A six-game NBA slate is on tap for Saturday, with 12 teams set to tip off across the association. Plenty of big names are expected to take the floor, including Trae Young, Anthony Edwards and Alperen Sengun. 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 guards at the top of tonight’s fantasy basketball rankings:
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1. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks at BOS ($10,100)
Trae Young has been a fantasy monster, averaging 48.5 DK FPTS per game this season. However, the guard hasn’t produced in the most conventional way. Despite a career-worst field goal percentage (40.2 FG%), Ice Trae has led the NBA with 11.9 assists. Combined with 23.1 points per game, and Atlanta’s face of the franchise has become a walking double-double threat.
The Hawks will face a stiff test tonight when they travel to Boston. This season, the Celtics are giving up the seventh-fewest points (108.9) and the tenth-fewest DK fantasy points to point guards. However, on a thin Saturday slate, Young’s reliable role as a lead ball handler is hard to pass up. Look for Atlanta’s star to deliver a solid stat line in this one.
2. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers at IND ($9,500)
A knee injury is set to keep Joel Embiid out for at least another week. Philadelphia, without its star big man, will lean heavily on the duo of Paul George and Tyrese Maxey. The former is questionable to go tonight, opening up even more touches for the latter. The former All-Star has gotten over a tough start, averaging 26.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists this season.
Maxey hopes to carry a 33-point, six-rebound, six-assist performance vs. the Knicks on Wednesday (52.5 FPTS) into tonight’s contest. That’s a reasonable expectation against a Pacers defense surrendering the ninth-most points to opponents (116.9) this season. Given his expected workload, there’s no reason not to place the 24-year-old second on Saturday’s fantasy basketball rankings.
3. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves vs. CLE ($9,300)
The Timberwolves got a much-needed road win on Friday, defeating the Knicks 116-99. Leading the way for Minnesota was Anthony Edwards. The dynamic guard tallied 36 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists (62.25), including a nasty poster in the 4th quarter. This season, the 23-year-old has posted 26.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting 44.5% from the field.
Coming off of a monster performance, it’s difficult to fade Ant-Man. However, he’ll have to take on an elite Cleveland defense on Saturday. This season, the Cavaliers are allowing the 11th-fewest points to opponents (110.5) and the fifth-fewest DK fantasy points to shooting guards. Edwards is too good to leave off of tonight’s fantasy basketball rankings, but there are more promising options available at the position.
