DFS Alerts
John Wall (knee discomfort) ruled out Tuesday
Wall has been ruled out and won’t suit up for tonight’s game against the Atlanta Hawks after previously being upgraded to questionable on the Washington Wizards’ injury report due to PRP and viscosupplementation injections he received in his left knee to reduce the inflammation and has now forced him to miss nine consecutive games. Meanwhile, Ian Mahinmi also remains questionable with a sore right knee and is expected to be a true game-time decision. Mahinmi had been the beneficiary of additional playing time in recent games and has logged at least 23 minutes off the bench in four of the last seven games. Should he be ruled out, Jason Smith would likely step into the backup center role behind Marcin Gortat and absorb a larger role in the Wizards frontcourt rotation. With Wall officially unavailable, Tim Frazier will remain in the starting lineup, but Tomas Satoransky has seemingly overtaken the backup point guard role and has consistently seen more playing time in Wall’s absence. Meanwhile, Bradley Beal continues to lead the team with a 34.9% usage rate in the eight games Wall’s been sidelined, but he has been extremely inconsistent from a fantasy standpoint due to his heavy dependence on scoring, making him a better tournament target than a cash option for the duration of Wall’s absence from the lineup.
As reported by: Candace Buckner via Twitter
Jahlil Okafor and Nik Stauskas will be active Tuesday, but unlikely to play
Okafor and Stauskas will both be active and available off the bench for tonight’s game against the Washington Wizards but neither are expected to make their Brooklyn Nets debut, according to head coach Kenny Atkinson and contradicted himself in his pregame presser, first stating “never say never” when asked about Okafor and Stauskas playing tonight and then later stating that both players “need to earn playing time”, hinting that are unlikely to play Tuesday night. That said, it’s safe to say that Okafor and Stauskas should be avoided in all formats and even the rotational players at their respective positions carry a little more risk with the threat that Atkinson might throw them on to the court mid-game on a whim.
As reported by: Anthony Puccio via Twitter Other tagged players: Nik Stauskas Willie Cauley-Stein (lower back strain) upgraded to probable Tuesday
Cauley-Stein has been upgraded to probable on the Sacramento Kings’ injury report for tonight’s game against the Phoenix Suns after previously being considered a game-time decision due to a strained lower back that has forced him to miss three consecutive games. The Kings have already made a couple of the corresponding roster moves preparing for Cauley-Stein’s return, sending JaKarr Sampson and Jack Cooley back to the G-League earlier in the day. With Cauley-Stein trending towards being active, he’ll likely resume his role as the primary big man off the bench for Sacramento and has been largely effective 25-30 minutes of action per game. However, his likely presence will create a bit of a logjam in the frontcourt and likely eat into Zach Randolph’s minutes to some degree, lowering his overall ceiling in Tuesday’s contest and moving forward.
As reported by: Jason Jones via Twitter Jusuf Nurkic (ankle) and Maurice Harkless (quad) questionable for Wednesday
Nurkic has been listed as questionable on the Portland Trail Blazers’ injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Miami Heat due to a sprained right ankle, while Maurice Harkless has also been listed as questionable with a left quad contusion, ailments that have kept each player sidelined for two consecutive games. In the previous games, Meyers Leonard has drawn the start at center and has been inconsistent in his 19 minutes per game average, while Zach Collins and Ed Davis combined to average nearly 33 minutes of the bench, indicating that the center position will likely be filled by a full-blown timeshare in Nurkic’s absence. If Harkless is ruled out, Evan Turner will likely remain in the starting lineup at small forward, and Damian Lillard would approach must play territory once again, as he owns an insane +11.0% usage rate differential with Nurkic and Harkless off the court this season. Not only that, but he also leads the Trail Blazers by a wide margin with a 42.8% usage rate and has averaged 1.42 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.34 on FanDuel in the aforementioned scenario.
As reported by: Jason Quick via Twitter Other tagged players: Maurice Harkless Dwyane Wade (knee) ruled out Tuesday; Kevin Love (hip) and Tristan Thompson (calf) will play
Wade is a late addition to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ injury report and has been ruled out for tonight’s game against the Atlanta Hawks due to a sore left knee, while both Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson have been cleared to play and will suit up following their earlier questionable designations on the injury report with their respective ailments. Head coach Tyronn Lue told reporters following Monday’s practice that he expected Thompson to make his return from a strained left calf that kept him sidelined for 19 consecutive games, so his availability is far from surprising. The current plan is for Thompson to come off the bench on Tuesday night and he will be subject to an unspecified minute restriction in his first game back. This means that Kevin Love will remain the Cavaliers’ starting center for at least one additional game, though Thompson coming off the bench could certainly be a permanent move, as well, with how great Cleveland has been playing with their current starting lineup and rotation.
As reported by: clevelanddotcom Cavs via Twitter Other tagged players: Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson Andre Roberson (ankle sprain) questionable for Wednesday
Roberson was a limited participant in Tuesday’s practice and has been listed as questionable on the Oklahoma City Thunder’s injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Indiana Pacers due to a sprained left ankle that has forced him to miss one game. If Roberson is unable to suit up, Alex Abrines should remain in the starting lineup for the fourth time in as many games, a stretch that has included filling in for Roberson and Paul George at the shooting guard spot and small forward respectively. Abrines figures to continue seeing minutes in the mid-20s with Roberson sidelined but is a fringe option in tournament formats given his low 15.6% usage rate on the season. That said, George is set to make his return to Indiana for the first as a member of the opposing team and will likely absorb a sizable amount ownership given the perceived “revenge” narrative but has failed to exceed salary-based expectations in six of his last seven games as he continues to battle through a calf contusion, making Russell Westbrook a logical pivot option in all formats if not looking to take a stroll down Narrative Street.
As reported by: Erik Horne via Twitter Anthony Davis (adductor), Jameer Nelson (ankle), and Dante Cunningham (knee) questionable for Wednesday
Davis has officially been listed as questionable on the New Orleans Pelicans’ report for tomorrow’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks due to a strained left adductor that has forced him to miss four of the last six games, while Jameer Nelson and Dante Cunningham have also been listed as questionable with their respective ailments, the latter being an extremely late scratch for Monday’s contest after previously being announced as the starter at power forward. Additionally, Tony Allen has been diagnosed with a non-displaced left proximal fibula fracture and is expected to be sidelined three-to-four weeks. While Allen doesn’t log a lot of playing time, the Pelicans could potentially be extremely thin from a depth standpoint once again. With Nelson unavailable the past two games, Rajon Rondo has averaged 40 minutes of action en route to obliterating salary-based expectations and may end up being a viable value option for the third time in as many games. As is the case anytime Davis is sidelined, Cousins would become an elite option for all formats on Wednesday’s slate and owns a +2.1% usage rate differential while leading the Pelicans by a wide margin with a 37.1% usage rate with Davis, Nelson, Cunningham, and Allen off the court this season.
As reported by: Will Guillory via Twitter Other tagged players: Jameer Nelson, Dante Cunningham Rodney Hood (ankle) will play Wednesday; Joe Johnson (wrist) questionable; Raul Neto (concussion) doubtful; Jonas Jerebko (illness) probable
Hood has been cleared to play and will suit up for tomorrow’s game against the Chicago Bulls after missing seven consecutive games with a sore left ankle, while the Utah Jazz have hit injury report bingo with Raul Neto listed as doubtful, Joe Johnson listed as questionable, and Jonas Jerebko listed as probable due to their respective ailments. Prior to his injury, Hood had been demoted to the bench in favor of Donovan Mitchell and is more than likely to remain in that role given the emergence of Mitchell in the early portion of the season. In Hood’s absence, Alec Burks ended up being the largest beneficiary since he was able to assume the role as the primary scoring option off the bench and now he and Hood are expected to lead the second unit and serve as the primary guards off the bench behind Mitchell and Ricky Rubio in the frontcourt, effectively limiting player’s overall floor and ceiling combination on a nightly basis.
As reported by: Andy Larsen via Twitter Other tagged players: Joe Johnson, Raul Neto, Jonas Jerebko Nicolas Batum (sore elbow) doubtful for Wednesday
Batum has been listed as doubtful on the Charlotte Hornets’ injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Houston Rockets due to a sore left elbow that forced him to miss Monday’s win. In his absence, Jeremy Lamb drew the start at shooting guard but atypically struggled in 33 minutes of action, putting him in play as a viable bounce-back candidate with Batum looking unlikely to suit up. With Lamb moving to the starting lineup, Treveon Graham, Frank Kaminsky, and Michael Carter-Williams served as the primary rotational pieces but none saw more than 20 minutes off the bench, essentially eliminating them from any daily fantasy consideration. Since Batum made his season debut in mid-November, it’s been Lamb that predictably has benefited the most from playing time and usage standpoints, as he owns a +2.0% usage rate differential with Batum off the floor and has averaged has averaged 0.80 fantasy points per minute, leaving him firmly in play for all formats, depending on price, if he continues to log minutes in the mid-30s with Batum sidelined.
As reported by: Rick Bonnell via Twitter Cory Joseph (sore shoulder) questionable for Wednesday
Joseph has been added to the Indiana Pacers’ injury report and is listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a nagging sore left shoulder, while Darren Collison has been also been listed as questionable, despite participating in Tuesday’s practice, with a sore left knee that forced him to miss Sunday’s overtime win. Joseph took over as the starting point guard in Collison’s absence but was largely ineffective in 31 minutes of action, though he’ll still remain in play for Wednesday’s slate if he plays and Collison is ruled out. If not, Joe Young will likely step into a larger role in the rotation but has eclipsed 10 minutes just once all year. Additionally, Lance Stephenson exceeded salary-based expectations in this same game and sneakily saw 35 minutes off the bench, making him a possible under-the-radar tournament target given his superior per minute production. Outside of Joseph and Stephenson, the player that stands to benefit the most looks to be Victor Oladipo, who is coming off of a massive performance in 45 minutes on Sunday, and owns a +5.8% usage rate differential and has averaged a team-high 1.30 fantasy points per minute with Collison off the court this season.
As reported by: the Indiana Pacers via Twitter Big Night in Store for the Big Man
Ever since Nikola Jokic went down with his injury, the Nuggets have been bleeding fantasy production to opposing centers. It makes sense when you think about, as Mason Plumlee, Kenneth Faried, and Trey Lyles have little shot of defending talented centers. Andre Drummond is having a breakout season and I fully expect that to continue tonight. Unlike most centers, he has 35+ minute upside. He’s been great at home throughout his career and it doesn’t hurt that this is a pace-up game for Detroit.
Darren Collison (sore knee) questionable for Wednesday
Collison participated in practice on Tuesday but has still been listed as questionable on the Indiana Pacers’ injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a sore left knee that forced him to miss Sunday’s overtime win. Cory Joseph took over as the starting point guard in his absence but was largely ineffective in 31 minutes of action, though he’ll still remain in play for Wednesday’s slate if Collison is ruled out. Additionally, Lance Stephenson exceeded salary-based expectations in this game and sneakily saw 35 minutes off the bench, making him a possible under-the-radar tournament target given his superior per minute production. Outside of Joseph and Stephenson, the player that stands to benefit the most looks to be Victor Oladipo, who is coming off of a massive performance in 45 minutes on Sunday, and owns a +5.8% usage rate differential and has averaged a team-high 1.30 fantasy points per minute with Collison off the court this season.
As reported by: Scott Agness via Twitter Trevor Ariza (foot contusion) probable for Wednesday
Ariza has officially been listed as probable on the Houston Rockets’ injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Charlotte Hornets due to a left foot contusion, while Zhou Qi has been removed from the injury report and will be available off the bench. However, the status of Qi is essentially irrelevant as the reserve big man has eclipsed the eight-minute mark just once this season and hasn’t seen the court for a few weeks. As for Ariza, he continues to log heavy minutes in head coach Mike D’Antoni’s tight rotation but has just a 13.6% usage rate since Chris Paul returned from his knee injury. That said, Ariza and the rest of the Rockets perimeter players do draw an interesting matchup against a Hornets squad that surrenders 31.0 three-point attempts per game, which is the sixth-highest total in the entire league, adding to Ariza’s tournament appeal on Wednesday’s slate.
As reported by: Jonathan Feigen via Twitter FanDuel's Pricing Algorithm is Broken
I’m not sure what Taj Gibson has to do to get a price bump on FanDuel. He’s basically been between $5,000-$6,000 for the last three weeks, even though he is averaging over 30 fantasy points per game during that stretch. He is basically locked into 35+ minutes a night and he draws an exploitable matchup against the Sixers, who have a bottom ten defense in the NBA this season. Gibson is viable on DraftKings as well, but his $5,300 price tag on FanDuel sticks out like a sore thumb.
I Treat Minutes in DFS Like I Treat my BitCoin (I Treasure Them)
It took Jimmy Butler a while to get acclimated to his new teammates and to his new role in Minnesota, but he is finally starting to look like one of the best two-way players in basketball again. Over his last four games, he is averaging 41 minutes and 47 fantasy points. I absolutely love targeting players that are on the floor for most of the game, especially ones as talented as Butler. His price is up across the industry, but he’s still a bargain if you look at his recent production, especially on DraftKings ($8,100).