DFS Alerts
Joel Embiid (back) and Trevor Booker (illness) questionable Thursday; J.J. Redick (hamstring) ruled out
Embiid has officially been listed as questionable on the Philadelphia 76ers’injury report for tonight’s game against the Toronto Raptors after an earlier report surfaced from ESPN that speculated he may miss the next two games with back tightness that has already forced him to be sidelined two consecutive games. Meanwhile, Trevor Booker has also been listed as questionable with gastroenteritis, and J.J. Redick has been ruled out with right hamstring tightness and is preemptively considered doubtful for Saturday’s contest. Despite the questionable designation, Embiid appears on track to play based on comments to reporters from several teammates stating that “he looks good” and “he’ll probably play” following shootaround. With Redick unavailable, Jerryd Bayless will likely draw the start at the shooting guard spot alongside Ben Simmons in the backcourt, though in the previous game Redick was sidelined T.J. McConnell was the more productive guard and logged nearly 29 minutes off the bench. The starters that stand to benefit the most from Redick’s absence are Simmons and Robert Covington, as each own at least a +2.8% usage rate differential with Redick off the court this season, and Covington has seen his production increase to 1.12 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.08 on FanDuel in this scenario.
As reported by: Jessica Camerato via Twitter Other tagged players: Trevor Booker, J.J. Redick
The Clear-Cut Top Play
Wow, this is one ugly NBA slate. With the limited number of studs available, it’s very easy to fit LBJ into lineups. I will happily fit him in there and figure out the rest from there. His floor is by far the highest on the slate. His ceiling is by far the highest on the slate. Play the man. Period.
Emmanuel Mudiay ruled out; Gary Harris remains a GTD
Mudiay has been ruled out for tonight’s game with the Wolves, and Monte Morris has been recalled from the G-League to provide some depth at the guard spot. We’re still waiting on the status of Gary Harris, but if he’s also ruled out, both Will Barton and Jamal Murray become elite targets. Mike Malone has been playing coy in regards to his starting lineup – as usual – and did not note whether or not Nikola Jokic would rejoin the starting lineup tonight.
As reported by: Harrison Wind Other tagged players: Emmanuel Mudiay
Derrick Favors will play Wednesday
Favors is going to play tonight after being listed as probable before becoming a game-time decision. Concussions are tricky, but it does seem like Favors should take on a relatively normal allotment of minutes, especially with the Jazz thin in the front-court without Gobert. Favors was producing well in Gobert’s absence earlier in the year, so he makes for a really nice tournament target at mid-range price tags across the industry. His presence does take Ekpe Udoh out of play, as his playing time is likely to dwindle with Favors back in the lineup.
As reported by: Tony Jones Steven Adams (concussion) will start Wednesday
Adams has been cleared to play and will suit up for tonight’s game against the Utah Jazz after he was previously listed as questionable on the Oklahoma City Thunder’s injury report with a concussion that had forced him to miss two consecutive games. Adams won’t be subject to a minute restriction for his return, but his presence will send Dakari Johnson back to the bench to resume his normal reserve role and has averaged just over 16 minutes of playing time in his spot starts en route to some rather uninspiring performances. The individual matchup for Adams is certainly far from ideal with Derrick Favors appearing likely to play, but he continues to be a consistent performer for the Thunder and for fantasy purposes and has averaged 0.92 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 0.95 on FanDuel.this season.
As reported by: Brett Dawson via Twitter Goran Dragic (elbow) officially ruled out Wednesday; Tyler Johnson will start
Dragic has officially been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Boston Celtics after previously being listed as doubtful on the Miami Heat’s injury report with an elbow issue that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games, while Justise Winslow will remain sidelined with a strained right knee but remains hopeful he can return before the end of the week. This means that Tyler Johnson will remain in the starting lineup at point guard for the second straight game, and with Dion Waiters still dealing with an illness, the Heat have recalled Matt Williams Jr. from the G-League in order field a full 12-man active roster. When the Heat were down to just nine available players in their previous game both Johnson and Josh Richardson logged heavy minutes, while Richardson easily outperformed salary-based expectations. Additionally, both Bam Adebayo and Jordan Mickey provided substantial value in the frontcourt and Adebayo will start alongside Kelly Olynyk in the frontcourt once again.
As reported by: Anthony Chiang via Twitter Other tagged players: Tyler Johnson Daniel Theis (broken nose) available to play Wednesday
Theis has been cleared to play and will be available off the bench for tonight’s game against the Miami Heat after previously being listed as questionable on the Boston Celtics’ injury report with a broken nose that required him to undergo a procedure to properly correct the fracture. Meanwhile, Marcus Morris remains sidelined with a troublesome left knee and is still aiming to return on Christmas Day for the game against the Washington Wizards. As for Theis, he’s held down a consistent role in the Celtics frontcourt rotation for a while now and typically sees minutes in the mid-teens on a nightly basis, which typically removes him from daily fantasy consideration on most slates.
As reported by: Sean Grande via Twitter Clint Capela (heel contusion) officially ruled out Wednesday
Capela has officially been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game Los Angeles Lakers after previously being downgraded from probable to out on the Houston Rockets’ game notes with a left heel contusion. P.J. Tucker was inserted into the starting lineup in the most recent game Capela was unavailable and likely will be once again this evening, a move that will slide Ryan Anderson over to the center spot in a small-ball starting lineup. The Lakers will be without Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Brook Lopez for Wednesday’s matchup and it’ll be interesting to see if Lakers head coach Luke Walton decides to counter with a smallish lineup of his own. With Capela and Luc Mbah a Moute off the court this season, James Harden and Chris Paul each actually own at least a +2.3% usage rate differential while Harden continues to lead the Rockets with a massive 41.8% usage rate in this scenario.
Kyle Anderson (sprained MCL) will play Wednesday
Anderson confirmed with reporters following shootaround that he has been cleared to play and will suit up for tonight’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers after previously being listed on the San Antonio Spurs’ injury report with a sprained left MCL that had forced him to be sidelined the past two weeks. Additionally, the Spurs will be without Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker due to planned rest as part of their return from injury management plans. There’s yet to be any official word on a minute restriction for Anderson, but he’ll almost certainly be subject to one, and it remains to be seen whether he or Rudy Gay draws the start at small forward in Leonard’s absence. Gay is the likelier candidate given the nature of Anderson’s injury, but either way, Gay would be the preferred option of the two in daily fantasy formats. Meanwhile, Dejounte Murray will likely replace Parker in the starting lineup and trails only LaMarcus Aldridge with a 27.4% usage rate with Leonard off the court since he returned from the aforementioned quad injury.
As reported by: Tom Orsborn via Twitter Draymond Green (shoulder) and Zaza Pachulia (shoulder) now doubtful Wednesday; Andre Iguodala (illness) questionable; Shaun Livingston (knee) ruled out
Green and Pachulia have officially been downgraded to doubtful from questionable on the Golden State Warriors’ injury report for tonight’s game against Memphis Grizzlies due to their respective injuries, while Shaun Livingston has been ruled out with a sore right knee and Andre Iguodala has been listed as questionable due to flu-like symptoms.
As reported by: Mark Medina via Twitter Other tagged players: Zaza Pachulia, Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston Arron Afflalo (back) available to play Wednesday; Evan Fournier (foot) remains out
Afflalo participated in the team’s morning shootaround and will be available to play in tonight’s game against the Chicago Bulls after previously being listed as questionable on the Orlando Magic’s injury report with back spasms that had forced him to miss three consecutive games. Meanwhile, Evan Fournier will remain sidelined due to a sprained right ankle, and Jonathan Isaac will be on a minute restriction of approximately 20 minutes in his second game since returning from a sprained right ankle himself.
As reported by: Josh Robbins via Twitter Other tagged players: Evan Fournier This Red-Hot Team Could Fly Under the Radar
The Bulls are playing their best basketball of the season and they draw one of the best matchups on the board. On the season, the Magic are a bottom five defense and the Bulls come into the game with the highest projected point differential between their implied total and their season average. Justin Holiday is cheap, he is coming off of a big game, and his ownership won’t be outrageous.
High Upside Play in the Best Possible Matchup
Take a moment to let this sink in — the Clippers are without Blake Griffin, Patrick Beverley, Danilo Gallinari, and Wesley Johnson tonight and their implied total is five points higher than their season average. This goes to show just how bad the Suns are defensively. We not only get the added value that comes from a team playing short-handed, but we also get an elite matchup against the Suns. I will be targeting Lou Wiliams in both cash games and tournaments, even at his elevated price point.
Donovan Mitchell (toe) ruled out Wednesday; Derrick Favors (concussion) upgraded to probable
Mitchell has been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder after previously being listed as questionable on the Utah Jazz’ injury report with a right great toe contusion, while Derrick Favors has been upgraded from questionable to probable with a concussion. Moving forward, Favors figures to greatly benefit from his move to the center spot with Rudy Gobert sidelined for at least the next month with a sprained PCL, and he averaged 30 minutes per game during Gobert’s extended absence earlier in the season. In their absences, Ekpe Udoh and Joe Johnson were inserted into the starting lineup at center and power forward, respectively, and both played in the ballpark of 30 minutes. With Favors more than likely to be available, Udoh will likely head back to the bench to resume his reserve role. As for Mitchell’s unavailability, Rodney Hood will likely re-enter the starting lineup at the shooting guard spot and Alec Burks should reclaim his role as the primary guard off the bench for at least one game. With Mitchell, Gobert, and Raul Neto off the court this season, Rodney Hood owns a +5.7% usage rate differential and has actually led the team with a 34.5% usage rate while averaging 1.05 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 0.97 on FanDuel in this scenario.
As reported by: David Locke via Twitter Other tagged players: Derrick Favors Dennis Smith Jr. (hip strain) will play Wednesday
Smith Jr. has been cleared to play and will suit up for tonight’s game against the Detroit Pistons after previously being listed as questionable on the Dallas Mavericks’ injury report with a strained left hip that had forced him to miss six consecutive games.
As reported by: Brad Townsend via Twitter