It’s a loaded nine-game NBA slate on Friday, as eighteen teams are set to tip off across the association. Plenty of big names are expected to take the floor, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nikola Jokic. With so many stars in action, narrowing down who to start in season-long fantasy and DFS formats is a difficult task. Here are the three forwards at the top of tonight’s fantasy basketball rankings:
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Friday 8’s [$100K to 1st]
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks vs. TOR ($11,400)
To absolutely no one’s surprise, Giannis Antetokounmpo slots in at number one on this list. The superstar has enjoyed one of his best seasons yet, averaging a league-leading 31.3 points along with 11.8 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.4 blocks. Most impressive has been the power forward’s efficiency, as he’s shot 60.1% from the field through 33 games.
The Greek Freak’s two-way excellence gives him a stable fantasy floor. That makes the three-time MVP almost always worth his high price tag. That’s the case tonight when the Bucks host Toronto. This season, the Raptors have given up the fourth-most points (119.3) and the 11th-most rebounds (52.8) to opponents. It takes a terrific defense to slow down Antetokounmpo; that doesn’t appear to be the case on Friday.
2. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics at ORL ($9,900)
Jayson Tatum might not be the most exciting superstar in the NBA, but there’s truly nothing he can’t do. This season, the forward has put up 27.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.2 steals, shooting 45.9% from the field (35.9 3PT%). However, Boston’s face of the franchise is coming off one of his worst scoring performances of the season, a 16-point outing against the Raptors on Wednesday.
Normally, I’d expect the 26-year-old to rebound from a bad game. That’s easier said than done against a Magic team giving up the second-fewest points in the NBA (103.5). This season, Orlando has held opposing power forwards to the second-fewest DK fantasy points. Considering how difficult Tatum’s matchup is tonight, fantasy managers might want to consider a cheaper option on Friday.
3. Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans vs. UTA ($8,600)
Zion Williamson’s return from injury hasn’t drawn too much attention, partially due to how bad the Pelicans have been this season. Still, the two-time All-Star has looked great since hitting the floor on January 7th. Over his last three games, the Duke alum has posted 19.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists while shooting 54.5% from the field. Assuming his minutes continue to rise, it’s only a matter of time until the burly forward gets back into form.
Friday’s contest presents the perfect opportunity for Zion to deliver a vintage performance. The Jazz have surrendered the third-most points to opponents (119.8) and the ninth-most DK fantasy points to power forwards. Over ten career games against Utah, Williamson has recorded 24.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists. Compared to more expensive options like Tatum and Giannis, New Orleans’ star offers up plenty of value at a reasonable price.
