DFS Alerts
Take Advantage On FanDuel
Brown has played at least 30 minutes in seven of the last ten games, and with the current injuries for the Pistons, I don’t see a decrease coming anytime soon. Brown is averaging 28.5 fantasy points over the last two weeks, and his price really hasn’t increased on FanDuel. The Pelicans rank 24th in defensive efficiency against points guards, and the Pistons receive the second biggest pace bump on this slate.
Feast SZN If Favors Inactive
New Orleans best interior defender Derrick Favors is currently listed as questionable for Monday night and Jaxson Hayes is likely to start in his place if he’s unable to go. While Hayes has shown strong offensive flashes during his rookie campaign he remains extremely raw defensively and is someone that a veteran like Drummond will absolutely eat alive. Drummond is extremely expensive but he’s posted a 20/20 line in two of his last three games (ejected in the other one) and would have an excellent chance at another monster line Monday night if Favors is unable to suit up. While Drummond is certainly a better play with Favors inactive, he’s till in play in tournaments if Favors plays.
Michael Carter-Williams (shoulder) out Monday
Carter-Williams has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Monday’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings due to an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder that has now forced him to miss 11 games, while Aaron Gordon and D.J. Augustin remain questionable and are expected to be game-time decisions after missing the previous game. In their absences, Khem Birch and Wes Iwundu received the start at their respective positions, but Birch was easily the more productive of the two from a fantasy perspective despite both players logging at least 28 minutes in Friday’s loss. If Gordon is cleared to play without any restrictions, one of Birch or Iwundu will likely head back to the bench, but Gordon would obviously become an intriguing tournament target at his depressed salary since he racks up peripheral statistics on in areas of the box score and is averaging 0.96 DraftKings and 0.95 FanDuel points per minute to go along with a 20.8% usage rate on the year thus far.
As reported by: Orlando Magic PR via Twitter
J.J. Redick (hamstring) out Monday; Brandon Ingram (knee) questionable
Redick will join Kenrich Williams on the Pelicans’ inactive list for Monday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons due to a strained left hamstring that has now forced him to miss two games, while Ingram and Derrick Favors are questionable on the injury report because of their respective ailments. With Jrue Holiday sidelined, Josh Hart has started on the wing in all four games he’s been unavailable, and Hart has managed to log at least 33 minutes in all but one of those starts over that span. Jaxson Hayes and E’Twaun Moore joined the starting lineup in place of Favors and Redick in Saturday’s blowout loss, but their minute floors weren’t as stable as Hart’s, as they both recorded fewer than 28 minutes of action. The sample size with all the injured Pelicans off the court remains limited, but in that time, Ingram leads the way with a 29.7% usage rate, a 28.7% assist rate, and is averaging 1.27 DraftKings and 1.18 FanDuel points per minute, making him a fantastic tournament target if he’s cleared to play this evening.
As reported by: the New Orleans Pelicans via Twitter Other tagged players: Brandon Ingram Jrue Holiday (elbow) unlikely to play Monday
Head coach Alvin Gentry admitted to reporters at shootaround the Holiday is unlikely to play in Monday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons due to a strained left elbow that has already forced him to miss four games, while Derrick Favors and J.J. Redick have a chance to play but remain questionable with their respective ailments. With Holiday sidelined, Josh Hart has started on the wing in all four contests, and he has managed to log at least 33 minutes in all but one of those starts over that span. Jaxson Hayes and E’Twaun Moore joined the starting lineup in place of Favors and Redick in Saturday’s blowout loss, but their minute floors weren’t as stable as Hart’s, as they both recorded fewer than 28 minutes of action. The sample size with all the injured Pelicans off the court remains limited, but in that time, Brandon Ingram leads the way with a 29.7% usage rate, a 28.7% assist rate, and is averaging 1.27 DraftKings and 1.18 FanDuel points per minute.
As reported by: Will Guillory via Twitter Daniel Theis (knee) out Monday
Theis has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Monday’s matchup against the Chicago Bulls due to a sore right knee, while Vincent Poirier will be available to play off the bench after missing an extended period of time with a fractured right pinkie finger. In his absence, Enes Kanter will almost certainly receive the starting nod at the center position, but he shouldn’t be expected to automatically assume a typical starters’ workload, as he hasn’t played more than 25 minutes in any game Theis has been sidelined, or any a game all season, for that matter. However, Kanter is still an elite fantasy producer on a per-minute basis, so he’ll remain in consideration for all formats on tonight’s seven-game slate. No individual Celtics player sees a massive boost in usage or production with Theis off the court, but Jayson Tatum does own a 29.8% usage rate and is averaging 1.23 DraftKings and 1.20 FanDuel points per minute in a 634.8 minutes sample size.
As reported by: Jared Weiss via Twitter JaMychal Green (knee) will play Sunday
Head coach Doc Rivers confirmed with reporters during his pregame media availability that Green will play in Sunday’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets despite dealing with a right knee contusion, while Paul George will miss a second straight game with a strained left hamstring. In his absence, Landry Shamet remained in the starting lineup alongside Patrick Beverley in the backcourt, but he continued to be rather disappointing for fantasy purposes in 26 minutes of action in Friday’s win. Green saw 24 minutes off the bench in that contest, and he may still be relied upon to absorb a larger role in the second unit George is able to return from what could be an extended layoff. It should come as no shock that Kawhi Leonard, Lou Williams, and Montrezl Harrell have benefitted the most with George off the court this season, as they each own a minimum of a +3.0% increase in usage rate and are averaging at least +0.15 more fantasy points per minute over their normal season-long statistics.
As reported by: Jovan Buha via Twitter De'Andre Hunter (foot) will start Sunday
Hunter has officially been upgraded from questionable and will start in Sunday’s matchup against the Brooklyn Nets despite dealing with right foot pain, while Trae Young was already ruled out due to left hamstring pain. Head coach Lloyd Pierce already confirmed with reporters at his pregame media availability that Brandon Goodwin will receive the start at point guard in place of Young, which should force DeAndre’ Bembry to be relied upon to absorb more minutes as the primary ball-handler in the second unit for tonight’s contest. Goodwin is coming off of a relatively solid fantasy performance in 23 minutes of action off the bench in Friday’s loss, and he’ll be a viable value option on tonight’s five-game slate with his projected increase in playing time. However, Cam Reddish is also a viable tournament target since he has a 22.7% usage rate, a 19.4% assist rate, and is averaging 0.86 DraftKings and 0.84 FanDuel points per minute with Young and Jabari Parker off the court his season.
As reported by: Chris Kirschner via Twitter Pascal Siakam (groin) will start Sunday; Marc Gasol (hamstring) remains out
Siakam has officially been upgraded from questionable and will start in Sunday’s matchup against the San Antonio Spurs after missing just over three weeks due to a groin strain, while Marc Gasol will remain sidelined with a strained left hamstring. The Raptors will also get Norman Powell back from an extended injury layoff in tonight’s contest, but head coach Nick Nurse already confirmed with reporters that both Powell and Siakam will be subject to minute restrictions in their first games back, despite their returns to the starting lineup. This will send Terence Davis and Patrick McCaw to the bench to reassume reserve roles, and Davis is coming off of a phenomenal fantasy performance in just over 37 minutes of action as a starter in Wednesday’s win. Davis could presume a more prominent role in the rotation until Fred VanVleet is cleared to play, but with him and all the other Raptors at elevated price points, it may be best to take a wait-and-see approach on this entire rotation.
As reported by: Josh Lewenberg via Twitter Other tagged players: Marc Gasol Trae Young (hamstring) out Sunday
Young has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Sunday’s matchup against the Brooklyn Nets due to left hamstring pain, while De’Andre Hunter remains questionable with right foot pain. There hasn’t been any confirmation from the team or head coach Lloyd Pierce on who will replace Young in the starting lineup, but Brandon Goodwin and DeAndre’ Bembry have served as the primary ballhandlers in the second unit, so one or both of them should be relied upon to absorb more minutes in tonight’s contest, even if Pierce opts to start Alex Len and have Kevin Huerter and Cam Reddish assuming the playmaking responsibilities in Young’s absence. Goodwin is coming off of a relatively solid fantasy performance in 23 minutes of action off the bench in Friday’s loss, and he’ll be a viable value option on tonight’s five-game slate with his projected increase in playing time. However, Cam Reddish is also a viable tournament target since he has a 22.7% usage rate, a 19.4% assist rate, and is averaging 0.86 DraftKings and 0.84 FanDuel points per minute with Young and Jabari Parker off the court his season.
As reported by: Malika Andrews via Twitter Kyrie Irving (shoulder), Garrett Temple (knee), and Wilson Chandler (hamstring) available to play Sunday
As expected, Irving will be available to play in Sunday’s matchup against the Atlanta Hawks after missing nearly two months with a right shoulder impingement, while Temple and Chandler have also been cleared to return following a one-game layoff due to their respective ailments. There has yet to be any reports of a potential minute restriction for Irving, so it should be realistic to expect to assume at least close to a normal minutes workload in tonight’s contest, but either way, his mere presence in the lineup will likely send Garrett Temple or Spencer Dinwiddie to the bench to resume a reserve role. If Dinwiddie continues to share more time on the floor with Irving moving forward, his overall fantasy production is likely to take a massive hit, as he owns just a 22.8% usage rate, a 18.5% assist rate, and is averaging 1.00 DraftKings and 0.95 FanDuel points per minute in the 137.6 minutes he’s played with Irving on the court this season.
As reported by: Malika Andrews via Twitter Other tagged players: Garrett Temple, Wilson Chandler Bradley Beal (leg) and Thomas Bryant (foot) will play Sunday
Beal has officially been upgraded from questionable and will play in Sunday’s matchup against the Utah Jazz after missing seven of the previous eight games due to right lower leg soreness, while Bryant will make his return from a six-week absence while recovering from a stress reaction in his right foot. Head coach Scott Brooks already confirmed with reporters that both players won’t see their usual allotment of minutes in today’s contest, but Beal will still start and will send Gary Payton II to the bench to assume a reserve role where his playing time moving forward will be far from guaranteed. This means that Jordan McRae will continue to start alongside Beal on the wing for the time being, and he has been stellar in his limited playing time this season, recording a 25.0% usage rate and averaging 1.09 DraftKings and 1.07 FanDuel points per minute thus far on the year.
As reported by: Fred Katz via Twitter Other tagged players: Thomas Bryant Marcus Morris (neck), Frank Ntilikina (groin) and Dennis Smith Jr. (oblique) out Sunday; Julius Randle (personal) available to play
Morris, Ntilikina, and Smith Jr. have all been ruled out and won’t play in Sunday’s matchup against the Miami Heat due to their respective ailments, while Randle has rejoined the team and will be available to play following a two-game absence for personal reasons. This means that Reggie Bullock will receive a third consecutive start alongside RJ Barrett on the wing, but even as a starter, he hasn’t seen a dramatic increase in playing time and has still yet to record more than 27 minutes in a game this season. There haven’t been any reports of a minute restriction for Randle, so he should be fine to assume his usual starting power forward minute workload, but his presence will send Bobby Portis to the bench to resume reserve role following his up-and-down fantasy performances in at least 28 minutes of action over the last two games. Randle has been one of the main beneficiaries with Morris off the court this season, as he owns a 29.7% usage rate and is averaging 1.21 DraftKings and 1.16 FanDuel points per minute in a 341.4 minutes sample size.
As reported by: NY_KnicksPR via Twitter Other tagged players: Frank Ntilikina, Dennis Smith Jr., Julius Randle Donovan Mitchell (illness) out Sunday; Emmanuel Mudiay will start
Mitchell is a late addition to the Jazz injury report and won’t play in Sunday’s matchup against the Washington Wizards due to an illness, while Mike Conley remains sidelined with a strained left hamstring. Mitchell had taken over a large portion of the point guard duties with Conley unavailable, but now that the Jazz are without their entire starting backcourt for today’s contest, those responsibilities will fall upon Joe Ingles and Emmanuel Mudiay, who will receive the starting nod at the point guard position after logging at least 25 minutes off the bench in each of the previous two games. There’s a limited sample size with Mitchell off the court in the few games since Jordan Clarkson was acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers via trade, but in that time, he has a 28.4% usage rate while Ingles leads the way with 35.7% assist rate and is averaging 1.08 DraftKings and 1.01 FanDuel points per minute.
As reported by: Eric Walden via Twitter Other tagged players: Emmanuel Mudiay High Usage With No Paul George
Paul George remains out for the Clippers which means the offense will continue to run through Kawhi Leonard in what’s expected to be the closest game of Sunday’s main slate. Leonard has seen his already high usage jump to 36.7% in 469 minutes with George off the court this season and is averaging nearly 10% more fantasy points per 36 minutes. After starting the season strong, Denver has fallen down to the middle of the pack in terms of defensive rating and isn’t a matchup to fear when considering a player of Leonard’s caliber.