DFS Alerts
Wesley Iwundu (illness) will start Sunday
Iwundu is set to return from a two-game absence due to an illness and will start in Sunday’s matchup with the Atlanta Hawks, which will send Rodney Purvis back to the bench resume a reserve role after logging at least 22 minutes in each of his two starts at the shooting guard spot. The Magic are still without Jonathon Simmons, Terrence Ross, and Evan Fournier, the latter two not expected to return this season, opening up playing opportunities for Purvis and other fringe rotational players. Shelvin Mack has recorded at least 25 minutes in each of the last three games, which makes him the preferred option of the Magic’s reserve guards in tournament formats. On top of that, Mack, Jonathan Isaac, D.J. Augustin, and Nikola Vucevic all own at least a +3.7% usage rate differential with the aforementioned players off the court this season, while Vucevic also leads the ways in terms of production with a rate of 1.29 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.30 on FanDuel in this scenario.
As reported by: John Denton via Twitter
James Ennis (hand) ruled out Sunday
Ennis is dealing with a swollen right hand and has been ruled out of Sunday’s matchup with the Brooklyn Nets, while Reggie Jackson has been cleared to play in his first back-to-back set since returning from an ankle injury despite logging 24 minutes in Saturday’s win. Even though Ennis has played at least 21 minutes in four of the last six games, his absence won’t have much of an effect on the remaining rotation members since head coach Stan Van Gundy will just distribute his minute share among Stanley Johnson, Reggie Bullock, and Luke Kennard on the wing. So, clearly, the unavailability of Ennis shouldn’t factor into any roster decisions involving Pistons players on tonight’s main slate.
As reported by: Rod Beard via Twitter Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (facial laceration) available to play Sunday
Hollis-Jefferson sustained a facial laceration late in Saturday’s overtime win and has officially been cleared to play in Sunday’s matchup Detroit Pistons, while Isaiah Whitehead remains sidelined with a wrist injury, though his status has no effect on the Brooklyn Nets rotation. There’s been no report of a minute restriction for Hollis-Jefferson, so he should be expected to slot in at his normal starting power forward position and continue seeing his normal minute share, which has settled in the low-30s in recent games. Quincy Acy rejoined the Nets rotation in yesterday’s contest, recording 14 minutes off the bench, but he may not be afforded that luxury moving forward and obviously remains out of consideration for daily fantasy formats with Hollis-Jefferson available to play.
As reported by: Anthony Puccio via Twitter JaMychal Green (sore knee) ruled out Sunday
Green is a new addition to the injury report and has been ruled out for Sunday’s matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers, joining Andrew Harrison. Tyreke Evans, and Chandler Parsons among the Memphis Grizzlies inactives. Meanwhile, Marc Gasol and MarShon Brooks remain questionable, and the availability of Gasol will go a long way in determining the potential value options from this Memphis squad on tonight’s main slate. Assuming Gasol is cleared, either Ben McLemore or Wayne Selden would likely enter the starting lineup at the shooting guard spot, sliding Dillon Brooks and Jarell Martin over to small forward and power forward, respectively. On top of that, Gasol, Selden, and Dillon Brooks all own at least a +2.1% usage rate differential with Green, Evans, Harrison, and Parsons off the court this season and average a minimum +0.14 increase to their per minute fantasy production on DraftKings and FanFuel as well.
As reported by: Grizzlies PR via Twitter Trevor Booker (ankle sprain) will play Sunday
Booker confirmed with reporters following pregame warmups that he will play in Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers, which will almost certainly push T.J. Leaf out of the frontcourt rotation once again. Booker typically only sees minutes in the mid-teens on a nightly basis, so he really is never an option for daily fantasy formats, though his presence does affect the floor and ceiling of players like Domantis Sabonis and Thaddeus Young at the power forward position. While Booker was sidelined, Young saw a majority of the power forward minutes, elevating his floor and ceiling, but with the Pacers frontcourt back at full strength, he makes for an interesting fade candidate at his elevated price tag across the industry.
As reported by: Law Murray via Twitter Chris Paul (leg) and Nene (back) ruled out Sunday
Paul will miss his second consecutive game after previously being listed as doubtful for Sunday’s matchup with the San Antonio Spurs due to a sore left leg. His absence will allow Eric Gordon to slot in at the shooting guard spot following a one-game absence because of a sore left knee, while James Harden will slide over to point guard and assume the primary ballhandling duties in the starting unit. With Nene missing a third straight game, Tarik Black would absorb any backup center minutes Nene might have seen this afternoon. The return of Gordon will send Gerald Green back to the bench to resume a reserve role after his disappointing daily fantasy performance in 28 minutes in his spot start on Friday night. Joe Johnson has seen his playing time stabilize of late and has logged at least 28 minutes in four of the last five games, which is intriguing since he owns a +3.9% usage rate differential with Paul and Nene off the court in his short time with Rockets since the trade deadline.
As reported by: Craig Ackerman via Twitter Other tagged players: Nene Hilario Big Man Looking Unstoppable in Recent Games
Nikola Jokic has been heating up as the season reaches its close, averaging 49.6 FanDuel points and 51.5 DraftKings points over his last ten games. Tonight Jokic faces a Milwaukee team that he torched for 30 points, 17 assists, and 15 rebounds in February for his best fantasy performance of the season – and that game was on the road in Milwaukee. Jokic is $10,200 on FanDuel and a shockingly low $9,400 DraftKings tonight, and gets the benefit of playing at home.
Guard to See Increased Opportunity Tonight with Teammates Out
Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Isaiah Thomas are all out for the Lakers now, which should open up plenty of opportunity in the Lakers backcourt. One beneficiary should be Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who has averaged 1.1 fantasy points per minute and a 5.5% usage bump (23.4% total) with those three off the court over the past three months. Despite the increased opportunity, Caldwell-Pope is only $6000 on both FanDuel and DraftKings, which means he should have a very good chance of exceeding value tonight against Sacramento.
Big Man Looks to Continue Dominance Against Weak Rebounding Team
Andre Drummond has been a force since Blake Griffin went down with an injury, averaging 23 points, 20 rebounds, and 2 blocks in the two games. Tonight he faces a Brooklyn team which is dead last in the NBA in opponents rebounds allowed. Drummond is $10,000 on FanDuel and $10,700 on DraftKings, and makes an excellent centerpiece for GPP lineups in tonight’s main slate.
Jeremy Lamb (sore foot) available to play Sunday
Lamb made it through pregame warmups successfully and will be available to play in Sunday’s matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers after previously being considered a game-time decision with a sore left foot that forced him to miss one game. However, the Charlotte Hornets will be without Treveon Graham, Dwayne Bacon, and Cody Zeller due to their respective ailments. Malik Monk saw 23 minutes off the bench in Saturday’s loss, and he should be expected to play an integral role in the second unit once again given the Hornets current lack of depth on the wing. Graham typically logs minutes in the mid-to-high-teens off the bench, so his absence will have a rippling effect on the remainder of the second unit and enable Lamb, Monk, and Frank Kaminsky to see a noteworthy increase in playing time this afternoon.
As reported by: Charlotte Hornets PR via Twitter Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (facial laceration) questionable Sunday
Hollis-Jefferson sustained a facial laceration late in Saturday’s overtime win and has officially been listed as questionable for Sunday’s matchup Detroit Pistons, while Isaiah Whitehead remains sidelined with a wrist injury, though his status has no effect on the Brooklyn Nets rotation. If Hollis-Jefferson is ruled out closer to tipoff, DeMarre Carroll would likely slide over to the power forward position, while either Joe Harris or Spencer Dinwiddie would enter the starting lineup. Quincy Acy also rejoined the Nets rotation in yesterday’s contest, recording 14 minutes off the bench, and he’d likely continue seeing reserve minutes at power forward and center if Hollis-Jefferson is unavailable. The main beneficiaries with Hollis-Jefferson off the court have been Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen, as each own at a +2.5% usage rate differential and average over a fantasy point per minute on DraftKings and FanDuel in this scenario.
As reported by: Brian Lewis via Twitter Jeremy Lamb (foot) a game-time decision Sunday; Treveon Graham (concussion), Dwayne Bacon (ankle), and Cody Zeller (knee) ruled out
Lamb missed Saturday’s loss with a sore left foot and he’s on track to be a game-time decision for Sunday’s matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers, while the Charlotte Hornets will definitively be without Treveon Graham, Dwayne Bacon, and Cody Zeller due to their respective ailments.Malik Monk saw 23 minutes off the bench last night, and he should be expected to play an integral role in the second unit once again given the Hornets current lack of depth on the wing. Graham typically logs minutes in the mid-to-high-teens off the bench, so his absence will have a rippling effect on the remainder of the second unit and enable Lamb, Monk, and Frank Kaminsky to see a noteworthy increase in playing time this afternoon.
As reported by: Charlotte Hornets PR via Twitter Jeff Teague and Derrick Rose (ankle) will be game-time decisions Sunday
During his media availability, Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau confirmed with reporters that both Jeff Teague and Derrick Rose will be game-time decisions for Sunday’s matchup with the Utah Jazz, though Rose was originally listed as doubtful with a sprained right ankle that’s kept him sidelined for five consecutive games. The absence of both guards would be a huge boon the projected fantasy value of Tyus Jones, who has already logged 21 minutes or more in three of the last five games with Rose unavailable and would essentially be the only remaining point guard, outside of Aaron Brooks, on the Timberwolves active roster. If that ends up being the case, Brooks could possibly enter the rotation, though it would be more likely for Jamal Crawford to just assume the ballhandling responsibilities in the second unit given Thibodeau’s tendencies when shorthanded.
As reported by: Tim Faklis via Twitter Other tagged players: Derrick Rose Dario Saric (elbow) ruled out Sunday
Saric is a late addition to the injury report and has officially been ruled out of Sunday’s matchup with the Charlotte Hornets due to an elbow issue, which will allow Ersan Ilyasova to draw the start at power forward and was already coming off of a massive fantasy performance in 29 minutes off the bench in Friday’s win, just further adding to his appeal in all daily fantasy formats this afternoon. With Joel Embiid also recovering from surgery on a left orbital fracture, the Sixers will have a significant void to fill in the frontcourt and Ilyasova should be allotted all the minutes he can handle, while Amir Johnson and Richaun Holmes will absorb the remaining big frontcourt minutes in traditional lineup combinations. The main beneficiary from a usage standpoint with Saric and Embiid off the court this season has clearly been Ben Simmons, who owns a +7.9% usage rate differential in this scenario, while Robert Covington has been the most productive and is averaging 1.14 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.13 on FanDuel.
As reported by: Keith Pompey via Twitter Al Horford, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Morris will all play Saturday
Al Horford, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Morris will all play Saturday’s against the Raptors. Horford and Morris missed the last game with ankle injuries. Neither player is a recommended cash play for tonight, but could make for a nice GPP option.
As reported by: Sean Grande via twitter