An 11-game NBA slate is set to tip off on Saturday, with 22 different teams in action. That means plenty of big names are expected to take the floor, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jayson Tatum and Nikola Jokic. With so many stars suiting up, 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:
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1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets at PHX ($12,800)
A five-game winning streak has the Nuggets sitting at third in the Western Conference standings. During that time, Nikola Jokic has recorded 29.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and 12.4 assists per game (58.5 FPTS). It’s just another excellent stretch of play for Denver’s franchise player, aiming for his fourth career MVP trophy. This season, the Joker is averaging a league-leading 68.4 fantasy points per game.
Denver’s opponent tonight, the Suns, have been generous against centers, allowing the ninth-most fantasy points to the position. The last time Jokic faced Phoenix, on Christmas Day, he put up 25 points, 15 rebounds and two assists (52.25 FPTS). His price is justifiably high, but the Serbian superstar is easily the top option available on Saturday.
2. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs at ORL ($11,100)
Just two seasons into the career of Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs are a win-now team. The team pulled off the trade deadline’s second-biggest deal, acquiring Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox. One of the biggest beneficiaries of the move is San Antonio’s young center. The Frenchman was already dominant, generating 53.4 fantasy points per game. An All-Star point guard could create a pick-and-roll combination that’s nearly impossible to defend.
What makes Wemby so special is his defensive prowess; he’s blocked a league-leading 3.9 shots per game. The 20-year-old’s all-around ability gives him a path to fantasy production that isn’t entirely dependent on scoring points. Those skills are crucial heading into tonight’s meeting with Orlando. This season, the Magic have allowed the third-fewest points in the paint per game (45.8). Regardless, the first-time All-Star is an easy choice for second on Saturday’s fantasy basketball rankings
3. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks vs. BOS ($9,600)
A thumb injury has slowed down an All-NBA caliber season from Karl-Anthony Towns. However, the big man looked like his normal, stat-stuffing self on Tuesday. Over 39 minutes against the Raptors, KAT produced 27 points and 20 rebounds (58.5 FPTS). The star center has averaged 24.3 points, 13.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game this season (50.8 FPTS).
Compared to Toronto’s defense, Saturday presents a different challenge. The defending champion Celtics have surrendered the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing centers this season. When these two teams last met in October, Boston held Towns to 12 points, seven rebounds, and three assists (25.75 FPTS). To be fair, it was KAT’s first game with New York, so a better performance should be expected. Still, it might be worth paying up for Jokic or Wembanyama tonight.
