DFS Alerts
Yet Another Injury Creates Value
De’Aaron Fox is out tonight, meaning Hill should see 30 or more minutes at point guard for the Kings. He’s simply a value play due to his cheap price tag and the expected workload. The matchup on the road against the Raptors isn’t very good, but the point guard position is weak, and I’d much rather take a value play and spend up elsewhere. Lock him in as a very solid cash game option.
Expanded Opportunity Continues For This Forward
With Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier out for this game, Jonathon Simmons should be locked into solid minutes once again. Arron Afflalo and Jonathan Isaac are questionable, and their returns could eat into some of Simmons’ minutes. But Isaac has missed the past 17 games so I’m thinking even if he does return, they would ease him in. Simmons has played at least 33 minutes in 10 straight games and is being relied upon heavily. He’s now tied on the team with Nikola Vucevic with a 24.3% usage rate.
The King Has Arrived
This game has the closest spread, and both Dwyane Wade and Tristan Thompson are out for rest purposes, meaning more of the offensive burden will be placed on LeBron’s shoulders. The Wizards may be without Otto Porter and the last time these teams played, LeBron approached 100 fantasy points against the Wizards in 42 minutes. The arguments against LeBron is that his salary handcuffs you into playing a bunch of value guys, and he also played 39 minutes on Saturday night. If you decide to fade LeBron, I understand, but this is a four-game slate and the number of players who can outperform LeBron are fewer than normal.
Zach Randolph (rest) and De'Aaron Fox (thigh) ruled out Sunday
Randolph has been ruled out and won’t play in today’s game against the Toronto Raptors due to rest purposes, while De’Aaron Fox has also been ruled out after previously being listed as doubtful on the Sacramento Kings’ injury report with a right quad contusion. In Randolph’s absence, Willie Cauley-Stein or Kosta Koufos will likely draw the start at center, the former replaced Skal Labissiere to begin the second half of Thursday’s contest to better matchup with Karl-Anthony Towns on the defensive end, making Cauley-Stein the leading candidate. Justin Jackson ended up replacing Fox in the starting lineup for that same second half and will likely start once again this afternoon, meaning George Hill and Frank Mason will be free to absorb all of the Kings’ point guard minutes. With Randolph and Fox off the court this season, both Cauley-Stein and Garrett Temple have seen at least a +3.4% usage rate differential and significant bumps to their per minute production, but Cauley-Stein leads the way with a rate of 1.15 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.19 on FanDuel.
As reported by: James Ham via Twitter Other tagged players: De'Aaron Fox
Kristaps Porzingis (sore knee) ruled out Saturday
Porzingis 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 New York Knicks’ injury report due to a sore left knee that he reaggravated during the third quarter of Thursday’s win and is considered day-to-day moving forward. Michael Beasley has started at power forward in the most recent games that Porzingis has missed and posted a massive fantasy performance in 36 minutes of action in his previous spot start. He’ll draw the start once again on Saturday night with Porzingis officially unable to suit up, and Beasley and Enes Kanter are poised to be in the best positions among the projected starters to take advantage of his absence, as Beasley leads the Knicks with a 32.1% usage rate with Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr. off the court this season, and Kanter has averaged 1.16 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.11 on FanDuel in this scenario as well.
As reported by: NY_KnicksPR via Twitter James Harden (knee) a game-time decision Saturday; Nene (rest) will play if Clint Capela (heel) is ruled out
Harden is a late addition to the Houston Rockets’ injury report and will be a game-time decision for tonight’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks due to a sore right knee, while Clint Capela remains questionable and is considered a game-time decision with a heel contusion. Additionally, head coach Mike D’Antoni did confirm that Nene will play and not be rested if Capela is unable to suit up this evening. The Rockets are still without Luc Mbah a Moute, who is expected to miss two-to-three weeks with a dislocated right shoulder, and even with Nene available if Capela is not, the Rockets would be thin in the frontcourt and Ryan Anderson should be expected to absorb a majority of the backup center minutes, limiting the appeal of Tarik Black in any format. Instead, P.J. Tucker would benefit the most from a playing time standpoint in these small-ball lineups, while Trevor Ariza and Eric Gordon would be subsidiary beneficiaries as well. If Harden ends up being inactive, Anderson and Chris Paul lead the way for Houston from a usage standpoint with Harden, Capela, and Mbah a Moute off the court this season, as each owns at least a +5.7% usage rate differential and have seen a massive increase in their per minute production in a limited sample size.
As reported by: Jonathan Feigen via Twitter Derrick Favors (eye) ruled out Saturday
Favors has been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers after previously being listed as questionable on the Utah Jazz’ injury report with a left eye laceration he sustained during Friday’s win that required six stitches. Despite the questionable designation, there were early reports out of Utah that stated that Favors would “probably attempt” to play, but it appears that the medical staff opted to hold him out instead. Obviously not tonight, but 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 averaged 30 minutes per game during Gobert’s extended absence earlier in the season. Alec Burks saw his playing time dip with Joe Johnson making his return to the lineup on Friday, but he should see those minutes rebound a bit with the Jazz likely to play small more often given their lack of options at center and Ekpe Udoh likely to start. With Favors, Gobert, and Neto off the court this season, Rodney Hood owns a +9.5% usage rate differential and has actually led the team with a 38.8% usage rate while averaging 1.22 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.14 on FanDuel in this scenario.
As reported by: Andy Larsen via Twitter Kemba Walker (wrist strain) will play Saturday
Walker has been cleared to play and will suit up for tonight’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers after previously being listed as probable on the Charlotte Hornets’ injury report with a strained left wrist he sustained during Friday’s loss. He played through the second half with the aforementioned injury, which just further increased the likelihood of him suiting up this evening. The Hornets as a team have typically struggled on the second leg of back-to-back sets, but Walker and Dwight Howard continue to lead the Hornets in usage rate, roughly 28% apiece, while Howard has averaged 1.18 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.16 on FanDuel with Cody Zeller off the court this season, keeping him as a viable tournament target if not buying into the back-to-back splits.
As reported by: Rick Bonnell via Twitter Clint Capela (heel bruise) questionable Saturday
Capela has officially been added to the Houston Rockets’ injury report and has been listed as questionable for tonight’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks due to a left heel contusion. The Rockets were expected to rest Nene on the second leg of a back-to-back set, but a wrench may be thrown into those plans if Capela is eventually ruled out, as they are still without Luc Mbah a Moute, who is expected to miss two-to-three weeks with a dislocated right shoulder. Should Capela be unavailable and head coach Mike D’Antoni still opt to rest Nene on a back-to-back, the Rockets would be thin in the frontcourt and Ryan Anderson should be expected to absorb a majority of the backup center minutes, limiting the appeal of Tarik Black in any format. Instead, P.J. Tucker would benefit the most from a playing time standpoint in these small-ball lineups, while Trevor Ariza and Eric Gordon would be subsidiary beneficiaries as well. In fact, with Capela, Nene, and Mbah a Moute off the court this season, both Tucker and James Harden own at least a +3.4% usage rate differential while Tucker averages 0.81 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 0.77 on FanDuel.
As reported by: Jonathan Feigen via Twitter Steven Adams (concussion) ruled out Saturday
Adams has been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the New York Knicks after entering the league’s concussion protocol stemming from a blow to head during Friday’s triple-overtime win. Adams missed three consecutive games earlier in the season with a right calf contusion, and Dakari Johnson ended up replacing him in the starting lineup at center for that stretch. He’s likely to do so once again but averaged just over 17 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, Carmelo Anthony, and Paul George all own at least a +2.0% usage rate differential with Adams off the court this season. George has capitalized the most on his increased usage thus far and has averaged 1.12 fantasy points per minute in the aforementioned scenario.
As reported by: Royce Young via Twitter Otto Porter (hip bruise) questionable for Sunday
Porter has been listed as questionable on the Washington Wizards’ injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers due to a bruised hip he sustained early in the first quarter of Friday’s contest. Following the game, head coach Scott Brooks told reporters that Porter was just experiencing some discomfort in his hip and will be day-to-day moving forward. If Porter is unable to suit, Kelly Oubre will almost assuredly draw the start at small forward after starting the second half of yesterday’s game 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 should Porter be ruled out on Sunday.
As reported by: Candace Buckner via Twitter Thaddeus Young (sore knee) questionable for Sunday
Young has been listed as questionable on the Indiana Pacers’ injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Brooklyn Nets due to a sore left knee. If Young is unable to suit up, head coach Nate McMillan could potentially go a couple different directions with his starting lineup by either starting Domantas Sabonis at power forward or by sliding Bojan Bogdanovic over to the four and handing the start to Lance Stephenson on the wing. The Pacers sent T.J. Leaf, Ike Anigbogu, and Edward Sumner on G-League assignments, so if Young is eventually ruled out, recently recalled Alex Poythress would serve as a backup power forward regardless of starting lineup. Not surprisingly, Darren Collison and Victor Oladipo appear to be in the best position to benefit if Young is unavailable on Sunday, as each own at least a +4.5% usage rate differential with him off the court this season, and Oladipo has averaged 1.33 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.36 on FanDuel in this scenario.
As reported by: the Indiana Pacers via Twitter Derrick Favors (eye) questionable Saturday; Raul Neto (concussion) remains out
Favors has officially been listed as questionable on the Utah Jazz’ injury report for tonight’s game against Cleveland Cavaliers due to a left eye laceration he sustained during Friday’s win that required six stitches. Despite the questionable designation, early reports out of Utah have stated that Favors will “probably attempt” to play, while Raul Neto remains in the concussion protocol and will not suit up once again. If Favors able to give it a go, he 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 has averaged 30 minutes per game during Gobert’s extended absence earlier in the season. Alec Burks saw his playing time dip with Joe Johnson making his return to the lineup on Friday, essentially ending his run a viable option in daily fantasy formats for the foreseeable future. With Gobert and Neto off the court this season, Rodney Hood owns a +2.5% usage rate differential and has actually led the team with a 31.8% usage rate while averaging 1.03 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 0.94 on FanDuel.
As reported by: the Utah Jazz via Twitter Other tagged players: Raul Neto Aaron Gordon (calf) ruled out for Sunday; Arron Afflalo (back) and Jonathan Isaac (ankle) questionable
Gordon has been listed as out on the Orlando Magic’s injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Detroit Pistons due to a strained left calf he sustained during Friday’s contest and it still remains unclear exactly how long he will be sidelined. Meanwhile, Arron Afflalo and Jonathan Isaac have each been listed as questionable with their respective ailments. The Magic are still without 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 the trio failed to see the court and will likely only do so in the event of an emergency if Afflalo and Isaac remain out once again. If that’s the case, Wesley Iwundu would draw the start and has averaged 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 see substantial increases to their per minute fantasy production, adding to their appeal in all formats on Sunday’s slate if Orlando’s injury situation plays out as depicted.
As reported by: Josh Robbins via Twitter Other tagged players: Arron Afflalo, Jonathan Isaac Look to Utah for Savings
With Rudy Gobert out and early reports indicating Derrick Favors “will probably attempt to play”, this is shaping up to be a good situation for Jonas Jerebko. He saw significant run last game when Gobert left after one minute and Favors played 12, so even if Favors gives it a go, we should still see enough of Jerebko for him to pay off his dirt cheap price tag. As we saw last game, Jerebko is quite capable of putting up big numbers in limited time, and given the numbers of high-priced options that are worth spending on tonight, going the cheap route at a very weak power forward position makes a lot of sense to me.