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 guards at the top of Tuesday’s board:
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1. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks at UTA ($9,700)
The Hawks might sit at .500 with an 18-18 record, but at least they play an exciting brand of basketball. Atlanta currently ranks seventh in the NBA in points scored (117.1), a necessity when you give up the third-most points (119.7). Those numbers perfectly represent the Trae Young experience; the three-time All-Star might be a turnstile on defense, but he’s one of the association’s most dynamic threats on offense. The point guard currently leads the association with 12.0 assists to go along with 22.5 points per game.
There’s few players that have the potential to drop 30 points and 15 assists on any given night. It helps that Atlanta will get to face off with the Jazz, who have given up the fifth-most points in basketball (118.4). To make things even more enticing, Utah has allowed the second-most DK fantasy points to opposing point guards this season. In a matchup that should see plenty of scoring between both teams, Young is set up nicely as the top guard on tonight’s slate.
2. LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets vs. PHX ($9,500)
With Luka Doncic injured, the closest thing the NBA has to a one-man offense at guard is LaMelo Ball. The former Rookie of the Year has enjoyed a bounce back campaign this season, averaging 29.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 7.3 assists through 23 games played. Charlotte’s face of the franchise makes up for poor efficiency (42.4 FG%) with a league-leading 38.8% usage rate.
Ball’s massive workload gives him one of the safer fantasy floors in all of basketball, making him nearly matchup-proof. However, his ceiling is definitely raised against a Suns squad allowing the 12th-most DK fantasy points to opposing point guards. Look for LaMelo to make an impact from beyond the arc; Phoenix is allowing the tenth-most three-pointers made (13.8) and the eighth-highest three-point percentage (36.6%).
3. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves at NOP ($8,400)
It’s been a rocky first few months for Anthony Edwards. Minnesota’s star has opted to shoot more (9.9 3PA) and drive less. The end result? Solid counting numbers (25.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 4.1 APG) but noticeably less wins for the 18-17 Timberwolves. As a scoring-dependent guard playing on a team that plays at the NBA’s sixth-slowest pace, the 23-year-old’s production can vary from night to night.
With that being said, Ant-Man is still capable of putting up some numbers. Look no further than Minnesota’s last two contests, in which he scored a combined 90 points vs. the Clippers and Pistons. Edwards should have a considerably easier time producing against a New Orleans defense giving up the sixth-most points in the NBA (117.5). As just the ninth-most expensive guard on Tuesday’s board, this is the perfect spot to back one of the game’s greatest young talents.
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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.
