DFS Alerts
Two of the three worst defensive teams in the NBA meet tonight
Two of the three worst defensive teams in the league according to opponent points scored meet tonight in the late game with Washington meeting the Kings in Sacramento, and not surprisingly that game has the highest Vegas point total of the night. PG John Wall is an intriguing GPP pivot off the sure to be popular Chris Paul revenge game and is looking to improve on a difficult start to the season that has seen his price drop. Marvin Bagley III and Buddy Hield look like high-upside value plays on the Sacramento side, while Markieff Morris could capitalize for Washington seeing minutes at the Center position if Ian Mahinmi misses another game.
Other tagged players: John Wall, Marvin Bagley, Buddy Hield
Injuries Creating Opportunity For This Forward Duo
The Knicks rotation has been in flux to start the season, and two beneficiaries have been Mario Hezonja and Damyean Dotson. The two Knicks forwards have seen an increase in minutes with Kevin Knox out and Lance Thomas hurting, with Hezonja averaging 26 minutes and 15.5 points over the last two games and Dotson averaging 32.5 minutes and 17 points. The Knicks host Golden State tonight in what could be a high-scoring blowout, but the duo should continue to see minutes no matter the situation given the Knicks injuries. One off-the-radar punt play could be Center Mitchell Robinson, who is minimum priced on FanDuel but could see some run if the game gets out of hand.
Other tagged players: Damyean Dotson, Mitchell Robinson Jimmy Butler (illness) and Andrew Wiggins (quad) questionable Friday
Butler has been added to the Timberwolves injury report and is questionable for Friday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks due to an illness. Meanwhile, Andrew Wiggins remains questionable with a right quad contusion, and head coach Tom Thibodeau described Wiggins as “50/50” to play during shootaround this morning. Josh Okogie ended up drawing the start at the shooting guard spot in the previous game with Wiggins unavailable and exceeded salary-based expectations in 26 minutes of action. Derrick Rose was also a significant beneficiary sans Wiggins last time out, logging 29 minutes, and he’ll likely enter the starting lineup alongside Okogie on the wing if both Wiggins and Butler are ruled out closer to tipoff. If that scenario comes to fruition, Keita Bates-Diop could finally make his NBA debut and see some playing time as the backup small forward behind Okogie, though he’ll unlikely be given a long enough leash by Thibodeau to become relevant in daily fantasy formats.
As reported by: Timberwolves PR via Twitter Other tagged players: Andrew Wiggins
Luc Mbah a Moute (knee) questionable Friday
Mbah a Moute has been listed as questionable for Friday’s matchup against the Houston Rockets due to a sore left knee. He hasn’t had a major role in head coach Doc Rivers’ rotation to start this season, averaging just 15 minutes per game. Mbah a Moute obviously isn’t relevant for daily fantasy formats with his low minute floor, but if he’s unavailable, those minutes would have to be absorbed somewhere in the rotation. In that case, whatever available playing time that isn’t distributed to the starters, will likely trickle down to Mike Scott or Montrezl Harrell, though the matchup with Houston certainly does lend Rivers the ability to utilize three-guard lineups, which may lead to Lou Williams seeing more extended run than the 25 minutes he’s averaged through the first four games.
As reported by: Andrew Greif via Twitter Harrison Barnes (hamstring) will play Friday, minutes likely to be limited
As expected, Barnes will make his season debut in Friday’s matchup against the Toronto Raptors after missing each of the Mavericks first four games with a strained left hamstring. Barnes will have his minutes limited, but his return to the starting lineup will send Dorian Finney-Smith, who underwhelmed from a daily fantasy perspective in 32 minutes per game as a starter, to the bench to resume a reserve role. Barnes clearly won’t be a viable option on a minutes restriction and in a difficult matchup with a Raptors squad that ranks sixth in defensive efficiency to start the year, but his presence in the lineup will still naturally impact the usage of Wesley Matthews, Luka Doncic, and Dennis Smith Jr. all of whom currently sport usage rates of at least 25.8% through four games.
As reported by: Eddie Sefko via Twitter OG Anunoby (personal) and Delon Wright (groin) out Friday; Fred VanVleet (toe) questionable
Anunoby is away from the team dealing with a personal matter and won’t play in Friday’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks, while Delon Wright will miss yet another game after reaggravating his strained left adductor during the first half of Wednesday’s win. Fred VanVleet has also been downgraded to questionable with a sprained left toe, so the Raptors backcourt depth could certainly be tested if he’s unable to suit up this evening. If that’s the case Lorenzo Brown would step into the primary backup guard role and logged 12 minutes with VanVleet sidelined in the previous game. The absence of Anunoby raises the minute floors of remaining frontcourt members like Pascal Siakam and Serge Ibaka, while Norman Powell and C.J. Miles should absorb the majority of available reserve wing minutes.
As reported by: Michael Grange via Twitter Other tagged players: Delon Wright, Fred VanVleet Alex Abrines (eye) available to play Thursday; Jerami Grant starts at PF
Abrines has been cleared and will play in Thursday’s matchup against the Boston Celtics despite dealing with an eye contusion he sustained in the Thunder’s previous game. The Oklahoma City wing rotation has been extremely unpredictable in the absence of Andre Roberson, as Terrance Ferguson continues to be outplayed by Hambidou Diallo off the bench, and with Abrines officially, available, the situation isn’t likely to clear up any time soon. Meanwhile, Russell Westbrook made his season debut this past Sunday and looked mostly like his old self, logging 35 minutes and producing a 32/12/8 stat line, so feel free to fire up in all daily fantasy formats moving forward.
As reported by: Brett Dawson via Twitter Other tagged players: Jerami Grant Alex Abrines (eye) will be a game-time decision Thursday
Abrines sustained an eye contusion in the Thunder’s previous game, and head coach Billy Donovan confirmed that he will be re-evaluated prior to Thursday’s matchup against the Boston Celtics before a determination of his status is made. The wing rotation continues to be extremely unpredictable in the absence of Andre Roberson, as Terrance Ferguson continues to be outplayed by Hambidou Diallo off the bench, but if Abrines is unable to suit up, Diallo could step into a more solidified role that would make him a viable punt option in tournaments on an abbreviated four-game main slate. Meanwhile, Russell Westbrook made his season debut this past Sunday and looked mostly like his old self, logging 35 minutes and producing a 32/12/8 stat line, so feel free to fire up in all daily fantasy formats moving forward.
As reported by: Brett Dawson via Twitter The Production is Here to Stay
We’ve seen glimpses of Javale McGee’s upside over the last couple of seasons, but the Warriors rarely let him play more than 15 minutes a night. He’s looking like a great pickup for the Lakers, averaging 1.64 FP/min in their first four games. The best part is that they are willing to give him 24-28 minutes a night. Keep buying him at this price point, as it will only go up from here on out.
Channing Frye will start for Kevin Love (foot) on Thursday
Love was seen walking with a slight limp following Wednesday’s loss and has officially been ruled out for Thursday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons due to a sore left foot. Channing Frye will surprisingly draw the start at power forward despite the matchup against the duo of Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond in the Pistons frontcourt. Frye hasn’t played a single minute in any game this season, so he’ll likely be a starter in name only, which keeps Larry Nance as the preferred option of the two in daily fantasy formats. Additionally, Nance trails only Jordan Clarkson for the team lead with a 27.0% usage rate and is averaging 1.28 DraftKings and 1.29 FanDuel points per minute with Love off the court this season. Head coach Tyronn Lue doesn’t typically stagger the minutes of his starters, so there is almost no sample size without Love on the floor for the starting unit, but someone like Cedi Osman should still be expected to thrive despite his poor showing in this on/off scenario thus far on the season.
As reported by: Fred McLeod via Twitter Best Value of the Slate
NBA DFS is more predictable than the other major sports. When a superstar is out, it opens up so much for the rest of the offense. Kevin Love hurt his foot last night and is not going to suit up for tonight’s game. This not only opens up 35 minutes in the rotation, but 40 fantasy points of production. Larry Nance has averaged 1.14 FP/min since the start of last season and should step into the starting lineup with a clear path to 25+ minutes against the Pistons.
Minutes Are Worth The Look
After missing the first game of the season due to illness, Reggie Bullock has played 29 and 41 minutes in the next two games. He’s not a high usage player and he’s not a fantasy point per minute player, but he’s a solid value because of price and minutes. Bullock has 27 shot attempts in the first two games, and as long as he keeps shooting, he’s worth the look. Plus it’s a small slate with very little value options.
High Floor On DraftKings and FantasyDraft
With Kevin Love out tonight, Larry Nance and Tristian Thompson become great value plays on this slate. Nance is likely going to be very chalky tonight, but he should get 25+ minutes with no Kevin Love in this spot. Thompson will likely be a little lower owned, and with only one center spot on FanDuel, it makes you make a decision. As much as I like Thompson on DraftKings and FantasyDraft, I prefer playing Nance on FanDuel. With Detroit playing big, expect both of these guys to play minutes as long as the game stays close and they stay out of foul trouble.
Don't Overthink This
With Kevin Love out tonight, Larry Nance and Tristian Thompson become great value plays on this slate. Nance is likely going to be very chalky tonight, but he should get 25+ minutes with no Kevin Love in this spot. Thompson will likely be a little lower owned, and with only one center spot on FanDuel, it makes you make a decision. As much as I like Thompson on DraftKings and FantasyDraft, I prefer paying up at center on FanDuel in tournaments. With Detroit playing big, expect both of these guys to play minutes as long as the game stays close and they stay out of foul trouble.
James Harden (hamstring) unlikely to play Friday
Harden did not practice on Thursday, and head coach Mike D’Antoni does not expect him to play in Friday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers due to a hamstring injury he sustained late in Wednesday’s loss. Harden is scheduled to have an MRI to determine the severity of his hamstring injury, but the team fears that it may be closer to a strain than just generic tightness. With James Ennis still out for at least a couple more games, D’Antoni implied that Carmelo Anthony may draw the start at small forward tomorrow, which would send Michael Carter-Williams back to the bench to resume a reserve role. The Rockets will have Chris Paul back from his two-game suspension for Friday’s contest, but with Harden unlikely to play, Eric Gordon should remain in the starting lineup at the shooting guard spot. Obviously, the sample size still remains small, but Paul has averaged an insane 2.37 fantasy points per minute with Harden off the court this season, which elevates him to an elite option for all formats on Friday’s slates even though it’s nearly impossible to sustain quite that level of efficiency.
As reported by: Jonathan Feigen via Twitter