DFS Alerts
Dennis Smith Jr. (hip strain) remains out Monday, questionable for Wednesday
Smith Jr. has been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers after previously being listed as questionable in the Dallas Mavericks’ game notes with a strained left hip that has now forced him to miss six consecutive games. Head coach Rick Carlisle did confirm that Smith Jr. went through Monday’s shootaround and is considered questionable for Wednesday’s contest. This means that Yogi Ferrell will remain in the starting lineup at point guard for at least one additional game and is coming off a massive double-double performance in 38 minutes of playing time in the Mavericks’ previous games. J.J. Barea is still typically only seeing 25-29 minutes a night but will be an interesting tournament pivot away from Ferrell on Monday’s slate given his superior 27.5% usage rate with Smith Jr. off the court this season.
As reported by: Bobby Karalla via Twitter
Steven Adams (concussion) remains out Monday
Adams has officially been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Denver Nuggets due to a concussion that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games. In his absence, Dakari Johnson will likely draw the start at center once again and has done so in the previous four games Adams has been sidelined this season, but he has averaged just over 16 minutes of playing time in those starts en route to some rather uninspiring performances. As expected, whenever a starting center like Adams is unavailable, the remaining starters typically see a noteworthy bump in usage, and the Thunder’s situation is no different, as Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony both own at least a +2.1% usage rate differential with Adams off the court this season, while Paul George has capitalized the most on his usage increase thus far and has averaged 1.13 fantasy points per minute in the aforementioned scenario.
As reported by: Royce Young via Twitter Lou Williams (ankle) and Wesley Johnson (foot) ruled out Monday; Austin Rivers (concussion) available to play
Williams has been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Dallas Mavericks due to a right ankle injury, despite never previously appearing on the Los Angeles Clippers’ injury report, while Wesley Johnson has also been ruled out with a sore left foot. Additionally, Austin Rivers has cleared the concussion protocol and will return to the lineup following a two-game absence. There’s been no reported minute restriction for Rivers and is virtually guaranteed to be reinserted into the starting lineup at shooting guard alongside Milos Teodosic in the backcourt, while Sam Dekker is the likeliest candidate to draw the start at one of the forward positions with Johnson also sidelined. There is legitimately no sample size for the projected starters with the aforementioned players off the court this season, but Jawun Evans should be the first guard off the bench and owns a +7.6% usage rate differential and has averaged 0.86 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 0.82 on FanDuel in this scenario.
As reported by: Tomer Azarly via Twitter Other tagged players: Wesley Johnson, Austin Rivers Goran Dragic (elbow) and Dion Waiters (illness) questionable Monday
Dragic has been listed as questionable on the Miami Heat injury report for tonight’s game against the Atlanta Hawks due to an elbow injury, while Dion Waiters has also been listed as questionable with an illness. Justise Winslow was also listed as doubtful with a strained left knee but isn’t likely back until the end of the week at the earliest. The Heat is also without Hassan Whiteside and James Johnson, who was recently diagnosed with right ankle bursitis that will keep him out for at least one-to-two weeks, and Bam Adebayo is likely to start alongside Kelly Olynyk in the frontcourt after replacing Johnson in the second-half of Saturday’s win. If Dragic and Waiters are ruled out, head coach Erik Spoelstra would likely be forced to start Tyler Johnson and Wayne Ellington in the backcourt, even though in the past with Dragic sidelined, he’s done everything in his power to keep Tyler Johnson in his normal sixth-man role. There is almost no sample size with all of the aforementioned players off the court this season, but no matter the starting lineup, Josh Richardson appears to be an elite option, should Dragic and Waiters be unavailable, coming off of a massive performance in 36 minutes on Saturday night.
As reported by: Ira Winderman via Twitter Other tagged players: Dion Waiters Kristaps Porzingis (sore knee) will be a game-time decision Monday
Porzingis has officially been listed as questionable on the New York Knicks’ injury report for tonight’s game against the Charlotte Hornets and will be a game-time decision with a sore knee that has already forced him to miss one game. Michael Beasley has started at power forward in the five games that Porzingis has missed and is coming off of a massive fantasy performance where he easily exceeded salary-based expectations in 37 minutes of action in Saturday’s win. If Porzingis is unable to suit up, Beasley will almost certainly draw the start at power forward for the second time in as many games. Beasley and Enes Kanter, who is playing through back and neck injuries, are poised to be in the best positions among the projected starters to take advantage of Porzingis’ absence, as Beasley leads the Knicks with a 322% usage rate with Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr. off the court this season, and Kanter has averaged 1.09 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.04 on FanDuel in this scenario as well.
As reported by: Al Iannazzone vis Twitter Treveon Graham (back spasms) doubtful Monday
Graham has been listed as doubtful on the Charlotte Hornets’ injury report for tonight’s game against the New York Knicks due to back spasms. Regardless of Graham’s availability, he is unlikely to see the court, as associate head coach Stephen Silas has already confirmed that he plans to utilize the same eight-man rotation he employed for Saturday’s contest. This means that Jeremy Lamb, Michael Carter-Williams, and Frank Kaminsky will continue to absorb the available reserve minutes with Cody Zeller still sidelined indefinitely with a torn left medial meniscus.
As reported by: Rick Bonnell via Twitter Otto Porter (hip contusion) ruled out Sunday
Porter has been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers after previously being listed as questionable on the Washington Wizards’ injury report with a hip contusion he sustained in Friday’s win. Following that game, 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. With Porter unable to suit, Kelly Oubre will almost assuredly draw the start at small forward after starting the second half of Friday’s contest in his place. 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 1.33 fantasy points on DraftKings and 1.27 on FanDuel, adding to his appeal in tournaments for Sunday’s slate.
As reported by: Chris Miller via Twitter Thaddeus Young (sore knee) available to play Sunday
Young has been cleared to play and will suit up for tonight’s game against the Brooklyn Nets after previously being listed as questionable on the Indiana Pacers’ injury report with a sore left knee. There has been no word of a minute restriction and Young is expected to start and see his full allotment of minutes in Sunday’s contest. The Pacers sent T.J. Leaf, Ike Anigbogu, and Edward Sumner on G-League assignments, so even with Young available, recently recalled Alex Poythress could end up cracking the backend of the rotation as a backup power, though Domantas Sabonis will continue to absorb a majority of the available reserve minutes in the Pacers’ frontcourt. Given the pace-up matchup with this squad, Victor Oladipo figures to be a priority target on Sunday’s two-game slates and continues to lead the Pacers with a 33.3% usage rate on the year while averaging 1.26 fantasy points per minute.
As reported by: the Indiana Pacers via Twitter Tristan Thompson will play 14-15 minutes on Sunday
Thompson was initially ruled out for tonight’s game against the Washington Wizards due to rest, but according to Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue, he will now play off the bench and see 14-15 minutes of action. Meanwhile, Dwyane Wade will still be rested on the second leg of a back-to-back set and remains unavailable as previously reported. In games that Wade has missed, Jeff Green has seen a significant bump in playing time off the bench and certainly garners consideration in tournaments if playing the minuscule two-game slates across the industry. There hasn’t been a clear beneficiary of Wade’s absence from a usage standpoint since he spends a majority of his time with the second unit, but Lebron James leads the Cavaliers, as expected, with a 32.5% usage rate en route to a rate of 1.52 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.50 on FanDuel in this scenario.
As reported by: Dave McMenamin via Twitter Avery Bradley (adductor strain) remains out Sunday; Luke Kennard will start
Bradley has been ruled out and won’t play in today’s game against the Orlando Magic after previously being listed as questionable on the Detroit Pistons’ game notes with a strained right adductor that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games. In his absence, Luke Kennard will draw the start at the shooting guard spot once again alongside Reggie Jackson in the backcourt. Kennard has typically been seeing minutes in the mid-teens with Bradley active but only logged 18 minutes in his first spot start, adding some skepticism to his viability, even on an abbreviated slate. The main beneficiary of Bradley’s absence in the starting unit from a usage standpoint looks to be Jackson, as he owns a +3.5% usage rate differential and leads the Pistons with a 31.3% usage rate with Bradley and Jon Leuer off the court this season.
As reported by: James Edwards III via Twitter Other tagged players: Luke Kennard C.J. Miles will start for Serge Ibaka (knee) on Sunday
Ibaka has been ruled out and won’t play in today’s game against the Sacramento Kings due to a sore left knee, despite never appearing on the Toronto Raptors’ injury report at any point, while C.J. Miles will play and is reportedly “good to go” following a one-game absence due to left shoulder soreness. Pascal Siakam has started at power forward in the two prior games Ibaka has missed this season and averaged just over 30 minutes of playing time in those starts, but head coach Dwane Casey has opted to go small by starting Miles and sliding OG Anunoby over to the power forward position, making Miles an interesting punt option in tournaments. That said, the main beneficiaries in terms of usage and production have been Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, as each own at least a +3.7% usage rate differential and have averaged between 1.25-1.35 fantasy points per minute on both major sites across the daily fantasy industry.
As reported by: Blake Murphy via Twitter Jonathan Isaac (ankle) available to play Sunday, but will have 15-minute restriction
Isaac has been cleared to play and will be available off the bench for today’s game against the Detroit Pistons after previously being listed as questionable on the Orlando Magic’s injury report with a sprained right ankle that had kept him sidelined for 17 consecutive games. However, head coach Frank Vogel did confirm that Isaac will be subject to a strict 15-minute restriction in his first game back, but his presence off the bench still provides some much-needed depth for this depleted Magic squad. The Magic are still without Arron Afflalo, Evan Fournier, and Terrence Ross, which led the team to recall Adreian Payne, Jamel Artis, and Khem Birch from the G-League earlier in the week, but only Artis is expected to crack the rotation on Sunday afternoon. Shelvin Mack will draw the start alongside Elfrid Payton in the backcourt, sending Wesley Iwundu back to the bench to resume a reserve role after averaging 29 minutes of playing time in his two previous spot starts in Afflalo’s place. The sample size with the aforementioned players off the court this season is extremely limited, but in that short time both Nikola Vucevic and Jonathon Simmons own at least a +4.1% usage rate differential and have seen substantial increases to their per minute fantasy production, adding to their appeal in all formats on Sunday’s slate.
As reported by: Orlando Magic PR via Twitter Serge Ibaka (knee) ruled out Sunday; C.J. Miles (shoulder) will play
Ibaka has been ruled out and won’t play in today’s game against the Sacramento Kings due to a sore left knee, despite never appearing on the Toronto Raptors’ injury report at any point, while C.J. Miles will play and is reportedly “good to go” following a one-game absence due to left shoulder soreness. Pascal Siakam has started at power forward in the two prior games Ibaka has missed this season and averaged just over 30 minutes of playing time in those starts and likely will be inserted into the starting unit once again, making him a viable punt option on Sunday’s slate. That said, the main beneficiaries in terms of usage and production have been Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, as each own at least a +3.7% usage rate differential and have averaged between 1.25-1.35 fantasy points per minute on both major sites across the daily fantasy industry.
As reported by: Blake Murphy via Twitter Other tagged players: C.J. Miles Joel Embiid (rest) ruled out for Monday; Trevor Booker (ankle) ruled out two games
Embiid has been ruled out and won’t play in tomorrow’s game against the Chicago Bulls in order to rest his ailing back that has been causing him discomfort in recent days, while Trevor Booker has been ruled out for the next two games with a sprained left ankle he sustained during Friday’s triple-overtime loss and will be reevaluated in five-to-seven days. The Sixers are also still without Furkan Korkmaz, Justin Anderson, and Markelle Fultz, which leaves them with only nine healthy bodies on their current active roster, barring a call-up of with James Michael McAdoo or Jacob Pullen, their two players on two-way contracts. In Embiid’s absence, Amir Johnson will likely draw the start at center alongside Dario Sario in the frontcourt. Ben Simmons, Dario Saric, Robert Covington, and T.J. McConnell all own at least a +3.3% usage rate with the aforementioned players off the court this season, though Simmons leads the way with a 29.2% usage rate and has averaged 1.20 fantasy points per minute in this scenario.
As reported by: Jessica Camerato via Twitter Other tagged players: Trevor Booker A Fine Bench Play for Cash Games
I really like Lance Stephenson as a value play in what’s shaping up to be a stars and scrubs slate. We have a ton of high-priced players in good spots, and finding value is going to be critical. Fortunately, Stephenson is extremely active when he’s on the floor, and he’s facing the fantasy goldmine known as the Brooklyn Nets. He’s one of the stronger value plays on the slate given the matchup and the consistent workload.
