, as Indiana allows a paltry 12.9 points per game to the position. However, the minutes appear to still be there for Fournier, making him a consideration at what still seems like an equitable price.
F: Nemanja Bjelica at ATL ($3,800)- The 27-year-old Serbian rookie had quietly received a consistent and solid allotment of playing time off the bench over the first four games of the season, and he then played 40 minutes in Saturday's victory over the Bulls. Bjelica responded to his most extensive time on the court by posting a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double, numbers that were prorated increases of those he'd managed while logging between 22 and 31 minutes each night prior to Saturday. Bjelica has grabbed no fewer than five boards in any game this season and has even pitched in 13 assists over the Wolves' five contests. Although there's been no formal announcement of a lineup change that would vault Bjelica into a starting power forward role, it appears that the 27-year-old could be the recipient of a starter's share of minutes on many nights going forward. Factoring in a matchup against a middle-of-the-pack Hawks' defense versus power forwards (20.6 points-per-game surrendered to the position so far this season), and Bjelica slots in as a plug-and-play bargain at $3,800.
F: Harrison Barnes vs. DET ($4,100)- Barnes is perennially underpriced for a player that makes solid contributions across all categories virtually every night and who plays on the third fastest-paced offense in the league. The Warriors' small forward has posted three consecutive double-digit scoring nights, amassing 32.50, 30.75, and 25.50 Fantasy Aces points over that span. While the Pistons do give up a league-best average of only 13.4 points per game to small forwards, they are ranked second worst in rebounds surrendered at 8.9 per contest to the position. With Barnes' ability to produce well-rounded stat lines, he certainly has the opportunity to return value at a still-modest price.
F: Jerami Grant vs. CHI ($4,000)- Grant remains the Sixers' starting small forward while Robert Covington (knee) remains sidelined. While his minutes have been in the 20s each night, he has proven to be efficient with them and capable of providing production across all categories. Grant has scored at least 20 Fantasy Aces points in four of the Sixers' first six games, despite playing no more than 27 minutes in any one contest. On Monday, he draws a Bulls defense that has not defended small forwards particularly well so far this season, yielding an average of 20.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per night to players at that position. With Grant's price holding at only $4,000, he represents a value play that can help open up cap room for some of the top-tier players available Monday.
NOTE:Danilo Gallinari vs. Portland ($4600)- Gallinari is a bit on the higher-end of the value scale, but he certainly merits consideration at an average of 29.46 Fantasy Aces points per game. However, Portland does come in as a top-8 defense against small forwards, only yielding a stingy 16.1 points on average to the position.
C: Dewayne Dedmon at IND ($3,300)- Dedmon currently represents the perfect DFS storm of a lack of correlation between price and opportunity. He has posted 21.25, 21.50 and 31.25 Fantasy Aces points, respectively, over the three starts he's received while Nikola Vucevic has been sidelined with a bone bruise to his knee, averaging 28.7 minutes per game during that span. Assuming he gets the call again Monday, Dedmon draws a tantalizing matchup versus a Pacers team that is surrendering an average of 20.9 points and a whopping 17.1 rebounds per game to opposing centers. At near-minimum price, Dedmon becomes an easy plug-in for those wishing to punt the center position and fill in elsewhere with some premium selections. The only caveat is to verify that Vucevic will indeed be watching from the bench Monday, opening up the extended minutes for Dedmon.
NOTE:Festus Ezeli vs. DET ($3,800)- Ezeli remains a strong value play in the event Dedmon heads back to the bench, though the former is dependent in his own right on Andrew Bogut's continued absence. Jordan Hill ($4,000) projects as another possible play if he gets the starting nod Monday.
C: Meyers Leonard at DEN ($3,800)- Leonard continues to improve his level of offensive contributions and is Portland's clear-cut starter at the four, but he remains nicely priced under $4,000. With two consecutive double-digit scoring performances, the cost to acquire him could soon be on the rise. The offensive-minded power forward has started to heat up from the field, shooting 60 percent (12-for-20) over his last pair of contests, including an excellent 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. He now draws a Nuggets frontcourt that is allowing a fifth-worst 24.4 points per game to opposing power forwards, as well as double-digit rebounds. Leonard is showing signs of developing into a reliable third scoring option for a Blazers offense still finding its way after multiple offseason departures, and he could represent a sneaky and value-priced option Monday.
G: Kent Bazemore vs. MIN ($3,800)- In terms of fantasy-points-per-dollar, there may be no better value than Bazemore on Monday's slate. The fourth-year pro was outstanding in his last game Saturday against the Wizards, posting 25 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Although it was only the second time he's totaled over 20 points this season, he's nevertheless rewarded fantasy owners in each of his last five games by stuffing the stat sheet when his shot volume has been down. Bazemore has had no fewer than 20.75 Fantasy Aces points over that span, topping out at 38.75 in Saturday's victory over Washington. When those types of numbers meet a $3,800 price tag and a matchup against Minnesota's fifth-fastest paced offense, Bazemore becomes a "set it and forget it" type of proposition Monday.
