It’s a loaded five-game, ten-team slate of NBA action on Saturday. With plenty stars across the association playing, narrowing down a select group of big names to start in season-long fantasy and DFS formats is no easy task. Here are the three centers at the top of tonight’s board:
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1. Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons vs. PHI ($6,600)
The options at center tonight are incredibly thin; Jalen Duren probably doesn’t make the cut on most days. However, fantasy managers need to roll with the hand they are dealt, and you could do worse than a talented 6’10” rim-runner. While the big man’s numbers have taken a slight dip this year (9.1 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 1.4 BLK), he’s still a force inside the paint.
Duren has shown some signs of life after a rough start to the season. Over his past five games, the Memphis product is averaging a double-double with 10.0 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. The 76ers will be without Joel Embiid tonight, which should make scoring in the paint a bit easier for the Pistons. Given the lackluster options available, it might make sense to pay up for the best center on the board.
2. Brook Lopez, Milwaukee Bucks vs. WAS ($6,500)
You’d be forgiven for thinking Brook Lopez’s days as a solid starting center were over. The 36-year-old got off to a terrible start this season, putting up 9.4 points and 4.6 rebounds in his first ten games. However, he’s turned it on as of late, posting 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.4 blocks during Milwaukee’s five-game winning streak.
With the Bucks getting their veteran big man back on track, there’s no reason not to consider him with so few viable alternatives. Saturday’s matchup is a dream for opposing centers, as the Wizards have relied on a combination of unproven rookie Alex Sarr and defensively limited veteran Jonas Valanciunas to guard the paint. Washington has given up the second-most DK fantasy points to the position, so there should be plenty of opportunity for Lopeez to contribute tonight.
3. Daniel Gafford, Dallas Mavericks at UTA ($5,900)
To round out the list, let’s ride the hot hand. It’s no secret that the Mavericks run a platoon down low between second-year man Dereck Lively II and veteran Daniel Gafford. However, there’s a lot to like on Saturday for the latter, even if he doesn’t play more than half of the game.
This season, Gafford has posted a respectable 12.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. However, he’s taken it to another level in his last ten outings, averaging 13.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks while scoring in double-digits during each appearance. Tonight’s opponent, the Jazz, are giving up the fourth-most DK fantasy points to centers. With such a high floor, despite a limited workload, against a beatable defense, Gafford is a solid value play that can be had for cheap.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $200K Fadeaway [$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.
