A three-game NBA slate is on tap for Friday, with just six teams set to tip off across the association. Still, plenty of big names are expected to take the floor, including LaMelo Ball, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Tyrese Maxey. With so few stars in action, figuring out who to start in season-long fantasy and DFS formats is a difficult task. Here are the three centers at the top of tonight’s fantasy basketball rankings:
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1. Mark Williams, Charlotte Hornets vs. POR ($7,800)
With Brandon Miller out for the rest of the season, the Hornets are thin on contributors surrounding LaMelo Ball. However, third-year pro Mark Williams has been nothing short of dominant recently. Over the center’s last five games, he’s averaged 25.0 points, 14.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. During that stretch, the Duke alum has recorded 50 or more DK fantasy points four different times.
Charlotte’s talented big man will look to keep his hot streak going tonight. This season, the Trail Blazers have given up the eighth-most points (117.3) and the fifth-most rebounds (53.6) to opponents. Now that both Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams have been ruled out, Portland’s front court depth is even weaker. Expect the Hornets to take advantage and feed their young center down low on Friday.
2. Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers at PHI ($6,900)
Evan Mobley (calf) won’t play tonight, leaving the Cavaliers with only one half of their dominant big man duo. Luckily for Cleveland, Jarrett Allen appears up for the task. This season, the former All-Star has posted 14.1 points and 10.0 rebounds while shooting a remarkable 70.9% from the field. While the 26-year-old isn’t the most polished center on offense, his ability on the glass leads to plenty of easy buckets.
With both Mobley and 76ers star Joel Embiid out, Allen should own the paint on Friday. It’s worth noting that Philadelphia isn’t an easy matchup, giving up the tenth-fewest DK fantasy points to opposing centers. Still, with so few quality options available, it’s nearly impossible to place JA any lower on this list. Cleveland’s dependable big man has one of the highest floors on tonight’s fantasy basketball rankings.
3. Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers at CHA ($4,000)
As previously mentioned, Deandre Ayton (knee) and Robert Williams (hand) won’t be playing tonight. That forces the Trail Blazers to start rookie center Donovan Clingan. The UConn product hasn’t been the most productive player this season, posting 5.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. However, that has more to do with a strict minutes restriction (16.6 MPG) from Portland’s coaching staff.
It’s safe to assume the 20-year-old will play, at minimum, more than half of Friday’s contest. The youngster has averaged 11.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 24.7 minutes during his last three outings. That string of success should continue tonight against the Hornets. This season, Charlotte has given up the fifth-most DK fantasy points to opposing centers. At a dirt-cheap cost, Clingan offers massive upside for fantasy managers looking to spend more at other positions.
