DFS Alerts
Danny Green (knee) out Friday
Green is a late addition to the Raptors’ injury report and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers due to a left knee contusion, while Serge Ibaka and Kyle Lowry remain sidelined with their respective ailments. This should allow Fred VanVleet to draw another start at one of the guard positions, and he was serviceable from a fantasy perspective in 31 minutes of action in Wednesday’s win. Delon Wright appears to be the likeliest candidate to join him in the starting backcourt, which would allow Lorenzo Brown to step into the primary backup guard role off the bench. In Ibaka’s absence, Greg Monroe will likely draw another start center after exceeding salary-based expectations in just 22 minutes in his first spot start. However, with the Cavaliers running a ton of lineups with Larry Nance at center, it wouldn’t be surprising to see head coach Nick Nurse slide Pascal Siakam over to center and insert someone like OG Anunoby alongside Kawhi Leonard in the frontcourt. The sample size with Ibaka, Lowry, and Jonas Valanciunas is still extremely limited, but in that time, Siakam has a 28.0% usage rate (+9.0%) and is averaging 1.21 DraftKings and 1.26 FanDuel points per minute.
As reported by: Blake Murphy via Twitter
Serge Ibaka (knee) out Friday
Ibaka has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers due to a swollen right knee that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games, while Kyle Lowry also remains sidelined with a left thigh contusion. This should allow Fred VanVleet to draw another start at point guard, and he was serviceable from a fantasy perspective in 31 minutes of action in Wednesday’s win. In Ibaka’s absence, Greg Monroe will likely draw another start center after exceeding salary-based expectations in just 22 minutes in his first spot start. However, with the Cavaliers running a ton of lineups with Larry Nance at center, it wouldn’t be surprising to see head coach Nick Nurse slide Pascal Siakam over to center and insert someone like OG Anunoby alongside Kawhi Leonard in the frontcourt. The sample size with Ibaka, Lowry, and Jonas Valanciunas is still extremely limited, but in that time, Siakam has a 28.0% usage rate (+9.0%) and is averaging 1.21 DraftKings and 1.26 FanDuel points per minute.
As reported by: Josh Lewenberg via Twitter Favorite Play of the Slate
Many DFS players will automatically cross off the Bucks and Celtics game tonight. Both teams have elite defenses, but what we shouldn’t overlook is the fact that they have elite offenses as well. This game features a low spread and a high total. The Celtics are going to be without Al Horford, Marcus Morris, and Aron Baynes. Kyrie Irving sees a significant boost with those three off the floor and he should push for around 35 minutes in a game that should stay competitive. Sign me up and thank me later.
Bogdan Bogdanovic (foot) and Iman Shumpert (hip) available to play Friday
Bogdanovic has officially been upgraded from questionable an will be available to play in Friday’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies after missing one game with a sore right foot, while Shumpert has also been cleared to play and will return from a three-game absence due to a right hip contusion. Their presence in the lineup will likely send Justin Jackson back to the bench to resume a reserve role following a solid fantasy performance in 37 minutes of action in Wednesday’s loss. There’s been no word if either Bogdanovic or Shumpert will be subject to a minute restriction in their returns, but there is certainly a plethora of playing time available in the frontcourt with Marvin Bagley III still sidelined with a left knee bone bruise, which led Shumpert to log at least 31 minutes in two of his last three games.
As reported by: James Ham via Twitter Other tagged players: Iman Shumpert Brandon Ingram (ankle) and Rajon Rondo (hand) available to play Friday
Ingram and Rondo have both officially been upgraded from questionable and will be available to play in Friday’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans following length injury absences, while LeBron James, Tyson Chandler, and Ivica Zubac are considered game-time decisions due to an illness that is making its way around the Lakers’ locker room. The Lakers are still without JaVale McGee because of his bout with flu-like symptoms, but with Ingram and Rondo set to return, they will at least have some additional depth at the forward position and in the backcourt if James is unable to suit up. The availability of Ingram will likely send Josh Hart back to the bench to resume a reserve role after he averaged 30.9 minutes in seven games as a starter alongside Lonzo Ball in the backcourt, though he certainly could receive the starting nod for at least one more game if James is ruled out closer to tipoff.
As reported by: Ohm Youngmisuk via Twitter Other tagged players: Rajon Rondo Lebron James (illness) and Tyson Chandler (illness) are game-time decisions Friday; JaVale McGee (illness) ruled out
James, Chandler, and Ivica Zubac all missed shootaround Friday morning and are considered game-time decisions for tonight’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans due to an illness that is making its way around the Lakers’ locker room, while McGee will miss his third consecutive game with flu-like symptoms. Brandon Ingram and Rajon Rondo are set to make their returns from lengthy injury absences, so if James is unable to suit up, the Lakers will at least have some additional depth at the forward position and in the backcourt. The availability of Ingram will likely send Josh Hart back to the bench to resume a reserve role after he averaged 30.9 minutes in seven games as a starter alongside Lonzo Ball in the backcourt, though he certainly could receive the starting nod for at least one more game if James is ruled out closer to tipoff.
As reported by: Kyle Goon via Twitter Other tagged players: Tyson Chandler, JaVale McGee Game Featuring Two Poor Defensive Teams Could Mean Fantasy Gold
The Knicks haven’t been favored in many games this year with their 9-24 record, but they are 3-point favorites tonight at home facing an Atlanta team that comes in with a 7-23 record and an NBA-worst 119.0 points allowed per game. That should be good news for Enes Kanter and Emmanuel Mudiay, the Knicks second and third leading scorers, who seem a bit underpriced across DFS sites considering the matchup. The Knicks aren’t defensive stalwarts either, ranking 27th in points allowed per game, and this game features the second-highest Vegas point total on the night, so Trae Young is a player to consider for the Hawks from this game as well.
Other tagged players: Trae Young, Emmanuel Mudiay
Injuries Opening Up Opportunities On This Team
Boston is favored by one point in the game with the third-highest Vegas point total tonight, and they will be missing several key pieces of their offense for their matchup with the Bucks in Boston. Al Horford and Marcus Morris are both out with injury, and according to CourtIQ, with those two off the court this season the players with the highest minute totals and usage bumps are Terry Rozier (258.6 minutes, 3.1% usage increase), Gordon Hayward (185.0 minutes, 1.6% usage increase), and Jayson Tatum (175.5 minutes, 3.4% usage increase). Any of these players makes a fine GPP play, with Hayward a possibility to start in place of Morris, and Rozier getting increased usage off the bench.
Other tagged players: Terry Rozier, Jayson Tatum, Robert Williams III Julius Randle (ankle) expected to play Friday
Randle is still technically listed as questionable on the Pelicans’ injury report, but head coach Alvin Gentry expects him to play in Friday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers after missing one game due to a sprained right ankle, while Anthony Davis and Ian Clark remain questionable and Nikola Mirotic is doubtful to suit up. Davis was forced to exit Wednesday’s loss on a couple of occasions because he wasn’t feeling well, and his status for tonight’s contest appears to be legitimately up in the air. If that’s the case, Randle will likely slot in the starting lineup at center and allow Darius Miller to remain at one of the starting forward positions alongside Solomon Hill in the frontcourt. Miller was stellar from a fantasy perspective in his first spot start as he crushed salary-based expectations in a whopping 37 minutes of action. Unsurprisingly, Randle has been the main beneficiary with Davis and Mirotic off the court this season, as he owns a 34.5% usage rate (+6.6%) and is averaging 1.58 DraftKings and 1.54 FanDuel points per minute in this scenario.
As reported by: Daniel Sallerson via Twitter Marcus Morris (knee) out Friday
Morris has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks due to a sore right knee that’s now kept him sidelined for two consecutive games, while Al Horford will miss his seventh consecutive game due to patellofemoral pain syndrome. In their absences, Jaylen Brown will likely draw the start alongside Jayson Tatum in the frontcourt once again, but he didn’t see a bump in playing in his first spot start after settling into a low-20s minutes role off the bench the last few games in the Celtics new-look rotation. However, that could change with Aron Baynes on the shelf for the next four-to-six weeks with a fractured hand and likely will force Daniel Theis and Robert Williams to log most of their minutes at center, while Tatum and Gordon Hayward will be needed to man the four spot much more frequently in small ball lineup combinations.
As reported by: Chris Forsberg via Twitter Jonathon Simmons (ankle) out Friday
Simmons has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Chicago Bulls due to a sprained right ankle he sustained during Wednesday’s loss. Simmons typically see minutes in the low-20s off the bench in head coach Steve Clifford’s rotation, so in his absence, Wesley Iwundu will likely enter the rotation to absorb a majority of his vacated playing time on the wing. Meanwhile, Nikola Vucevic will make his return from a one-game absence due to personal reasons, which will send Mo Bamba back to the bench to resume a reserve role after crushing salary-based expectations in 26 minutes of action in his spot start. Vucevic has been stellar for most of the season, and he continues to lead the Magic with a 28.0% usage rate and an average of 1.46 DraftKings and 1.47 FanDuel points per minute.
As reported by: Orlando Magic PR via Twitter Andre Drummond (illness) probable Friday
Drummond is a new addition to the Pistons’ injury report and is probable for Friday’s matchup against the Charlotte Hornets due to an illness, while Glenn Robinson III and Ish Smith both remain sidelined because of their respective ailments. Reggie Bullock returned to the Pistons’ starting lineup three games ago and has logged at least 30 minutes in each contest, which has really eaten into the minute floors of Luke Kennard, Stanley Johnson, Langston Galloway, and Bruce Brown, who appears to be on his way out of the rotation entirely. Assuming Drummond is a full-go, he’ll be poised as an intriguing tournament target in a matchup with a Hornets squad that ranks 22nd in rebounding percentages, and he owns a 25.0% usage rate with an average of 1.36 DraftKings and 1.41 FanDuel points per minute this season.
As reported by: Rod Beard via Twitter Contingent on Serge
Greg Monroe’s rosterability is almost completely contingent on Serge Ibaka’s status. If Serge is inactive, Monroe would be one of the top value options on the slate. Conversely, if Serge is active, Monroe’s playing time would likely be stuck in the teens making him hard to justify on a full ten game slate.
Near Minimum Salary
Okogie is unlikely to be a strong per minute fantasy producer but the minutes have been there for the rookie shooting guard who is averaging nearly 30 minutes of court time with Jeff Teague absent the last two games. Okogie isn’t someone I would look to roster on a slate flush with value options but the current lack of value has me considering Okogie as he’s near minimum salary on both FanDuel ($3,600) and DraftKings ($3,300).
Increased Role, Minutes
On a night largely void of strong value options (at least currently), Fred VanVleet stands out as the top point per dollar play on the slate. The Raptors will be without Kyle Lowry on Friday which should lead to a starting role and 30+ minutes of action for FVV who is averaging over one fantasy point per minute with both Lowry and Jonas Valanciunas off the court this season.