This article is part of our FantasyAces NBA series.
The NBA is back and better than ever on FantasyAces, with larger contests, more prizes, and many offerings to choose from this season.
RotoWire aims to help you win on FantasyAces, as we will break down a few value plays for the coming days that can help you build your lineups.
There is value to be had on FantasyAces, and identifying that value will allow you to spend on top-tier players to round out your lineup.
Without further ado, value plays for this weekend on FantasyAces.
Value Plays
G: C.J. McCollum, POR at PHX ($4,200): McCollum is expected to be one of the highest-owned players Friday night and likely for several days to come until his price rises. For now, though, he's a steal for just $4,200 on FantasyAces, as evidenced by his massive 48-fantasy point night in Wednesday's opener against the Pelicans. McCollum is the clear number two option behind Damian Lillard, and he will continue to take a lot of shots in lieu of other offensive weapons in Portland. His usage rate so far this season is a whopping 25.3, and it's expected to rise with Lillard being the only other option on offense.
G: Isaiah Canaan, PHI vs. UTA ($4,000): Canaan is the Sixers' starting point guard for the time being, which makes him a solid value option at $4,000 on FantasyAces. He played 38 minutes against the Celtics on Wednesday night, and was able to score 18 points while grabbing seven rebounds and a few assists. Considering the lack of depth at guard for the Sixers, Canaan is expected to see heavy minutes every night until both Tony Wroten and Kendall Marshall return from torn ACLs. Last season, Canaan averaged just under 18 points per 36 minutes. This season, he is playing those minutes. At just $4,000, he gives you a low-floor, high-ceiling option for a massive discount.
G: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, DET vs. CHI ($4,300): With news that Jodie Meeks (foot) may miss extended time, KCP becomes a player to target on the Pistons. Detroit has played two games this season, and Caldwell-Pope saw 35 and 37 minutes, respectively. He was able to average over 18 points, four rebounds, and an assist in these two games. His spot in the rotation is only going to grow with Meeks out, and considering that he is a high-volume shooter, he makes for a solid play at guard. In 22 games last season without Meeks, Caldwell-Pope averaged 12 shots per game, which is plenty this year for him to reach value at only $4,300.
F: Danilo Gallinari, MIN at DEN ($4,250): Gallinari is expected to take a huge leap this season in terms of scoring, and it started well on Wednesday night. He took 15 shots and scored 23 points in the first game of the season, while notching eight rebounds, three assists, a steal, and three blocks. In his career, he has averaged 17 points, five rebounds, two assists and a few blocks/steals per 36 minutes, and this year he is finally seeing the minutes needed to translate it into high-end production. Gallinari isn't expected to fill the stat sheet in secondary areas with regularity this season, but his scoring upside as the feature option in the Nuggets offense makes him a huge target at just $4,250 on FantasyAces.
C: Festus Ezeli, GSW at HOU ($3,000): Ezeli may be one of the top value plays going forward based on his price and production. Andrew Bogut (concussion) is out for the next few games, which means Ezeli will slide into the starting lineup at center. In the first game, Ezeli scored 13 points and grabbed four rebounds while registering a block and assist in only 17 minutes. With Bogut out, expect to see his minutes (and production) rise. Last season, in games without Bogut, Ezeli averaged nearly 18 points, 10 rebounds, and a few blocks per 36 minutes. With his role increasing, he could see close to that production at a reasonable price. Expect his price to rise, but be sure to take advantage of him before this happens.
C: Joffrey Lauvergne, DEN vs. MIN ($3,500): Lauvergne is a value favorite for everyone at the moment due to his low price and lockdown on the starting center job for Denver. He came through for the most part in his season debut, registering 11 points and seven rebounds for the Nuggets at a salary close to the minimum. He is the starting center and will be playing at least 25 minutes, which makes him a top value at just $3,500. For his career, Lauvergne has averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds to go along with two assists, a block, and a steal per 36 minutes, and now he's finally seeing the playing time necessary for adequate production. Like Ezeli, Lauvergne's price is likely to rise soon, so be sure to add him to your lineups before the market adjusts.
C: Meyers Leonard, POR at PHX ($3,900): Leonard is the next man up for the Trail Blazers, replacing LaMarcus Aldridge in Portland. In his first game, he generated 12 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and a steal and block, yielding 28.5 FantasyAces points. He adds another dimension to the center position, as his ability to shoot from long range gives him a big boost, as most big men earn most of their value through rebounds. After Lillard and McCollum, Leonard seems to be the next-best offensive threat for the Blazers, so make sure to take advantage of the scoring center in your lineups while his price remains under $4,000 at the moment.
Good luck and be sure to enjoy daily fantasy basketball on FantasyAces for this weekend's contests.
