This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
DraftKings.com Value Plays for the Week
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POINT GUARD
D.J. Augustin, PG, CHI ($4,900): Augustin's recently elevated play has come as a pleasant surprise to those of us who look towards value to round out our daily fantasy basketball lineups. Over his last six outings, Augustin. is averaging 35.7 DKPPG (DraftKings Points Per Game) on 18 points, seven assists, and 2.6 three-pointers in 31 minutes per game off the bench, with 19-plus points, seven-plus assists, 40-plus DKPTs (DraftKings Points) in an impressive four games over that span. Kirk Hinrich's ailing hamstring will likely vault Auggy into the starting lineup Wednesday against a Cavaliers squad that's surrendering the second most fantasy points (43.7) and assists (9.8) to opposing point guards this season. It wouldn't be a stretch to expect 40 minutes of floor time for the sixth year Texas product Wednesday evening, creating a near must-play situation, as his $4,900 price tag should require no more than 28 DKPTs to meet value in what should be a closely contested game throughout.
A Look Ahead: It would come as no surprise to see Hinrich miss an extended period of time, as his extensive injury history could keep management from rushing him back into action. Augustin was already posting impressive totals off the bench and should only become more valuable as a starter. His modest salary, coupled with the ability to accumulate above average points/assist totals, creates considerable allure, given that he'll run you less than 10 percent of your salary cap on DraftKings.
Phil Pressey, PG, BOS ($3,700): It's become apparent that the rookie guard's capacity to score is limited to say the least. He's tallied only 10 points on 4-of-20 shooting in four contests since the departure of Jordan Crawford, and likely won't attempt more than seven field goals per game going forward. That being said, Pressey has totaled 27 assists (6.8 APG) and seven steals (1.8 SPG) in that span, with 17.6 DKPPG in 23 MPG. The depleted Celtics backcourt will likely be without the services of Jerryd Bayless (toe), Avery Bradley (ankle), and Rajon Rondo, who is doubtful to play on the second game of a back-to-back, meaning Phil should assume starting point guard duties while also being forced into attempting added shots Wednesday in Washington. At $3,700, there's no question that Pressey should meet value, as he should hover around 30 minutes played on the evening. DraftKings rewards 1.5 FPs per assist, which makes Pressey, who will undoubtedly see his fair share of facilitating, a near lock to exceed the 20 DKPT mark by game's end.
A Look Ahead: Boston plays Philadelphia in their second game of a back-to-back later this week. If Rondo is once again held out for precautionary reasons, Pressey could see another opportunity to produce against the league's worst organization at defending opposing point guards.
SHOOTING GUARD
Lance Stephenson, SG, IND ($6,100): Despite stringing together three straight 38-plus DKPT performances, Stephenson remains one of the most exploitable options on the board at only $6,100. He leads the league with three triple-doubles on the season and is a viable threat to add to that number on any given night, as his versatile nature is conducive to posting quality totals in nearly every fantasy relevant statistical category. Moreover, Stephenson has registered a points/rebound double-double with 17 field goal attempts in each of his last two starts. His style of play will prevent him from being bogged down by a formidable defender, creating an almost matchup-proof scenario for the fourth-year guard.
A Look Ahead: Stephenson's salary on DraftKings has hovered between $5,600 and $6,200 over six games since January 7. There's no valid reason to ignore his services at these prices, as he is averaging 38 DKPPG in that span.
Ramon Sessions, PG/SG, CHA ($4,800): The young iron man Kemba Walker missed the first contest of his NBA career on Monday, following a streak of 190 straight games played since he entered the league in 2011. Sessions, whom has assumed starting point guard duties for as long as Kemba is sidelined, tallied 23 points on 6-of-10 shooting to go along with two rebounds, two assists, one steal, and 29.5 DKPTs in 34 minutes of work in his first career start for the Bobcats. While these aren't the gaudiest of numbers, Sessions should post consistently serviceable fantasy totals so long as he's logging between 30-35 MPG. He averaged just shy of 30 FPPG in 107 combined starts for the Bucks, Timberwolves, Cavaliers and Lakers over five seasons before joining the Bobcats, so $4,800 is a more than fair price to pay Wednesday in a home meeting against the hobbled Darren Collison (toe) and the Los Angeles Clippers.
A Look Ahead: Walker will continue to miss time (approximately two weeks) as he nurses a sprained ankle, which makes Sessions well worth targeting going forward, as his conservative price tag should create ample space to fit studs across the remainder of your lineup. Following Wednesday's home tilt with the Clippers, Charlotte won't face another team with a winning record until February 1, when they'll meet the Suns as a part of their four-game West Coast road trip.
SMALL FORWARD
Luol Deng, SF/PF, CLE ($6,600): Deng will face his former team for the first time Wednesday since being traded to Cleveland back in early January. There's no question that motivation will play a significant role in his performance, as he looks to have acclimated well to his new environment, averaging 22.5 PPG and 35.4 DKPPG over his last four contests. The perennially stout defense of the Chicago Bulls will take a hit with Mike Dunleavy as their starting small forward, and Deng should meet little resistance in his attempts to capitalize on that Wednesday. More importantly, however, Deng won't want to disappoint in front of a home crowd against the team where he spent the first nine-plus seasons of his NBA career.
A Look Ahead: Deng's fantasy value comes with his ability to produce well-rounded numbers across the board. His salary remained at $6,100 in three of his last four starts, where he combined to average nearly three DKPTs above value in that span, and he will continue to be an intriguing option on DraftKings if these factors remain consistent. The Cavaliers will see no shortage of equally inferior opponents in the near future either, as three of their next four contests will come against Milwaukee (7-33), New Orleans (16-25), and the New York Knicks (15-26).
Chris Johnson, SF/PF, BOS ($3,000): Johnson may very easily make for an ideal punt play Wednesday, as a shortage of healthy bodies in Boston will likely force him into logging some minutes at the shooting guard position. He won't post high-end totals in any one category, but his minimum salary price tag should allow for 18-22 DKPTs and an abundance of cap space throughout your lineup. Rajon Rondo's minute restriction and Avery Bradley's first-quarter injury against the Heat on Tuesday enabled Johnson to play 25 minutes off the bench, finishing with 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting, three rebounds, one assist, one steal, zero turnovers, and two three-pointers for 19.25 DKPTs on the evening.
A Look Ahead: Boston will take all the scoring they can get so long as Bradley and Bayless remain sidelined. Johnson has yet to prove his worth through only nine games played in his young career, but perhaps he'll turn it on this week in an attempt to capitalize on his extended minutes.
POWER FORWARD
John Henson, PF/C, MIL ($5,500): Henson illustrated his ability to produce favorable fantasy totals while Larry Sanders was absent for nearly two months earlier this season, and he'll look to do so again if Sanders misses some time with an illness. He has posted north of one DKPT per minute played this season, which makes him a valuable option even with limited floor time. However, Henson's upside is doubled when he's receiving starters minutes. At $5,500, Henson will still remain an appealing option when Sanders is active, as he is registering a healthy 35.4 DKPPG in only 26 MPG over his last three contests, but consider him a top value option at the forward/center position Wednesday if Sanders is on the shelf. Henson has already imposed his will on the Piston's frontcourt with 33.8 FPPG in less than 26 MPG through two meetings with Detroit this season.
A Look Ahead: Henson's reputation for making the most out of his minutes has been evident of late, and he'll only be more productive if he can go a game or two without having to split time at center. With that in mind, his depressed price tag on DraftKings places him in a position to excel regardless of Sanders' health.
Donatas Motiejunas, SF/PF, HOU ($3,500): A bruised thigh may force Terrence Jones to the sidelines for a second straight game Wednesday, and Motiejunas would look to be the primary beneficiary of these unfortunate circumstances. The second-year power forward fell just shy of his first career double-double on Monday, tallying nine points, nine rebounds, two assists, one block, one steal, one three and 27.75 DKPTs in 22 minutes of work before fouling out. He's had trouble keeping his hands to himself of late, with 18 fouls over his last four outings (4.5 PFPG), yet he's also exhibited considerable upside, averaging one FP per minute in that span. There's a possibility he could see north of 30 minutes on the hardwood Wednesday evening if Jones is unable to suit up.
A Look Ahead: Motiejunas had been gaining traction in a somewhat sizeable role off the bench in recent outings, and his fantasy totals should only trend upward if Jones misses time. Jones was logging a robust 39.3 MPG over his last four contests, so Motiejunas should continue to inherit significant minutes if he finds a way to curtail his foul troubles.
CENTER
Tyson Chandler, C, NYK ($5,300): Chandler and Knicks coach Mike Woodson have allegedly locked horns over the past few days, as both have expressed displeasure with each other's view of the game. However, a meeting with the 76ers should remedy their troubles Wednesday, as Philadelphia is coughing up more fantasy points (59 FPPG) to opposing centers over the past two weeks than any other team. Chandler finally appears to be healthy, playing 35-plus minutes in each of his last two starts, and Woodson will have no other choice but to ride him hard this evening with both Kenyon Martin and Amar'e Stoudemire out of commission. The Sixers' porous frontcourt is incapable of containing post-up centers like Chandler, so expect a healthy double-double from the veteran big man Wednesday inside Madison Square Garden.
A Look Ahead:Kenyon Martin and Amar'e Stoudemire are both expected to miss approximately two weeks with sprained ankles. A healthy Chandler should see ample run in the coming week, as he'll face a Bobcats team that's surrendered the most points to opposing centers (24.8 PPG) over the last 15 days, and a Lakers club that's surrendered more fantasy points (49.3 FPPG) to the position than any other team on the season.
