An eight-game NBA slate is set for Saturday, with 16 teams taking the floor. Plenty of superstars are in action, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo. 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. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks vs. IND ($11,800)
Another year, same old Giannis Antetokounmpo. To absolutely no one’s surprise, the Greek Freak has been dominant once again this season. While Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lead the MVP race, Milwaukee’s superstar has a strong claim as well. Through 53 games, the power forward has averaged 30.5 points, 12.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists (58.9 FPTS).
The Bucks give their best player a massive workload every game, so it’s difficult to fade him against anyone. That’s especially true against an opponent that the 30-year-old has dominated, as is the case tonight. Over Antetokounmpo’s last five games against the Pacers, he’s posted 28.4 points, 13.6 rebounds and 8.4 assists. Saturday’s matchup vs. Indiana should lead to another dominant performance from the nine-time All-Star.
2. Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies vs. MIA ($8,400)
The Grizzlies are an offensive juggernaut, scoring the second-most points per game in basketball (122.7). That’s led to some terrific statistics from Memphis’ best players, including Jaren Jackson Jr. The power forward has recorded 22.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game this season (38.9 FPTS). On the other end of the floor, the former Defensive Player of the Year has put up 1.7 blocks and 1.3 steals.
JJJ will has a difficult matchup on tap tonight against the Heat. Big man Bam Adebayo has earned a reputation as one of the game’s best defenders. This season, Miami has held opposing centers to the 13th-fewest fantasy points per game. However, this Grizzlies offense plays at the NBA’s fastest pace (103.8), giving their stars a safe fantasy floor. Without an abundance of high-end forwards available, Jackson Jr. deserves placement on Saturday’s fantasy basketball rankings.
3. OG Anunoby, New York Knicks at GSW ($6,700)
Even without Jalen Brunson, the Knicks have won the last two games of their West Coast road trip. That’s due in large part to the exceptional play of OG Anunoby. The two-way wing has been at his best recently, averaging 21.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists over his last five games. That stretch includes a 29-point performance against the Warriors on March 4th.
The Knicks will face Golden State once again on Saturday, this time at the Chase Center. The Warriors play solid defense, but most of their attention will likely be on Karl-Anthony Towns. That should leave Anunoby open for some three-point attempts, where he’s shot 37.2% from beyond the arc during his last five outings. The 27-year-old, as New York’s current number two option, should handle plenty of touches on offense tonight.
