DFS Alerts

Leverage Value Option

With how this slate is setting up, we’re going to have some really high owned value options. If you’re playing large field tournaments, and you’re looking for some leverage, I really like Marco Belinelli. He can easily bust in this spot, but he should play 27+ minutes if this game stays close. He really relies on his scoring for fantasy production, and Dallas has been one of the worst teams throughout the season against guards. It’s a risky play and I would only do it in large field tournaments.

Cheap Across The Industry

With Zach LaVine ruled out for tonight’s game, Ryan Arcidiacono becomes one of the best value plays across the industry. He’s going to be pretty high owned because of his price, but the minutes should be there with no LaVine. He’s put up at least 19 fantasy points in his last three games with 30+ minutes, and he’s averaging .74 fantasy points per minute with LaVine off the floor this season.

Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) upgraded to probable Tuesday

Towns has officially been upgraded from questionable to probable for Tuesday’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets after missing one game due to right knee inflammation, while Andrew Wiggins, Jeff Teague, and Derrick Rose all remain listed as questionable with their respective ailments. The Timberwolves are still without Luol Deng and Robert Covington, so if Wiggins is unable to suit up for a third straight contest, Keita Bates-Diop would likely draw the start at small forward once again and has logged at least 35 minutes and exceeded his salary-based expectations in both of his first spot starts. On the other hand, if Teague is ruled out, Tyus Jones would more than likely join the starting lineup at point guard and would join Bates-Diop as one of the top value options on tonight’s seven-game slate if the aforementioned scenarios come to fruition.

Jeff Teague (foot) and Derrick Rose (elbow) questionable Tuesday

Teague and Rose have officially been added to the Timberwolves’ injury report and are questionable for Tuesday’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets due to left inflammation and a sore right elbow, respectively, while Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins each remain listed as questionable after missing the previous game. The Timberwolves are still without Luol Deng and Robert Covington, so if Wiggins is unable to suit up for a third straight contest, Keita Bates-Diop would likely draw the start at small forward once again and has logged at least 35 minutes and exceeded his salary-based expectations in both of his first spot starts. On the other hand, if Teague is ruled out, Tyus Jones would more than likely join the starting lineup at point guard and would join Bates-Diop as one of the top value options on tonight’s seven-game slate if the aforementioned scenarios come to fruition.

Increased Role in an Elite Matchup

Kris Dunn has taken a backseat offensively, playing more off-ball with Zach LaVine running the show. With LaVine ruled out tonight, Dunn should not only see a boost in playing time, but a boost in usage as well. He draws an elite matchup against the Lakers, who have been one of the worst defensive teams in basketball over the last 10 games. If we run CourtIQ with LaVine off the floor, Dunn sees a 7% usage bump and a 0.16 FP/min bump.

Fire Up Mr. Zizic

I fully expect the Cavaliers to get blown out tonight, but that shouldn’t impact the fantasy production of Ante Zizic. The Cavaliers are very short-handed tonight — Kevin Love will be rested, Tristan Thompson and Larry Nance are both doubtful, and Marquese Chriss is likely to get suspended. Zizic should play close to 30 minutes regardless of the game’s outcome. He was the king of garbage time earlier in the season and I expect that to be the case again tonight.

Zach LaVine (knee) officially out Tuesday

LaVine has officially been downgraded from doubtful and won’t play in Tuesday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers due to a strained right patellar tendon that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games. In his absence, Ryan Arcidiacono ended up receiving the starting nod alongside Kris Dunn in the backcourt, but he was extremely underwhelming from a fantasy perspective in 26 minutes of action in Sunday’s loss. Instead, it was Wayne Selden and Shaquille Harrison that outproduced him in the second unit and both logged a minimum of 28 minutes off the bench in the aforementioned contest. On top of that, Selden, Dunn, and Otto Porter all own at least a +5.6% usage rate differential with LaVine off the court since the All-Star break, though Porter has led the way from an overall fantasy production standpoint, as he is averaging 1.10 DraftKings and 1.05 FanDuel points per minute in this scenario.

Chucking It

Jrue Holiday is still out, so we can continue to fire up Elfrid Payton and Frank Jackson. Payton is coming off a triple-double, while Jackson has taken an impressive 38 shots in the last two game. Jackson is a huge beneficiary with Tim Frazier no longer around, and he remains a solid mid-range play. It’s been impressive to see his confidence grow, and I will continue to play him with confidence until his price rises a little more.

Play For Upside

Zach LaVine is likely going to sit tonight. While Selden, Arcidiacono, and company will get the extra run, it’s Markkanen, Porter, and Dunn who will benefit. All own usage rates of 27% or greater with LaVine off the floor, and the bump in production is noticeable. I love the upside potential with Markkanen, and while he will be chalky, this is a spot where I don’t mind eating some chalk even in GPP formats. The opportunity and the matchup against the Lakers are simply too good to ignore.

Obvious Value

This team might be woefully short on big men tonight. Kevin Love is resting. Nance and Thompson are hurt and questionable at best tonight. Chriss might be looking at a suspension after a fight with Serge Ibaka yesterday. Ante Zizic might be the last man standing, and he put up a 17/7 line in last night’s game. He will be one of the most popular options on the slate, but we need to get clarity on who will be active.

NBA Injury Rundown - Tuesday, 3/12

New York Knicks – Mario Hezonja (Q), Frank Ntilikina (O)

Cleveland Cavaliers – Larry Nance Jr. (TBD), Matthew Dellavedova (TBD), Kevin Love (O), Tristan Thompson (O)

Philadelphia 76ers – Jimmy Butler (O), Furkan Korkmaz (O)

Los Angeles Lakers – Kyle Kuzma (Q), Lance Stephenson (Q), Tyson Chandler (Q), Brandon Ingram (O), Lonzo Ball (O)

Chicago Bulls – Zach LaVine (D), Chandler Hutchison (O), Wendell Carter Jr. (O), Denzel Valentine (O)

Milwaukee Bucks – George Hill (O), Sterling Brown (O)

New Orleans Pelicans – Jrue Holiday (O), E’Twaun Moore (O), Trevon Bluiett (O)

San Antonio Spurs – Rudy Gay (O), Dejounte Murray (O)

Dallas Mavericks – Luka Doncic (Q), Kristaps Porzingis (O), J.J. Barea (O)

Minnesota Timberwolves – Karl-Anthony Towns (Q), Andrew Wiggins (Q), Luol Deng (O), Robert Covington (O)

Portland Trail Blazers – Rodney Hood (Q), Evan Turner (Q)

Jaylen Brown will start in place of Jayson Tatum (shoulder) on Monday

Tatum was already ruled out and won’t play in Monday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers due to a sore right shoulder. This will be the first game Tatum has missed all season, so there was a bit of uncertainty on who will replace him in the starting lineup at small forward, but Brown will receive the starting nod alongside Marcus Smart on the wing, as head coach Brad Stevens seems to prefer keeping Gordon Hayward in his typical sixth-man role off the bench. However, both Brown and Hayward will be relied upon to absorb additional minutes with Tatum sidelined and the Celtics starting lineup shouldn’t be a determining factor in your lineup decisions this evening. With Tatum off the court, Marcus Morris and Al Horford each own at least a +1.7% usage rate differential and experience a minimum of a +0.08 increase to their per minute fantasy production in this scenario.

Jeremy Lamb (hamstring) will start Monday

Lamb has officially been upgraded from probable and will start in Monday’s matchup against the Houston Rockets despite dealing with a sore left hamstring, while Marvin Williams, Cody Zeller, Tony Parker and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist were all previously ruled out with their respective ailments. Since Lamb has been cleared to play, he’ll receive the starting nod alongside Nicolas Batum on the wing, and he’s already managed to log at least 31 minutes off the bench in five of the previous seven games. Frank Kaminsky has also taken on a larger role in the frontcourt rotation over the last five contests, and while he’ll certainly be in line for an increase in playing time with Williams and Zeller sidelined, it’s Willy Hernangomez that will draw the start at center in Zeller’s place and makes him an intriguing tournament target at near minimum salary across the industry.

Bruce Brown (ankle) will start Monday

Brown has officially been upgraded from questionable and will start in Monday’s matchup against the Brooklyn Nets after missing one game due to sprained right ankle. There’s been no report of a potential minute restriction for Brown, so he’ll likely resume his typical role alongside Wayne Ellington on the wing. In his absence, Glenn Robinson III received the starting nod at small forward but was irrelevant from a fantasy perspective in just 13 minutes of action, while Luke Kennard and Langston Galloway were the true beneficiaries with Brown sidelined, logging 31 and 29 minutes off the bench, respectively. Brown has been relegated to just a nominal starter by Casey on a relatively consistent basis, so his return still won’t have too much of an impact on the Pistons wing rotation other than lowering the minute floors and ceilings of Kennard and Galloway in tonight’s contest.

Tony Parker (rest) out Monday

Parker is a late addition to the Hornets’ injury report and won’t play in Monday’s matchup against the Houston Rockets due to rest purposes, marking the second consecutive game he’s missed, while Marvin Williams, Cody Zeller, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist were all previously ruled out with their respective ailments. Jeremy Lamb remains listed as probable because of a sore left hamstring, so he’ll more than likely rejoin the starting lineup alongside Nicolas Batum on the wing and he’s already managed to log at least 31 minutes off the bench in five of the previous seven games. Frank Kaminsky has also taken on a larger role in the frontcourt rotation over the last five contests, and while he’ll certainly be in line for an increase in playing time with Williams and Zeller sidelined, Bismack Biyombo is still the leading candidate to draw the start at center in Zeller’s place this evening.