A loaded eleven-game NBA slate is on tap for Wednesday, with 22 teams set to tip off across the association. Plenty of big names are expected to take the floor, including Cade Cunningham, Victor Wembanyama, 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:
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1. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics vs. CHI ($9,600)
The defending champion Celtics have hit a speed bump, going 5-5 over their last ten contests. It’s no coincidence that Boston’s struggles have correlated with a statistical decline from Jayson Tatum. Since January 10th, the five-time All-Star has recorded 22.7 points (41.6 FG%), 8.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists. Those numbers, while solid, are a far cry from his season-long averages.
The 26-year-old will look to get back on track tonight in a tantalizing matchup with the Bulls. This season, Chicago has allowed the second-most points to opponents (121.0) and the seventh-most fantasy points to power forwards. When these two teams last met in December, Tatum produced a 43-point, 15-rebound, ten-assist masterpiece. An encore performance would make the forward a slam-dunk first choice for tonight’s fantasy basketball rankings.
*Tatum (knee) questionable for tonight’s game vs. Chicago.
2. Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors at WAS ($9,300)
It’s fair to wonder if Scottie Barnes is miscast as a leading scorer on the lottery-bound Raptors. Still, the lanky forward stands out as one of the more versatile players in the NBA. This season, he’s posted 20.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 6.6 assists while shooting 45.7% from the field. On the other end of the floor, the former All-Star has chipped in with 1.5 steals and 0.9 blocks.
A two-way force this talented is always set for a large workload, even when he doesn’t prioritize points. With that being said, putting up numbers of any kind shouldn’t be difficult agains the Wizards. This season, Washington has surrendered the most points (122.4), rebounds (57.3) and third-most assists (28.6) to opponents. Against the worst defense in basketball, it’s impossible not to place Barnes near the top of this list.
3. Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans vs. DAL ($8,600)
In a lost season for the 12-35 Pelicans, the health and progression of Zion Williamson is worth monitoring. New Orleans’ talented, but troubled, franchise player has struggled to stay healthy all season. However, since returning from a hamstring injury on January 7th, the bruising forward has averaged 23.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists while shooting 57.3% from the field.
On the rare occasion when Williamson is active, he automatically warrants consideration in most fantasy lineups. That’s especially true tonight against the Mavericks. Over Zion’s last six meetings with Dallas, he’s put up 27.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists. In a spot he’s dominated previously, the two-time All-Star is a good alternative for managers looking to save salary.
