DFS Alerts
Kyle Anderson (heel) likely to play Friday
Head coach Taylor Jenkins admitted to reporters during his pregame media availability that Anderson is likely to play in Friday’s matchup against the Utah Jazz despite being considered a game-time decision due to sore right heel. Anderson was unavailable for Wednesday’s loss, which enabled Grayson Allen, Solomon Hill, Brandon Clarke all to see at least 18 minutes in the second unit, but Allen and Marko Guduric appear to be the likeliest candidates to lose playing time if Anderson is cleared to play this evening. Anderson remains an unexciting option for daily fantasy formats, but he could be a viable salary saver if he’s able to see minutes in the mid-20s since he is averaging 0.94 DraftKings and 0.92 FanDuel points per minute on the season.
As reported by: Chris Herrington via Twitter
Ben Simmons (illness) will play Friday; Josh Richardson (hamstring) officially out
As expected, Simmons will be good to go for Friday’s matchup against the New York Knicks despite missing shootaround due to an upper respiratory infection, while Josh Richardson is officially inactive because of a tight right hamstring. The Sixers have also opted to rest Al Horford on the front end of a back-to-back set, so Norvel Pelle figures to step into the backup center duties behind Joel Embiid with Kyle O’Quinn still sidelined with a strained left calf. The rotation around the Sixers’ regular starters can be sporadic night-to-night, which may make it difficult to hone in any specific punt option for cash games. However, Embiid does lead the team with a 37.3% usage rate with Horford and Richardson off the court this season, likely locking him in as a staple for all formats on tonight’s 12-game slate.
As reported by: Keith Pompey via Twitter Other tagged players: Josh Richardson George Hill (back) will play Friday
As expected, Hill is active and will play in Friday’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers after missing two games due to a sore back. Khris Middleton made his return to the Bucks lineup in Wednesday’s win and was limited to just 20 minutes, so with Middleton likely to gradually see increases in playing time, Hill will be joining a crowded guard and wing rotation. However, with Kyle Korver and Sterling Brown sidelined for tonight’s contest, the combined 19 minutes they absorbed in the previous game should be mostly redistributed to Hill as the backup point guard behind Eric Bledsoe this evening.
As reported by: Spencer Davies via Twitter Cody Zeller (hip) out Friday; Malik Monk (finger) available to play
Zeller has been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons due to a left hip contusion that has now forced him to miss two games. With Zeller sidelined, Bismack Biyombo was able to log 34 minutes as the starting center in Wednesday’s win, and he was phenomenal for fantasy performances, which limited Willy Hernangomez to just six minutes of action in a reserve role. It didn’t really come to fruition in the aforementioned contest, but P.J. Washington has been the primary beneficiary with Zeller off the court this season, making him a potential tournament pivot from Biyombo, as he owns a 22.6% usage rate and is averaging 1.09 DraftKings and 1.10 FanDuel points per minute in a 223.2 minutes sample size.
As reported by: Charlotte Hornets PR via Twitter Aaron Gordon (ankle) will start Friday
Gordon went through a full shootaround and will start in Friday’s matchup against the Toronto Raptors after missing three games due to right ankle contusion. Wes Iwundu had started each of those previous three games at small forward in Gordon’s absence, but he’s been irrelevant for fantasy purposes and is averaging just 24.3 minutes per game over this span. There hasn’t been any official confirmation, but head coach Steve Clifford did admit to reporters during shootaround that Gordon would likely be subject to at least some kind of minute restriction in his return to the lineup this evening.
As reported by: Josh Robbins via Twitter Tomas Satoransky (toe) a game-time decision Friday
Satoransky has been downgraded to questionable and will be a game-time decision for Friday’s matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers due to a sprained left toe while Chandler Hutchison will be unavailable because of a sprained right shoulder. Head coach Jim Boylen didn’t disclose who would potentially replace Satoransky in the starting lineup if he’s unable to suit up, but it would likely be Kris Dunn, who has logged at least 19 minutes off the bench in five of the Bulls previous six games. Shaq Harrison will more than likely draw the start on the wing once again, and he’ll be an intriguing option for daily fantasy formats if he can get the playing time, as he owns a 27.7% usage rate and is averaging 1.13 DraftKings and 1.20 FanDuel points per minute in a limited sample size with Satoransky and Hutchison off the court this season.
As reported by: the Chicago Bulls via Twitter Underpriced Guard In Great Matchup
Dennis Schroder continues to remain rather scoring dependent but finds himself at a very fair price and in a matchup where the Thunder and expected to score more points than average. Schroder has continued to produce solid rates all year, with a usage rate of 25% and an assist rate of over 11%, Schroder’s numbers are comparable to teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. This matchup is an elite one as the Pels have a very week defense and play at a fast pace. Additionally, with Hamidou Diallo still sidelined, Schroder has the opportunity to pick up a few extra minutes.
Injury Opens Up Opportunity For This Wing
With Josh Richardson and Al Horford expected to be out of the lineup for the 76ers tonight against the Knicks, expect Matisse Thybulle to potentially step into the starting lineup, but either way he will see a significant boost in minutes. Following Richardson’s departure last game, Thybulle went on to play 21 minutes and that was with Richardson playing 17 and Horford being active. Getting the start would bode well for Thybulle’s minutes upside, but either way we can look to get 25+ minutes from the rookie.
Jimmy Butler (illness) expected to play Friday
Butler is still technically listed as questionable, but head coach Erik Spoelstra confirmed that Butler was able to participate in shootaround and is expected to play in Friday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors after missing one game due to an illness. Spoelstra didn’t mention any possible minute restrictions for Butler in his likely return, so he should displace Goran Dragic from the starting lineup following his disappointing fantasy performance in 34 minutes of action in Wednesday’s loss, Justise Winslow returned from a three-week absence stemming from concussion symptoms in that contest, and he somehow managed to log 34 minutes despite Spoelstra stating that’d he ease back into the rotation prior to the game, making it likely Winslow rejoins the starting lineup in the near future or possibly even this evening.
As reported by: Anthony Chiang via Twitter Cody Zeller (hip) listed questionable Friday
Zeller has been downgraded from probable and is now questionable for Friday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons due to a left hip contusion that has already forced him to miss one game. With Zeller sidelined, Bismack Biyombo was able to log 34 minutes as the starting center in Wednesday’s win, and he was phenomenal for fantasy performances, which limited Willy Hernangomez to just six minutes of action in a reserve role. It didn’t really come to fruition in the aforementioned contest, but P.J. Washington has been the primary beneficiary with Zeller off the court this season, as he owns a 22.6% usage rate and is averaging 1.09 DraftKings and 1.10 FanDuel points per minute in a 223.2 minutes sample size.
As reported by: Charlotte Hornets PR via Twitter Aaron Gordon (ankle) a game-time decision Friday
Gordon is still listed as doubtful on the Magic’s injury report, but head coach Steve Clifford confirmed that Gordon went through a full shootaround and will be a game-time decision for Friday’s matchup against the Toronto Raptors due to a right ankle contusion. Wes Iwundu has started each of the previous three games at small forward in Gordon’s absence, but he’s been irrelevant for fantasy purposes and is averaging just 24.3 minutes per game over this span. Clifford did admit that Gordon would likely be subject to at least some kind of minute restriction if he’s able to return for tonight’s contest, which left Clifford noncommital whether Gordon would start or come off the bench should he be cleared to play.
As reported by: Josh Robbins via Twitter Ben Simmons (illness) probable Friday
Simmons was absent from Sixers’ shootaround this morning, but he is still listed as probable for Friday’s matchup against the New York Knicks due to an upper respiratory infection, while Josh Richardson remains doubtful because of a tight right hamstring. The Sixers have also opted to rest Al Horford on the front end of a back-to-back set, so Norvel Pelle figures to step into the backup center duties behind Joel Embiid with Kyle O’Quinn still sidelined with a strained left calf. The rotation around the Sixers’ regular starters can be sporadic night-to-night, which may make it difficult to hone in any specific punt option for cash games. However, Embiid does lead the team with a 37.3% usage rate with Horford and Richardson off the court this season, likely locking him in as a cash staple if no other center values open up on tonight’s 12-game slate.
As reported by: Keith Pompey via Twitter DeAndre Jordan (ankle) available to play Friday
As expected, Jordan will be available to play in Friday’s matinee matchup against the Boston Celtics after missing two games due to a sore left ankle. There haven’t been any reports of a potential minute restriction for Jordan, so he’ll presumably resume his now customary backup center role of late, as he had logged fewer than 18 minutes in three of the Nets previous six games in which he was active, which conversely enabled Jarrett Allen to be allotted starters’ minutes in head coach Kenny Atkinson’s rotation on a much more consistent basis. Allen has seen his salary increase considerably over the last two contests, so he should be an easy player to avoid until his salary returns to normal levels with Jordan back in the fold at the center position.
As reported by: Brian Lewis via Twitter Risk/Reward GPP Options
Orlando has had to adjust their style of play with both Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic sidelined. Jonathan Isaac has picked up the slack but now carries a high DFS price tag. I’m more interested in risk/reward options like Fournier and Ross in GPP formats. Given their price tags and a matchup against the Raptors, there won’t be much ownership here. However, CourtIQ shows that Fournier has a 3.6% usage bump with the two bigs off the floor, and Ross has a 1.2% usage bump. The production will be hit or miss since both are scoring dependent, but someone needs to score for this team. There’s upside here.
Other tagged players: Evan Fournier
Start With One of the Studs
In my eyes, most lineups should start with one of the two Laker studs tonight. The Wizards have been a haven for opposing production this year, as they are playing at a brisk pace and rank near the bottom of the league in most defensive metrics. James and Davis both had big games in New Orleans the other night, and similar good times should happen tonight against a bad defense. A prototypical triple-double could be in the works for LBJ, while Davis has 30/20 upside in a favorable matchup.
Other tagged players: Anthony Davis