DFS Alerts
James Harden (thigh) listed questionable Monday; Clint Capela (heel) listed doubtful
Despite head coach Mike D’Antoni calling him doubtful, Harden is listed as questionable on the initial Rockets’ injury report for Monday’s matchup against the Utah Jazz, while Capela is listed as doubtful and Russell Westbrook was already ruled out for rest purposes on the second leg of a back-to-back set. With Harden sidelined for Sunday’s loss, Eric Gordon ended up receiving the start alongside Westbrook in the backcourt, and he was relatively productive for fantasy purposes in just over 35 minutes of action, making him a likely candidate to remain the starting lineup regardless of Harden’s status this evening. As for Capela’s absence, Isaiah Hartenstein will more than likely receive the starting nod at the center position after he averaged 30.4 minutes in his two most recent starts with Capela sidelined, which makes him an elite value option on tonight’s six-game slate since he is averaging 1.08 DraftKings and 1.11 FanDuel points per minute on the season thus far.
As reported by: Tim MacMahon via Twitter Other tagged players: Clint Capela
LaMarcus Aldridge (thumb) out Monday
Aldridge was included on the Spurs’ initial injury report and won’t play in Monday’s matchup against the Chicago Bulls due to a sprained right thumb. This will be the third time Aldridge has been sidelined this season, and on the two previous occasions, Jakob Poeltl ended up receiving the start at the center positions, and he was generally very solid for fantasy purposes while averaging 28.7 minutes in regulation time of the aforementioned contests. Meanwhile, Drew Eubanks and Chimezie Metu appear to be with the Spurs on their current road trip, and Eubanks will likely serve as the primary backup center behind Poeltl when Trey Lyles doesn’t slide over to the five in smaller lineup combinations. It comes as no surprise that DeMar DeRozan sees the largest spike in usage with Aldridge off the court, but even with a 32.2% usage rate, he is only averaging 1.22 DraftKings and 1.19 FanDuel points per minute in a 296.1 minutes sample size.
As reported by: Tom Osborn via Twitter High Usage With Plus Draw
KAT has been chucking since his return from injury and is starting to round into form, logging four straight games of 48+ fantasy points. Towns usage rate has spiked over the last three games (36.1%, 40.4%, 37.8%) and draws a favorable matchup against a depleted Kings front court. Towns is unlikely to be truly contrarian – current ownership projections have him in the mid-20’s – but he still makes for a strong tournament option with one of the highest ceilings on the slate.
JaKarr Sampson (ankle) will start Sunday
Sampson has officially been upgraded from questionable and will play in Sunday’s matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers after missing one game due to a sprained left ankle, while Myles Turner was already ruled out because of an illness. With Sampson cleared to play, he’ll receive the starting nod at power forward, and he’s started in all but one game Turner has missed this season and averaged 21.4 minutes in these aforementioned contests. However, Sampson will still have a volatile minute floor with Indiana’s depth at the forward positions since Doug McDermott and T.J. Warren are more than capable of manning the power forward position in smaller lineup combinations. None of the Pacers starters see a massive spike in usage rate with Turner and Brogdon off the court, but Domantas Sabonis does lead the way with a 25.2% usage rate and is averaging 1.35 DraftKings and 1.32 FanDuel points per minute in a 479.9 minutes sample size.
As reported by: Jeremiah Johnson via Twitter Patrick Beverley (groin) listed out Sunday
Beverley has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Sunday’s matchup against the Miami Heat due to a sore right groin that has now forced him to miss three games, while Patrick Patterson remains questionable and Paul George will miss a ninth straight game with a strained left hamstring. With Beverley sidelined, Lou Williams and Jerome Robinson have alternated starts alongside Landry Shamet in the backcourt, but Robinson was limited to just one rotation and logged just five total minutes in Friday’s win. In fact, head coach Doc Rivers rotation in that contest was rather top-heavy, as Shamet, Kawhi Leonard, and Maurice Harkless were the only players to eclipse the 30-minute mark, which could limit the ceiling of Williams and Montrezl Harrell this evening. However, given the nature of the Clippers rotation, Williams spends plenty of time on the court without Beverley and George, and he’s been phenomenal in these minutes, as he owns a 31.1% usage rate, 34.2% assist rate, and is averaging 1.29 DraftKings and 1.21 FanDuel points per minute in a 620.5 minutes sample size.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report DeAndre' Bembry (hand) officially out Sunday
As expected, Bembry has been downgraded from doubtful and won’t play in Sunday’s matchup against the Washington Wizards due to right-hand neuritis, while Alex Len was already ruled out with a strained right hip flexor. Following the departure of Allen Crabbe to Minnesota earlier in the month, Bembry had logged at least 20 minutes off the bench in three of the Hawks’ previous five games, so there will certainly be some playing time that will need to be absorbed in the second unit. The leading candidates to benefit from this vacated playing time are Treveon Graham, Brandon Goodwin, and Cam Reddish, though Reddish has already seen at least 27 minutes in all four games since Jeff Teague joined the team, leaving less room for his minute workload to increase this evening.
As reported by: Sarah K. Spencer via Twitter Kyrie Irving (personal) and DeAndre Jordan (finger) out Sunday
Irving is a late addition to the Nets injury report and won’t play in Sunday’s matchup against the New York Knicks due to personal reasons, while Jordan will miss a third consecutive game with a right dislocated middle finger. There hasn’t been any confirmation from head coach Kenny Atkinson on who will replace Irving in the starting lineup, but Spencer Dinwiddie will almost certainly receive the starting nod at point guard following a one-game hiatus of coming off the bench where he saw just over 37 minutes in Saturday’s overtime win. With Jordan still sidelined, Jarrett Allen is likely underpriced for his expected minute workload in tonight’s contest, and he’s shown the necessary upside for all daily fantasy formats in this spot before, as he has an 18.8% rebound rate and is averaging 1.08 DraftKings and 1.12 FanDuel points per minute on the season thus far.
As reported by: Billy Reinhardt via Twitter Other tagged players: DeAndre Jordan Jae Crowder (knee) officially out Sunday
As expected, Crowder has officially been downgraded from doubtful and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns due to a sore right knee, while Grayson Allen and Bruno Caboclo were previously ruled out with their respective ailments. There hasn’t been any confirmation on who will replace Crowder in the starting lineup, but Kyle Anderson has typically received the starting nod at small forward when Crowder is sidelined, and he has averaged 21.8 minutes in his three most recent spot starts this season. Anderson contributes in enough box score categories that he manages to average 0.88 DraftKings and 0.90 FanDuel points per minute with Crowder off the court, but Brandon Clarke and Dillon Brooks. have benefitted the most, as they each own a minimum of a +2.6% increase in usage rate and are averaging at least +0.06 more fantasy points per minute over their normal season-long numbers.
As reported by: Grizzlies PR via Twitter Jayson Tatum (groin) out Sunday; Jaylen Brown (ankle) and Marcus Smart (hand) available
Tatum has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Sunday’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans due to a right groin strain that has now forced him to miss two games, while Brown and Smart have both been cleared to play despite dealing with their respective ailments. In Tatum’s absence, Marcus Smart will almost certainly remain in the starting lineup for at least one additional game, and he’s been relatively consistent for fantasy purposes of late following another solid performance in just under 32 minutes of action last time out. Among the healthy Celtics starters, Kemba Walker has benefitted the most with Tatum and Enes Kanter off the court this season, as he owns a 33.4% usage rate, a 25.4% assist rate, and is averaging 1.35 DraftKings and 1.29 FanDuel points per minute in a 248.7 minutes sample size.
As reported by: the Boston Celtics via Twitter Other tagged players: Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart Myles Turner (illness) out Sunday
Turner is a new addition to the Pacers injury report and won’t play in Sunday’s matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers due to an illness, while JaKarr Sampson and TJ Leaf remain questionable with their respective ailments after missing one game. There hasn’t been any confirmation on who will replace Turner in the starting lineup, but if Sampson is cleared to play, he’ll more than likely receive the starting nod at power forward, as he’s started in all but one game Turner has missed this season and averaged 21.4 minutes in these aforementioned contests. However, Sampson will still have a volatile minute floor with Indiana’s depth at the forward positions since Doug McDermott and T.J. Warren are more than capable of manning the power forward position in smaller lineup combinations. None of the Pacers starters see a massive spike in usage rate with Turner and Brogdon off the court, but Domantas Sabonis does lead the way with a 25.2% usage rate and is averaging 1.35 DraftKings and 1.32 FanDuel points per minute in a 479.9 minutes sample size.
As reported by: Jeremiah Johnson via Twitter James Harden (thigh) officially out Sunday
As expected, Harden has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Sunday’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets due to a left thigh contusion. The last time Harden was sidelined, the Rockets were extremely depleted with Russell Westbrook and Clint Capela also unavailable, but Eric Gordon and Danuel House Jr. are the leading candidates to join the starting lineup in this afternoon’s contest. Whichever way head coach Mike D’Antoni opts to go, both players are in line for a substantial minute floor sans Harden, but Gordon has easily been the more productive of the two with Harden off the court, as he and Westbrook each own a minimum of a +6.3% increase in usage rate and are averaging at least +0.26 more fantasy points per minute over their normal season-long numbers. On top of that, Westbrook’s assist rate skyrockets to 55.3% and is averaging 1.77 DraftKings and 1.72 FanDuel points per minute in a 368.0 minutes sample size.
As reported by: Craig Ackerman via Twitter James Harden (thigh) not expected to play Sunday
Harden is still technically listed as questionable, but he reportedly is not expected to play in Sunday’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets due to a left thigh contusion. The last time Harden was sidelined, the Rockets were extremely depleted with Russell Westbrook and Clint Capela also unavailable, but Danuel House Jr. and Eric Gordon are the leading candidates to join the starting lineup in this afternoon’s contest. Whichever way head coach Mike D’Antoni opts to go, both players are in line for a substantial minute floor sans Harden, but Gordon has easily been the more productive of the two with Harden off the court, as he and Westbrook each own a minimum of a +6.3% increase in usage rate and are averaging at least +0.26 more fantasy points per minute over their normal season-long numbers. On top of that, Westbrook’s assist rate skyrockets to 55.3% and is averaging 1.77 DraftKings and 1.72 FanDuel points per minute in a 368.0 minutes sample size.
As reported by: Jonathan Feigen via Twitter Monster Usage In Plus Matchup
Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks get one of the best matchups possible on Sunday as they host a Wizards team that ranks fourth in pace and dead last in defensive rating. Young has battled through thigh and ankle injuries as of late but his fantasy production hasn’t been affected when he’s taken the court posting monster double-doubles in each of his last two games. The combination of Young’s monster 34.6% usage rate, 45.1% assist rate, and posh matchup make him Sunday’s top overall play.
Ride The Hot Streak
I’ll admit Dillon Brooks isn’t someone I necessarily trust, but the numbers suggest this may be a hot streak worth riding. Jae Crowder is doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Suns, and per CourtIQ, Brooks sees a +2.6% usage bump when Crowder is out. In fact Brooks’ usage rate jumps to a respectable 27% and he averages one fantasy point per minute. Brooks has scored 24 real-life points now in four of his last five games and more importantly, the Grizzlies are playing De’Anthony Melton alongside of Brooks, meaning they want the two to co-exist and be on the court together. Brooks has a wider range of outcomes than I typically want in a player, but at his very fair price tag, it’s hard to ignore him in all formats.
Take Advantage of Dropping Price Tag
If you’re looking at his recent box scores you won’t be impressed, but the price tag on Ricky Rubio is hard to ignore. He’s just $5,700 on FanDuel, which is the lowest he’s been all season. On DraftKings, he’s higher at $6,500 but that’s also the lowest he’s been since the start of December. While he’s scored fewer than 20 fantasy points now in back-to-back games, he played just 23 minutes in one of those games as the Suns got blown out, while he had just two assists and two rebounds last game against the Spurs despite playing 35 minutes. In fact if you throw out the blowout against the Pacers, he’s played at least 33 minutes in his last nine games. The minutes are there and the price tag is appealing enough where I am more than willing to chase Rubio’s upside against a Memphis team that’s allowing the 6th most fantasy points to opposing point guards, 3rd in pace, and a bottom-10 defensive team. Let me just say there are a multiple of cheap(ish) point guards that I really like today (Rubio, Elfrid Payton, Ja Morant), and so I think this is a position where you can find some salary relief tonight.