DFS Alerts
Goran Dragic (knee) questionable Wednesday
Dragic has added to the Heat’s injury report and is questionable for Wednesday’s matchup against the San Antonio Spurs due to a sore right knee, while Dwyane Wade is away from the team dealing with a personal matter and has already officially been ruled out. This means the Heat could be without two key members of their backcourt, which would greatly benefit Tyler Johnson and Justise Winslow, who was outstanding in his spot start for Dragic over the weekend. However, Johnson is now the cheaper of the two on daily fantasy sites and has a 23.6% usage rate while averaging 0.92 DraftKings and 0.94 FanDuel points per minute with Wade off the court this season. If Dragic is eventually ruled out, that usage and production only increase along with his projected minutes total. Additionally, Hassan Whiteside remains questionable but is expected to play, and his likely return should force Bam Adebayo into a less significant bench role following back-to-back games of logging at least 29 minutes.
As reported by: Shandel Richardson via Twitter
Hassan Whiteside (knee) expected to play Wednesday; Dwyane Wade (personal) out
Whiteside is still technically questionable but is expected to play in Wednesday’s matchup against the San Antonio Spurs after missing one game with a right knee injury, while Dwyane Wade is away from the team dealing with a personal matter and has officially been ruled out. The likely return of Whiteside should force Bam Adebayo into a less significant bench role following back-to-back games of logging at least 29 minutes. With Goran Dragic also listed as questionable, the Heat could be without two key members of their backcourt, which would greatly benefit Tyler Johnson and Justise Winslow, who was outstanding in his spot start for Dragic over the weekend. However, Johnson is now the cheaper of the two on daily fantasy sites and has a 23.6% usage rate while averaging 0.92 DraftKings and 0.94 FanDuel points per minute with Wade off the court this season. If Dragic is eventually ruled out, that usage and production only increase along with his projected minutes total.
As reported by: Anthony Chiang via Twitter Other tagged players: Dwyane Wade Derrick White (heel) available to play Wednesday
White has officially been upgraded from probable, and head coach Gregg Popovich confirmed with reporters that he will be available off the bench in Wednesday’s matchup against the Miami Heat after missing all nine games this season with a torn left plantar fascia. White will likely be eased back into action, but Popovich did declare him the team’s starting point guard after Dejounte Murray sustained a season-ending ACL tear, so it should be expected for him to begin siphoning minutes away from Bryn Forbes and Patty Mills once the Spurs are back full strength and have Rudy Gay available. San Antonio is also without Pau Gasol due to a sore right foot, which leaves Jakob Poeltl as the main backup behind LaMarcus Aldridge at center. Unsurprisingly, the primary beneficiary with Gay and Gasol off the court has been DeMar DeRozan, who leads the Spurs by a massive margin with a 42.7% usage rate and is averaging 1.47 DraftKings and 1.46 FanDuel points per minute in this scenario.
As reported by: Jeff McDonald via Twitter Should Draw Another Start
Depending on some of the news today, we might not have a ton of “punt” value options tonight. With Gay and Gasol already ruled out for tonight, Davis Bertans should be in line for 25+ minutes in this spot. He’s listed as a small forward on FanDuel and becomes a very interesting punt play. He started for Gay on Sunday and played 26 minutes against the Orlando Magic. He doesn’t have a big usage rate, but he did attempt seven three-pointers in that game. I’m not expecting a lot from him, but depending on new, he’s certainly someone I will be considering.
Should Continue To Play Big Minutes
With Jeff Teague already ruled out for tonight’s game, it’s hard not to like Derrick Rose in this matchup. He’s played 35+ minutes in two of the last three games, and the game he didn’t was when he had the ankle issue. He’s taken 20 and 31 shot attempts in those two games and has over 30 fantasy points in each of those games. In 192.2 minutes with Teague off the floor, Rose has a 31.8% usage rate and he’s averaging 1.19 fantasy points per minute. Even when Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns are on the floor with him, he still has a 30.4% usage rate. With the Lakers playing at the third fastest pace in the NBA this season, this is also a really good pace up spot for the Timberwolves.
NBA Injury Rundown - Wednesday, 11/7
Detroit Pistons – Reggie Bullock (Questionable), Luke Kennard (Out)
Orlando Magic – Evan Fournier (Questionable), Jonathan Isaac (Out)
Oklahoma City Thunder – Russell Westbrook (Out)
Cleveland Cavaliers – Sam Dekker (Out), Kevin Love (Out)
New York Knicks – Courtney Lee (Out)
Atlanta Hawks – Taurean Prince (TBD)
San Antonio Spurs – Rudy Gay (Out), Pau Gasol (Out), Derrick White (Probable)
Miami Heat – Hassan Whiteside (Questionable)
Philadelphia 76ers – Robert Covington (Questionable), Mike Muscala (Doubtful)
New Orleans Pelicans – Elfrid Payton (Questionable – unlikely to play)
Denver Nuggets – Paul Millsap (Probable)
Memphis Grizzlies – Shelvin Mack (Probable), Dillon Brooks (Probable), Omri Casspi (Out)
Dallas Mavericks – Devin Harris (Out)
Utah Jazz – Donovan Mitchell (Probable)
Toronto Raptors – Kawhi Leonard (Questionable), Norman Powell (Out)
Minnesota Timberwolves – Jeff Teague (Out)
Nik Stauskas (quad) will “probably play” Tuesday
In typical Terry Stotts fashion, he confirmed with reporters during his pregame media availability that Stauskas will “probably play” in Tuesday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks after previously being listed as questionable with a right quad contusion. Meanwhile, Maurice Harkless will miss his sixth consecutive game, which clears the way for Jake Layman to continue starting at small forward despite playing more than 18 minutes on just two occasions this season. Stauskas has had a semi-consistent role in Stotts’ rotation, but his 20.2 minutes average combined with a 17.2% usage rate keeps him irrelevant for daily fantasy formats as long as the Trail Blazers remain healthy in the backcourt.
As reported by: Casey Holdahl via Twitter TJ Warren (back) will play Tuesday; Ryan Anderson remains in starting lineup
Warren has officially been upgraded from questionable and will play in Tuesday’s matchup against the Brooklyn Nets after missing one game due to back spasms. Warren recently supplanted Ryan Anderson as the Suns starting power forward, but he’ll head back to the bench in favor of Anderson despite averaging 28.5 minutes in his first two games as a starter. The Nets rank towards the bottom of the NBA in pace this season, but Warren could still remain an intriguing tournament target if he’s not limited, as he owns a respectable 25.0% usage rate and is still averaging 1.00 DraftKings and 0.99 FanFuel points per minute despite his fluctuating role in Kokoskov’s rotation this season.
As reported by: Kellan Olson via Twitter Other tagged players: Ryan Anderson DeMarre Carroll (ankle) remains out Tuesday
Carroll returned to practice on Monday for the first time since undergoing right ankle surgery, but he’s officially been ruled out Tuesday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns after surprisingly being listed as doubtful on the injury report. This news isn’t all that surprising considering head coach Kenny Atkinson disclosed to reporters that Carroll was getting close but didn’t expect him to be ready to return quite yet. Jared Dudley should continue starting at power forward for at least one additional game, but he typically gives way to Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in the second half and down the final stretches of the game. Once Carroll is cleared to play, Dudley’s playing time could be jeopardy, as Joe Harris and Caris LeVert have been excellent in the starting lineup thus far in the early portion of the season.
As reported by: Brian Lewis via Twitter Kevin Huerter will start in place of Taurean Prince (ankle) on Tuesday
Prince was officially ruled out in advance of Tuesday’s matchup against the Charlotte Hornets due to a sprained right ankle he sustained late in Saturday’s loss. In his absence, Kevin Huerter will draw the start on the wing alongside Kent Bazemore, though DeAndre Bembry will also be in line for increased playing time despite remaining in a bench role. Omari Spellman is poised to make his second consecutive start at power forward ahead of Vince Carter, but he was still limited to just 20 minutes in his first game as a member of the starting unit. Trae Young leads the Hawks by a wide margin with a 36.0% usage rate and is averaging 1.46 DraftKings and 1.35 FanDuel points per minute with Prince off the court this season, making it clear he possesses massive upside at his price this evening.
As reported by: Rick Bonnell via Twitter Love The Upside At This Price
There are so many great center options on this slate tonight, which should help spread out the ownership. On FantasyDraft I could see playing four to five centers, and on DraftKings, I will likely have a center in my utility spot. Jarrett Allen is extremely underpriced tonight for this matchup. While Ayton is crushing for fantasy, he’s really lacking on the defensive side of the ball. He’s ranked 65th out of 74 qualified centers in defensive efficiency this season. Fouls have been an issue for Allen which makes him a tournament play only, but I do love the upside for him in this matchup.
Otto Porter (toe) will play Tuesday
Porter has officially been upgraded from probable and will play in Tuesday’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks after missing the Wizards previous game due to a bruised left big toe. His return to the starting lineup will send Kelly Oubre back to the bench to resume his reserve role following a disappointing fantasy performance in 24 minutes in his spot start. Oubre played fewer minutes in that contest than he typically had off the bench this season, but the reduction in playing time appeared to be directly related to Dwight Howard logging 30 minutes for the first time all year. The matchup with Dallas and DeAndre Jordan is extremely conducive to Howard staying on the floor in more traditional lineup combinations, so he’ll be a compelling tournament target on tonight’s slate if he’s able to see similar playing time once again this evening.
As reported by: Candace Buckner via Twitter Low Owned Value Play
A lot of people are going to talk about Atlanta tonight, but I think Kevin Huerter will fly under the radar. This is a large field tournament flier play and it’s a very risky play. I have him projected for 26 minutes tonight, and he played 29 minutes against Miami in the last game. When using Game Flow, I noticed that Huerter actually checked in for Prince when he got hurt in the second half, and Bembry didn’t check in until Bazemore came out. Huerter played 15 second half minutes in that game, and at his current price, the rookie could destroy value if he knocks down some shots.
T.J. Warren (back) likely to play Tuesday
Head coach Igor Kokoskov confirmed with reporters that there is a very good chance Warren will play in Tuesday’s matchup against the Brooklyn Nets after missing one game due to back spasms. Warren recently supplanted Ryan Anderson as the Suns starting power forward, and if he remains on track to play, he’d presumably slot right back into the starting lineup and did log 35 minutes in his first start last Wednesday evening. The Nets rank towards the bottom of the NBA in pace this season, but Warren will still remain an intriguing tournament target if he’s not limited, as he owns a respectable 25.0% usage rate and is still averaging 1.00 DraftKings and 0.99 FanFuel points per minute despite his fluctuating role in Kokoskov’s rotation this season.
As reported by: Kellan Olson via Twitter Increased Minutes Tonight
With Taurean Prince out, Trae Young and DeAndre’ Bembry become top options on this slate for me. Prince is playing 28 minutes per game this season, and he has a 27.8% usage rate with 1.01 fantasy points per minute. Young should see an increase in production and Bembry should see an increase in minutes. Bembry has a 18.6% usage rate and he’s averaging .96 fantasy points per minute. With Prince off the floor he sees a 2.4% usage rate increase.