DFS Alerts
Paul George (calf) and Jerami Grant (hip) ruled out Thursday
George has been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Brooklyn Nets in Mexico City due to a right calf contusion, while Jerami Grant will join him among the Oklahoma City Thunder inactives after previously being listed as questionable in the game notes with a left hip contusion. It remains unclear exactly what direction head coach Billy Donovan will choose to go with his starting lineup for Thursday’s contest, but the likeliest candidates to start are either Alex Abrines or Patrick Patterson, the former making the most sense when considering matchup and it enables Carmelo Anthony to remain at his normal power forward spot. If Abrines starts, he’ll become an interesting punt option in tournaments since both he and Anthony own at least a +8.9% usage rate differential with George and Grant off the court this season, while Anthony sees the largest uptick in production and has averaged 1.39 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.30 on FanDuel in the aforementioned scenario.
As reported by: Brett Dawson via Twitter Other tagged players: Jerami Grant
Low Owned Center with a High Floor
Steven Adams isn’t a flashy play by any means, but he makes a lot of sense in a short slate like tonight where raw points are needed. Center is pretty thin and most will gravitate to the cheaper options. While I’m fine with Tyson Chandler or Marcin Gortat, I prefer spending up a bit more to get Adams. On the season, the Nets are ranked 28th against centers and 20th in rebounding differential. Adams should get plenty of easy looks at the rim and I like his chances to post a double-double.
Primed for a Breakout
Markieff Morris has been quiet this season. In fact, a little too quiet. His minutes have taken a significant hit, as he spent the first few weeks of the season on the shelf. We are finally starting to see him flash some form, as he scored 42 fantasy points in 27 minutes against the Pistons and then 24 fantasy points in 30 minutes against the Blazers. If he sees 28-30 minutes tonight against the Suns, he should have no problem reaching and exceeding value.
Evan Fournier (ankle sprain) ruled out for Friday
Fournier has been listed as out on the Orlando Magic’s injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Denver Nuggets due to a sprained right ankle he sustained towards the end of Wednesday’s overtime win. The X-rays on his injured ankle came back negative, but Fournier is scheduled to undergo further testing this afternoon, which could provide more insight into how significant the injury may be. That being said, the Magic are still without Terrence Ross and likely Jonathan Isaac, as there has yet to be an update on his expected timetable to return, and will be relatively thin at the wing positions, creating an opportunity for either Arron Afflalo, D.J. Augustin, or Wesley Iwundu to enter the starting lineup. While whoever starts will see a bump in playing time, the main beneficiaries with Fournier off the court this season have been Aaron Gordon, Jonathon Simmons, Nikola Vucevic, as each player owns at least a +6.5% usage rate differential in this scenario, while Simmons has seen the largest uptick in production and averages 0.96 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 0.89 on FanDuel.
As reported by: Josh Robbins via Twitter High Floor in an Exploitable Matchup
When we have short slates like tonight, it’s hard to find players that have a high floor and ceiling combination. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has played at least 34 minutes in eight of his last nine games and has scored at least 25 fantasy points eight times during that stretch. He should be able to avoid the defense of Robert Covington (who will likely be on Brandon Ingram) and KCP should benefit from a fast pace of play in this game.
Dario Saric (corneal abrasion) questionable Thursday
Saric has been added to the Philadelphia 76ers’ injury report for tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers due to a right corneal abrasion and a left eye laceration he sustained in the Sixers’ previous game. If Saric is unable to suit up, there’s a chance that head coach Brett Brown reverts back to the starting lineup he utilized at the beginning of the season with Jerryd Bayless starting at “point guard” and Ben Simmons manning the power forward spot on the defensive end. Additionally, T.J. McConnell remains listed as questionable with a sprained left shoulder AC joint that has already forced him to miss three consecutive games. In the previous games McConnell missed, Bayless has averaged just over 25 minutes per game as the primary guard off the bench while Nik Stauskas has entered the rotation but has logged 10 minutes or less in each game. As long as McConnell and Markelle Fultz are sidelined with their respective injuries, Simmons figures to maintain his massive minute floor and has averaged 38 minutes per game in his last three games played. Simmons trails only Joel Embiid on this Sixers squad with a 25.0% usage rate and a rate of 1.25 fantasy points per minute, keeping him in play for all formats on nearly a nightly basis.
As reported by: Jessica Camerato via Twitter Opportunity on the Wing
The Suns are going to be without Devin Booker for a while, and that opens up a lot of minutes and opportunity on the wings. I expect Josh Jackson to play more alongside T.J. Warren, and Jackson has shown flashes of fantasy upside at times this year. There isn’t a ton of value on this slate, so give Jackson a look as a high upside play at a reasonable cost.
Jordan Bell is expected to start for Draymond Green (shoulder) on Wednesday
Green has been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Charlotte Hornets after previously being upgraded to questionable from doubtful on the Golden State Warriors’ injury report with a sore right shoulder. Now that Green is unavailable, Jordan Bell will draw the start at power forward in order to keep Andre Iguodala in his normal sixth-man role off the bench and allow Kevin Durant to remain at small forward. Stephen Curry has already been ruled out for the next couple of weeks and, in his absence, two-way player Quinn Cook will draw the start this evening, signaling that Patrick McCaw likely is the team’s preferred starting point guard with Curry on the shelf once he is able to return from a nose contusion that will keep out for Wednesday’s contest. That said, the obvious beneficiaries of Curry and Green’s absences are Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant, as each own at least a +2.9% usage rate differential with them off the court this season, while Durant also leads the Warriors with a 33.2% usage rate and a rate of 1.35 fantasy points per minute in the aforementioned scenario.
As reported by: Chris Haynes via Twitter Rudy Gay (heel) will start Wednesday, as expected
Gay will suit up and play in tonight’s game against the Miami Heat after previously being listed as probable on the San Antonio Spurs’ injury report with a lingering sore right heel, while Joffrey Lauvergne remains probable with a sprained right middle finger and Kawhi Leonard remains out with right quad tendinopathy. Despite the injury designations, both Gay and Lauvergne were expected to be available to play, as Gay started in Kyle Anderson’s place and saw a season-high 31 minutes on Monday night while Lauvergne received a DNP-CD despite being active. Gay now becomes one of the top value options on Wednesday’s slate and trails only LaMarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol among the Spurs starters with a rate of 1.09 fantasy points per minute with Anderson off the court this season.
As reported by: Paul Garcia via Twitter Anthony Davis (adductor strain) officially ruled out Wednesday
Davis has officially been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Denver Nuggets after previously being listed as doubtful on the New Orleans’ Pelicans injury report a strained left adductor that has now forced him to miss three consecutive games. In the prior games, Davis has missed this season, head coach Alvin Gentry has opted to alternate starts between Dante Cunningham and Darius Miller, though Cunningham appears to be in line for a third consecutive start after playing 14 and 32 minutes in his last two spot starts, indicating that his playing time will likely fluctuate based on his performance and matchup. Even with Davis active, Darius Miller has been a solid contributor and has consistently seen minutes in the mid-20s, making him interesting punt option in tournaments if he continues to see minutes in the low-30s while Davis is sidelined. With Davis unavailable, DeMarcus Cousins becomes an obvious play for daily fantasy formats on Wednesday’s slate and owns a +4.0% usage rate differential and leads the Pelicans in per minute production by a wide margin at 1.61 fantasy points on DraftKings and 1.57 on FanDuel with Davis off the court this season.
As reported by: Pelicans PR via Twitter Lance Thomas will start for Tim Hardaway Jr. (leg) on Wednesday
Hardaway Jr. has begun a treatment and rehabilitation plan for a stress-induced injury to his lower leg and won’t be evaluated for two weeks, effectively ruling him out until at least that time. In his absence, Lance Thomas will get the first crack at holding down his spot in the starting lineup, supplanting Damyean Dotson from the starting unit and sliding Courtney Lee over to the shooting guard spot. Kristaps Porzingis has already been cleared to play and will suit up for after previously being listed as probable on the New York Knicks’ injury report with a sprained right ankle that had forced him to miss two consecutive games. His return will send Michael Beasley back to the bench to resume his normal reserve role. Now that Porzingis is officially back, assuming he isn’t subject to a minute restriction, he’ll become the main beneficiary of Hardaway Jr.‘s extended absence and owns a +5.4% usage rate differential with him off the court this season while leading the Knicks with a 42.6% usage rate and averaging 1.45 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.40 on FanDuel.
As reported by: Al Iannazzone via Twitter Draymond Green (sore shoulder) ruled out Wednesday
Green has been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Charlotte Hornets after previously being upgraded to questionable from doubtful on the Golden State Warriors’ injury report with a sore right shoulder. Now that Green is unavailable, Kevin Durant will likely slide over to the power forward spot and Omri Casspi is the leading candidate to start at small forward in order to keep Andre Iguodala in his normal sixth-man role off the bench. Stephen Curry has already been ruled out for the next couple of weeks and, in his absence, two-way player Quinn Cook will draw the start this evening, signaling that Patrick McCaw likely is the team’s preferred starting point guard with Curry on the shelf once he is able to return from a nose contusion that will keep out for Wednesday’s contest. That said, the obvious beneficiaries of Curry and Green’s absences are Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant, as each own at least a +2.9% usage rate differential with them off the court this season, while Durant also leads the Warriors with a 33.2% usage rate and a rate of 1.35 fantasy points per minute in the aforementioned scenario.
As reported by: Chris Haynes via Twitter Kristaps Porzingis (ankle sprain) will play Wednesday
Porzingis has been cleared to play and will suit up for tonight’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies after previously being listed as probable on the New York Knicks’ injury report with a sprained right ankle that had forced him to miss two consecutive games. His return will send Michael Beasley back to the bench to resume his normal reserve role, though Damyean Dotson should end up drawing another start at the shooting guard spot in place of Tim Hardaway Jr., who is expected to miss at least two weeks. However, Dotson was really a nonfactor in the one competitive game he started without Hardaway Jr. and Porzingis available. Now that Porzingis is officially back, assuming he isn’t subject to a minute restriction, he’ll become the main beneficiary of Hardaway Jr.‘s extended absence and owns a +5.4% usage rate differential with him off the court this season while leading the Knicks with a 42.6% usage rate and averaging 1.45 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.40 on FanDuel.
As reported by: Stefan Bondy via Twitter Marcus Smart confirmed as starter for Jaylen Brown (eye) on Wednesday
Brown was a late addition to the Boston Celtics’ injury report for tonight’s game against the Dallas Mavericks due to an inflamed right eye that the team emphasized is not a basketball-related injury. The Celtics are already without Marcus Morris due to a planned management day as part of his left knee rehabilitation, as well, and Marcus Smart will now enter the starting lineup at the shooting guard spot and obviously see an increase in playing time. Morris has come off the bench for three consecutive games with Aron Baynes and Al Horford manning the center and power forward spots, and now with Morris unavailable, Baynes will remain in the starting lineup for the fourth time in as many games. The starters that stand to benefit the most from Brown and Morris’ absences are Smart, Kyrie Irving, and Jayson Tatum, as each player owns at least a +2.0% usage rate differential with the aforementioned duo off the court this season, while Irving leads the team by a wide margin with a 35.4% usage rate.
As reported by: Sean Grande via Twitter Cory Joseph (sore shoulder) will play Wednesday
Joseph has been cleared to play and will suit up for tonight’s game against the Chicago Bulls after previously being listed as questionable on the Indiana Pacers’ injury report with a sore left shoulder. Joseph has been a key cog in the Pacers second unit and has averaged just over 23 minutes of playing time off the bench this season. Now that he’s officially available to play, Joe Young will be relegated back to his normal fringe rotation role and has yet to play more than 10 minutes in any game this entire year. Even though Darren Collison won’t receive the benefit of some additional minutes sans Joseph, he is still coming off of two consecutive games in which he easily exceeded salary-based expectations and remains an interesting tournament option on Wednesday’s slate in a matchup with a Bulls squad that ranks dead-last in the NBA in defensive rating on the season.
As reported by: the Indiana Pacers via Twitter