A week into the new year, the NBA’s superstar pecking order is beginning to take shape. Big names, including Nikola Jokic, Jayson Tatum, and Trae Young are set to take the floor tonight. That makes narrowing down a select group to start in season-long fantasy and DFS formats a difficult task. Here are the three forwards at the top of Tuesday’s board:
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1. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics at DEN ($10,000)
Few players in the NBA are more consistent than Jayson Tatum. Boston’s leading man has put up 20 points or more in all but four of his 34 appearances this season. As if his average of 28.1 points per game on 46.2% shooting wasn’t enough, the Celtics star is also putting up 9.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists. Add all that up, and you have the ultimate jack of all trades.
Tatum’s well-rounded skillset should come in handy against a Denver team with plenty of weaknesses. The Nuggets are giving up the seventh-most points (117.2) and the most assists (30.0) in basketball, numbers that would have any superstar salivating. While the 26-year-old is the most expensive option on the board, it’s for good reason. Tatum is someone worth considering as a high-priced option tonight.
2. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers at DAL ($9,800)
LeBron James may be 40, but there’s only a handful of players that can stuff a stat sheet like he does. In season number 22, The King is averaging 24.0 points, 7.6 rebounds and 8.9 assists on an efficient 50.7% shooting from the field (38.7 3PT%). LBJ currently ranks second in the league with eight triple-doubles, behind only Nikola Jokic.
Even by his own lofty standards, LeBron has been playing some great basketball recently. The future Hall of Famer has generated 55 DK fantasy points or more in five of his last seven outings, most recently recording a near-triple-double (21 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists) vs. the Rockets on Monday. A banged-up Mavericks squad without Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving might struggle to keep up with the Lakers, but that might not matter; James is simply too dominant to leave off of this list under any circumstance.
3. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns at CHA ($9,400)
Despite all the drama surrounding the Suns, Kevin Durant continues to produce. The former MVP has been spectacular so far, generating 27.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists on 52.0/41.9/83.9 shooting splits. While he might not have as high a ceiling as Tatum and James, KD is remarkably consistent; he’s gone above 40 DK fantasy points in 18 of his 24 appearances this season.
Few teams can contain Durant, and the Hornets don’t appear to be one of them. This season, Charlotte is giving up the 12th-most DK fantasy points to opposing power forwards and the tenth-most three-pointers made per game (13.8). That’s a deadly combination to have going up against arguably the most gifted scorer in NBA history. For those looking to save a bit, KD is a solid alternative to his higher-priced peers.
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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 b.armetta) 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.
