Saturday isn’t the most jam-packed NBA slate; just six teams across the association are taking the court tonight. With so few players to choose from, figuring out who to start in season-long fantasy and DFS formats is no easy task. Still, there’s also a higher chance to start undervalued players. Here are three forwards I’m looking to back tonight.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $150K Alley Oop [$50K to 1st]
1. Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks at CHI ($8,400)
Lost in the shuffle of a lottery-bound Hawks season was the emergence of Jalen Johnson. The Duke product broke out in a major way, more than doubling his points (16.0 PPG), rebounds (8.7 RPG), and assists (3.6 AST) from a year prior. The two-way talent has been even better to start this campaign, posting more than 40 DK fantasy points in half of his ten appearances.
Currently riding a four-game streak of 20 points or more, look for Johnson to remain heavily involved in Atlanta’s offense tonight. The Bulls are one of the NBA’s friendliest defenses against forwards, giving up the sixth-most DK fantasy points to the position. JJ’s improved shooting ability combined with a solid all-around game gives him one of the highest floors on tonight’s slate.
2. RJ Barrett, Toronto Raptors at LAC ($8,800)
The Raptors have been without Immanuel Quickley and Scottie Barnes for most of the season, forcing RJ Barrett to step up as their undisputed first scoring option. In spite of Toronto’s 2-7 record, the sixth-year pro has played well, putting up 25.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and seven assists across six games. However, the former Knick could see his value decrease soon.
According to head coach Darko Rajakovic, Quickley practiced with the Raptors on Friday, leading to speculation that the dynamic guard could make his return for Saturday night’s matchup with the Clippers. Should that be the case, Barrett will be forced to share the ball more against a solid Los Angeles defense allowing the second-fewest points (106.7 PPG) in the association. There should still be plenty of volume, but a tough opponent and a more crowded backcourt makes RJ a less appealing play.
3. Norman Powell, Los Angeles Clippers vs. TOR ($7,200)
Speaking of Los Angeles, Norman Powell has helped ease the pain of life without Kawhi Leonard. The former sixth-man has been a knockdown shooter since entering the starting lineup, averaging 25.7 points through nine games. Even more impressive has been the former Raptor’s efficiency, as he’s shooting 51.6% from the field and 49.5% from three-point range.
While Powell might not maintain his elite scoring over the course of a full season, his former team is ill-equipped to slow him down. Toronto has allowed the most points to opposing teams this year (124.7 PPG), which should have even the slower-paced Clippers looking to score often. The ten-year veteran is a higher ceiling play compared to some of the pricier forwards on the board.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $150K Alley Oop [$50K to 1st]
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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.
