DFS Alerts
Fire Him Up
The Lakers have had a maddening big man rotation this year, with four or five bodies trying to cram into two positions. That makes the minutes unpredictable for all of them. However, with Brook Lopez now set to miss 3-4 weeks, suddenly the rotations will become a lot more clear. Tonight’s matchup against the Rockets should be played at a frenetic pace, and Randle always brings per minute upside to the table. He should be looking at minutes in the 29-32 range now, and I’ll gladly buy in on that. Kyle Kuzma is in play as well.
Hard to Trust... but Intriguing Upside
Utah is a banged up basketball team right now. Rudy Gobert is out. Derrick Favors and surging rookie Donovan Mitchell are both questionable for this game, so the Jazz might be hurting for offensive production against the Thunder. Ricky Rubio has seen his minutes trend upward over the last week or so, and that’s a positive sign moving forward. We know that he brings DFS upside to the table on days where he has his best game, and I’m willing to take some shots tonight. Keep an eye on Mitchell’s status; if he is out, Rubio gets a significant upgrade.
Going Back To The Money Train
I was all over Canaan on Monday, and even wrote him up as one of my favorite salary plays. After James DNP-CD, he returned to action to play only 9 minutes against Dallas. Canaan has played 27 minutes in each of his first two games with the Suns, and it looks like they signed him to play him. He’s giving a much needed spark off the bench for the Suns, and he’s been an excellent GPP play for us DFS guys. He’s gone for at least 30 fantasy points in both games he’s played, and he’s doing it by filling the stat sheet. His price has gone up, but I still think he’s worth a shot in GPPs tonight.
Revenge Game!
Okay it’s not really a massive revenge game, but it certainly got your attention enough to click on it. Jordan Mickey will be facing his former team tonight, and with all the injuries to the Miami front-court, he’s in line for a solid role in this matchup. He’s played at least 24 minutes in back-to-back games, and has over 25 fantasy points in both of those matchups. Without Johnson, Whiteside, and Winslow on the floor, Mickey is averaging 1.12 fantasy points per minute. He’s still cheap tonight, and I like him in this matchup against Boston.
Low Owned Value Play
Everyday I try to find one low owned value play I like for you guys, and today that guy is Torrey Craig. I honestly can’t even take credit for finding this one, it was brought up by Seige and Gallagher on the Morning Grind today. Craig has started the last two games at small forward for the Nuggets, and should draw another start tonight. Gary Harris is very questionable for the game tonight, and he’s averaging 33.9 minutes with a 21.2% usage rate this season. With Mudiay doubtful, there is a lot of minutes and usage to go around tonight for this Nuggets team. Craig is an excellent pivot off some of the chalk options tonight, and he’s one of my favorite GPP plays.
Great Punt Play
With Kentavious Caldwell-Pope out tonight, Hart should draw another start for the Lakers. He started for KCP against the Cavs a few days ago, and finished with 33 minutes. He then played 19 minutes against the Warriors with KCP back in the lineup. He should play 25+ minutes tonight, and he’s the stone minimum on DraftKings tonight. This game has the highest implied total on the slate, and is projected to be the fastest paced game on the slate. If this turns into a blowout, I would still expect Hart to get his minutes tonight.
Kawhi Leonard (quad) and Tony Parker (rest) ruled out for Wednesday; Kyle Anderson (knee) and Danny Green (groin) probable.
Leonard and Parker have each been ruled out for tomorrow’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers due to rest as part of their return from injury management plans, while Kyle Anderson and Danny Green have been listed as probable on the San Antonio Spurs’ injury report with their respective ailments, the former appearing set to return on the front end of his initial two-to-three week timetable due to a sprained left medial collateral ligament. 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. 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 Other tagged players: Tony Parker, Kyle Anderson, Danny Green
Matthew Dellavedova (knee) will start ahead of DeAndre Liggins on Tuesday, but will have a minute restriction
Dellavedova, Tony Snell, and Jason Terry will all make a return from their respective ailments for tonight’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the trio will be available to play after participating in Monday’s practice. Dellavedova will replace DeAndre Liggins in the Milwaukee Bucks starting lineup at one of the guard spots, though he should be expected to essentially share time with Malcolm Brogdon and the other reserve wing players and will be on tighter minute restriction than Snell and Terry, respectively. The Bucks also recently waived Gary Payton II in order to clear a spot on the active roster for Sean Kilpatrick, who was recently signed by the team following his release from the Brooklyn Nets and will be available to make his Bucks debut this evening, though it remains to be seen what role, if any, he’s able to carve out in head coach Jason Kidd’s ever-changing rotation.
As reported by: Matt Velazquez via Twitter Otto Porter (hip contusion) ruled out Tuesday
Porter 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 Washington Wizards’ injury report with a right hip contusion that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games. Following Friday’s contest, head coach Scott Brooks told reporters that Porter was just experiencing some discomfort in his hip and will be considered day-to-day moving forward, though it’s beginning to seem that the hip contusion is worse than originally anticipated. With Porter unable to suit, Kelly Oubre will draw the start at small forward and logged 29 minutes Sunday night. Among the Wizards regular rotation players, Oubre and Bradley Beal have been the main beneficiaries with Porter off the court this season, as each own at least a +2.6% usage rate differential in this scenario, and Beal has actually seen a sizable jump in his per minute production, averaging 1.29 fantasy points on DraftKings and 1.24 on FanDuel, adding to his appeal in tournaments for Tuesday’s slate.
As reported by: the Washington Wizards via Twitter Trevor Booker (ankle sprain) now available to play Tuesday
Booker has surprisingly been cleared to play and will be available off the bench for tonight’s game against the Sacramento Kings after previously being ruled out for both games of the Philadelphia 76ers back-to-back set with a sprained left ankle. He reportedly won’t be subject to a minute restriction but it’s difficult to imagine him seeing more than the 18-19 minutes of action he is typically allotted, even with Joel Embiid missing his second straight game due to rest and a sore back. Embiid was previously expected to return for Tuesday’s second leg of a back-to-back set, but it appears the Philadelphia 76ers’ medical staff opted to err on the side of caution after Embiid logged a career-high 49 minutes in Saturday’s triple-overtime loss. In his absence, Amir Johnson will draw his second consecutive start at center after playing just 14 minutes in his first spot start and was largely disappointing from a fantasy perspective. Instead, it was Richaun Holmes and Dario Saric who absorbed a large majority of the playing time at center, the former easily exceeding salary-based expectations in 22 minutes of action. With Embiid off the court this season, it’s been Saric, Ben Simmons, Robert Covington, and T.J. McConnell that have been largest beneficiaries from a usage standpoint, as each owns at least a +3.6% usage rate differential, but Saric, Covington, and J.J. Redick have been the most productive and all have averaged over a fantasy point per minute in this scenario.
As reported by: Jessica Camerato via Twitter Derrick Favors (concussion) and Donovan Mitchell (toe) questionable for Wednesday
Favors has officially been listed as questionable on the Utah Jazz’ injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a concussion, while Donovan Mitchell is a new addition to the injury report and is questionable with a toe contusion. Additionally, Raul Neto will remain sidelined with a concussion as well. Moving forward, once healthy. 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 have inserted into the starting lineup at center and power forward, respectively, and both played in the ballpark of 30 minutes, and Udoh will start if Favors is ruled out once again. As for Mitchell, if he’s unable to go, Rodney Hood would likely re-enter the starting lineup at the shooting guard spot and Alec Burks would reclaim his role as the primary guard off the bench for at least one game. With Favors, Mitchell, Gobert, and 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: Tony Jones via Twitter Other tagged players: Donovan Mitchell The Old Man Returns
Wade sat out the last game for rest purposes, so he should be clear to see his usual 24-26 minutes here tonight. His price remains very cheap, and this could be a game where he showcases his upside. It’s hard to be contrarian on a three game slate, but this game should be relatively close and high scoring, which gives Wade some appeal tonight. I like him as a GPP play.
Elite GPP Potential
With Joel Embiid now out tonight, fire up Simmons as an elite tournament play. His ownership will be lower than if this news came out early in the day, and we know Simmons has triple-double upside. On a three game slate, he has the potential to be one of the highest scorers out there. It’s easy to forget about him with Giannis, LeBron, and other studs to pay for, but Simmons is firmly a top option here.
Joel Embiid (back) ruled out Tuesday; Amir Johnson will start again
Embiid has been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Sacramento Kings due to a sore back. Embiid was rested for Monday’s loss and was previously expected to return for Tuesday’s second leg of a back-to-back set, but it appears the Philadelphia 76ers’ medical staff opted to err on the side of caution after Embiid logged a career-high 49 minutes in Saturday’s triple-overtime loss. In his absence, Amir Johnson will draw his second consecutive start at center after playing just 14 minutes in his first spot start and was largely disappointing from a fantasy perspective. Instead, it was Richaun Holmes and Dario Saric who absorbed a large majority of the playing time at center, the former easily exceeding salary-based expectations in 22 minutes of action. With Embiid off the court this season, it’s been Saric, Ben Simmons, Robert Covington, and T.J. McConnell that have been largest beneficiaries from a usage standpoint, as each owns at least a +3.6% usage rate differential, but Saric, Covington, and J.J. Redick have been the most productive and all have averaged over a fantasy point per minute in this scenario.
As reported by: Tom Moore via Twitter Gary Harris (elbow) and Emmanuel Mudiay (ankle) questionable for Wednesday
Harris has officially been listed as questionable on the Denver Nuggets’ injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to right elbow contusion, while Emmanuel Mudiay is listed as questionable with a sprained right ankle that has forced him to miss one game, but head coach Mike Malone told reporters that he is “doubtful to questionable”, indicating that Mudiay is likelier to be ruled out than cleared to play. With Mudiay likely on track to miss his second straight game, Will Barton should be expected to continue absorbing additional ball-handling duties with the second unit but only saw 26 minutes Monday night, as Torrey Craig drew another start at small forward and logged a season-high 30 minutes. Should Mudiay and Harris be eventually ruled out, Jamal Murray would become a more interesting option as he owns a +4.7% usage rate differential with Harris off the court this season and would have a safer minute floor with Mudiay unavailable as well. Nikola Jokic still has yet to re-enter the starting lineup and hasn’t played more than 25 minutes since returning from a sprained ankle, but he has averaged 1.36 fantasy points per minute in this scenario and could finally be back in play for daily fantasy formats if he receives clearance for a full minute workload prior to Wednesday’s lock.
As reported by: Harrison Wind via Twitter Other tagged players: Emmanuel Mudiay