DFS Alerts
Ricky Rubio (illness) officially out Saturday; Dario Saric (leg) and Frank Kaminsky (knee) available to play
As expected, Rubio won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Houston Rockets due to an illness, while Saric and Kaminsky are available to play. The Suns will also be without Deandre Ayton once again, which should allow Aron Baynes to draw another start at the center position, but he was rather irrelevant for fantasy purposes in Friday’s loss, despite logging 26 minutes of action, his most since returning from a lengthy injury layoff. As for Rubio’s absence, Elie Okobo will receive the start alongside Devin Booker in the backcourt since Tyler Johnson has largely been out of the rotation in recent weeks. Other than Okobo seeing an uptick in playing time, Booker and Kelly Oubre have been the main beneficiaries with Rubio and Ayton off the court, as they each have a minimum of a +2.4% increase in usage rater and average at least +0.06 more fantasy points per minute over their season totals.
As reported by: Kellan Olson via Twitter Other tagged players: Dario Saric, Frank Kaminsky
JaMychal Green (tailbone) out Saturday
Green has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the San Antonio Spurs due to a tailbone contusion that has now forced him to miss seven consecutive games. Green is with the Clippers on their current road trip, and head coach Doc Rivers was recently quoted by reporters that Green is nearing a return to game action. In his absence, Patrick Patterson should continue filling in as the backup power forward, but he was limited to just 13 minutes in Thursday’s loss with Landry Shamet and Rodney McGruder now healthy and contributing to a rotation that has been almost at full strength for a few games now.
As reported by: Jovan Buha via Twitter Rudy Gay (illness) will play Saturday
Gay has officially been upgraded from questionable and will play in Saturday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers despite battling an illness. Head coach Gregg Popovich opted to shake up his starting lineup three games ago, which sent Gay back to the bench in favor of Trey Lyles, and Gay’s minutes have gradually decreased over this span, even though he is usually allocated minutes in the low-20s on a nightly basis. Probably the most actionable change with this new Spurs first unit is that Dejounte Murray has now logged at least 27 minutes in three straight contests, and he’s been phenomenal for fantasy purposes at his price tag with an average of 1.25 DraftKings and 1.27 FanDuel points per minute in his last 86.7 minutes played.
As reported by: Jeff McDonald via Twitter Luke Kennard (knee) will start Saturday
As expected, Kennard will start in Saturday’s matchup against the Chicago Bulls after missing one game due to knee soreness, while Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose were already ruled out with their respective ailments. In Griffin’s absence, Markieff Morris received another start at power forward in Friday’s blowout loss, and he was relatively serviceable from a fantasy perspective in 31 minutes of action. The return of Kennard should send Svi Mykhailiuk back to the bench to resume a reserve role following his adequate fantasy performance in 28 minutes yesterday evening. Other than the extended minutes for Morris and possibly Langston Galloway, it’s been Kennard and Bruce Brown that have benefitted the most with Rose and Griffin off the court, as they each own at least a 22.3% assist rate and are averaging a minimum of 0.85 DraftKings and 0.83 FanDuel points per minute in this scenario.
As reported by: Keith Langlois via Twitter Bogdan Bogdanovic (ankle) out Saturday
Bogdanovic won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies due to a sore ankle that has now forced him to miss two games, while Trevor Ariza wasn’t included on the Kings’ injury after being a late scratch from Friday’s loss because of a personal matter. In their absences, Justin James and Yogi Ferrell saw extended run off the bench, and each guard managed to record at least 22 minutes of action with half of the fourth quarter being garbage time. Head coach Luke Walton hasn’t disclosed if De’Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley III will come off the bench once again, but Fox has still been able to approach the 30-minute mark in both games since returning from a lengthy injury absence. Fox is still appropriately priced across the daily fantasy industry, but he’s always in consideration for tournaments given his upside, as he a 27.9% usage rate, a 33.6% assist rate, and is averaging 1.12 DraftKings and 1.07 FanDuel points per minute thus far on the year.
As reported by: Jason Anderson via Twitter Giannis Antetokounmpo (back) available to play Saturday; Wesley Matthews (thigh) officially out
As expected, Antetokounmpo will be available to play in Saturday’s matchup against the New York Knicks despite dealing with a sore back, while Matthews will be inactive due to a right thigh contusion. The Bucks are also still without Eric Bledsoe, so there a number of different ways head coach Mike Budenholzer can go with his starting lineup for tonight’s contest, but either Sterling Brown or George Hill appear to be the likeliest candidates with Pat Connaughton and Kyle Korver seeing diminished roles of late off the bench. Unsurprisingly, Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton have been the main beneficiaries with Matthews and Bledsoe off the court, as they each see a minimum of a +5.3% increase in usage rate and are averaging at least +0.10 more fantasy points per minute over their typical season-long numbers.
As reported by: Ted Davis via Twitter Other tagged players: Wesley Matthews Jonas Valanciunas (foot) out Saturday
Valanciunas has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings due to a sore right foot. Head coach Taylor Jenkins didn’t confirm with reporters who would replace Valanciunas in the starting lineup, but he did admit that it won’t be Brandon Clarke, who will remain in his normal reserve role off the bench. This makes Solomon Hill the most logical candidate to receive the start at power forward, but his playing time has been sporadic of late, logging more than 18 minutes just twice in the Grizzlies’ previous six games. Unsurprisingly, Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. have been the main beneficiaries with Valanciunas off the court, as they each see a minimum of a +2.3% increase in usage rate and are averaging at least +0.08 more fantasy points per minute over their typical season-long numbers.
As reported by: David Cobb via Twitter Derrick Rose (knee) out Saturday
Despite being listed as probable, Rose told reporters he won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Chicago Bulls due to a sore knee, while Luke Kennard is still probable with knee soreness. In Blake Griffin’s absence, Markieff Morris received another start at power forward, and he was relatively serviceable from a fantasy perspective in 31 minutes of action in Friday’s blowout loss. The likely return of Kennard should send Svi Mykhailiuk back to the bench to resume a reserve role following his adequate fantasy performance in 28 minutes yesterday evening. Other than the extended minutes for Morris and possibly Langston Galloway, it’s been Kennard and Bruce Brown that have benefitted the most with Rose and Griffin off the court, as they each own at least a 22.3% assist rate and are averaging a minimum of 0.85 DraftKings and 0.83 FanDuel points per minute in this scenario.
As reported by: K.C. Johnson via Twitter Trae Young (illness) will start Saturday; Evan Turner (hamstring) ruled out
As expected, Young has been cleared to play and will start in Saturday’s matchup against the Brooklyn Nets despite dealing with an illness. Meanwhile, Turner has been ruled out and Chandler Parsons is available off the bench, but they both remain largely out of the rotation when Atlanta is at full strength. Given the nature of the injury designation and the fact Young played a whopping 41 minutes in Thursday’s loss, he was almost fully guaranteed to be ready to suit up for tonight’s contest. Young has largely been fantastic for fantasy purposes this season, so he’ll remain in consideration for tournaments on most slates considering he has a 34.5% usage rate, a 39.9% assist rate, and is averaging 1.36 DraftKings and 1.28 FanDuel points per minute on the year thus far.
As reported by: Chris Kirschner via Twitter Other tagged players: Evan Turner Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) questionable Saturday
Towns have officially been listed as questionable on the Timberwolves’ injury report for Saturday’s matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers due to a sprained left knee that has already forced him to miss two games. In his absence, Gorgui Dieng has been filling in as the starting center, and he’s been relatively useful for fantasy purposes even though he has only logged 24 minutes in each of his aforementioned starts. If Towns remains sidelined, there’s obviously a plethora of usage and production to go around in the first unit, and Andrew Wiggins leads the way with a 29.5% usage rate while Robert Covington is averaging a whopping 1.14 DraftKings and 1.15 FanDuel points per minute in a 220.8 minutes sample size with Towns off the court this season.
As reported by: Timberwolves PR via Twitter Carmelo Anthony (knee) out Saturday; Mario Hezonja (back) questionable
Anthony has officially been ruled out and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to a left knee contusion, while Hezonja is questionable with back spasms that already forced him to miss one game. Anthony sustained the aforementioned injury early in the second quarter of Friday’s win, and Anthony Tolliver went on to start the second half at power forward, accumulating 19 total minutes after logging just under seven minutes in the first half. Ever since Anthony made his Trail Blazers debut in mid-November, the trio of Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum, and Kent Bazemore all have seen a minimum of a +3.1% increase in usage rate and are averaging at least +0.16 more fantasy points per minute over their typical season-long numbers with Anthony off the court.
As reported by: the Portland Trail Blazers via Twitter Other tagged players: Mario Hezonja Dario Saric (leg) and Frank Kaminsky (knee) questionable Saturday
Saric and Kaminsky are officially questionable for Saturday’s matchup against the Houston Rockets, while Ricky Rubio is doubtful due to an illness. The Suns will also be without Deandre Ayton once again, which should allow Aron Baynes to draw another start at the center position, but he was rather irrelevant for fantasy purposes in Friday’s loss, despite logging 26 minutes of action, his most since returning from a lengthy injury layoff. As for Rubio’s likely absence, Jevon Carter appears to be the most logical candidate to receive the start alongside Devin Booker in the backcourt since Tyler Johnson has largely been out of the rotation in recent weeks. Other than Carter, Elie Okobo, or Ty Jerome seeing an uptick in playing time, Booker and Kelly Oubre have been the main beneficiaries with Rubio and Ayton off the court, as they each have a minimum of a +2.4% increase in usage rater and average at least +0.06 more fantasy points per minute over their season totals.
As reported by: Kellan Olson via Twitter Other tagged players: Frank Kaminsky Ricky Rubio (illness) doubtful Saturday; Deandre Ayton (ankle) remains out
Rubio is officially listed as doubtful for Saturday’s matchup against the Houston Rockets due to an illness, while Dario Saric and Frank Kaminsky are questionable with their respective ailments. The Suns will also be without Ayton once again, which should allow Aron Baynes to draw another start at the center positions, and he was rather irrelevant for fantasy purposes in Friday’s loss, despite logging 26 minutes of action, his most since returning from a lengthy injury layoff. As for Rubio’s likely absence, Jevon Carter appears to be the most logical candidate to receive the start alongside Devin Booker in the backcourt since Tyler Johnson has largely been out of the rotation in recent weeks. Other than Carter, Elie Okobo, or Ty Jerome seeing an uptick in playing time, Booker and Kelly Oubre have been the main beneficiaries with Rubio and Ayton off the court, as they each have a minimum of a +2.4% increase in usage rater and average at least +0.06 more fantasy points per minute over their season totals.
As reported by: Kellan Olson via Twitter Other tagged players: Deandre Ayton Bogdan Bogdanovic (ankle) questionable Saturday
Bogdanovic is officially questionable for Saturday’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies due to a sore ankle that has already forced him to miss one game, while Trevor Ariza wasn’t included on the Kings’ injury after being a late scratch from Friday’s loss because of a personal matter. In their absences, Justin James and Yogi Ferrell saw extended run off the bench, and each guard managed to record at least 22 minutes of action with half of the fourth quarter being garbage time. Head coach Luke Walton hasn’t disclosed if De’Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley III will come off the bench once again, but Fox has still been able to approach the 30-minute mark in both games since returning from a lengthy injury absence. Fox is still appropriately priced across the daily fantasy industry, but he’s always in consideration for tournaments given his upside, as he a 27.9% usage rate, a 33.6% assist rate, and is averaging 1.12 DraftKings and 1.07 FanDuel points per minute thus far on the year.
As reported by: the Sacramento Kings via Twitter Blake Griffin (illness) listed out Saturday; Luke Kennard (knee) and Derrick Rose (knee) listed probable
Griffin is listed out on the Pistons’ injury report and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Chicago Bulls due to an illness, marking his second consecutive game missed, while Kennard and Rose are listed as probable with their respective ailments. In Griffin’s absence, Markieff Morris received another start at power forward, and he was relatively serviceable from a fantasy perspective in 31 minutes of action in Friday’s blowout loss. Additionally, the likely return of Kennard should send Svi Mykhailiuk back to the bench to resume a reserve role following his adequate fantasy performance in 28 minutes yesterday evening. Other than the extended minutes for Morris, it’s been Derrick Rose that is the main beneficiary with Griffin off the court, as he owns a 32.3% usage rate, a 43.6% assist rate, and is averaging 1.33 DraftKings and 1.29 FanDuel points per minute in a 440.9 minutes sample size.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Other tagged players: Luke Kennard, Derrick Rose