DFS Alerts
Let's See How It Works Out
Elfrid Payton is one of the toughest fantasy players to figure out each and every night, but it’s hard not to like his price on DraftKings and FantasyDraft tonight. This game has the highest total on the slate, and the Pelicans have the fifth highest implied total. I expect the Rockets to put Paul on Holiday, and that could open up a few extra opportunities in this offense for Payton tonight. Rondo averaged over 27 fantasy points per game in this offense last season, and while Payton isn’t a better passer, he does score more than Rondo. I like getting some cheaper options in this projected high scoring game.
Taking Advantage Of Rookie Pricing
I think Kevin Knox and Trey Burke are really good value plays on FanDuel, and I like Knox on DraftKings and FantasyDraft as well. It’s always tough to project rookies, but we’re also getting salaries that make it worth the risk in this spot. Knox will be coming off the bench after starting all five preseason games for the Knicks. He led the Knicks in minutes and was second in shot attempts during the preseason. I expect Knox to get a lot of run until Porzingis is back, and I’m going to take advantage of it before his price goes up.
Expected To Play 30+ Minutes
We have a lot of great options at center tonight, but Alex Len is one of the top value plays on the slate. Dedmon and Collins have already been ruled out for Atlanta tonight, and Len projects to play 30+ minutes. As always with Alex Len, we have to worry about foul trouble, but in this matchup, it’s hard to look into that too much. Len averaged 1.09 fantasy points per minute with the Suns last season, and that was with a 15.2% true usage rate. I don’t expect the usage to go up much, but I do like his chances to get his fantasy points per minute up this season.
Steven Adams (back) will play Tuesday
Adams has been cleared to play in Tuesday’s season opener against the Golden State Warriors following a late addition to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s injury report on Monday afternoon. His availability keeps Nerlens Noel in his normal mid-teens reserve role and nothing more than a tournament dart throw on tonight’s two-game main slate. With Russell Westbrook still working his way back from an offseason knee procedure, Dennis Schroder is expected to draw the start at point guard alongside Terrance Ferguson in the backcourt, making him an elite option for all formats across the industry. Paul George gained an insane +11.5% increase in usage rate and also had a +0.26 FPPM differential with Westbrook off the court last season, so it’s clear he becomes a very strong target with Westbrook unavailable. Schroder’s presence will likely change things slightly, as George was never really playing with a ball-dominant guard sans Westbrook, but he should still be relied upon to assume a considerable amount of the playmaking responsibilities in his absence.
As reported by: Anthony Slater via Twitter
Shaun Livingston (foot) participated in shootaround and is expected to be available to play Tuesday
Livingston was previously questionable for Tuesday’s season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a sore right foot that kept him sidelined for Monday’s practice, but according to head coach Steve Kerr, he participated in shootaround this morning and will be available to play barring any unforeseen setbacks. His availability does douse the intrigue of firing up Quinn Cook as a tournament flyer on tonight’s abbreviated two-game slate, as Cook will now be relegated to the backup guard at only one position instead of potentially serving as the backup to both Klay Thompson and Steph Curry in the backcourt. This does mean the Warriors should be at full strength outside of DeMarcus Cousins, who is still recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, which will enable Damian Jones, Jordan Bell, and Kevon Looney to battle for those vacated minutes, essentially forming a three-man committee at center.
As reported by: Mark Medina via Twitter Russell Westbrook (knee) officially out Tuesday; Steven Adams (back) likely a game-time decision
Following Tuesday’s shootaround, Billy Donovan confirmed that Russell Westbrook will indeed be held out of tonight’s season opener against the Golden State Warriors due to a knee procedure he underwent late in the offseason. This will allow Dennis Schroder to draw the start at point guard alongside Terrance Ferguson in the backcourt, making him an elite option for all formats across the industry. Additionally, if Steven Adams is sidelined due to his lower back stiffness, Nerlens Noel would almost certainly be thrust into a starting role at center and immediately become the top value option on the entire main slate. With Westbrook off the floor last year, Paul George gained an insane +11.5% increase in usage rate and also had a +0.26 FPPM differential, so it’s clear he becomes a very strong target with Westbrook unavailable. Schroder’s presence will likely change things slightly, as George was never really playing with a ball-dominant guard sans Westbrook, but he should still be relied upon to assume a considerable amount of the playmaking responsibilities in his absence.
As reported by: Brett Dawson via Twitter Other tagged players: Steven Adams All Eyes on OKC
Tuesday’s DFS lineups are going to be largely dependent on Oklahoma City Thunder injury news. Steven Adams is listed as questionable with lower back stiffness and Nelens Noel should start in his place and get a lot of minutes for an already thin frontcourt. Noel is the slate’s top value option if Adams is unable to suit up.
Mike Muscala (ankle) officially out Tuesday
Muscala had most recently been deemed as “highly questionable” for Tuesday’s season opener against the Boston Celtics by head coach Brett Brown during Monday’s practice, so Muscala’s unavailability due to a sprained right ankle is far from surprising. With Wilson Chandler also expected to be sidelined for at least the next couple of weeks, T.J. McConnell and Landry Shamet will have the first shots at extended minutes in Brown’s rotation, though McConnell would likely be the main beneficiary of more consistent small-ball lineups from the outset. Additionally, rookie big man Jonah Bolden is unlikely to crack the frontcourt rotation in the early going following an underwhelming preseason, so Ben Simmons and Robert Covington should absorb the reserve minutes available at power forward when Dario Saric is off the floor, clearing the way for the aforementioned McConnell and Shamet to be allotted more playing time in small-ball and possibly three-guard lineup combinations.
As reported by: Keith Pompey via Twitter The NBA returns tomorrow! Heading into the season opener, Russell Westbrook (Q) is still firmly questionable; Gordon Hayward expected to open the year on a 25 minute restriction
The NBA returns tomorrow! We’re not always waiting on the edge of our seats for injury news on opening night, but here we are… Russell Westbrook is firmly questionable heading into Tuesday – if he can’t go, Dennis Schroder becomes an elite play industry wide, as does Paul George. With Westbrook off the floor last year, George picked up an insane +11.5% in terms of usage rate and had a +0.26 FPPM differential, so it’s clear he becomes a very strong target whenever Westbrook sits. Schroder’s presence will change things a bit as George was rarely out there with a ball-dominant guard with Westbrook out, but I’d still expect George to do a considerable amount of playmaking. Brad Stevens relayed that Gordon Hayward will start the season on a 25-minute restriction. It’s unclear how long that’ll last and maybe the Celtics are unsure themselves, but regardless it’ll open up some modest opportunity for guys like Marcus Morris, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
Other tagged players: Dennis Schroder, Paul George, Gordon Hayward
Nobody to Defend this Superstar
Joel Embiid is easy to root for. He has a great story, he has a great social media game, and he’s one of the most polarizing players in the NBA. He’s one of the best defensive players around, he’s a great rebounder, and he doesn’t have a weakness on offense. He can shoot, dribble, pass, and he has plenty of moves in the paint. He had some big stat lines against the Celtics last season and I’m expecting more of the same on opening night. Boston is undersized down low and Embiid should be able to take full advantage on both ends of the floor.
Potentially Massive Usage for this Small Forward
As we saw last season, Paul George can be very productive playing alongside Russell Westbrook. However, his numbers without Westbrook get a massive spike. Without RWB on the floor last season, George had a 39% usage rate while averaging 1.32 fantasy points per minute. Westbrook has yet to play in a preseason game and could be on the wrong side of questionable for opening night. If that’s the case, George becomes a plug-and-play in both cash games and tournaments.
Get Scrubby
About the best thing I can say about Patrick Patterson is that he’s going to get playing time. The second best thing about Patterson is that he’s PF eligible which is more valuable on FanDuel where positional eligibility is more restrictive. While guys like Kevin Durant and Paul George have PF eligibility on DraftKings, FD is left with a likely limited Draymond Green as the most expensive option. FD’s new rules are more conducive to a stars/scrubs approach and it makes a lot of sense to get scrubby at a weak PF position on opening night.
Salary Relief Starter
It’s sounding like Markelle Fultz will start the 76ers season opener at Boston which makes him one of the top value plays of the slate. Fultz is active enough on the court to compile hustle stats like rebounds and steals and competent enough with the ball to accrue assists and a handful of buckets. Fultz will likely see 25-30 minutes of court time provided he’s able to stay out of foul trouble.
Top Big Man on the Slate
The Sixers may have gotten hammered by the Celtics in last year’s playoffs, but that certainly wasn’t the fault of Embiid. He posted double-doubles in all five games of that season-ending series, including one game with 31 points and one game with 22 points and 19 boards. He’s a physical mismatch for this Boston team on the interior, and we no longer have to worry about minutes limitations with the big man. Embiid is a great play in all formats.
A Possible Breakout Candidate
As consumers of news media, all we heard about last year is how much of a bust Markelle Fultz was going to be. However, it’s pretty clear that he wasn’t anywhere close to 100% and was compensating in other areas of his game to make up for that injury. By all accounts, he is healthy heading into this season, and Fultz is going to have a big role as the final starter or sixth man for this team. He is capable of piling up across all areas of the stat sheet, and he won’t get as much defensive attention as guys like Simmons and Embiid. This isn’t without risk, but Fultz is a solid play in the season opener.