DFS Alerts
Trae Young (illness) and DeAndre Bembry (abdominal) officially out Friday
As expected, Young has officially been downgraded from doubtful and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Washington Wizards due to flu-like symptoms, while Bembry remains sidelined and will miss a seventh consecutive game with abdominal pain. In Young’s absence, Jeff Teague will enter the starting lineup at point guard, but he’s had a less than ideal minute floor in recent games Young was sidelined, and Brandon Goodwin has consistently outplayed him when given the opportunity for extended minutes off the bench. Ever since Teague was acquired from the Timberwolves in January, it’s been Kevin Huerter and Cam Reddish that have benefited the most from a usage standpoint with Young off the court, as they each own a minimum of a +4.8% increase in usage rate, whereas Huerter and Teague are averaging at least +0.12 more fantasy points per minute over their typical numbers over this span.
As reported by: Sarah K. Spencer via Twitter Other tagged players: DeAndre Bembry
Luka Doncic (illness) will play Friday; Dorian Finney-Smith (hip) ruled out
Doncic has officially been upgraded from questionable and will play in Friday’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies despite dealing with an illness, while Finney-Smith and Tim Hardaway Jr. won’t play following their original questionable designations on the Mavericks’ injury report with their respective ailments. In Hardaway’s absence, Seth Curry will be the leading candidate to rejoin the starting lineup, and he was phenomenal for fantasy purposes in just over 37 minutes of action in Wednesday’s overtime win, showing no ill-effects from the back injury that forced him to miss the two previous games. Curry does see a minor boost in usage and production with Finney-Smith, Hardaway, Jalen Brunson, and Dwight Powell off the court, but his elevated minute floor more than makes up for his unimpressive 21.9% usage rate and averages of 0.95 DraftKings and 0.89 FanDuel points per minute.
As reported by: Mike Peasley via Twitter Other tagged players: Dorian Finney-Smith Trae Young (illness) and DeAndre Bembry (abdominal) doubtful Friday
Young has officially been downgraded from questionable and is now doubtful for Friday’s matchup against the Washington Wizards due to flu-like symptoms, while Bembry is also listed as doubtful with abdominal pain that has already forced him to miss six games. In Young’s absence, Jeff Teague will likely enter the starting lineup at point guard, but he’s had a less than ideal minute floor in recent games Young was sidelined, as Brandon Goodwin has consistently outplayed him when given the opportunity for extended minutes off the bench. Ever since Teague was acquired from the Timberwolves in January, it’s been Kevin Huerter and Cam Reddish that have benefited the most from a usage standpoint with Young off the court, as they own a minimum of a +4.8% increase in usage rate, whereas Huerter and Teague are averaging at least +0.12 more fantasy points per minute over their typical numbers over this span.
As reported by: Chris Kirschner via Twitter Other tagged players: DeAndre Bembry Projected Starter
Deandre Ayton hurt his ankle in Tuesday’s game and is listed as doubtful for tonight’s game against the Trailblazers which should open up the door for Aron Baynes to start at center for the Suns. We currently have Baynes projected for 26 minutes of court time which makes him an excellent option on DraftKings where he is min salary.
Thinned Out Backcourt
The oft-injured Malcolm Brogdon is listed as doubtful against the Bulls while Jeremy Lamb remains out and Victor Oladipo is listed as questionable. A thinned out backcourt rotation should mean more minutes for T.J. McConnell (we have him projected for 30 minutes) who dropped a 14/4/6 line in 29 minutes against the Bucks with Brogdon leaving early. McConnell’s combination of expected minutes and matchup make him one of the top point-per-dollar plays on the slate.
Ryan Arcidiacono (ankle) listed questionable Friday
Arcidiacono has been added to the latest version of the Bulls’ injury report and is now listed as questionable for Friday’s matchup against the Chicago Bulls due to right Achilles soreness, while Zach LaVine, Luke Kornet, and Chandler Hutchison remain sidelined with their respective ailments and are still without firm timetables for a return. Arcidiacono has seen his playing time greatly reduced with the return of Otto Porter Jr. and Lauri Markkanen to the lineup, and only figures to see that role reduced as Porter and Markkanen work their way back into game shape and gradually have their current minute restrictions lifted. However, if he’‘s unable to suit up, there could be more playing time available at the guard and wing positions for the likes of Denzel Valentine and Shaq Harrison this evening.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Tim Hardaway Jr. (illness) listed out Friday
Hardaway Jr. has been downgraded from questionable on the latest Mavericks’ injury report and is now listed out for Friday’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies due to an illness, while Luka Doncic, Dorian Finney-Smith, and J.J. Barea are still listed as questionable with their respective ailments. In Hardaway’s absence, Seth Curry will be the leading candidate to rejoin the starting lineup, and he was phenomenal for fantasy purposes in just over 37 minutes of action in Wednesday’s overtime win, showing no ill-effects from the back injury that forced him to miss the two previous games. Curry doesn’t see a significant boost in usage or production with Hardaway, Jalen Brunson, and Dwight Powell off the court, but his elevated minute floor would more than makeup for his pedestrian average of 0.84 DraftKings and 0.79 FanDuel points per minute.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Trae Young (illness) questionable Friday
Young has been added to the Hawks’ injury report and is now questionable for Friday’s matchup against the Washington Wizards due to flu-like symptoms, while DeAndre Bembry was downgraded from probable to questionable with abdominal pain that has already forced him to miss six games. Young has been a late addition to the injury report with an illness already several times this season, and he’s managed to play through the ailment more often than not thus far. However, if he’s unable to give it a go, Jeff Teague would likely enter the starting lineup at point guard, but he’s had a less than ideal minute floor in past games Young was sidelined, as Brandon Goodwin has consistently outplayed him off the bench when given the opportunity.
As reported by: Kevin Chouinard via Twitter Evan Fournier (elbow) officially out Friday
As expected, Fournier has officially been downgraded from doubtful and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to a UCL sprain in his right elbow. Head coach Steve Clifford even admitted to reporters at shootaround that this elbow injury could force Fournier to miss an extended period of time and there is currently no firm timetable for a return. In his absence, Wes Iwundu will receive the first crack at the starting shooting guard position, but with his dismal 13.2% usage rate, his presence in the starting lineup will do more for the remaining members of the first unit than Iwundu being an actual option in daily fantasy formats on a 10-game slate. In fact, Markelle Fultz and Terrence Ross have benefitted the most with Fournier, Jonathan Isaac, and Al-Farouq-Aminu off the court, as they each own a minimum of a +4.3% increase in usage rate and are averaging at least +0.15 more fantasy points per minute over their normal season-long numbers.
As reported by: John Denton via Twitter Serge Ibaka (knee) will play Thursday; Fred VanVleet (shoulder) and Marc Gasol (hamstring) officially out
As expected, Ibaka has quickly been upgraded from probable and will play in Thursday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors after missing three games due to right knee soreness, while VanVleet and Gasol remain sidelined with their respective ailments despite originally being listed as questionable on the Raptors’ injury report. In Ibaka’s absence, Patrick McCaw and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson both received a shot in the starting lineup, but both were pretty erratic for fantasy purposes over this span, and Hollis-Jefferson was even benched for Chris Boucher, who was fantastic in just under 29 minutes of action in Tuesday’s win. There haven’t been any reports of a potential minute restriction for Ibaka, so he should be fine to handle close to a normal minute workload in tonight’s contest barring a setback, which keeps him in consideration on a four-game slate since he has a 24.5%usage rate, a 15.3% rebound rate, and is averaging 1.10 DraftKings and 1.07 FanDuel points per minute on the season thus far.
As reported by: Eric Smith via Twitter Other tagged players: Fred VanVleet, Marc Gasol Draymond Green (knee) listed out Thursday
Green has been downgraded from questionable on the latest Warriors’ injury report and won’t play in Thursday’s matchup against the Toronto Raptors due to a sore left knee that has now forced him to miss four games, while Stephen Curry has already been medically cleared and will make his return from a lengthy injury layoff in tonight’s contest. Head coach Steve Kerr disclosed to reporters at shootaround that he plans to play Curry in short stints as he works his way back into game shape, and Curry will likely end up playing somewhere around 25 minutes this evening. In Green’s absence, one of Juan Toscano-Anderson or Dragan Bender will likely receive the starting nod alongside Marquese Chriss in the frontcourt, and he should be in line for a decent minute workload either way after signing a second 10-day contract with the Warriors earlier in the day.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Devonte' Graham (ankle) will play Thursday
Graham has officially been upgraded from questionable and will play in Thursday’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets after missing one game due to a sore left ankle. In his absence, Cody Martin ended up receiving the start alongside Terry Rozier in the backcourt, and he was more than serviceable for fantasy purposes in just over 34 minutes of action in Tuesday’s loss. There haven’t been any reports of a potential minute restriction for Graham, so Martin will end back to the bench to resume a reserve role and Graham should be fine to handle his usual allotment of minutes in tonight’s contest barring an in-game setback.
As reported by: Charlotte Hornets PR via Twitter Ish Smith (hamstring) officially out Wednesday
As expected, Smith has officially been downgraded from doubtful and won’t play in Wednesday’s matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers due to left hamstring tightness, while Thomas Bryant will sit out the second leg of a back-to-back set for injury management of his troublesome right foot. In Bryant’s absence, either Moe Wagner or Anzejs Pasecniks will likely join the Wizards starting lineup at the center position with Ian Mahinmi seemingly out of the rotation entirely after accruing a DNP-CD in each of the previous two contests. However, regardless of starter, Wagner should have a higher minute floor of the two, and he was more than serviceable for fantasy purposes in 28 minutes of action the last time Bryant was unavailable on a back-to-back situation. Bradley Beal and Davis Bertans have benefitted the most with Bryant and Smith off the court since the trade deadline, as they each own a minimum of a +1.5% usage rate increase and are averaging at least +0.11 more fantasy points per minute over their normal season-long numbers.
As reported by: Candace Buckner via Twitter Damian Lillard (groin) will play Wednesday
As expected, Lillard has officially been upgraded from probable and will play in Wednesday’s matchup against the Washington Wizards after missing six games due to a right groin strain. Head coach Terry Stotts already confirmed with reporters at his pregame media availability that Lillard won’t be subject to a minute restriction in his first game back from a lengthy layoff, so he’ll reclaim his usual place in the starting lineup from Gary Trent Jr., who was pretty erratic for fantasy purposes despite logging fewer than 34 minutes just twice over this span. Since Lillard won’t be limited by the Trail Blazers’ training staff, he’ll remain in consideration for tournament formats as normal since he has a 30.4% usage rate, a 34.1% assist rate, and is averaging 1.34 DraftKings and 1.28 FanDuel points per minute on the season thus far.
As reported by: Jamie Goldberg via Twitter Seth Curry (back) will play Wednesday; J.J. Barea (ankle) ruled out
Curry has officially been upgraded from questionable and will play in Wednesday’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans after missing one game due to low back tightness, while Barea has been ruled out following his original questionable designation on the Mavericks’ injury report. There haven’t been any reports of a potential minute restriction for Curry, so he should fine to handle his normal minute workload even though he’ll be coming off the bench in tonight’s contest. Courtney Lee will also head back to the bench to resume a reserve role, but he’ll have a chance of sticking in the rotation for at least one more game with Barea unavailable but has been mostly irrelevant for fantasy purposes despite logging at least 21 minutes in each of the previous two games.
As reported by: Brad Townsend via Twitter Other tagged players: J.J. Barea