DFS Alerts
Cam Reddish (wrist) officially out Friday; DeAndre Bembry will start
As expected, Reddish won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons due to a sprained left wrist. Head coach Lloyd Pierce confirmed during his pregame media availability that DeAndre Bembry will start alongside Trae Young in the backcourt, and he figures to see the largest bump in playing time since Allen Crabbe and Evan Turner should still be subject to their respective minute restrictions. Bembry has been an extremely low-usage player this season, so he is not necessarily a can’t-miss option, but Jabari Parker has thrived with Reddish, Kevin Huerter, and John Collins off the court this season and is averaging 1.50 DraftKings and 1.46 FanDuel points per minute to go along with a 29.8% usage rate in an 83.6 minutes sample size.
As reported by: Mike Conti via Twitter Other tagged players: DeAndre Bembry
Chandler Hutchison (shins) listed out Friday
Hutchison has been downgraded to out on the updated version of the Bulls’ injury report and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Miami Heat due to bilateral shin splints that have already forced him to miss one game. With Hutchison unable to suit up, Shaq Harrison should get another start at small forward following his stellar fantasy performance in just 26 minutes of action in Wednesday’s blowout win. The one concerning factor for Harrison’s fantasy viability is that Coby White was his direct substitution for that entire contest, so it’s certainly possible White could cut into his playing time if the minor ankle sprain he sustained during warmups on Wednesday is on the mend.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Jarrett Allen (ankle) available to play Friday
As expected, Allen will be available to play in Friday’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings despite dealing with a sprained right ankle. Allen has been on a stellar run over the Nets previous four games, but his salary across the industry is now at a season-high, and he’ll be a worthy fade candidate on tonight’s slate considering he’s played fewer than 30 minutes in each of those aforementioned occasions. With Kyrie Irving still sidelined, Spencer Dinwiddie will once again be in consideration for all daily fantasy formats, and he has a 35.4% usage rate, 39.0% assist rate, and is averaging 1.25 DraftKings and 1.18 FanDuel points per minute with Irving and Caris LeVert off the court.
As reported by: Brian Lewis via Twitter Chandler Hutchison (shins) listed questionable Friday
Hutchison has been upgraded from doubtful on the updated version of the Bulls’ injury report and is questionable for Friday’s matchup against the Miami Heat due to bilateral shin splints that have already forced him to miss one game. Head coach Jim Boylen classified Hutchison as doubtful during Thursday’s practice, so it remains unclear if his condition has actually improved or not in one day’s time. If Hutchison is unable to suit up, Shaq Harrison should get another start at small forward following his stellar fantasy performance in just 26 minutes of action in Wednesday’s blowout win. The one concerning factor for Harrison’s fantasy viability is that Coby White was his direct substitution for that entire contest, so it’s certainly possible White could cut into his playing time if the minor ankle sprain he sustained during warmups on Wednesday is on the mend.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Draymond Green (heel) out Friday
Green has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Utah Jazz due to a sore right heel that’s now forced him to miss two games. With Green unable to suit up once again, Ky Bowman will likely remain in the starting lineup and receive the nod at point guard after logging 32 minutes in Wednesday’s blowout loss. The Warriors seem to be accumulating an evergrowing sample size with Green, D’Angelo Russell, and Stephen Curry off the court, and in that time, Glenn Robinson III has actually been the main beneficiary, as he owns a 19.3% usage rate and is averaging 0.92 DraftKings and 0.86 FanDuel points per minute in a 105.5 minutes sample size.
As reported by: Logan Murdock via Twitter Hamidou Diallo (knee) listed questionable Friday
Diallo has been listed as questionable on the updated version of the Thunder’s injury report for Friday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers due to a sprained left knee that’s already forced him to miss three games. Over this span, Terrance Ferguson has logged at least 31 minutes in all three contests, a feat he had accomplished just once prior to Diallo being sidelined with an injury, while Abdel Nader and Deonte Burton have both assumed minimal roles off the bench to absorb leftover minutes at the wing position. Even at a cheap salary and potential elevated minutes, Ferguson won’t be a viable fantasy option on a 10-game slate since he owns a minuscule 8.7% usage rate and is averaging just 0.46 DraftKings and 0.45 FanDuel points per minute on the season.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Derrick White (foot) out Friday
White has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers due to a sore left foot that has now forced him to miss two games. Head coach Gregg Popovich opted to start Patty Mills at point guard over Dejounte Murray in Wednesday’s loss, and he was more than serviceable for fantasy purposes in 30 minutes of action. It remains unclear if Popovich sticks with his new-look starting lineup, but Murray certainly provided an offensive spark off the bench, pouring in 15 real points in just 19 minutes as a reserve. If Popovich ever lets Murray out of the doghouse, he’d be a stellar fantasy option since he has a 23.6% usage rate, 30.1% assist rate, and is averaging 1.30 DraftKings and 1.29 FanDuel points per minute on the season.
As reported by: JeffGSpursZone via Twitter Keys to a Balanced Lineup
Value is difficult to find tonight at first glance, so the balanced lineup build might be the way to go in GPP formats, and that is rare in this day and age of NBA news and injuries. Charlotte offers some appeal tonight in a matchup with Washington, as this game has a high 233 Vegas total. If Charlotte can keep it close, this game is very stackable. I like the guards here, with guys like Graham and Rozier offering some upside. Graham has gotten off to a great start in the NBA, while Rozier has struggled with his new team, but both have the ability to pile in points in what could be a very fun game.
Other tagged players: Terry Rozier
Still Value With This Price Tag
Yes, the price tag has risen on Spencer Dinwiddie. I still don’t think it’s high enough. He has logged back-to-back 40+ fantasy point games in the absence of Kyrie Irving, and Kyrie has been ruled out again tonight. If we filter the CourtIQ data with Irving off the floor, Dinwiddie has approached 40% usage this season. The Nets simply lack other offensive playmakers, and the team should run through Dinwiddie again tonight. Use him with confidence in all formats.
Jahlil Okafor (ankle) out Thursday
Okafor has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Thursday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns due to a sprained left ankle, while Lonzo Ball will return from a six-game absence because of a strained right adductor. Head coach Alvin Gentry already confirmed Ball will be limited to 20 minutes off the bench in his first game back, which will enable Kenrich Williams and J.J. Redick to remain in the starting lineup. The Pelicans are also still without Derrick Favors and Josh Hart, so with Okafor unable to suit up, Jaxson Hayes will once again be the lone true center on the New Orleans active roster, and he’s managed to log at least 21 minutes of action in each of the previous three contests with 32 minutes being his highpoint.
As reported by: Pelicans PR via Twitter Ricky Rubio (back) officially out Thursday; Tyler Johnson will start
As expected, Rubio won’t play in Thursday’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans due to back spasms, while Frank Kaminsky and Dario Saric have been cleared to play and both will start with Aron Baynes still sidelined with a right hip contusion. Following Rubio’s first half exit in Tuesday’s loss, Tyler Johnson ended up receiving the start at point guard, and he’ll do so once again this evening. However, Ellie Okobo was the one that actually closed the game with the regular starters, possibly indicating an increased role for him and a diminished role for Jevon Carter, who had been receiving backup minutes, moving forward.
As reported by: Gina Mizell via Twitter Other tagged players: Tyler Johnson Hassan Whiteside (hip) out Thursday; Anfernee Simons (ankle) available to play
Whiteside wasn’t able to participate in Trail Blazers’ shootaround Thursday morning and has officially been ruled out of tonight’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks due to right hip tendinosis, while Simons will be available to play and should start at point guard once again with Damian Lillard remaining sidelined. Per usual, head coach Terry Stotts wouldn’t disclose who will replace Whiteside in the starting lineup, but Skal Labissiere appears to be the overwhelming favorite to start at the center spot and has settled into a role in the high-teens in terms of minutes off the bench with Zach Collins still recovering from injury. If Labissiere approaches anywhere close to 30 minutes as a starter, he’ll have the opportunity to smash salary-based expectations since he is averaging 0.93 fantasy points per minute thus far this season.
As reported by: Casey Holdahl via Twitter Other tagged players: Anfernee Simons Young Player Should See Increased Time Tonight
Center Hassan Whiteside is listed as questionable for tonight’s game against Milwaukee, but Whiteside missed shootaround today which likely decreases the chances he will be able to play tonight. Skal Labissiere leads Portland in minutes with Whiteside off the court this season, averaging 12.4 points and 10.5 rebounds per 36 minutes in that time. Labissiere should see time on the court even if Whiteside is able to give it a go, so at near minimum price, Labissiere should be a consideration in GPP formats even if Whiteside starts, in case the latter is limited by injury or foul trouble.
Injury Creates Increased Opportunity for Multiple Players
Ricky Rubio is doubtful with a back injury tonight, which should open additional minutes for a number of Suns players. Guard Jevon Carter got the start in the game Rubio missed on Monday, however Carter carries some risk as he was out of the rotation entirely on Tuesday with Rubio back. I’m more interested in Tyler Johnson, who acts as the Suns’ third guard and can play alongside Devin Booker for stretches, and ranks fifth on the team in minutes with Rubio off the court this season. I’ll also have some interest in rookie forward Cameron Johnson, drafted with the 11th pick in this April’s draft, who has seen at least 20 minutes in each of the past five games, averaging 13.4 ppg and 4.6 rpg in that stretch.
Other tagged players: Tyler Johnson, Cameron Johnson Lonzo Ball (adductor) will play off the bench Thursday
Ball has officially been upgraded from questionable and will play off the bench in Thursday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns after missing six games due to a strained right adductor, while Jahlil Okafor remains questionable with a sprained left ankle. There haven’t been any reports of a minute restriction for Ball, but it is certainly possible that head coach Alvin Gentry’s decision to bring him off the bench is a way to limit Ball’s minutes in his first game back. The Pelicans are still without Derrick Favors and Josh Hart, so if Okafor is cleared to play, Jaxson Hayes would likely find himself in a three-player committee at the center position after logging at least 21 minutes of action in each of the previous three contests.
As reported by: John Gambadoro via Twitter