The NBA is back, and we’ve got an enticing four-game slate on Thursday night. With so many new faces in new places, figuring out who to start in season-long fantasy and DFS formats is no easy task. Here are three forwards I’m looking to back tonight.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA 350K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
1. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics at WAS ($9,300)
After Tuesday’s ballistic 37-point, ten-assist performance, how can you pick anyone but Tatum at his position tonight? A date with a Wizards team that allowed a league-worst 123 points per game last season is icing on the cake.
There’s always concern that the Celtics will absolutely crush a clearly inferior opponent. However, as Boston’s game against the Knicks proved, Tatum can put up a monster stat line in just three quarters. With such a feeble opponent on tap, the All-NBA talent is a great play if you’re willing to shell out for a forward.
2. Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards vs. BOS ($8,000)
If we’re expecting a boatload of Boston points, the Wizards will have no choice but to try and keep up. That means a quicker pace and, as a result, more possessions. Even though he’s miscast as a top option, Kyle Kuzma is still a gifted offensive player that has proven he can score with the best of them. Since coming to Washington three years ago, he’s averaged 20.2 points per game on 45.5% shooting from the field.
Considering this is Washington’s first game of the season, it’s fair to think Kuzma should play more than 30 minutes, blowout or not. With only Jordan Poole ($7,400) and offseason addition Jonas Valanciunas ($6,800) as real competition for touches, the ball should be in Kuz’s hands for most of the night.
3. Julius Randle, Minnesota Timberwolves at SAC ($7,800)
It wasn’t an ideal season opener for Julius Randle on Tuesday. Making his Timberwolves debut, the power forward struggled to find his shot for most of the night. However, he did get in a groove to close the game, putting up seven points in the fourth quarter and finishing as Minnesota’s second-leading scorer.
He’ll look to ride that momentum going into an easier matchup against the Kings, who don’t have an interior defender on the level of Anthony Davis. In his last four games against Sacramento, the three-time All Star is averaging 28.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. Even a slight dip to those numbers would be a major win for fantasy managers.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA 350K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is barmy) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
