DFS Alerts

Kevin Huerter (ankle) will start and play around 20 minutes Monday

Huerter has officially been upgraded from questionable and will start in Monday’s matchup against the Houston Rockets after missing two consecutive games due to a sprained left ankle, while Taurean Prince is currently away from the team and has already been ruled out for personal reasons. Head coach Lloyd Pierce already confirmed that Huerter will replace Prince in the starting lineup at small forward, but Huerter will be subject to a minute restriction of around 20 minutes in his return and should enable DeAndre Bembry to see extended run off the bench as long as he’s cleared to play from a left quad contusion.

Kris Dunn (migraine) and Otto Porter (leg) doubtful Monday

Dunn was unable to attend shootaround and has officially been listed as doubtful for Monday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks due to a migraine, while Porter has been downgraded to doubtful with a strained lower left leg he sustained during Saturday’s win. Shaquille Harrison began the second half of that contest at small forward and recorded 19 minutes in relief but in the previous instances the Bulls were shorthanded on the wing, Wayne Selden has typically moved into the starting lineup and has logged at least 24 minutes off the bench in four of the previous six games. As one can imagine, there isn’t a large sample size with Dunn and Porter off the court in Chicago’s current roster makeup, but in that limited time, Selden and Lauri Markkanen both own at least a +2.8% usage rate differential and experience a minimum of a +0.17 increase to their per minute fantasy production.

Set Up the Swap

Luka is one of the better plays on the slate…if he does in fact play and if he is in fact healthy. Those are a couple of big if’s and you can’t realistically risk Luka on FanDuel if we don’t have confirmation of him being active before lineups lock. On late swap sites like DraftKings, however, it makes sense to get some GPP exposure to Luka where you can swap off him if he is announced inactive. The big problem here is there aren’t a ton of quality swap options if Luka is out with DAL/LAC being the only game with a late start. However, if you roster two players from the game you open up some more options.

Largely Disappointing

Jimmy Butler has been largely disappointing in Joel Embiid’s absence since the All-Star Break but remains poised to have a big game. Butler has been the 76ers biggest winner with Embiid off the court this season as Butler has seen his usage rate increase 6.5% when he’s not sharing the court with the Philadelphia big man. Additionally, Butler sees about a 15% boost in fantasy performance with Embiid off the court. I feel like the 76ers in general are going a bit overlooked on this slate after a couple of poor fantasy performances but I still want plenty of exposure to Butler (and Simmons) in GPPs.

Threekola

Giannis Antetokounmpo is doubtful for Monday’s game against the Bulls which should open up more minutes and more usage for Nikola Mirotic. Even if Mirotic gets the starting nod, I’m not expecting Coach Bud to run him into the ground as he’s coming off a calf injury, but at his current price tags Miro rates as a postive value if he’s able to log minutes in the low-20’s. That leaves room for a ton of upside if Miro approaches 30 minutes of court time as the European big man has been a strong per minute fantasy producer throughout his career. Mirotic also makes for a natural leverage play off other Bucks players who are expected to be high owned (Bledsoe, Brogdon).

Karl-Anthony Towns (concussion) will play Monday; Jeff Teague (hand) questionable

Towns have officially been upgraded from probable and will play in Monday’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings after missing two consecutive games due to a concussion, while Teague is a new addition to the Timberwolves’ injury report and is questionable with a hand injury. Assuming Towns isn’t subject to a minute restriction, his return to the lineup will send Taj Gibson back to the bench to resume a reserve role following a couple of outstanding fantasy performances relative to his price tag in an average of 28.2 minutes over that span. If Teague is unable to suit up, Derrick Rose would almost certainly enter the starting lineup at point guard in his place, despite logging fewer than 25 minutes in each of the previous four games. However, Rose does own a 33.4% usage rate (+4.7%) and is averaging 1.26 DraftKings and 1.25 FanDuel points per minute with Teague and Robert Covington off the court this season, elevating him to an elite option in all daily fantasy formats if Teague is ruled out closer to tipoff.

Finally Hit that 30 Minute Mark

Jonas Valanciunas has always been an elite per-minute player, but he’s rarely gotten the chance to play 25+ minutes on a regular basis. He has played well since joining the Grizzlies and is coming off of a monster outing against the Cavaliers. He finished the game with 45 fantasy points in 30 minutes of action (with a 30% usage rate). With Jaren Jackson out, he should continue to see a boost in playing time. He draws a favorable matchup against the Lakers, who are ranked 25th in efficiency against centers this season.

Sneaky Play Thanks to Soft Pricing

We have 11 games on the schedule tonight and some incredibly soft pricing. There are five or six players that I almost want to force into my lineups, which will lead to a lot of overlap. In tournaments, we have to make a pivot here or there. One of my favorite pivots in this slate is Bogdan Bogdanovic. He has started the last two games and should push for 30+ minutes against the Wolves, who have struggled to contain scoring wings this season. Bogdanovic is affordable and will come at a significant ownership discount due to the number of options at SG/SF this evening.

Auto-Play at Point Guard

Giannis Antetokounmpo is not expected to play tonight against the Bulls. As long as he ends up sitting out, Eric Bledsoe will be the first player into my lineups for both cash games and tournaments. With Giannis off the floor this season, Bledsoe has averaged 1.54 FP/min with a 29% usage rate. He would be an elite option in any matchup, so it’s icing on the cake that he gets to face a Bulls’ team that is ranked 28th in efficiency against point guards this season.

James Harden (neck) probable Monday; Iman Shumpert (knee) available to play

Harden has officially been upgraded from questionable to probable for Monday’s matchup against the Atlanta Hawks after missing one game due to a strained neck, while Shumpert has been cleared to return from a two-game absence stemming from a sore right knee. There’s been no word of a possible minute restriction for Harden, so he’ll presumably reclaim his spot in the starting lineup, sending Kenneth Faried back to the bench to resume a reserve role following a solid fantasy performance in 33 minutes of action in Saturday’s win. With Harden on track to play, Chris Paul and the remaining members of the Rockets rotation would take a significant hit in their projected fantasy value, though they still draw an exploitable matchup with a Hawks squad that ranks first in pace and 28th in defensive efficiency on the season.

NBA Injury Rundown - Monday, 2/25

Golden State Warriors – Draymond Green (Q), Damian Jones (O)

Indiana Pacers – Myles Turner (Q), Tyreke Evans (Q), Victor Oladipo (O)

Portland Trail Blazers – Evan Turner (O)

Cleveland Cavaliers – Tristan Thompson (O), John Henson (O)

Miami Heat – Justise Winslow (D), Rodney McGruder (D), James Johnson (D)

Sacramento Kings – Corey Brewer (D)

Minnesota Timberwolves – Karl-Anthony Towns (P), Robert Covington (O)

Philadelphia 76ers – Joel Embiid (O), Furkan Korkmaz (O), Zhaire Smith (O), Shake Milton (O)

New Orleans Pelicans – Darius Miller (Q), Trevon Bluiett (O)

Los Angeles Lakers – Mike Muscala (P), Lonzo Ball (O)

Memphis Grizzlies – Mike Conley (P), Kyle Anderson (O), Jaren Jackson Jr. (O), Dillon Brooks (O)

Atlanta Hawks – DeAndre Bembry (P), Kevin Huerter (Q), Taurean Prince (O), Miles Plumlee (O)

Houston Rockets – James Harden (Q), Iman Shumpert (Q)

Milwaukee Bucks – Giannis Antetokounmpo (D), George Hill (O), Donte DiVincenzo (O)

Chicago Bulls – Otto Porter (Q), Chandler Hutchison (O), Wendell Carter Jr. (O), Denzel Valentine (O)

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

DeAndre Jordan (ankle) listed out Sunday

Jordan has been downgraded from doubtful on the most recent version of the Knicks’ injury report and won’t play in Sunday’s matchup against the San Antonio Spurs due to a sprained left ankle he sustained during Saturday’s practice, while Frank Ntilikina remains sidelined with a sore groin. During his pregame media availability, head coach David Fizdale disclosed that he and the coaching staff have yet to settle on Jordan’s replacement in the starting lineup, but either way, Noah Vonleh and Mitchell Robinson stand to benefit from a significant increase in playing time since Jordan has logged more than 24 minutes in all but one game since joining the Knicks prior to the trade deadline. As one can imagine, there isn’t a tremendous sample size with Jordan off the court in the previous eight games, but in that time, Robinson has averaged 1.35 DraftKings and 1.52 FanDuel points per minute and makes him a fantastic option in daily fantasy formats if he draws the start this evening.

Derrick White (heel) active but unlikely to play Sunday; LaMarcus Aldridge (illness) available to play

White has officially been upgraded from probable and will be active for Sunday’s matchup against the New York Knicks, but head coach Gregg Popovich disclosed that he only plans to play White in the event of an emergency on the frontend of a back-to-back set, while Aldridge has been cleared to play despite dealing with an illness. In White’s absence, Davis Bertans will likely rejoin the starting lineup after a one-game hiatus, and he’s logged at least 27 minutes in each of the Spurs previous three games regardless of a reserve or starting role. Patty Mills and Bryn Forbes both also stand to benefit from an increase in playing time with White unlikely to play, and they’ve each recorded a minimum of 27 minutes over the last three contests as well. None of the Spurs drastically benefit with White off the court this season, but in this scenario, DeMar DeRozan does own a 32.9% usage rate (+2.6%) and is averaging 1.21 fantasy points per minute.

Isaiah Briscoe (concussion) out Sunday

Briscoe is a new addition to the Magic’s injury report and won’t play in Sunday’s matchup against the Toronto Raptors due to a concussion that’s forced him to be placed in the NBA’s concussion protocol, while Mohamed Bamba and Markelle Fultz remain sidelined indefinitely with their respective ailments. In his absence, Jerian Grant will rejoin the rotation and serve as the primary backup behind D.J. Augustin at point guard. However, Briscoe has averaged 24.5 minutes over the previous five games, so it’s unlikely Grant is given the reign to absorb all of Briscoe’s vacated minutes and it should enable Augustin to see an uptick in playing time as well. Unfortunately, Augustin will likely need to approach the 30-minute mark to provide value on today’s slate, as he owns just an 18.4% usage rate and is averaging 0.84 DraftKings and 0.81 FanDuel points per minute on the season.

Kawhi Leonard (rest) out Sunday

Leonard is a new addition to the Raptors’ injury report and won’t play in Sunday’s matchup against the Orlando Magic due to rest purposes, while Fred VanVleet remains sidelined recovering from left thumb surgery and is still expected to miss at least another month. VanVleet typically starts when Leonard is sidelined, and the previous time both he and Leonard were unavailable, Norman Powell received the starting nod at small forward and was effective from a fantasy perspective in 31 minutes of action in his spot start. The sample size with Leonard, VanVleet, and all of the departed Raptors off the court is still relatively small, but in that time, Pascal Siakam has been the clear beneficiary, as he owns a 33.7% usage rate (+12.6%) and is averaging 1.47 DraftKings and 1.48 FanDuel points per minute in this scenario.