This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
FanDuel.com Value Plays for the Week
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POINT GUARD
Kirk Hinrich, PG, CHI ($3,800): After a dreadful start shooting (which kept his scoring down) in the first half of the season, Hinrich has quietly pulled himself together since the All-Star break. The Bulls have taken Hinrich off the ball more in the season's second half and it has paid dividends. In 11 games since the break, Hinrich has averaged 11.4 points (as opposed to 8.3 the first half), 3.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.4 blocks. The turnovers- 2.4 per game over that same stretch- have been a bit high, but the positive numbers balance things out. You could do a lot worse for a second PG than an upwardly trending player currently averaging 19.3 FDPPG (FanDuel Points Per Game) who only costs $3,800.
Going Forward: In the next calendar week, the Bulls have four straight home matchups: Tuesday versus the Spurs, Thursday versus the Rockets, Saturday versus the Kings, and next Monday versus the Thunder. Hinrich should produce serviceable fantasy numbers in all these matchups, although having to guard Tony Parker and Russell Westbrook could wear him down a bit.
SHOOTING GUARD
Tim Hardaway, Jr., SG, NYK ($3,500): Although he is inconsistent- which makes him a better play in head-to-head or tournaments- Hardaway Jr. has a high enough ceiling that he is worth a roll of the dice on most nights. While 13.5 FDPPG are not amazing, a minimum salary in FanDuel plus the ability to go off like he did for 28 points against the Sixers Monday night make him interesting option as a No. 2 shooting guard. Also, Hardaway has been receiving about nine more minutes per game since the All-Star break and his numbers have increased across the board, especially in scoring where he has gone from 9.2 points to 12.5 points per game.
Going Forward: The Knicks have only two games in the upcoming calendar week, this Wednesday at the Celtics and Saturday versus the Bucks. Both games, especially Saturday versus the dreadful Bucks, are opportunities for Hardaway to put up some decent fantasy numbers.
SMALL FORWARD
J.R. Smith, SF, NYK ($5,500): Our second Knick this week, Smith's $5,500 salary given his 23.3 FDPPG on the surface does not appear to be an earth-shattering deal. However Smith has really stepped up his game so far in March with averages over six games of 16.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.7 blocks and only 0.5 turnovers in just over 30 minutes a game. In addition, Smith is now back in the starting lineup for the Knicks, so he will likely continue to see more consistent minutes and usage in the coming week and as the season continues.
Going Forward: As previously mentioned, the Knicks have only two games in the upcoming calendar week, this Wednesday at the Celtics and Saturday versus the Bucks. Both games, especially Saturday versus the dreadful Bucks, are opportunities for Smith to put up big fantasy numbers.
POWER FORWARD
Amir Johnson, PF, TOR, ($5,200): Johnson has been a bit up and down this season, between nagging injuries and occasionally losing playing time to players like Patrick Patterson when he is white hot. Right now however, Johnson's arrow is pointing squarely up. Not only are practically all of his numbers up across the board since the All-Star break with averages of 11.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 blocks, 0.8 steals, and 30 minutes per game in 10 post-break games, but Patrick Patterson is out for the next week. In addition, Johnson looks to be healthy again, so that combined with his higher level of play will make him a strong play even when Patterson returns.
Going Forward: The Raptors play four games in the next calendar week: Wednesday versus the Pistons, Friday versus the Grizzlies, Saturday versus the Suns, and next Tuesday at the Hawks. The latter half of this list should provide Johnson with opportunities to put up good fantasy numbers. The first two games, the Pistons and Grizzlies, are likely to be more difficult matchups with the duos of Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe, as well as Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol figuring to make things difficult on both ends of the court.
CENTER
Henry Sims, C, PHI, ($3,800): Sims, who was seemingly a minor part of the Spencer Hawes trade, has taken over the starting center position in Philly and has put up some surprising numbers. In five March starts, Sims has averages of 8.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.8 blocks and 1.2 turnovers in about 26 minutes a game. These aren't absolutely amazing numbers, but they are solid for a $3800 center who should continue to start as long as he keeps it up given how thin the Sixers are up front.
Going Forward: The Sixers play four games in the next week: this Wednesday versus the Kings (who remarkably play defense about as badly as the Sixers), Friday versus the Pacers, Saturday versus the Grizzlies and Monday at Indiana. The game versus the Kings is certainly a game where Sims could put up some nice numbers. The two games versus the Pacers and the game against the Grizzlies could be a challenge, but Sims should still put up some serviceable numbers as he might get some garbage stats once the games get out of hand
