DFS Alerts
Noah Vonleh (glute) downgraded to questionable Monday
Vonleh is a late addition to the Timberwolves injury report and is now questionable for Monday’s matchup against the Brooklyn Nets due to a glute contusion, while Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Treveon Graham were already ruled out with their respective ailments. The continued absence of Towns will allow Gorgui Dieng to draw another start at center after averaging 29.7 minutes per contest over the last six games, and his minute floor would likely only increase if Noah Vonleh is unable to play as Jordan Bell and Naz Reid are the only other bigs on the active roster. Graham recently replaced Josh Okogie in the starting lineup, and now that he’s unavailable, Okogie could become a viable fantasy option for tournaments since he and Jeff Teague each see a minimum of a +5.3% increase in usage rate and average at least +0.10 more fantasy points per minute with Wiggins and Towns off the court this season.
As reported by: Timberwolves PR via Twitter
Andrew Wiggins (illness), Karl-Anthony Towns (knee), and Treveon Graham (illness) out Monday
Wiggins and Graham have officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Monday’s matchup against the Brooklyn Nets due to an illness, while Karl-Anthony Towns will miss a seventh consecutive game and doesn’t appear any closer to nearing a return to the court despite consistently being listed as questionable on the Timberwolves injury report. This should allow Gorgui Dieng to draw another start at center after averaging 29.7 minutes per contest while Towns has been sidelined. Graham recently replaced Josh Okogie in the starting lineup, and now that he’s unavailable, Okogie becomes a viable fantasy option for all formats since he and Jeff Teague each see a minimum of a +5.3% increase in usage rate and average at least +0.10 more fantasy points per minute with Wiggins and Towns off the court this season.
As reported by: Chris Hine via Twitter Other tagged players: Karl-Anthony Towns, Treveon Graham Lauri Markkanen (illness) will play Monday
Head coach Jim Boylen confirmed with reporters that Markkanen will play in Monday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks despite battling an illness, while Chandler Hutchison will be inactive following his original questionable designation with a sore right shoulder. There haven’t been any reports of a potential minute restriction for Markkanen, so he presumably is healthy enough to handle his usual minute allotment in tonight’s contest. If for some reason he is limited, Thaddeus Young would likely see an increased role as the backup power forward and has already logged at least 20 minutes in each of the Bulls previous six games. Markkanen has largely had an inconsistent season for fantasy purposes, and he owns a mediocre a 21.8% usage rate while averaging an uninspiring 0.94 DraftKings and 0.91 FanDuel points per minute thus far on the year.
As reported by: K.C. Johnson via Twitter Bradley Beal (leg) out Monday
Beal has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Monday’s matchup against the Miami Heat due to a sore lower leg that has now forced him to miss two games. In his absence, Gary Payton II will more than likely receive the start alongside Isaiah Thomas in the backcourt once again, likely keeping his streak of 30-minute outings as a member of the Wizards intact. Obviously there isn’t an actionable sample size with Beal and all of the other injured Washington players, but in his limited time, Troy Brown Jr. leads the way with a 26.7% usage rate and is averaging 1.10 DraftKings and 1.09 FanDuel points per minute, making him, Payton, and Jordan McRae the top players to target since Thomas, Ish Smith, and the other ancillary rotation pieces have significantly lower minute floors this evening.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Mohamed Bamba (ankle) available to play Monday
As expected, Bamba will be available to play in Monday’s matchup against the Atlanta Hawks after missing one game due to a sprained right ankle, while Aaron Gordon was already ruled out with a sore left Achilles tendon. Wes Iwundu had already been filling in for the injured Michael Carter-Williams and Al-Farouq Aminu in head coach Steve Clifford’s rotation, and he’ll receive the start at small forward with Gordon sidelined after logging at least 16 minutes off the bench in three of the Magic’s previous four games. Clifford also disclosed to reporters that he’ll likely utilize some unconventional lineups in tonight’s contest, which should allow Amile Jefferson and Melvin Frazier Jr. to join the rotation in some capacity.
As reported by: Orlando Magic PR via Twitter Usage And Minute Increase With Injuries
Terrance Ross is really cheap on FantasyDraft and DraftKings tonight with Aaron Gordon out. Ross is a hit or miss play on most nights but could pick up a few extra minutes against a below average Atlanta Hawks defense. The Magic get a nice pace bump in tonight’s game as well, which should help guys like Ross. He’s not the safest play on the slate but has some strong upside at this price point.
Minutes Are Up
Derrick Jones Jr. has played at least 26 minutes in 11 straight games and has at least 24 fantasy points in six of those games. Jones is averaging 23.3 fantasy points over the last two weeks, which is 5.7 points higher than his season average. The Heat have a 118.3 implied team total tonight, which is 5.6 points higher than their season average. Jones is an under the radar value option tonight, with the upside to be a top value play on this slate.
Deandre Ayton (ankle) upgraded to questionable Monday
Ayton was originally ruled out, but head coach Monty Williams told reporters that Ayton participated fully in shootaround and has a chance to play in Monday’s matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers due to a right ankle sprain that’s already forced him to miss five games. Even if Ayton is limited to the 24 minutes he recorded in his first game back from a 25-game suspension, his potential presence in the frontcourt rotation is enough to remove Aron Baynes from consideration in daily fantasy formats, even though he’s logged at least 26 minutes as the starting center in all five games Ayton has been sidelined. Ayton has been great for fantasy purposes when he’s actually played this season, as he owns a 23.8% usage rate, a 20.4% rebound rate, and is averaging 1.42 DraftKings and 1.46 FanDuel points per minute in his 57.6 minutes thus far on the year.
As reported by: Gina Mizell via Twitter The Gift That Keeps on Giving
The Washington Wizards continue to be the fantasy gift that keeps on giving as they play at the second fastest pace in the league and own the league’s worst defensive rating by a wide margin. While they’re giving to every position, the Wiz have really struggled in the frontcourt due to injuries. Adebayo has played heavy minutes as of late and is a constant double-double threat who can provide upside defensively (blocks + steals).
Giannis Antetokounmpo (back) and Eric Bledsoe (leg) listed available Monday; Wesley Matthews (thigh) listed out
Antetokounmpo and Bledsoe have been listed as available to play on the Bucks’ latest injury report for Monday’s matchup against the Chicago Bulls, while Matthews is listed out with a right thigh contusion. There haven’t been any reports of potential minutes restrictions for Antetokounmpo and Bledsoe, but their returns will send Ersan Ilyasova back to the bench to resume a reserve role following a couple of phenomenal fantasy performances in an average of 25.5 minutes over the previous two contests. The absence of Matthews should allow Donte DiVincenzo to remain in the starting lineup for at least one game, and he along with the other Milwaukee starters have seen a small bump in usage rate with Matthews off the court, though Antetokounmpo clearly leads the way with an average of 1.95 DraftKings and 1.92 FanDuel points per minute in a 375.5 minutes sample size.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Other tagged players: Eric Bledsoe, Wesley Matthews Jabari Parker (shoulder) listed out Monday; Alex Len (ankle) and Evan Turner (hamstring) available
As expected, Parker won’t play in Monday’s matchup against the Orlando Magic due to a right shoulder impingement that has now forced him to miss three games, while Len and Turner will be available to play off the bench. With Trae Young unavailable in Saturday’s blowout loss, head coach Lloyd Pierce continued to extend his bench with 12 players saw court time at one point or another, and Cam Reddish ended up receiving the start alongside Kevin Huerter in the backcourt, each logging a minimum of 28 minutes. As one might expect, the absence of Young sends permutations throughout the Hawks starting lineup, and Reddish has capitalized the most with him off the court thus far, as he owns a 23.3% usage rate and is averaging 0.90 DraftKings and 0.88 FanDuel points per minute in a 185.7 minutes sample size.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Other tagged players: Alex Len, Evan Turner Treveon Graham (illness) questionable Monday
Graham has been added to the Timberwolves’ injury report and is questionable for Monday’s matchup against the Brooklyn Nets due to an illness, while Andrew Wiggins didn’t attend shootaround and remains questionable with the same illness. Minnesota continues to list Karl-Anthony Towns as questionable with a sprained, but he’s already missed six straight games and doesn’t appear any closer to nearing a return to the court, which should allow Gorgui Dieng to draw another start at center after averaging 29.7 minutes per contest over this span. Graham recently replaced Josh Okogie in the starting lineup, and if he’s unable to go, Okogie would become a viable fantasy option for all formats since he and Jeff Teague each see a minimum of a +5.3% increase in usage rate and average at least +0.10 more fantasy points per minute with Wiggins and Towns off the court this season.
As reported by: Timberwolves PR via Twitter Aaron Gordon (Achilles) out Monday; Mo Bamba (ankle) expected to play
Gordon has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Monday’s matchup against the Atlanta Hawks due to a sore left Achilles tendon, while Bamba is a game-time decision but is fully expected to play barring a setback. Wes Iwundu had already been filling in for the injured Michael Carter-Williams and Al-Farouq Aminu in head coach Steve Clifford’s rotation, but he’ll more than likely receive the start at small forward with Gordon sidelined, and he’s logged at least 16 minutes off the bench in three of the Magic’s previous four games. Clifford also disclosed to reporters that he’ll likely utilize some unconventional lineups in tonight’s contest, which may allow Amile Jefferson and Melvin Frazier Jr. to join the rotation in some capacity.
As reported by: John Denton via Twitter Other tagged players: Mo Bamba Anthony Davis (shoulder) and LeBron James (groin) will play Sunday
As expected, Davis and James will play in Sunday’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks, while Kyle Kuzma is also available and will continue to be limited to 28 minutes in tonight’s second leg of a back-to-back set. Both Davis and James told reporters following Saturday’s win that they planned to play in both games of this back-to-back set, so it’s far from surprising to see them active this evening. There haven’t been any reports of a minute restriction for James, but it would seem unlikely the medical staff would allow him to suit up if he weren’t going to be able to handle his usual minute allotment. James continues to have the better price tag of the two Lakers stars on most daily fantasy sites, and he still leads the team with a 32.2% usage rate, a 48.8% assist rate, and is averaging 1.54 DraftKings and 1.50 FanDuel points per minute thus far on the season.
As reported by: Tania Ganguli via Twitter Other tagged players: LeBron James Paul Millsap (knee) and Gary Harris (shin) out Sunday
Millsap has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Sunday’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings due to a left knee contusion that has now forced him to miss two games, while Harris is a surprise inactive following his initial probable designation with a shin contusion. Mason Plumlee ended up drawing the start alongside Nikola Jokic in the frontcourt in Saturday’s win, but head coach Michael Malone has opted to start Jerami Grant and Michael Porter Jr. at the forward positions, which will slide Will Barton up to one of the guard positions. Other than the likely increase in playing time for Grant and Porter, it’s unsurprisingly been Jamal Murray that has benefitted the most with Millsap and Harris off the court, as he owns a 35.3% usage rate and is averaging 1.16 DraftKings and 1.12 FanDuel points per minute in 93.5 minutes sample size.
As reported by: the Denver Nuggets via Twitter Other tagged players: Gary Harris