A loaded 11-game slate is set to tip off on Wednesday, with 22 teams in action across the NBA. That means plenty of big names are expected to take the floor, including Cade Cunningham, Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokic. With so many stars taking the floor, narrowing down 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:
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Floor General [$100K to 1st]
1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets vs. NOP ($12,800)
Night in and night out, Nikola Jokic leads the way at center. Denver’s face of the franchise has never been better, which is saying a lot for a three-time MVP. This season, The Joker has put up 29.5 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.3 assists (68.4 FPTS). Just as impressive has been the big man’s efficiency, shooting a career-best 46.6% from three-point range.
What happens when an unstoppable force meets a moveable object? Probably something akin to tonight’s matchup. New Orleans has allowed the sixth-most points per game (117.9) and the third-most fantasy points to centers. Jokic has notched a triple-double in seven straight meetings with the Pelicans. Can he go for eight in a row? The mere possibility elevates him to the top of Wednesday’s fantasy basketball rankings.
2. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs at ATL ($10,800)
Right on Jokic’s heels is Victor Wembanyama. In just under two years as a pro, the Frenchman has already established himself as an elite center. This season, he’s put up 24.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and a league-leading 3.9 blocks. The end result? 54.7 fantasy points per game. As far as two-way players go, they don’t get any better than this.
San Antonio’s budding superstar has a very favorable game on deck tonight. This season, the Hawks have surrendered 118.8 points per game to opponents, the fifth-worst mark in basketball. When these two teams last met on December 19th, Wemby put together a 42-point, 18-rebound masterpiece (70.0 FPTS). With that in mind, the 21-year-old is a good bet to deliver once again on Wednesday.
3. Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies at TOR ($8,300)
To round out tonight’s list, let’s go with a high-upside pick at a reasonable cost. Ja Morant might be the biggest star in Memphis, but Jaren Jackson Jr. is the team’s best player. This season, the big man has averaged 23.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists (40.0 FPTS). On the other end of the floor, the former Defensive Player of the Year has tallied 1.6 blocks and 1.3 steals.
The Grizzlies have an advantageous matchup set for Wednesday. This season, the Raptors have given up the fourth-most points (119.3) and the tenth-most rebounds (52.7) per game. When Jackson Jr. last played Toronto, he recorded 23 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three blocks (50.25 FPTS). There’s no reason to think he can’t enjoy a repeat performance during tonight’s contest. As a lower-cost option, JJJ is a potential steal at his current price.
