DFS Alerts

Healthy And Thriving

It’s hard to believe the story, but Spencer Dinwiddie is currently thriving for the Nets. He’s averaging 36 fantasy points per game (FD scoring) and 38 fantasy points per game (DK scoring) over the last five contests, and both the minutes and usage are very secure. This is a fine matchup against a Lakers squad that plays at a very quick pace, and Dinwiddie is a great mid-range option. He should be able to keep it rolling in this matchup.

A Fine Risk/Reward Option

Lonzo Ball hasn’t been a model of consistency this season, but the positive news is that his minutes have been very secure ever since Rajon Rondo went out. He posted a triple-double just two games ago, but his floor is always going to be low because he often struggles with his shot. However, we are looking for ceiling when it comes to GPP lineup builds, and Ball does seem to be playing with more confidence right now alongside LeBron James. Brooklyn ranks just 24th in the league in defensive efficiency this year, and Ball is a fine speculative option in this spot.

Roll With The Guards

Washington’s guards represent two of the top plays on a short four game evening. They draw a great matchup against a Hawks team that leads the NBA in pace and ranks inside the bottom five in defensive efficiency. That’s always a great combination for an opposing team, especially when that opponent has two guards that both have usage rates of 28% or higher. Beal and Wall are always capable of getting up 20+ shots in a game, and that is fantasy gold against a team like the Hawks. The only risk is the chance that the game gets out of hand. Barring that, we should see big numbers here.

Surging With The Team Banged Up

The Mavericks have been one of the more banged up teams in the NBA over the last few weeks, but the majority of DFS players have been focusing on the impact with regard to the team’s guard play. Up front, DeAndre Jordan has quietly been playing great basketball of late, too. He is averaging nearly SIXTEEN rebounds per game over eight contests this month, and his size will definitely be needed against Nikola Jokic and company. Jordan is a fine component of a balanced GPP lineup this evening.

NBA Injury Rundown - Tuesday, 12/18

Cleveland Cavaliers – Tristan Thompson (O), Kevin Love (O), John Henson (O), J.R. Smith (O)

Indiana Pacers – Tyreke Evans (Q)

Los Angeles Lakers – JaVale McGee (Q), Brandon Ingram (O), Rajon Rondo (O), Michael Beasley (O)

Brooklyn Nets – Allen Crabbe (Q), Dzanan Musa (O), Caris LeVert (O), Treveon Graham (O)

Washington Wizards – Otto Porter (O), Dwight Howard (O)

Atlanta Hawks – Taurean Prince (O), Omari Spellman (O), Alex Poythress (O), Miles Plumlee (O)

Dallas Mavericks – Dirk Nowitzki (P), J.J. Barea (Q), Maxi Kleber (Q), Dennis Smith Jr. (D)

Denver Nuggets – Juan Hernangomez (Q), Gary Harris (O), Paul Millsap (O), Will Barton (O)

Mike Conley (hamstring) out Monday; Kyle Anderson (ankle) available to play

Conley has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Monday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors due to a sore left hamstring, while Anderson has been cleared and is available to play after missing the previous game due to a sprained left ankle. In his absence, Shelvin Mack started alongside Conley in the backcourt but was abysmal from a fantasy perspective in 28 minutes of action, and he’ll remain in the starting lineup at point guard for at least one more game with Conley sidelined. Rookie Jevon Carter absorbed most of the available playing time vacated by Anderson and played well in his NBA debut, making it possible he sticks in the rotation ahead of guys like Wayne Selden and maybe even MarShon Brooks given his notoriety as a stellar defensive player. The clear beneficiary with Conley off the court this season has been Garrett Temple, as he owns an 18.9% usage rate (+3.5%) and sees his production increase to 0.82 DraftKings and 0.81 FanDuel points per minute in this scenario.

Mike Conley (hamstring) downgraded to questionable Monday

Conley is an extremely late addition to the Grizzlies’ injury report and is questionable for Monday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors due to a sore left hamstring, while Kyle Anderson reportedly has a “good chance” to play after missing the previous game due to a sprained left ankle. In his absence, Shelvin Mack started alongside Conley in the backcourt but was abysmal from a fantasy perspective in 28 minutes of action, and he’ll head back to the bench to resume a reserve role with Anderson on track to play. Instead, it was rookie Jevon Carter who absorbed most of the available playing time vacated by Anderson and played well in his NBA debut, making it possible he sticks in the rotation ahead of guys like Wayne Selden, Omri Casspi, and maybe even MarShon Brooks given his notoriety as a stellar defensive player.

Jeff Teague (ankle) out Monday; Derrick Rose will start

Teague has officially been downgraded from questionable and won’t play in Monday’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings due to left ankle inflammation. With Teague unable to suit up, Derrick Rose will replace him in the starting lineup at point guard, but his minute upside appears to be capped since he’s already eclipsed the 33-minute mark off the bench in three of Minnesota’s last four games. Instead, it should be Josh Okogie that sees the largest bump in playing time, and he recently logged 26 minutes off the bench when Robert Covington was sidelined with a sore right knee. Rose has still been the main beneficiary from a usage standpoint, along with Andrew Wiggins, with Teague off the court this season, and he owns a 30.8% usage rate (+4.6%) with an average of 1.04 DraftKings and 1.03 FanDuel points per minute in this scenario.

Zaza Pachulia (illness) available to play Monday

Pachulia has officially been upgraded from questionable and will be available to play in Monday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks after missing the Pistons previous game due to an illness. In his absence, Jon Leuer logged just under 15 minutes as the backup center behind Andre Drummond, essentially stepping directly into Pachulia’s usual role. However, with Pachulia making his return, Leuer will likely be relegated from the rotation entirely or at the very least to a minimal reserve role with a majority of the Pistons regular rotation players healthy, outside of Glenn Robinson III, who is still expected to miss at least another week due to a sprained left ankle.

Tim Hardaway Jr. (heel) out Monday; Courtney Lee will start

Hardaway Jr. is a surprise late addition to the Knicks’ injury report and won’t play in Monday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns due to a sore right heel, while Damyean Dotson and Mitchell Robinson remain sidelined with their respective ailments. In his absence, Courtney Lee will draw the start at the shooting guard spot and recently rejoined the rotation by playing 22 minutes in Sunday’s win. With Trey Burke back in the fold, head coach David Fizdale really diversified the available guard and wing minutes, as none of Burke, Frank Ntilikina, or Mario Hezonja saw more than 19 minutes off the bench, while Luke Kornet was limited to less than 10 minutes as the primary backup to Enes Kanter at the center position in Robinson’s absence. As for newly-appointed starting small forward Kevin Knox, he’s logged at least 35 minutes in three of his last four starts while recording a 22.5% usage rate over that span, and he still possesses immense upside at his price tag across the industry despite some inconsistent performances.

Damyean Dotson (shoulder) listed out Monday

Dotson has been listed as out on the most recent version of the Knicks’ injury report and won’t play in Monday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns due to a sore right shoulder that’s now forced him to miss three consecutive games, while Mitchell Robinson is also listed as out and remains sidelined with a sprained left ankle. With Trey Burke back in the fold for Sunday’s win, head coach David Fizdale really diversified the available guard and wing minutes, as none of Burke, Frank Ntilikina, or Mario Hezonja saw more than 19 minutes off the bench, while Luke Kornet was limited to less than 10 minutes as the primary backup to Enes Kanter at the center position in Robinson’s absence. As for newly-appointed starting small forward Kevin Knox, he’s logged at least 35 minutes in three of his last four starts while recording a 22.5% usage rate over that span, and he still possesses immense upside at his price tag across the industry despite some inconsistent performances.

Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring) downgraded to out Monday

Brogdon was previously listed as available on the Bucks’ injury report, but he’s now been ruled of Monday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons due to a sore left hamstring that’s now forced him to miss two consecutive games. He’ll join Ersan Ilyasova among the other inactives for Milwaukee this evening, but Khris Middleton is poised to make his return from a one-game absence stemming from a sprained right finger. Without Middleton and Brogdon available for Friday’s win, Tony Snell and Pat Connaughton drew the starts on the wing for Milwaukee and each logged at least 27 minutes in their spot starts. Connaughton had recently fallen out of the rotation prior to that contest, but he seems like a solid bet to absorb at least some minutes off the bench with Ilyasova sidelined, while Snell will likely remain in the starting lineup in Brogdon’s place. However, Ilyasova has played more than 17 minutes just once in the last five games, limiting the overall impact his absence has on the rest of the rotation.

Usage Is Up In The Last Two Games

With Lou Williams out against tonight, I’m willing to roll the dice on Avery Bradley, who has played over 30 minutes in four of the last six games yet only has over 20 fantasy points in two of those four games. It’s always risky playing Bradley because of his low usage, but his usage was 19% and 16.7% in the last two games. Portland ranks 27th in defensive real plus minus against shooting guards, so this is an above average DvA spot for Bradley.

Low Owned Tournament Play

I don’t like the idea of punting center on FanDuel tonight, but I do think Mike Muscala is in play on DraftKings and FantasyDraft. After missing the Brooklyn game, he played 16 minutes against the Pacers and then played his normal 24 minutes against the Cavs last night. He rejoined the starting lineup last night, and as long as he starts tonight, I like him for tournaments.

Jump On When Everyone Is Jumping Off

Dario Saric has played at least 30 minutes in three straight games. Two of those three games were with Gibson active. Everyone is going to get off him tonight with Gibson back and I think that’s a mistake. Minnesota has the highest implied team total and receives one of the best pace bumps on this slate. Saric is averaging 6.2 fantasy points over his season average over the last four games. This is a great low owned option to attack in tournaments.