Nine games between 18 teams across the NBA are set for Tuesday. That includes a handful of superstars, such as Anthony Edwards, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Karl-Anthony Towns. With so many big names playing, narrowing down who to start in season-long fantasy and DFS formats isn’t easy. Here are the three guards at the top of tonight’s fantasy basketball rankings:
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1. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves vs. PHI ($9,300)
It’s been a chaotic week for Anthony Edwards. Following a mid-game ejection vs. the Lakers on Thursday, the guard was handed a one-game suspension by the NBA. In his absence, the Timberwolves suffered a one-point loss to the Jazz. Upon returning this past weekend, Ant-Man dropped 44 points en route to a blowout win over the Suns.
It’s yet another impressive performance for Minnesota’s face of the franchise. While forward Julius Randle made his return on Sunday, this offense still revolves around Edwards. Among all guards available tonight, the 23-year-old has the second-highest average fantasy points per game (46.1 FPTS). Against an injury-depleted 76ers squad, the three-time All-Star needs to be first on Tuesday’s fantasy basketball rankings.
2. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks vs. MIL ($10,000)
Trae Young has hit the fantasy basketball goldmine: high usage, mediocre teammates, and an offensive system that prioritizes pace. This season, the guard has averaged 23.6 points and a league-leading 11.5 assists per game (47.4 FPTS). The only thing holding him back is shooting, currently hitting 40.4% of his field goal attempts (33.0 3PT%).
Despite his mediocre efficiency, Young’s strong counting stats offer a nice fantasy floor for managers. The 26-year-old has thrived in this spot, recording 25.6 points and 9.4 assists over his last five meetings with Milwaukee. The Bucks struggle on the perimeter, allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing point guards. Atlanta’s leading man has a clear path to yet another double-double.
3. Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks at ATL ($9,000)
The Bucks are driven by the play of Giannis Antetokounmpo, but don’t forget about his co-star. Damian Lillard isn’t the same player he once was, but he’s still one of the NBA’s elite point guards. This season, the nine-time All-Star has posted 25.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game (47.4 FPTS).
Lillard’s game relies on stellar shooting, which can make him a shaky fantasy option in certain matchups. That likely won’t be the case against Atlanta on Tuesday. This season, the Hawks have surrendered the fifth-most points (118.8) and the sixth-most assists (28.6) per game. When these teams last met on February 7th, Dame nearly recorded a triple-double (23 PTS, 10 AST, 9 REB). An encore performance could make the veteran a solid value play tonight.
