DFS Alerts
A Must if Lowry is Out
If Kyle Lowry is out, you need to make DeRozan a priority. He’s sporting a usage rate over 40% with Lowry off the floor, and in what should be a very high-scoring, fast-paced game with the Warriors, we could see him drop 40 real points. I’m giving him a floor of 40 fantasy points with upside over 60 in this one. If Lowry sits, DeRozan is a must play, and he’s a very strong option if Lowry returns.
Expanded Role For This Guard
Assuming Kyle Lowry is out again, the Raptors are going to need Delon Wright’s defense and scoring to keep pace with the Warriors. He only played 18 minutes in their last game but it’s worth noting that the Raptors blew out the Cavaliers by 34 points in that game, so he wasn’t needed. Additionally, Fred VanVleet was having a career game and dropped 22 real life points. Prior to that game, Fred only scored 15 or more points twice in his entire career, so it feels like an outlier performance. I still expect VanVleet to get a chunk of minutes in this game to spell Wright, but Wright should get the lion’s share of minutes between the two.
Discounted Forward To Consider
Mirotic has missed the Bulls’ last two games because of a stomach bug but he practiced on Friday and is set to return to his normal backup role. I have not read anything about him being limited on Saturday and considering it was just a stomach bug and not a physical injury, I’m more open to rostering him. The most appealing factor about Mirotic is his price. This is the cheapest he’s been since mid-December, so we’re getting a discount due to the fact he’s been sick. Despite coming off the bench, Mirotic leads the Bulls in points per game (17.4) and usage (26.2%).
Tim Hardaway Jr. (leg stress reaction) will play off the bench Friday
Hardaway Jr. has been cleared to play and will suit up for tonight’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves after previously being listed as questionable on the New York Knicks’ injury report with a left leg stress reaction that had kept him sidelined since the end of November and forced him to miss 20 consecutive games. Hardaway Jr. will come off the bench in his first game back in an effort to better manage his minute workload, as he’ll be subject to a minute restriction in his return to action. It may not come to fruition on Friday night with Hardaway Jr. limited, but there have been rumblings among the New York media stemming from comments made by head coach Jeff Hornacek that Michael Beasley could be the odd man out of the rotation after averaging just over 27 minutes of court time over the last six games. Somewhat surprisingly, Kristaps Porzingis has performed better with Hardaway Jr. on the court this season, as he owns a 36.1% usage rate and has averaged 1.27 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.29 on FanDuel in this scenario.
As reported by: Al Iannazzone via Twitter
Evan Turner (illness) ruled out Friday
Turner has been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans after previously being listed as questionable on the Portland Trail Blazers’ injury report with an illness that had forced him to miss shootaround this morning. Additionally, Damian Lillard has been cleared to play, as expected, following his prior probable designation due to a strained right calf despite playing 32 minutes in Wednesday’s loss, his return from a two-game absence. With Turner officially ruled out, Maurice Harkless will likely step into the starting lineup at small forward even after logging just seven minutes in the Trail Blazers previous game with Lillard available. Given the matchup with DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis, it’s entirely possible that Ed Davis sees extended run in the frontcourt, especially with Turner sidelined, and he is coming off of a stellar performance his last time out in 25 minutes of action, elevating him into the status of tournament consideration on Friday evening.
As reported by: Joe Freeman via Twitter Anthony Davis (ankle sprain) expected to play Friday
Davis is expected to play for tonight’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers, according to head coach Alvin Gentry, who was quoted as saying he is “under the assumption” Davis will suit up, after previously being listed as questionable on the New Orleans Pelicans’ injury report with a sprained right ankle that had forced him to miss one game. Davis will go through pregame warmups before an official determination on his status is made, but his likely availability will displace Dante Cunningham from the starting lineup and send him back to the bench to resume his reserve role following a middling performance in just 18 minutes of action. Davis has logged just five minutes in the Pelicans two prior meetings with the Trail Blazers, so it’ll be interesting to see how Portland head coach Terry Stotts plans to counter the twin towers of Davis and DeMarcus Cousins in the frontcourt.
As reported by: Will Guillory via Twitter Omri Casspi (sore back) ruled out Friday
Casspi has been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks after previously being listed as questionable on the Golden State Warriors’ injury report with low back soreness. He’ll join Stephen Curry among the Warriors inactives for Friday’s contest, while Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala have been cleared to play following their prior probable designations on the injury report. Klay Thompson will make his return from a one-game absence due to rest purposes and will slot into the starting lineup alongside Kevin Durant on the wing, who was able to log 32 minutes in Wednesday’s loss, his first game back from a strained calf, eliminating any concerns of a minute restriction this evening. Shaun Livingston almost assuredly will draw the start at point guard for the second time in as many games with Curry sidelined, and Andre Iguodala will continue to see increased playing time after averaging 27 minutes in the three games Durant was sidelined. Durant will be an elite option once again on Friday’s slate, as he and Thompson own at least a +2.6% usage rate differential with Curry off the court this season, while Durant has seen his production spike to 1.49 fantasy points on DraftKings and 1.47 on FanDuel in this scenario as well.
As reported by: Warriors PR via Twitter DeMarre Carroll (knee sprain) available to play Friday
Carroll has been cleared to play and will suit up for tonight’s game against the Atlanta Hawks after previously being listed as questionable on the Brooklyn Nets’ injury report with a sprained right knee that had forced him to miss two consecutive games. There has been no reported minute restriction for Carroll at this point, so he’ll likely be close to a full go in his first game back, and his presence in the starting lineup will send Joe Harris back to the bench following some mixed results in his three-start stretch in just over 31 minutes per game in place of Carroll and Allen Crabbe on the wing. Caris LeVert continues to lead the Nets by the slimmest of margins with a 24.2% usage rate with D’Angelo Russell and Jeremy Lin sidelined, while Rondae Hollis-Jefferson has averaged 1.05 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.06 on FanDuel over the same timespan.
As reported by: Alex Labidou via Twitter Dwyane Wade (rest) ruled out Friday
Wade has been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Indiana Pacers due to rest purposes on the second leg of a back-to-back set, despite never appearing on the Cleveland Cavaliers’ injury report throughout the day. He’ll join Isaiah Thomas among the resting Cavaliers players as Thomas continues to work his way back to full strength from a right hip impingement that kept him sidelined for the first two months-plus of the season. Thomas has yet to log more than 21 minutes in any of the three games he’s been active, so his absence won’t have much impact on the backcourt rotation other than allowing Jose Calderon to re-enter the rotation and reclaim the starting point guard role at least one more time with both Thomas and Derrick Rose unavailable due to their respective ailments. Given the limited minutes Thomas has played this season, no one player sees any quantifiable increases in usage or production in his absence, but LeBron James figures to take on more of the ball-handling responsibilities when Calderon is off the court, which will allow Jeff Green to take on a bigger role in the second unit and becomes an interesting tournament option at his price tag across the industry.
As reported by: Marla Ridenour via Twitter Derrick Favors (ankle sprain) will play Friday
Favors has been cleared to play and will suit up for tonight’s game against the Charlotte Hornets after previously being listed as probable on the Utah Jazz’ injury report with a sprained right ankle that had forced him to miss one game. His return will send Ekpe Udoh back to the bench to resume a reserve role following his monster performance in a spot start in just under 34 minutes of action. Jonas Jerebko replaced Thabo Sefolosha at power forward for Wednesday’s contest and logged 20 minutes to Sefolosha’s nine. However, Sefolosha has started the last four games with Favors available to man the center spot and is likely to re-enter the lineup as the starting power forward once again this evening.
As reported by: Kristen Kenneyvia Twitter Stephen Curry (ankle) ruled out Friday; Omri Casspi (back) questionable
Curry has officially been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks after previously being listed as questionable on the Golden State Warriors’ injury report with a sprained right ankle, while Omri Casspi has been added to the injury report as questionable with lingering back issues and will be re-evaluated closer to tipoff. Additionally, Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala have been cleared to play following their prior probable designations on the injury report. Klay Thompson will make his return from a one-game absence due to rest purposes and will slot into the starting lineup alongside Kevin Durant on the wing, who was able to log 32 minutes in Wednesday’s loss, his first game back from a strained calf, eliminating any concerns of a minute restriction this evening. Shaun Livingston almost assuredly will draw the start at point guard for the second time in as many games while Andre Iguodala will continue to see increased playing time after averaging 27 minutes in the three games Durant was sidelined. Durant will be an elite option once again on Friday’s slate, as he and Thompson own at least a +2.6% usage rate differential with Curry off the court this season, while Durant has seen his production spike to 1.49 fantasy points on DraftKings and 1.47 on FanDuel in this scenario.
As reported by: Mark Medina via Twitter Evan Turner (illness) questionable Friday
Turner was absent from shootaround this morning and has officially been listed as questionable on the Portland Trail Blazers’ injury report for tonight’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans due to an illness. Additionally, Damian Lillard remains listed as probable with a strained right calf but anticipates on playing after logging 32 minutes in Wednesday’s loss, his return from a two-game absence. Should Turner be ruled out, Maurice Harkless would likely step into the starting lineup at small forward after logging just seven minutes in the Trail Blazers previous game with Lillard available. Given the matchup with DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis, it’s entirely possible that Ed Davis sees extended run in the frontcourt, especially if Turner is unavailable, and he is coming off of a stellar performance his last time out in 25 minutes of action, elevating him to the status of tournament consideration on Friday evening.
As reported by: Casey Holdahl via Twitter Marco Belinelli (ankle sprain) ruled out Friday
Belinelli has officially been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Brooklyn Nets after previously being listed as questionable on the Atlanta Hawks’ injury report with a sprained left ankle. Meanwhile, Taurean Prince, Dewayne Dedmon, and Mike Muscala all remain listed as probable, but they’re fully expected to play considering they were all eventually cleared to suit up in each of the Hawks last two games despite the same probable designations beforehand. Belinelli has settled into a high-teens minutes role off the bench of late, so his absence won’t alter the backcourt and wing rotations all that much, though Tyler Dorsey and Malcolm Delaney may benefit from some extra run in the second unit, though not enough to become relevant in daily fantasy formats. Dennis Schroder continues to lead Atlanta by a wide margin with a 31.4% usage rate and will be an intriguing tournament option on Friday’s slate in a matchup with a Nets squad that ranks fifth in pace this season.
As reported by: Chris Vivlamore via Twitter Gary Harris (personal) ruled out Friday
Harris has been added to the Denver Nuggets’ injury report and will be out for tonight’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies as he deals with a personal matter that is not expected to keep away from the team for an extended period of time. His replacement in the starting lineup has yet to be announced, but Torrey Craig is likely the leading candidate to start at shooting guard if head coach Mike Malone wants to leave Will Barton in his accustomed sixth-man role off the bench, something he typically prefers to do when Harris or another wing player are sidelined. Emmanuel Mudiay is also likely to get another crack at re-entering the Nuggets backcourt rotation sans Barton, but he won’t see enough playing time to become relevant in daily fantasy formats on Friday evening. While Craig figures to be the main beneficiary of playing time in Harris’ absence, Jamal Murray, Trey Lyles, and Nikola Jokic all own at least a +2.5% usage rate differential with him and Paul Millsap off the court this season, while Murray leads the way with a 29.3% usage rate overall and has averaged 0.98 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 0.94 on FanDuel in this scenario.
As reported by: T.J. McBride via Twitter Increased Playing Time in an Elite Matchup
It always scares me when Clint Capela is in my core group of players to target because his minutes have been so inconsistent this season. However, both of his backups (Nene Hilario and Tarik Black) have been ruled out of tonight’s game. In theory, Capela should be locked into 30+ minutes in a favorable matchup against the Suns. I fully intend to stack this game in cash games and tournaments and Capela will be one of my highest owned players of the slate.
