DFS Alerts
Nerlens Noel (knee) ruled out Sunday
Noel will miss his second consecutive game with left knee soreness and is out against the Miami Heat. In yesterday’s game against the Trail Blazers, Taj Gibson played the backup center role behind Mitchell Robinson and played 14 minutes. Gibson is usually not a good fantasy producer, as he has averaged .45 FPM in a 32 minutes sample with the Knicks. There is also a chance Obi Toppin plays some more minutes, as the second leg of a back to back may lead coach Thibodeau to play his younger players more minutes.
As reported by: the New York Knicks via Twitter
Raul Neto (left groin) available to play Sunday
Raul Neto has been officially upgraded from probable and is set to return from his four game absence with a groin injury. Neto has averaged 18 minutes a game as the backup point guard behind Russell Westbrook. With Neto’s return, him and Ish Smith will be fighting for backup guard minutes behind Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal.
As reported by: Chase Hughes on Twitter Alex Len will start for Wizards on Sunday
After playing more minutes than Lopez the last two games, Len will receive the start at center for the Wizards against the Charlotte Hornets. Per CourtIQ, Len has averaged 1.18 FPM in a 127 minute sample with a 18.2% usage rate.
As reported by: the Washington Wizards via Twitter PJ Washington (foot) will start Sunday
After missing the last two games with a foot injury, Washington is available for the Hornets and will reclaim his starting spot against the Washington Wizards. Coach Borrego mentioned that Washington would have no minutes restrictions and should be a full go in a great matchup with the Wizards. Devonte Graham left the Hornets last game with a groin strain and is out, so Lamelo Ball will stay in the starting lineup. With Graham off the court this year, Ball leads the team with 1.22 FPM and a 22% assist rate per courtIQ. With Washington back, Bismack Biyombo may lose some minutes, as Washington has played backup center behind Cody Zeller when they have both been active.
As reported by: the Charlotte Hornets via Twitter Nerlens Noel (sore left knee) questionable Sunday
Noel missed the front end of the back to back with his knee soreness, and is now questionable for today’s game against the Miami Heat. If Noel were to sit again, coach Thibodeau favorite Taj Gibson would likely take the backup center minutes behind Mitchell Robinson as he did yesterday against the Blazers. If Noel were to play, Gibson might not see the floor as he sat the back end of the Knicks last back to back set and is one of the older players on the roster.
As reported by: the New York Knicks via Twitter Blake Griffin (rest) ruled out Saturday
Despite being omitted from the Pistons’ injury report, Griffin has been ruled out and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against Los Angeles Lakers for rest purposes on the second leg of a back-to-back set, while Wayne Ellington and Derrick Rose were previously ruled out with their respective ailments. In Ellington’s absence, Saddiq Bey will likely receive the starting nod alongside Jerami Grant on the wing once again, but in his previous spot starts, he’s had far from a secure minute floor and will be a volatile option in daily fantasy formats. This could also open up additional playing time for Svi Mykhailiuk off the bench, but he’ll still have stiff competition for playing time with Josh Jackson playing so well in recent games. As for Rose, his unavailability could allow Saben Lee to see nominal minutes at point guard, but it’s more likely head coach Dwane Casey continues to deploy Rodney McGruder in the role after logging at least 15 minutes in the previous two contests.
As reported by: Omari Sankofa II via Twitter
Derrick Rose (personal) ruled out Saturday
Rose is a late addition to the Pistons’ injury report and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers due to personal reasons on the second leg of a back-to-back set, while Wayne Ellington remains unavailable with a strained right calf. In Ellington’s absence, Saddiq Bey will likely receive the starting nod alongside Jerami Grant on the wing once again, but in his previous spot starts, he’s had far from a secure minute floor and will be a volatile option in daily fantasy formats. This could also open up additional playing time for Svi Mykhailiuk off the bench, but he’ll still have stiff competition for playing time with Josh Jackson playing so well in recent games. As for Rose, his unavailability could allow Saben Lee to see nominal minutes at point guard, but it’s more likely head coach Dwane Casey continues to deploy Rodney McGruder in the role after logging at least 15 minutes in the previous two contests.
As reported by: Keith Langlois via Twitter Brandon Clarke (calf) ruled out Saturday
Clarke has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans due to right calf soreness, while Jonas Valanciunas and Grayson Allen have cleared the NBA’s health and safety protocols and will be available off the bench for tonight’s contest. This means that Gorgui Dieng will join the starting lineup alongside Xavier Tillman Sr. in the frontcourt, and they’ll be intriguing tournament targets given the uncertainty surrounding Valanciunas’ conditioning following an extended layoff because of a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. Even though he may be limited, Valanciunas appears likely to at least some playing time with the second unit given the Grizzlies’ current lack of depth at the center and power forward positions.
As reported by: Rob Fischer via Twitter Joel Embiid (knee) will start Saturday
Embiid has officially been upgraded from questionable and will start in Saturday’s matchup against the Brooklyn Nets despite dealing with right knee soreness, while Ben Simmons and Seth Curry have also been cleared to play following their original designations on the Sixers’ injury report. There haven’t been any reports of potential minute restrictions for the aforementioned trio, so they should all be able to handle their typical minute allotments as members of head coach Doc Rivers’ first unit. Additionally, the return of Simmons will send Furkan Korkmaz back to the bench to resume a reserve role after his solid fantasy performance in just over 37 minutes of action in Thursday’s loss.
As reported by: Keith Pompey via Twitter Eric Paschall (knee) ruled out Saturday
Paschall has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks due to right knee soreness that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games, while Kevon Looney remains sidelined with a sprained left ankle he sustained during Tuesday’s loss. This will leave the Warriors extremely depleted in the frontcourt once again, specifically at the center position, and with just nine available players, Juan Toscano-Anderson should have a significant minute floor as the starting power forward alongside Draymond Green in tonight’s contest. Warriors head coach has already stated he’ll have to rotate Green and Toscano-Anderson at the five, which means he’ll be forced to utilize smaller lineup combinations and could allow second unit players like Damion Lee, Brad Wanamaker, or Kent Bazemore to see significantly more playing time off the bench this evening.
As reported by: Anthony Slater via Twitter D'Angelo Russell (quad) officially out Saturday
As expected, Russell has officially been downgraded from doubtful and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a right quad contusion that recently forced him to miss three consecutive games, while Naz Reid has been cleared to play following his original probably designation on the Timberwolves’ injury report. In Russell’s absence, Ricky Rubio will receive another start at the point guard position following a string of solid fantasy performances the last time Russell was sidelined. In those contests, Jordan McLaughlin has served as the backup point guard and has also been fairly productive during his time on the floor, but if Rubio continues to flirt with 30 minutes as a starter, which isn’t guaranteed by any means, it’s improbable McLaughlin will see enough playing to become fantasy relevant on a nine-game slate across the industry this evening.
As reported by: Alan Horton via Twitter Paul George (foot) ruled out Friday
George has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Boston Celtics due to right foot soreness, while Patrick Beverley remains sidelined and without a timetable for return from a sore right knee. In George’s absence, Luke Kennard is the likeliest candidate to join the starting lineup alongside Kawhi Leonard on the wing, which would mark his sixth start of the season already. Unsurprisingly, with George and Beverley off the court, Leonard leads the Clippers with a 30.7% usage rate, while Kennard, Reggie Jackson, Serge Ibaka, and Lou Williams all see their usage rates increase at least +2.7% in the aforementioned scenario as well.
As reported by: Ohm Youngmisuk via Twitter Derrick Rose (rest) and Wayne Ellington (calf) ruled out Friday
Rose is a late addition to the Pistons’ injury report and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns due to rest purposes on the front end of a back-to-back set, while Ellington has been downgraded from questionable and has been ruled out with a strained right calf. In Ellington’s absence, Saddiq Bey will receive the starting nod alongside Jerami Grant on the wing, but in his previous spot starts, he’s had far from a secure minute floor and will be a volatile option in daily fantasy formats. This could also open up additional playing time for Svi Mykhailiuk off the bench, but he’ll still have stiff competition for playing time with Josh Jackson playing so well in recent games. As for Rose, his unavailability could allow Saben Lee to see nominal minutes at point guard, but it’s more likely head coach Dwane Casey continues to deploy Rodney McGruder in the role after he logged 17 minutes in Wednesday’s loss.
As reported by: Omari Sankofa II via Twitter Other tagged players: Wayne Ellington Jae Crowder (foot) ruled out Friday
As expected, Crowder has officially been downgraded from doubtful and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons due to right foot soreness, while Abdel Nader will be available to play off the bench following his original questionable designation on the Suns’ injury report with left ankle soreness. In Crowder’s absence, it’s possible Jalen Smith sees some playing time alongside either Deandre Ayton or Frank Kaminsky in the frontcourt, but it’s highly improbable he’ll see enough minutes to become relevant in daily fantasy formats on a nine-game slate across the industry. Speaking of Kaminsky, he’ll replace Cam Johnson in the starting lineup at power forward, making him an intriguing tournament target given his immense upside as a fantasy producer when seeing extended minutes.
As reported by: Gerald Bourguet via Twitter Theo Maledon (protocols) ruled out Friday
Maledon is a late addition to the Thunder’s injury report and won’t be eligible to play in Friday’s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves as he’s entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols and may be required to self-isolate for a currently undetermined period of time. This will leave Oklahoma City with eight available players for tonight’s contest, so they will all be in consideration to some extent on a nine-game slate at their price tags across the daily fantasy industry. With no true point guards left on the active roster, look for Kenrich Williams and Hamidou Diallo to handle a majority, if not all of the playmaking responsibilities for the Thunder this evening.
As reported by: Joe Mussatto via Twitter