DFS Alerts
Update: Russell Westbrook (ankle) went through shootaround, uncertain for Saturday
Update: Russell Westbrook (ankle) went through shootaround on Saturday, and his status is uncertain for the team’s matchup with the Suns. While initial reports indicated that Westbrook would be held out of the contest, it now appears he has some shot of suiting up. Keep an eye on the team’s injury reporting leading up to tip off, as it appears Westbrook may be closer to a game-time decision for OKC.
Cash Value
Trevor Ariza’s absence last game resulted in the rookie Mikal Bridges first start of the year. Bridges is likely to start again on Saturday night as the Suns host the Thunder and the #10 pick represents one of the better value options of the night. Bridges is unlikely to post eye-popping numbers but he should fill up the stat sheet enough to pay off his dirt cheap price tag.
Terrance Ferguson (personal) ruled out for Saturday
Terrance Ferguson has been ruled out for Saturday for the Thunder due to a personal matter. Ferguson regularly logs solid minutes for the Thunder despite being a low-usage player, and his absence will open up additional court time for the likes of Hamidou Diallo and Alex Abrines. With Russel Westbrook also out due to injury, Diallo and Abrines make for somewhat interesting punt options who will see more minutes and usage than usual with Westbrook and Ferguson off the floor.
High Energy Player
Kawhi Leonard has been ruled out on the second night of a back-to-back which should mean expanded court time and an expanded role for the energetic Pascal Siakam. Siakam’s averages in the four games Kawhi has missed this season: 31.25 minutes, 16 points, and 9.5 rebounds. Siakam remains a lower usage player when Kawhi is off the court (20.3%) but he averages 1.14 FD points per minute and 1.12 DK points per minute thanks to his activity on the boards and on defense.
Increased Role
Rajon Rondo is out for the next 4-5 weeks with a fractured hand which should lead to extended run for Lonzo Ball who averaged north of 30 minutes per game when Rondo was suspended for three games earlier this season. Lonzo has been a strong fantasy producer when given the run, averaging nearly a fantasy point per minute this season. Ball remains underpriced for his increased role.
Injuries Creating Opportunity Across this Team Tonight
We will have to monitor the injury situation and starting lineup in Toronto this evening, but there could be minutes and shots to go around with Kawhi Leonard likely to rest, OG Anunoby injuring himself last night, and Normal Powell and C.J. Miles already out with injuries. The Raptors are still favored by eight points despite playing on the road in Chicago tonight, so this team can still put up some points despite missing players to injury. Kyle Lowry gets a 6% usage bump with Kawhi Leonard off the floor this season for Toronto, and he may have to do some of the heavy lifting in the backcourt, while Serge Ibaka gets a 4.1% usage increase. Pascal Siakam averages 1.4 fantasy points per minute when all four injured/questionable players are out for Toronto, and increased minutes and shots should fall to Fred VanVleet, Danny Green, and Delon Wright as well.
Other tagged players: Serge Ibaka, Pascal Siakam, Danny Green, Fred VanVleet, Delon Wright
Elfrid Payton (finger) ruled out for Saturday
Elfrid Payton has been ruled out for Saturday due to a fractured pinky finger. It has been an injury plagued season for Payton so far, who made his return to action last night after a 9-game absence due to an ankle injury, only to suffer the finger injury which will keep him out on Saturday. It is unclear if the injury will keep Payton out for an extended period of time or if he will be able to play through the issue, but either way he won’t take the court today vs the Nuggets. Look for the Pelicans rotation to return to how it was in Payton’s 9-game absence, with Jrue Holiday handling the bulk of the minutes at the point guard position and seeing heavy minutes and usage.
Kosta Koufos (calf) ruled out for Saturday
Kosta Koufos has been ruled out for Saturday due to a calf injury. Koufos’s absence ensures that Willie Cauley-Stein will see as heavy of a workload as he can handle at the center position for the Kings, with Marvin Bagley III seeing some additional run as well.
OG Anunoby (wrist) and C.J. Miles (groin) both questionable Saturday for the Raptors
OG Anunoby (wrist) and C.J. Miles (groin) are both questionable Saturday for the Raptors. The Raptors may be very thin at the wing position today with Kawhi Leonard out for rest purposes and Norman Powell out as well due to his partially dislocated shoulder. If either Anunoby or Miles can’t suit up (or both) expect for Pascal Siakam and Serge Ibaka to see heavy minutes at the forward positions for the Toronto, with Delon Wright and Danny Green possibly seeing some additional minutes as well.
Other tagged players: C.J. Miles Kawhi Leonard (rest) ruled out for Saturday
Kawhi Leonard (rest) has officially been ruled out for Saturday. No surprise here as the Raptors have made it clear that they intend to rest Leonard on one leg of all back-to-backs, and he played 43 minutes last night in an overtime loss to the Celtics. Look for Kyle Lowry to see a bump in usage with Leonard out, and the remaining Raptors wing players to see heavier minutes than usual. With both O.G. Anunoby and C.J. Miles questionable as well, the Raptors may be very thin at the forward positions, which would lead to Pascal Siakam and Serge Ibaka likely seeing the heaviest minutes increase.
Stars in play from this high-scoring team
With a number of injury situations to monitor tonight, it can be easy to forget some simple things, like which game is expected to produce the most points. The New Orleans – Denver matchup should be close and high-scoring, with the Pelicans favored by a point in a game with a 227.5 Vegas point total that is the highest on the night. Anthony Davis is a GPP consideration playing at home as always, after putting up 43 points, 17 rebounds, and 5 assists last night. Jrue Holiday should also continue to produce, with Elfrid Payton re-injuring himself last night, and Jrue has averaged 21.4 points and 10.5 assists jruing the month of November.
Other tagged players: Jrue Holiday Alex Len (ankle) no longer on injury report, will play Saturday
Alex Len is no longer on injury report and will play Saturday for the Hawks. John Collins is in line to make his regular season debut, however, which will cut into Len’s minutes at the center position. That said, Collins may not get his normal workload right away, so Len may continue to see close to his usual minutes until Collins is fully back into game shape.
John Collins (ankle) available to play Saturday
John Collins is available to make his season debut Saturday after missing over a month due to an ankle injury. Collins will look to build on his solid rookie season last year, and will cut into the minutes of Alex Len at the center position for the Hawks.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (ankle) questionable for Saturday
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson has been listed as questionable for Saturday for the Nets due to an ankle injury. RHJ was unable to suit up last night against the Wizards due to the injury, and Joe Harris, Jared Dudley and Demare Carroll all saw slight minutes bumps in his absence. Look for all of these wing players to see similar usage to last night in the event that Hollis-Jefferson is again unable to take the court.
Draymond Green (toe) out Saturday, unlikely for Sunday
Draymond Green (toe) has been ruled out Saturday as expected, and is reportedly unlikely for Sunday as well. Look for Jonas Jerebko to be the primary beneficiary of Green’s absence minutes-wise, while Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson will continue to see high usage for the Warriors in the absence of both Green and Steph Curry.