It’s a six-game, twelve-team slate of NBA action on Wednesday. That includes marquee matchups such as LeBron James and the Lakers visiting the Heat in South Beach. With plenty stars across the association taking the floor, 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 forwards at the top of tonight’s board:
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $333K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks vs. ATL ($12,100)
Once again, Giannis Antetokounmpo is sitting pretty at the top of this list. While the two-time MVP has brought it just about every single night, his teammates are finally chipping in en route to a seven-game win streak. This season, the Greek Freak is putting up some monstrous numbers: 32.7 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 6.7 assists on 61.7% shooting from the field.
It takes a lot to slow a player of this caliber down, and tonight’s opponent doesn’t have the personnel to do so. The Hawks are one of the NBA’s worst defenses, giving up the fourth-most points in the NBA (119.0 PPG). Atlanta has done an especially poor job guarding forwards, surrendering the sixth-most DK fantasy points to the position. There’s no logical reason to expect a letdown from Antetokounmpo in this spot.
2. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics vs. DET ($10,200)
If not for the dominance of Giannis, Jayson Tatum would see his name placed at the top of the list far more often. The five-time All-Star has cooled down a bit after a torrid start, but he’ still firmly in the conversation for MVP. Through 21 games this season, Boston’s face of the franchise is putting up 28.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists.
After tonight, those numbers could rise even further. The Pistons may wield an above-average defense, but Tatum has absolutely dominated them recently. The Celtics’ superstar has scored more than 30 points in all six of his previous games against Detroit, including an outstanding 37-point showing on October 26th. With so much recent success against today’s opponent, this is an option that makes sense for those who are willing to pay up for a premier talent.
*As of Wednesday morning, Tatum was questionable to play against DET due to a right patella tendinopathy injury.
3. Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic at PHI ($9,800)
The Magic might have gotten blown out last night, but Franz Wagner still managed to produce. Despite the 121-106 loss to the Knicks, Orlando’s two-way wing tallied 30 points, six assists and three rebounds. With Paolo Banchero still sidelined with an oblique injury, the German-born star still has complete control of an otherwise lackluster offense.
Over his last ten games, Wagner has gone over 30 points five different times. That level of production gives him a terrific fantasy floor against a hobbled 76ers team. Philadelphia has already announced that Paul George is out of tonight’s game, the second leg of a back-to-back for both teams. That should make scoring, and just about everything, even easier for Orlando’s budding star on Wednesday night.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $333K Fadeaway [$100K 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.
