DFS Alerts
Minute Limit Increased
Cam Reddish saw an increase in minutes last night, and now has a 30-minute limit. I still don’t think he plays 30 minutes, but at his price on DraftKings/FantasyDraft, he can hit value with 25 to 27 minutes. If you’re trying to fit in two to three studs on this small slate, Reddish is the type of player you’re looking at in those builds.
Something To Watch
We’re waiting on news for Dwight Powell, but I think Dallas has some really solid value options if Powell ends up sitting again. Dorian Finney-Smith is averaging 27 minutes, 7.7 points, and 7.7 rebounds through the first three games of the season. We currently have him projected for less than 10% ownership on a 3-game slate. With the limited value options on this slate, I will be way overweight on DFS if Powell sits.
Veteran Big Man Seeing Increased Minutes
Dwight Howard is still coming off of the bench for the Lakers, but he has played more minutes than starter JaVale McGee in each of the first three games. On Sunday, Howard had his best game of the year, putting up 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks in only 23 minutes off the bench. Tonight the Lakers are 11.5-point favorites playing at home against Memphis, and if Howard continues to get more run than McGee he could be a key value piece on the three-game slate.
Star Guard Looks to Continue Outstanding Second Year
Luka Doncic has followed up his outstanding rookie season by being even better to start his sophomore campaign, increasing his scoring (29.3 ppg vs 21.2 ppg last season), assists (7.3 apg vs 6.0 apg last season and rebounding (10.3 rpg vs 7.8 rpg last season). Tonight Doncic and the Mavs travel to Denver to take on a Nuggets team that is playing on the second leg of a back-to-back, and although Dallas is a 5.5 point underdog (smallest line of the short slate), Doncic should be able to put up top numbers no matter the game outcome.
Rajon Rondo (calf) remains out Tuesday
Rondo has once again been downgraded from questionable and will be held out of Tuesday’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies due to a sore right calf that’s now forced him to miss four consecutive games. His continued absence won’t have an impact on the Lakers’ starting five that consists of LeBron James, Avery Bradley, Danny Green, Anthony Davis, and JaVale McGee, but it should enable Alex Caruso, Troy Daniels, and Quinn Cook to continue seeing time at the guard positions in the second unit. The minute distribution between the three aforementioned players trended significantly in Cook’s favor in Sunday’s win, as he managed to log 24 minutes off the bench, while Caruso didn’t even play until the second half and Daniels was limited just 12 minutes in total.
As reported by: Tania Ganguli via Twitter
Evan Turner (Achilles) doubtful Tuesday
Turner has officially been added to the Hawks’ injury report and is doubtful for Tuesday’s matchup against the Miami Heat due to left Achilles soreness. Turner has played fewer than 11 minutes in both of the Hawks’ previous two games, which uncoincidentally aligns with an increase in playing time for Kevin Huerter, De’Andre Hunter, and Cam Reddish, all of whom were on minute restrictions to begin the season. As of now, there has been no indication that any of the remaining active Hawks will be rested on the second leg of a back-to-back set, but if they end up being limited, there could be extra minutes available for the likes of DeAndre’ Bembry and Jabari Parker off the bench.
As reported by: Brad Rowland via Twitter NBA Injury Rundown - Tuesday, 10/29
Miami Heat – Kelly Olynyk (P), Derrick Jones Jr. (O), Dion Waiters (O), James Johnson (O)
Dallas Mavericks – Dwight Powell (Q)
Los Angeles Lakers – Rajon Rondo (Q), Kyle Kuzma (O), Jalen Horton-Tucker (O), DeMarcus Cousins (O)
Memphis Grizzlies – Ja Morant (P), Kyle Anderson (Q), Andre Iguodala (O)
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Anthony Tolliver will start for Zach Collins (shoulder) on Monday
In a slightly surprising move, the Trail Blazers have announced that Tolliver will start in place of the injured Zach Collins for Monday’s matchup against the San Antonio Spurs, which means that Mario Hezonja will remain in a bench role for at the least the beginning of the game. The news of Tolliver starting shouldn’t be a deterrent for anyone looking to roster Hezonja on tonight’s slates, as he still logged 25 minutes of action off the bench in Sunday’s win, even with Collins playing nearly three full quarters before exiting with a shoulder injury.
As reported by: the Portland Trail Blazers via Twitter Ricky Rubio (knee) will play Monday
As expected, Rubio will play in Monday’s matchup against the Utah Jazz after missing one game due to a left knee contusion. His return to the lineup will almost certainly send Jevon Carter back to the bench resume a reserve role following a more than serviceable fantasy outing in 33 minutes of action in Saturday’s win. As for Rubio, he’s been stellar for his new team in the early going and is currently averaging 1.16 FanDuel and 1.20 DraftKings points per minute with just a 20.5% usage rate in a 65.2 minutes sample size on the season.
As reported by: Kellan Olson via Twitter Joel Embiid (ankle) will play Monday
Embiid went through pregame warmups and has been cleared to give it a go in Monday’s matchup against the Atlanta Hawks after missing one game due to a sprained right ankle and a lacerated lip that required several stitches. Embiid may have been a game-time decision in theory, but his availability isn’t all that surprising after he was able to participate in shootaround and was reportedly moving well, according to multiple Sixers beat writers earlier in the day.
As reported by: Keith Pompey via Twitter Derrick Favors (knee) out Monday; Jahlil Okafor will start
Favors is a surprise late addition to the Pelicans’ injury report and won’t play in Monday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors due to a sore right knee. Head coach Alvin Gentry already confirmed that Jahlil Okafor will draw the start at center in his place, but he’s logged fewer than 13 minutes in all three games this season, making it unlikely he suddenly sees more than the 18-22 minutes Favors had been playing when active and starting. Nicolo Melli also figures to benefit from Favors’ absence given his positional flexibility, and he actually owns a respectable 22.8% usage rate while averaging 0.97 FanDuel and 1.05 DraftKings points per minute with both Favors and Jrue Holiday off the court.
As reported by: Andrew Lopez via Twitter Other tagged players: Jahlil Okafor Jrue Holiday (knee) out Monday
Holiday will miss a second straight game and won’t play in Monday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors due to a sprained left knee. Head coach Alvin Gentry did confirm that Josh Hart will draw the start alongside J.J. Redick on the wing, and he was extremely effective from a fantasy standpoint in 34 minutes of action in Saturday’s loss. Somewhat surprisingly, Nickeil Alexander-Walker was limited to just 12 minutes in that contest, and he served as the direct backup to Lonzo Ball, making it unlikely he sees significantly more run this evening.
As reported by: Andrew Lopez via Twitter Joel Embiid (ankle) likely to be a game-time decision Monday
Embiid remains listed as questionable on the latest version of the Sixers’ injury report, and he’s trending towards being a game-time decision for Monday’s matchup against the Atlanta Hawks due to a sprained right ankle that he will test out during pregame warmups. At this point, it would be at least mildly surprising if Embiid doesn’t suit up for tonight’s contest after he was able to participate in shootaround and was reportedly moving well, according to multiple Sixers beat writers. However, if he is held out, look for Matisse Thybulle to start alongside Josh Richardson on the wing once again, while Al Horford and Tobias would slide over to the center and power forward positions, respectively.
As reported by: Serena Winters via Twitter Patrick McCaw (knee) available to play Monday
McCaw has officially been upgraded from questionable and is available to play in Monday’s matchup against the Orlando Magic after missing the Raptors’ first three games of the season with a sore left knee. Head coach Nick Nurse has continued to utilize a relatively tight eight-man rotation in the early going, but McCaw should on the shortlist to fill that eighth spot when healthy, as long as he can consistently outperform rookies Terence Davis and Matt Thomas, who have each seen meaningful minutes at times through the first three contests.
As reported by: Blake Murphy via Twitter Evan Turner (ankle) and Alex Len (rib) listed as available Monday
As expected, both Turner and Len have been upgraded from probable and are available to play in Monday’s matchup against Philadelphia 76ers, while Bruno Fernando is also been deemed ready to go despite dealing with a sprained right ankle. Neither Turner or Len have played heavy minutes for the Hawks out of the gates, and Len draws possibly the worst matchup in the entire league versus Joel Embiid and Al Horford on the offensive end of the floor, making him and the other Atlanta big men fringe fantasy options, at best, on a massive 11-game main slate.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Other tagged players: Alex Len