Six games between 12 teams across the NBA are set for Thursday. That includes a handful of superstars, such as Trae Young, LeBron James 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 forwards at the top of tonight’s fantasy basketball rankings:
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1. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers vs. NYK ($10,500)
The trade for Luka Doncic has led to a resurgeance in Los Angeles, with the team winning seven straight games. While the newest Laker has gotten most of the headlines, LeBron James has taken his game to another level. Since the start of February, LBJ has averaged 28.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 7.0 assists.
A force of nature such as LeBron can’t be stopped, only slowed down. The Knicks have had their fair share of struggles against The King over the years. Most recently, the future Hall of Famer put up a triple-double at Madison Square Garden on February 1st. New York could be without OG Anunoby (thumb) tonight, leaving its front court more vulnerable than usual. Expect a savvy veteran such as James to take full advantage of this potential weakness on Thursday.
2. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics vs. PHI ($10,100)
Another remarkable season for the Celtics has been made possible by Jayson Tatum. Boston’s roster is loaded with stars, but the 26-year-old is the straw that stirs a championship-winning drink. Through 58 games, the forward has posted 26.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists while shooting 45.2% from the field (51.0 FPTS).
Tatum’s all-around excellence gives him several avenues to produce, making him an appealing DFS target on most nights. If (big if) he plays on Thursday, the 76ers shouldn’t pose much of a challenge. Forward Paul George (groin) has already been ruled out, joining Joel Embiid on Philadelphia’s injured list. When these two teams last met on February 20th, Tatum tallied a triple-double (49.75 FPTS). Against a depleted opponent, the six-time All-Star has an argument for the top spot on these fantasy basketball rankings.
*Tatum (shoulder) is questionable to play on Thursday vs. the 76ers.
3. Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans vs. HOU ($9,200)
Finishing off our list is none other than Zion Williamson. The former number one overall pick has been the topic of much discussion this season, most of it negative. Still, despite his poor conditioning, the forward is always a force when healthy. This season, over just 24 games, the Duke alum has recorded 24.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.2 assists (45.3 FPTS).
On most nights, predicting a monster performance from a two-time All-Star wouldn’t exactly be going out on a limb. Thursday isn’t like most matchups, as the Pelicans will host a tenacious Rockets defense. This season, Houston has surrendered 106.6 points per game, third-lowest in the NBA. However, Williamson has been on a tear recently, averaging 55.7 fantasy points over his previous three outings. Without many high-end options available, the power forward is a decent pivot from higher-priced names like LeBron and Tatum.
