Thursday’s NBA slate only has six teams taking the court, which makes figuring out who to start in season-long fantasy and DFS formats no easy task. Still, there’s plenty of impact players you can slot into your lineups. Here are three guards I’m looking to back tonight.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $333K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
1. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves at CHI ($9,300)
There’s nothing surprising about Anthony Edwards’ hot start, but how he’s doing it is. Minnesota’s superstar is taking 11.4 three-point shots per game, nearly doubling his mark from last season (6.7 3PA). There’s no reason for him to stop either, as he’s shooting 45% from deep. The 23-year-old’s shooting prowess, combined with his complete control of the Timberwolves offense (30.6% USG), gives him one of the game’s safest fantasy floors.
Edwards’ offensive versatility has made him into one of the association’s toughest assignments, so it’s hard not to place him at the top of this list. A Bulls defense giving up 119.4 points per game, seventh-most in basketball, doesn’t appear to be up to the task, so we could be in store for a vintage Ant performance.
2. Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks vs. UTA ($9,500)
The available options at guard drop off quickly after Edwards and Damian Lillard, so I’d suggest grabbing one of the two for your lineups tonight. The latter has gotten off to a great start on offense, putting up 27.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 6.7 assists over seven games. However, the All-Star isn’t immune from putting up a clunker, like his four-point, one-for-twelve shooting day against Memphis last week.
With that being said, the Grizzlies’ defense is a clear step above the Jazz, who are surrendering the fourth-most DK fantasy points to opposing guards this season. In a game that Milwaukee desperately needs to win, I wouldn’t be shocked to see head coach Doc Rivers play his stars 40 minutes or more tonight, so the volume should definitely be there. After scoring 77 combined points in his last two outings, I’m expecting Dame to keep it rolling vs. Utah.
3. Coby White, Chicago Bulls vs. MIN ($7,300)
As previously mentioned, the choices at guard are slim tonight. Since so few stars are on the board, finding a good, not great, player with an increased workload makes sense. With Zach LaVine set to miss tonight’s game against the Timberwolves, Coby White fits the bill as a talented guard poised for more touches. The fourth-year pro has been the same reliable, score-first player he was last year, putting up 19.0 points, 4.6 assists and 3.9 rebounds in just over 33 minutes per game.
Now that their top scoring option is out, Chicago will be forced to run the offense through White. While he’s a streaky shooter, the North Carolina product has done well in this spot before, averaging 20.6 points, 5.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds in 54 games without LaVine last season. Minnesota’s defense is elite, but the volume combined with a relatively cheap price makes White an attractive option if you’re looking to spend big at another position.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $333K 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.
