DFS Alerts

Grizzlies will start Jones, Bane, Brooks, Jackson Jr., Adams on Sunday. As expected, Tyus Jones will draw the start for the Grizzlies with Ja Morant sitting out. Jones should be considered one of the top plays on the early slate at just 4K on DK.

Rockets will start Porter Jr., Green, Mathews, Tate, Wood on Sunday. As expected, Garrison Matthews will draw the start once again with Eric Gordon ruled out. Matthews usually sees minutes in the mid 20s when he gets the start and this is likely to be the case again today. He is not considered a must play at this time but does offer some value at 3.3K on DK.

Josh Richardson (calf) and Devontae Cacok available to play Sunday; Keita Bates-Diop (back) ruled out

Josh Richardson (calf) and Devontae Cacok will be available to play Sunday against the Golden State Warriors, while Keita Bates-Diop has been ruled out. Josh Richardson will likely draw the start for the Spurs and should see a decent amount of run tonight. He will be worth consideration at just 4.4K on DK. Cacok will be available but is not expected to play a major role for the Spurs. Hecould see some backup center minutes but remains behind Jakob Poeltl, Zach Collins, and Jock Landale on the depth chart. Keita Bates-Diop was also not expected to play a major role tonight either and any minutes that he would have seen will likely be split by the available bench players for the Spurs.

Malcolm Brogdon (rest) and Chris Duarte (toe) ruled out Sunday; Goga Bitadze (foot) and Jalen Smith (head) will play

Malcolm Brogdon (rest) and Chris Duarte (toe) have been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers, while Goga Bitadze (foot) and Jalen Smith (head) will play. Brogdon was not listed on the injury report coming into the day but will sit out due to rest. In his absence, Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield should play larger roles as the guard positions and should be considered better plays. The Pacers have been creative with their starting lineups in the past but we are projecting Goga Bitadze to remain in the starting lineup alongside Terry Taylor. Bitadze will be worth considering as a mid tier option despite his price being raised to 4.8K on DK. Duane Washington, Lance Stephenson, and Keifer Sykes should all play larger roles off the bench for the Pacers with both Duarte and Brogdon out.

Eric Gordon (illness) ruled out Sunday

Eric Gordon (illness) has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Garrison Matthews will likely draw the start once again for Gordon and should be in line to see minutes in the mid 20s. Jalen Green should see a boost in expected production with Josh Christopher and Dashien Nix playing increased roles off the bench.

Fred VanVleet (knee) ruled out Sunday

Fred VanVleet (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers. The last time VanVleet was rested Scottie Barnes played point with Armoni Brooks joining the starting lineup. Brooks saw 22 minutes of action so he is not expected to see full starter run, especially by the Raptors standards. As is the usual case when VanVleet is out Barnes, Gary Trent, and Pascal Siakam become better plays due to increased usage while Chris Boucher becomes a better play off the bench due to increased minutes.

Lineup Update: Wizards will start Neto, Caldwell-Pope, Kispert, Hachimura, Porzingis on Saturday. Kuzma never appeared on the injury report and was scratched right before staring lineups were released. With Kuzma out, Rui Hachimura will enter the starting lineup and should see increased run. He will be worth consideration as a value option at just 3.6K on Dk. KCP and Kristaps Porzingis should be tasked with shouldering more of the offensive load without Kuzma and become better plays.

LeBron James (knee) will start Saturday; Lakers will start Westbrook, Monk, Reaves, Johnson, James

LeBron James (knee) will start Saturday against the Washington Wizards. The Lakers will start Westbrook, Monk, Reaves, Johnson, James electing to go with their small ball lineup which worked the last time these two teams faced off recently. This will limit the upside of Wenyen Gabriel who started for the Lakers last night and smashed his value at the minimum price on DK. LeBron James can be considered as one of the top spend up options on tonight’s slate as he has the ability to break any slate.

Kyle Kuzma (knee) ruled out Saturday

Kyle Kuzma (knee) has been ruled out for Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Kuzma never appeared on the injury report and was scratched right before staring lineups were released. With Kuzma out, Rui Hachimura will enter the starting lineup and should see increased run. He will be worth consideration as a value option at just 3.6K on Dk. This should also mean more minutes for Deni Avdija off the bench as well as Tomas Satoransky playing a larger role in the rotation. KCP and Kristaps Porzingis should be tasked with shouldering more of the offensive load without Kuzma and become better plays.

Rajon Rondo (ankle) ruled out Saturday

Rajon Rondo (ankle) has been ruled out for Saturday’s game against the Detroit Pistons after being listed as doubtful the entire day. With Rondo ruled out, Brandon Goodwin will remain the backup point guard behind Darius garland. Goodwin is not worth DFS consideration at this time.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (ankle) available to play Saturday

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (ankle) will be available to play Saturday against the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite being listed as questionable on the injury report earlier in the day KCP will be available and should start for the Wizards. KCP should remain in his usual role with Deni Avdija and Ish Smith seeing the bulk of the backup guard minutes for Washington.

Mavericks will start Doncic, Brunson, Finney-Smith, Kleber, Powell on Saturday. As reported earlier, Maxi Kleber will slide into the starting lineup with both Spencer Dinwiddie and Reggie Bullock ruled out earlier in the day. Kleber will now be worth considering as a value option on tonight’s three game slate.

LeBron James (knee) a game-time decision Saturday; Wenyen Gabriel and Talen Horton-Tucker available; Wayne Ellington (illness) out

LeBron James (knee) will be a game-time decision for Saturday’s game against the Washington Wizards, while Wenyen Gabriel and Talen Horton-Tucker will be available. Wayne Ellington (illness) will remain out. Obviously the biggest piece of news is that we still don’t know if LeBron is playing tonight. He has only missed one game due to this recent ailment despite being listed as questionable for every game since making his return. If he were to be ruled out Russell Westbrook would become a great play as well as multiple value options opening up for the Lakers. Gabriel will be available and will be a great value option if he draws the start again like he did last night. THT will be available off the bench but does not project well enough to garner strong consideration in DFS at this time. With Ellington once again out, Avery Bradley and D.J. Augustin should handle the bulk of the backup guard minutes for the Lakers. Stay tuned as we wait on LeBron’s status and have pivots ready.

Killian Hayes (head) listed out Saturday; Cade Cunningham (illness) listed available to play

Killian Hayes (head) has been listed out for Saturday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, while Cade Cunningham (illness) has been listed available to play. Cunningham should instantly reclaim his spot in the starting lineup and be one of the top options for the Pistons. With Hayes out, Cory Joseph should see a few more minutes with the starting unit and Saben Lee should remain a part of the rotation as a backup guard. Lee is not expected to play enough of a role to be considered in DFS contests.

Maxi Kleber will start Saturday per HC Jason Kidd

Maxi Kleber will start Saturday against the Charlotte Hornets per HC Jason Kidd. Kleber and Josh Green were the two most likely candidates to draw the start for The Mavericks with both Spencer Dinwiddie and Reggie Bullock ruled out. Both Kleber and Green should see increased run with both being potential value play considerations tonight. Kleber starting over Green should swing a few more minutes his way and will make him a better play according to projections.