DFS Alerts
Take the Starter
Both Luke Kornet and Noah Vonleh average .94 DK points per minute and .95 FD points per minutes this season. Figuring out which guy to play as PF2 on FanDuel could end up deciding the slate (assuming LMA PF1) – I lean with whoever gets the starting nod (has been Kornet as of late) as their minutes should be more secure. Playing both Kornet and Vonleh together on DraftKings (even with Mitchell Robinson) is a viable way to open up salary but may be unnecessary.
Other tagged players: Noah Vonleh
A Matchup to Exploit
Nikola Jokic would be the top overall play regardless of the slate size in such a favorable matchup against the Clippers but is an absolute lock on Sunday’s three (or two) game slate. Per the RG Defense vs Archetype tool, the Clippers allow the third most fantasy points per game to versatile bigs. Poor defense combined with the highest pace on the slate make the Clippers an obvious matchup to exploit.
Intriguing Value on DK/FDRAFT
Let’s start with Mitchell Robinson. You’re not going to be able to play him on FanDuel if you are starting with Jokic, because you can’t roster two centers. However, that’s not a deal breaker, as FanDuel has proactively priced Robinson up to a somewhat absurd $6,100 price tag. Despite his per minute ability, there’s no reason that he should be priced at that level. On DK/FDRAFT, though, Robinson checks in with a much cheaper price tag, and we can fit him in thanks to the positional flexibility on those sites. Robinson is averaging 5.7 blocks per 48 minutes played this season, and he should get more playing time for the tanking Knicks. That is especially true tonight given the likely absence of DeAndre Jordan from the lineup. As such, I have tagged Robinson as the core play on DK/FDRAFT when you combine all these factors together.
Steady and Safe
The Spurs draw a very favorable matchup tonight against the tanking, defensively-challenged New York Knicks. We have to consider one of the top San Antonio players as a core play on such a short slate, and I will side with Aldridge. He draws the better individual spot compared to DeMar DeRozan, as the Knicks rank among the bottom few teams in the league in defensive metrics against versatile big men. Aldridge struggled the other night in a difficult matchup against the Raptors, but he came into that game battling an illness. After a day to recover, he should be close to full strength for tonight. Aldridge has been a steady double-double machine for much of the year, and I wouldn’t expect him to slow down tonight in a favorable matchup. His safety has a ton of value on this short slate.
Today's Top Play
There aren’t a lot of spend-up options on this slate, so it makes sense to start lineups tonight by prioritizing Jokic at the top. He has been putting up triple-doubles with regularity that we don’t see out of anyone other than Russell Westbrook, and his ability to contribute across all areas of the stat sheet is unprecedented for a big man. His all around ability is truly impressive, and he will be asked to keep it rolling as the Nuggets try to track down the Warriors for the top seed in the Western Conference. In the last meeting between these teams, Jokic played just 28 minutes (due to a blowout) and still managed to put up a triple-double with an 18/14/10 line. In addition to his overall talent, we can then add tonight’s matchup into the equation. The opposing Clippers rank 28th or 29th (depending on site) in our “Defense vs. Archetype” tool against versatile big men, which makes this an even more mouth-watering spot for Jokic. He’s your top play tonight, and frankly it’s not even that close. Start your cash game lineups with him on all sites.
Luka Doncic (ankle) out Saturday
Doncic has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Utah Jazz due to a sore right ankle that’s now forced him to miss two consecutive games, while Maxi Kleber is a surprise late addition to the Mavericks injury report and has also been ruled out of tonight’s contest. Doncic has been an excellent source of fantasy value following the departure of Dennis Smith Jr. to the New York Knicks via trade, as he’s exceeded salary-based expectations in five of his previous six games while averaging 33.5 minutes per contest over that span. However, with Doncic unable to suit up, Jalen Brunson will almost certainly draw the start at point guard once again, and he’ll be in consideration as a viable punt option in all fantasy formats, especially with Kleber also unavailable and opening up another spot in the starting lineup. In fact, Brunson owns a 26.0% usage rate (+6.3%) and is averaging 1.11 DraftKings and 1.08 FanDuel points per minute with Doncic and all of the departed Mavericks off the court this season.
As reported by: Eddie Sefko via Twitter
Maxi Kleber (illness) listed out Saturday
Kleber has been included on the most recent version of the Mavericks’ injury report and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Utah Jazz due to an illness, while Luka Doncic will miss a second straight contest due to a sore right ankle. Doncic has been an excellent source of fantasy value following the departure of Dennis Smith Jr. to the New York Knicks via trade, as he’s exceeded salary-based expectations in five of his previous six games while averaging 33.5 minutes per contest over that span. However, with Doncic unable to suit up, Jalen Brunson will almost certainly draw the start at point guard once again, and he’ll be in consideration as a viable punt option in all fantasy formats, especially with Kleber also unavailable and opening up another spot in the starting lineup. In fact, Brunson owns a 26.0% usage rate (+6.3%) and is averaging 1.11 DraftKings and 1.08 FanDuel points per minute with Doncic and all of the departed Mavericks off the court this season.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Karl-Anthony Towns (concussion) out Saturday
Towns has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks due to a concussion that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games, while GorguiDieng remains away from the team dealing with a personal matter and will also miss his second straight contest. In their absences, Taj Gibson received the starting nod at center, and he was stellar from a fantasy perspective in 31 minutes of action in Friday’s win. Dario Saric was limited to fewer than 24 minutes for a second straight game, despite starting on both occasions, though he continues to be efficient when on the court and has exceeded his salary-based expectations over that same span. In a limited sample size with Towns off the court, Derrick Rose and Andrew Wiggins have been the clear beneficiaries, as they each own at least a +5.6% usage rate differential and experience a minimum of a +0.26 increase to their per minute fantasy production in the aforementioned scenario.
As reported by: Malika Andrews via Twitter James Harden (neck) out Saturday
Harden has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors due to a strained neck, while Iman Shumpert remains sidelined with a sore right knee. In Harden’s absence, head coach Mike D’Antoni confirmed that Kenneth Faried will rejoin the starting lineup at power forward, which means the Rockets will go big with P.J. Tucker sliding up to small forward and Clint Capela manning his customary center position. Capela returned from a 15-game injury-related absence in Thursday’s loss, and he managed to log 33 minutes in his first game back, despite being relatively disappointing from a fantasy perspective in that contest. Unsurprisingly, Chris Paul and Eric Gordon have been the main beneficiaries with Harden off the court this season, as they each own at least a +5.0% usage rate differential and experience a minimum of a +0.34 increase to their per minute fantasy production in this scenario.
As reported by: Craig Ackerman via Twitter Gordon Hayward (ankle) available to play Saturday
Hayward has officially been upgraded from probable and will be available to play in Saturday’s matchup against the Chicago Bulls after missing one game due to a sprained right ankle, while Aron Baynes will remain sidelined for at least two more games with a left foot contusion. In Hayward’s absence, head coach Brad Stevens opted to give his starters extended run, as all five of them recorded more than 30 minutes of action, and Jaylen Brown was solid from a fantasy perspective in 24 minutes off the bench as the primary backup at both wing positions. With Hayward back in the fold, all of the aforementioned players will see a bit of a hit to their potential minutes’ floors and ceilings, and Semi Ojeleye will likely be relegated from the rotation after being allotted 12 minutes with the second unit in Thursday’s loss.
As reported by: Adam Himmelsbach via Twitter Goran Dragic (knee) will play with a minute restriction Saturday
Dragic has officially been upgraded from probable and will play in Saturday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons as he continues to work his way back from a right knee procedure, while Justise Winslow and James Johnson were previously ruled out due to their respective ailments. Head coach Erik Spoelstra already confirmed that Dragic will come off the bench and be subject to a minute restriction in his return, which means that Josh Richardson will likely assume the primary ballhandling responsibilities in the starting unit and Rodney McGruder is the leading candidate to start alongside Dion Waiters on the wing. McGruder recently rejoined the rotation following the departure of Tyler Johnson to Phoenix via trade, and he’s logged a minimum of 20 minutes in four of the previous five games. Dwyane Wade can also be expected to see starters minutes off the bench, and he leads the Heat with a 28.0% usage rate while averaging 1.07 DraftKings and 1.05 FanDuel points per minute on the season.
As reported by: Anthony Chiang via Twitter Jonas Valanciunas (personal) available to play Saturday
Valanciunas has officially been upgraded from questionable and will be available to play in Saturday’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers after missing one game due to personal reasons, while Jaren Jackson Jr. will be sidelined indefinitely due to a right quad contusion. In their absences, Bruno Caboclo received the starting nod at power forward, but he was limited to just 11 minutes with Ivan Rabb and Joakim Noah recording 25 and 30 minutes, respectively. Chandler Parsons also returned to the rotation and recorded 20 minutes off the bench in Friday’s loss, and he’s been excluded from the latest Grizzlies’ injury report, clearing the path for him to play in his first back-to-back situation all season, though he will have his minutes monitored by the Grizzlies coaching staff along with Valanciunas this evening.
As reported by: Michael Wallace via Twitter Myles Turner (hip) listed out Saturday; Tyreke Evans (ankle) listed as available
Turner has been listed as out on the most recent version of the Pacers’ injury report and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Washington Wizards due to a bruised left hip that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games, while Evans is listed as available after logging 19 minutes in Friday’s win. In Turner’s absence, head coach Nate McMillan opted to start Kyle O’Quinn at center in order to keep his second unit intact, and O’Quinn was stellar from a fantasy perspective in just 20 minutes of action. With Turner unable to suit up once again, Domantas Sabonis will still be an excellent option for daily fantasy formats on tonight’s 11-game slate, despite coming off the bench, as he’s been stellar from a fantasy perspective in the six games Turner has been sidelined. In fact, Sabonis owns a 24.5% usage rate and is averaging 1.38 fantasy points per minute with Turner and Victor Oladipo off the court this season.
As reported by: NBA Official Injury Report Other tagged players: Tyreke Evans Darius Miller (ankle) officially out Saturday
Miller has officially been downgraded from doubtful and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers due to a sprained right ankle that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games, while Anthony Davis and E’Twaun Moore will both be rested on tonight’s second leg of a back-to-back set. Davis was limited to just 20 minutes in Friday’s loss, which allowed Cheick Diallo to greatly exceed his salary-based expectations in 26 minutes off the bench. Jahlil Okafor was only allotted 17 minutes with the second unit in that contest, but he will still get the call to replace Davis in the starting lineup at center and that should enable him to see a significant uptick in playing time this evening. There’s obviously not a tremendous sample size with Davis, Moore, and the departed Nikola Mirotic off the court this season, but in that time, Julius Randle owns a 32.7% usage rate (+4.9%) and is averaging 1.74 DraftKings and 1.71 FanDuel points per minute.
As reported by: Andrew Lopez via Twitter Kevin Huerter (ankle) officially out Saturday
Huerter has officially been downgraded from doubtful and won’t play in Saturday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns due to a sprained right ankle that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games. In his absence, Kent Bazemore will likely receive the starting nod at the shooting guard position alongside Taurean Prince on the wing once again, and he was solid from a fantasy perspective in 34 minutes of action in Friday’s loss, giving him a solid minute floor as long as Huerter is sidelined and vaults him into consideration as a value option for all daily fantasy formats on tonight’s 11-game slate.
As reported by: Kevin Chouinard via Twitter