DFS Alerts
Motown Philly Boys to Men
Despite a brutally slow start in his previous game, Josh Richardson still ended up 13 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists in nearly 39 minutes without Ben Simmons in the lineup. Those overall fantasy numbers should go up, as we expect Richardson to shoot better than 33% from two-point range on most nights. He is cheap around the industry and should be in line to perform well in accordance with that price tag. The upside in GPPs happens if Richardson can fall into some steals and blocks against the rookie Cleveland backcourt. Several key 76ers players have to man up to survive life without Ben Simmons, and Richardson is one of them.
Man Down at the Alamo
With LaMarcus Aldridge out for tonight’s game, we can look to the Spurs for some extra value. The biggest beneficiary of LMA being out this year is Jakob Poeltl. In the four games Aldridge has missed this season, Poeltl has gained about 14.5 minutes and 2.7 extra field goal attempts. On paper, he should exceed his salary expectations tonight.
Marquese Chriss (calf) will start Tuesday
As expected, Chriss has officially been upgraded from probable and will start in Tuesday’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings after missing one game due to a sore left calf, while Draymond Green was already ruled out and will miss a second consecutive game with a right pelvic contusion. In their absences, Eric Paschall ended up receiving the starting nod at power forward alongside Kevon Looney in the frontcourt, but they both were disappointing for fantasy purposes, particularly Paschall, who still managed to log just under 31 minutes of action in Sunday’s loss. Ever since the trade deadline, Jordan Poole has led the Warriors starters with a 25.1% usage rate and is averaging 0.96 Draftings and 0.90 FanDuel points per minute with Green off the court.
As reported by: Warriors PR via Twitter
Brook Lopez (back) will play Tuesday
As expected, Lopez has been upgraded from probable and will play in Tuesday’s second leg of a back-to-back set against the Toronto Raptors after missing one game due to a sore back, while Kyle Korver will miss a sixth consecutive game with a sore back as well. In Lopez’s absence, Robin Lopez ended up receiving the starting nod at the center position, and he was solid for fantasy purposes in just under 33 minutes of action in Monday’s overtime loss. There haven’t been any reports of a potential minute restriction for Brook Lopez, so he’ll more than likely reclaim his normal spot in the starting lineup and should be fine to handle his usual allotment of minutes in tonight’s contest. Lopez isn’t exactly priced at discount on daily fantasy sites, but he’ll be in consideration for tournament formats since he is averaging 0.94 DraftKings and 1.01 FanDuel points per minute on the season thus far.
As reported by: Tim Bontemps via Twitter Devonte' Graham (rest) not expected to play Tuesday
Graham was never listed on the Hornets’ injury report, but head coach James Borrego disclosed to reporters at his pregame media availability that he doesn’t expect Graham to play in Tuesday’s matchup against the Indiana Pacers due to rest purposes. Borrego did confirm that Malik Monk will receive the starting nod alongside Terry Rozier in the backcourt, and Monk has already logged at least 27 minutes off the bench as the Hornets sixth-man in each of the previous six games.
As reported by: Charlotte Hornets PR via Twitter Patrick McCaw (illness) out Tuesday
McCaw has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Tuesday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks due to an illness that has now forced him to miss three games, while Norman Powell and Marc Gasol remain sidelined with their respective ailments, the latter still being a ways away from a return to game action. McCaw has largely been in a reserve role and playing anywhere between mid-teens and low-20s minutes off the bench of late, which means that his vacated playing time should be absorbed mostly by the starters and Terence Davis, whereas Matt Thomas is a candidate to step into the rotation to absorb a minimal role in the second unit as well. Davis isn’t exactly priced down on daily fantasy sites, but he could be a viable tournament option on a seven-game slate since he is averaging 1.06 DraftKings and 1.00 FanDuel points per minute with McCaw, Powell, and Gasol off the court this
As reported by: Josh Lewenberg via Twitter Draymond Green (pelvic) listed out Tuesday; Marquese Chriss (calf) probable
Green has been downgraded from questionable on the latest Warriors’ injury report and won’t play in Tuesday’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings due to a right pelvic contusion that has now forced him to miss two games, while Chriss has been upgraded to probable and appears to be on track to return from a one-game absence because of a sore left calf. In their absences, Eric Paschall ended up receiving the starting nod at power forward alongside Kevon Looney in the frontcourt, but they both were disappointing for fantasy purposes, particularly Paschall, who still managed to log just under 31 minutes of action in Sunday’s loss. Ever since the trade deadline, Jordan Poole has led the Warriors starters with a 25.1% usage rate and is averaging 0.96 Draftings and 0.90 FanDuel points per minute with Green off the court.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Other tagged players: Marquese Chriss Victor Oladipo (back) and Edmond Sumner (hip) out Tuesday
Oladipo has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Sunday’s matchup against the Charlotte Hornets due to a sore lower back that has now forced him to miss two games, while Edmond Sumner will also unavailable after originally being listed as questionable with a sore left hip. However, Sumner has been out of the regular rotation for quite some time, so his availability means essentially nothing to the remaining backcourt members. In Oladipo’s absence, Aaron Holiday will receive the start alongside Malcolm Brogdon in the backcourt once again, but he needed garbage time and the entire fourth quarter to put together a solid fantasy performance in Sunday’s blowout loss. Ever since Oladipo made his season debut at the end of January, the main beneficiary in limited time with him and Jeremy Lamb off the court has been Domantas Sabonis, who a 25.3% usage rate, 35.7% assist rate, 22.4% rebound rate, and is averaging 1.53 DraftKings and 1.45 FanDuel points per minute.
As reported by: Scott Agness via Twitter Other tagged players: Edmond Sumner Let's Get Some Steals
I really hate playing a guy with a 15.4% usage rate, but we don’t have a ton of value on DraftKings tonight. The Lakers have a 124.3 implied team total, which is the highest on the slate, and 9.5 points higher than their season average. Bradley is averaging 18.2 fantasy points per game over the last two weeks, and he’s played over 29 minutes in four of the last five games. The Pelicans turn the ball over the 5th most in the NBA, which adds a little upside to a defensive guy like Bradley.
Watch The Injury News
Toscano-Anderson really benefited on Sunday with Green and Chriss out. They’re both questionable tonight. I will be watching this news closely, because if Green sits, I think Toscano-Anderson is a really strong value play. With it being early in the day, I wanted to highlight him, but if Green plays, I won’t play him. He has scored over 30 fantasy points in back-to-back games.
Minutes Are Up
Barnes is cheap across the industry, and he’s not expected to be very popular. He’s scored at least 30 fantasy points in four of the last five games. He’s also played at least 35 minutes in four of the last five games. With the minutes up, Barnes sets up as a top value play on this slate for me. Plus, the Kings have a 115.8 implied team total, which is 7.5 points higher than their season average.
A Hero with a Gyro
The Greek Freak let people down last night, but that is all the more reason to play him tonight. He only played 25 minutes, so he should be fresh and with a spread of only one, this game should stay close. Giannis is matchup-proof and already dropped 36 points, 15 boards and 8 assists on this team earlier in the season. If you find comfortable value for other spots on your roster, this is the stud to pay for.
Marcus Darling
Kemba Walker will miss tonight’s game for the Celtics. Multiple players benefit from this absence, but the one who that arguably bumps the most is Marcus Smart. When Kemba misses games, Smart plays the point guard position much more, and his fantasy output takes the biggest jump of any regular rotation player on a per-minute basis. I realize Allan Lem has a dynamic flow chart telling you when to play Marcus Smart, but I think he is a solid value tonight in this matchup.
Brook Lopez (back) listed probable Tuesday
Lopez has been listed as probable on the Bucks’ initial injury report for Tuesday’s second leg of a back-to-back set against the Toronto Raptors after missing one game due to a sore back, while Kyle Korver will miss a sixth consecutive game with a sore back as well. In Lopez’s absence, Robin Lopez ended up receiving the starting nod at the center position, and he was solid for fantasy purposes in just under 33 minutes of action in Monday’s overtime loss. There haven’t been any reports of a potential minute restriction for Brook Lopez, so he’ll more than likely reclaim his normal spot in the starting lineup and should be fine to handle his usual allotment of minutes in tonight’s contest. Lopez isn’t exactly priced at discount on daily fantasy sites, but he’ll be in consideration for tournament formats since he is averaging 0.94 DraftKings and 1.01 FanDuel points per minute on the season thus far.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Wendell Carter Jr. (ankle) remains out Tuesday
Carter Jr. was briefly upgraded to questionable on the initial Bulls’ injury report, but he’ll remain out and won’t play in Tuesday’s matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a sprained right ankle that’s kept him sidelined since early-January, while Denzel Valentine, Otto Porter Jr., and the rest of the ailing Bulls will still be unavailable for tonight’s contest. This means that Daniel Gafford should receive another start at the center position, but he and Christiano Felicio have essentially split the minutes at the five, limiting both of their floors and ceilings for daily fantasy formats on a nightly basis. The sample size with this diminshed Chicago roster is still relatively small, but in that time, Thaddeus Young and Zach LaVine have benefitted the most and are both averaging at least +0.14 more fantasy points per minute over their normal season-long numbers.
As reported by: K.C. Johnson via Twitter