James Harden vaulted into the Fantasy Power Rankings with two double-doubles in Week 17.
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Despite an abbreviated schedule leading into the All-Star break, there were plenty of stellar two-game weeks from some of fantasy’s biggest stars in Week 17. Here’s a look at how it all shook out.
The following players averaged the most fantasy points per game last week (two-game minimum):
#1. Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks
Last Week: 64.2 FP/G
Season Rank: 7 (48.6 FP/G)
Towns made the most of his two times on the floor in Week 17, posting a pair of double-doubles where he hit the 40-point mark. The big man added five steals over the pair of contests and shot 58.3%, including 55.6% from 3-point range. In terms of fantasy points per game, Towns tied with the prolific Nikola Jokić, but finished with more points and categories led.
#2. Last Week: 64.2 FP/G
Season Rank: 1 (64.5 FP/G)
Jokić put up a stellar pair of games himself, spearheading a fantastic offensive week for the Nuggets. Denver averaged 139 points per contest over its two Week-17 games, and the big man was naturally an integral part of the success with averages of 33.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 2.5 steals per contest while shooting 61.9%. The sample included his 25th triple-double of the season, a fitting cap on another MVP-caliber week.
#3. Last Week: 57.3 FP/G
Season Rank: 14 (44.5 FP/G)
Durant was in vintage form despite an 0-2 Week 17 for the Suns, recording 34- and 37-point tallies in Phoenix’s pair of losses. KD shot an incandescent 67.5%, including 55.6% from behind the arc. In Devin Booker’s absence Wednesday due to a lower-back contusion, Durant mustered a 32.1% usage rate while coming just shy of a double-double with 37 points, nine assists, five rebounds and two steals across 42 minutes versus the Rockets.
#4. Last Week: 55.8 FP/G
Season Rank: 3 (54.6 FP/G)
Wembanyama capped off his two-game week with what could be considered an average performance by his lofty standards, posting a 17-point, 13-rebound double-double that included four assists and two blocks in 36 minutes during a loss to the Celtics. However, Wemby’s first game of the week gave him quite a foundation, as he exploited a highly favorable matchup versus the Wizards to the tune of 31 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals across 38 minutes. The dynamic second-year big is up to 28 double-doubles in 46 games, a pace that gives him a fighting chance to be on this list weekly.
#5. Last Week: 55.1 FP/G
Season Rank: 21 (43.2 FP/G)
Harden contributed a double-double performance in each of the Clippers’ two Week 17 games, helping Los Angeles to a 2-0 showing. Interestingly, The Beard had nothing resembling a hot hand, as he shot just 37.8% from the field. However, Harden still managed to average 25.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.5 blocks per contest, and he played a whopping 49 minutes in Wednesday’s wild overtime win against the Jazz. That game also saw Harden get to the line a season-high 15 times, and he parlayed 11 of those opportunities into points.
This Week’s Preview:
The following players are top fantasy point producers and play at least three games next week with fewer than two matchups against top-10 defenses:
Victor Wembanyama, Spurs (55.8 FP/G) – PHO, DET, @NO
Luka Dončić, Lakers (51.4 FP/G)- CHA, @POR, @DEN
Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks (48.6 FP/G)- CHI, @CLE, @BOS
LeBron James, Lakers (47.3 FP/G)- CHA, @POR, @DEN
Kevin Durant, Suns (44.5 FP/G)- @SA, @CHI, @TOR
