This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
DraftKings.com Value Plays for the Week
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POINT GUARD
Shelvin Mack, PG, ATL ($4,400): Mack has fared relatively well in place of the injured Jeff Teague, as he is averaging north of 25 DKPPG (DraftKings Points Per Game) on 12.0 points, 5.5 assists, 2.0 three-pointers, and 1.0 steal over his last two starts. Wednesday's home tilt with the Pistons owns one of the highest over unders of the evening at 207.5, as Detroit plays the sixth fastest pace in basketball, so Mack should be afforded ample opportunity to accumulate serviceable point and assist totals in what should be a closely contested game throughout. He earned 31 minutes of floor time in a tight affair with Oklahoma City on Monday, in which he tallied 15 points on 6-14 shooting, with four rebounds, seven assists, three three-pointers and 31.5 DKPTs (DraftKing Points). Similar results can be expected Wednesday evening in the case that Teague is inactive for a third consecutive contest.
A Look Ahead: The Hawks will face the Sixers on Friday, who've coughed up the most fantasy points, 45.6 FPPG (Fantasy Points Per Game) and assists per game (10.3) to opposing point guards this season. Mack could be in line for a big night in the boxscores if Teague's ailing ankle keeps him on the sidelines.
SHOOTING GUARD
Terrence Ross, SG/SF, TOR ($4,500): Ross enjoyed a phenomenal, yet improbable performance on Saturday following DeMar DeRozan's departure with a sprained ankle, scoring an eye-popping 51 points on 16-29 shooting, adding nine rebounds, one assist, and one steal for 69.25 DKPTs in 44 minutes of work. His follow up performance against Brooklyn wasn't nearly as impressive (23.25 DKPTs); however, he logged 33 minutes on the hardwood and will continue to see added playing time until DeRozan returns. Minutes generally equal production in fantasy basketball, and Ross is a sure bet to reach the 25 DKPTs he'll require to meet value Wednesday against a Magic squad that's dropped 13 of their 15 games in January.
A Look Ahead: Ross will continue to retain fantasy value until DeRozan returns. DraftKings is unlikely to hike his salary up from what is currently a respectable $4,500, making him a viable value option going forward, as he has flashed considerable upside through the first three months of the 2013-14 season.
SMALL FORWARD
Gerald Wallace, SF/PF, BOS ($3,800): Wallace, along with the majority of Boston's starting lineup, were benched on Tuesday following a putrid first half performance against the Knicks. A disgraceful team performance kept Wallace from leaving the pine over the final two frames, and he finished with only 12.25 DKPTs in 23 minutes of work. That being said, we can expect him to bounce back Wednesday against a Sixers squad that's surrendering more fantasy points (42.3 FPPG) to small forwards than any other team this season. Before Tuesday's dreadful showing, Wallace was averaging nearly 29 FPPG in 36.6 minutes per game over his last three starts and should move closer to those totals in a home tilt with Philadelphia Wednesday. At $3,800, Wallace should require no more than 21 DKPTs to meet value in what's likely to be a high scoring affair in Beantown.
A Look Ahead: The eventual return of Avery Bradley will almost certainly force Wallace back into a marginal role off the bench. However, the Celtics will face the 76ers again in exactly one week from Wednesday, so Wallace will still make for an intriguing option at a conservative price if Bradley remains on the shelf.
POWER FORWARD
Ronny Turiaf, PF/C, MIN, ($3,600):Nikola Pekovic's ankle injury is likely to keep him out for a week or more, and Turiaf is the most likely candidate to benefit from the injury. Turiaf finished with 28.25 DKPTs on 14 points (6-7 FG), seven rebounds, and three blocks in 32 minutes of relief work off the bench Monday, so it isn't unreasonable to expect serviceable fantasy totals from the ninth year journeyman in a home tilt with the Pelicans on Wednesday. No team has allowed more fantasy points to opposing centers over the last two weeks, as New Orleans is coughing up a healthy 55.4 FPPG to big men in that span. Moreover, the Pelicans rank 27th in defensive efficiency at the position over their last 10 games, making Turiaf a viable bottom-barrel value play at only $3,600, where he'll justify his price tag with only 20 FPs on the evening.
A Look Ahead: Pekovic is expected to miss between 7-to-10 days with bursitis in his ankle, meaning Turiaf may stand to inherit the lion's share of minutes in his place. The Timberwolves will square off against the Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers later this week --- two teams that have struggled mightily to contain big men of late.
CENTER
Jonas Valanciunas, C, TOR, ($5,500): Despite being one of the most inconsistent available options, Valanciunas could be in line to post highly favorable fantasy totals in Wednesday's tilt with the struggling Magic. Valanciunas has totaled 34+ FPs with 32+ minutes played in each of his last two games, recording healthy double-doubles in each while averaging 18.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in that span. He'll have an opportunity to extend his streak of quality games to three Wednesday, as Orlando has surrendered the third most fantasy points (53.7) and rebounds (16.3) to opposing centers since Nikola Vucevic went down with a concussion. Furthermore, the Magic have allowed the most assists (4.2), second most points (24.3), and fourth most steals (1.9) to big men in that span, while being dead last in defensive efficiency at the position over their last 10 games. Valanciunas makes for an excellent GPP (Guaranteed Prize Pool) option this evening, as DraftKings is holding their $200K Buzzer Beater tournament, where one lucky individual will go to sleep $25,000 richer.
A Look Ahead: If Valanciunas can string together a third straight quality outing, he'll be well worth a play going forward at only $5,500. Sporadic playing time has killed his fantasy value this season, so it would certainly be nice to develop some consistent minutes in the low to mid 30's as the season wears on.
