DFS Alerts
Victor Oladipo (bruised knee) questionable for Wednesday
Oladipo has officially been listed as questionable on the Indiana Pacers’ injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Houston Rockets with a bruised right knee that forced him to miss Saturday’s contest. However, he made his return on Monday night and played 33 minutes, so the Pacers are likely just being cautious by tagging him with an injury designation, assuming he didn’t re-aggravate the knee injury, of course. Oladipo is likely closer to probable for Wednesday’s contest, but if he’s unable to give it a go, Lance Stephenson would draw the start at the shooting guard spot and is coming off of two consecutive games where he greatly exceeded salary-based expectations and played 36 minutes in his spot start on Saturday night. He’ll obviously be a viable value option on Wednesday’s slate, if Oladipo is ruled out, given his uptick in playing time, but Thaddeus Young and Domantas Sabonis have been the main beneficiaries with Oladipo off the floor this season, as each forward owns at least a +5.1% usage rate differential in the aforementioned scenario, making them intriguing targets for tournaments with the likely usage increase sans Oladipo.
As reported by: the Indiana Pacers via Twitter
Nene (shoulder strain) questionable for Wednesday
Nene has officially been listed as questionable on the Houston Rockets’ injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Indiana Pacers with a strained right shoulder that has already forced him to miss one game. If he is ultimately unavailable, Tarik Black will step in as the primary backup center behind Clint Capela for the second time in as many games but saw just 15 minutes of playing time in Monday’s win. In fact, both P.J. Tucker and Luc Mbah a Moute have actually been the primary beneficiaries in the six previous games Nene has missed this season, as each forward has been featured more often in the frontcourt when Capela leaves the floor in the games Nene is sidelined, meaning they could end up as interesting tournament options on Wednesday’s slate in a game that figures to go small on a consistent basis.
As reported by: Jonathan Feigen via Twitter Raul Neto (costochondral sprain) available to play Tuesday
Neto has officially been cleared to play and will be available off the bench for tonight’s game against the Denver Nuggets after previously being listed as questionable on the Utah Jazz’ injury report a sprained costochondral. Neto has been serving as the primary backup point guard behind Ricky Rubio and appears locked into minutes in the high-teens off the Jazz bench. Ever since Rudy Gobert has been sidelined with an injury, Rodney Hood has led the Jazz with a 33.8% usage rate, and though his minutes and production have fluctuated of late, he remains an intriguing option on Tuesday’s slate even with Neto active and available to absorb minutes in the backcourt rotation.
As reported by: Andy Larsen via Twitter Enes Kanter (back spasms) probable for Wednesday
Kanter has officially been upgraded to probable on the New York Knicks’ injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Miami Heat due to back spasms that had forced him to miss three consecutive games. With Kanter’s return looking imminent, Kyle O’Quinn will almost assuredly head back to the bench to resume his normal reserve role after being wildly inconsistent, in typical Kyle O’Quinn fashion, and averaging just over 24 minutes per contest during his three-start stretch. Kanter’s presence on the floor doesn’t drastically impact any Knicks rotation player’s usage or production, so given his probable return, we can continue to approach this Knicks’ team as we normally would in daily fantasy formats.
As reported by: Al Iannazzone via Twitter Kemba Walker (shoulder) doubtful for Wednesday; Frank Kaminsky (foot) probable
Walker has officially been listed as doubtful on the Charlotte Hornets’ injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Toronto Raptors due to a left shoulder AC contusion, while Frank Kaminsky has been listed as probable with a sprained right foot. Assuming Walker doesn’t suit up, which appears likely, Michael Carter-Williams will draw the start at point guard and has consistently been seeing minutes in the high-teens off the bench as the Hornets primary backup point guard in recent games. Nicolas Batum has been in-and-out of the lineup all year long, so he doesn’t really have a usable sample set with Walker off the court this season, but it should be expected that he takes on a much larger role in the offense with Walker most likely sidelined on Wednesday night. That said, both Malik Monk and Jeremy Lamb have been the main beneficiaries in the aforementioned scenario thus far, as each guard owns at least a +4.4% usage rate differential with Walker off the floor, though Monk can be removed from consideration given his minimal role in the rotation of late.
As reported by: Charlotte Hornets PR via Twitter Other tagged players: Frank Kaminsky Devin Booker (toe inflammation) will play Tuesday
Booker has been cleared to play and will suit up for tonight’s game against the Chicago Bulls after missing the Phoenix Suns’ previous game with right great toe inflammation. His return from a one-game absence will send Josh Jackson back to the bench to resume his normal reserve role after being largely ineffective in his 22 minutes of playing time on Sunday afternoon. Booker leads the Suns with a 30.4% usage rate this season while averaging just over a fantasy point per minute, which keeps him firmly in play on an abbreviated five-game slate, but he does look to be a better option on FanDuel for Tuesday night, where he is significantly cheaper and has increased value considering we are forced to roster two shooting guards in each and every lineup.
As reported by: Scott Bordow via Twitter Low Ownership with a High Floor and Ceiling
James Johnson is a great per-minute producer in the NBA. He currently averages a fantasy point per minute and could see a few extra minutes tonight. The Heat will need his defense on LeBron James and many DFS players will forget to connect the dots. If Johnson stays out of foul trouble, he has the chance to play 30+ minutes against one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA.
No John Wall, no Problem?
Tim Frazier is going to be chalky at point guard if Jeff Teague ends up playing. If Teague is out, most people will gravitate to Tyus Jones. Either way, Frazier is a great value with John Wall out. He should see around 30 minutes in a high scoring game against the Wolves, who are ranked 22nd against point guards this season. He’s close to a lock on DraftKings at $4,100 and he’s also viable on FanDuel at $4,900.
Hard to Pass on this Value
Marcin Gortat has a lot working for him tonight. For whatever reason, he’s been a very streaky player over the last few years. He comes into tonight’s game in good form, averaging 34 minutes and 29 fantasy points in his last four outings. He should see minutes in the low to mid-30s tonight against the Wolves, who are one of the worst teams in basketball at defending centers. Karl-Anthony Towns has the second worst DRPM grade of any center in the NBA this season.
A Fine Mid-Range Option
Dragic won’t necessarily be the first guy you target on your rosters, but he is a fine mid-range play tonight. Cleveland has struggled defensively against guards all year long, and Dragic won’t cost a pretty penny. He has scored at least 20 actual points in three straight and appears poised for a solid finish to the calendar year. He’s one of the better point guard plays on a night where there aren’t a ton of high-end options at the position.
Opening Some Eyes
Keep an eye on the injury status of Jeff Teague. If he is forced to the sidelines for a third straight game, give Tyus Jones a look in tournaments. He has been very impressive over the last two games and drew the start in the last one. We know that Tom Thibodeau loves to play his starters big minutes, and Jones played 39 minutes on Sunday night. He’s my favorite value play of the night if Teague remains sidelined, but we have to cross him off the list if Teague is active. This might come down to the wire, as Teague is currently listed as a game time decision.
The New Team Leader
Bradley Beal sees his usage rate go up to a whopping 37% with John Wall off the floor, and CourtIQ tells us that he scores five additional fantasy points per 36 minutes in these circumstances. I like the odds of this Washington/Minnesota game being a close contest, and Beal should put up huge numbers over the next few weeks. That starts here, and Beal is a lock and load play in both cash games and tournaments on this Tuesday night.
DeMarre Carroll (illness) ruled out Monday
Carroll has been ruled out and won’t suit up for tonight’s game against the Houston Rockets after previously being listed as questionable on the Brooklyn Nets’ injury report with an illness and will join Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Allen Crabbe among the Nets’ injured inactives for Monday’s contest. After Hollis-Jefferson injured his ankle in the first half yesterday, Trevor Booker entered the starting lineup in his place to begin the second half and will likely find his way into the starting lineup once again, along with Caris LeVert in Carroll’s place, for Monday’s contest. In Crabbe’s absence, Joe Harris ended up seeing 36 minutes of playing time yesterday and will be a volume-driven value option on tonight’s slate with Carroll, Crabbe, and Hollis-Jefferson sidelined once again. With the aforementioned players off the court this season, in conjunction with D’Angelo Russell and Jeremy Lin, it’s been Trevor Booker that’s been the largest beneficiary with a +6.9% usage rate differential while averaging 1.18 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.14 on FanDuel.
As reported by: Jonathan Feigen via Twitter Rudy Gay (sore heel) ruled out Monday
Gay is a surprise scratch from the San Antonio Spurs’ active roster for tonight’s game against the Dallas Mavericks due to a sore right heel stemming from last season’s ruptured Achilles injury, despite never appearing on the injury report at any point during the day. Gay has typically been seeing minutes in the low-20s off the Spurs bench and a majority of his minutes will likely be dispersed among several reserve wing players and could allow head coach Gregg Popovich to roll with more two-point guard lineups with Tony Parker back in the fold and set to make his season debut. Parker will start but be subject to a minute restriction in his return to the lineup, though a specific amount has not been disclosed by Popovich, given Parker’s age and severity of the quad injury, it’s hard to imagine him seeing anywhere close to a full complement of minutes in his first game back. In Parker’s absence, Patty Mills and Dejounte Murray had primarily manned the point guard position and it will be interesting to see if one, or both, see their playing time substantially affected by Parker’s presence in the rotation.
As reported by: Jeff Platt via Twitter Tony Parker (ruptured quad) will start ahead of Patty Mills, as expected
Parker told ESPN’s Marc J. Spears on Sunday that he will play and make his season debut in tonight’s game against the Dallas Mavericks after missing every game thus far this year with a ruptured left quad he sustained during the playoffs last season. San Antonio Spurs’ head coach Gregg Popovich did confirm that Parker will start at point guard, a lineup change that will send Patty Mills back to the bench to resume his reserve role. Parker will also be subject to a minute restriction in his return to the lineup, though a specific amount has not been disclosed, given Parker’s age and severity of the quad injury, it’s hard to imagine him seeing anywhere close to a full complement of minutes in his first game back. In Parker’s absence, Mills and Dejounte Murray had primarily manned the point guard position and it will be interesting to see if one, or both, see their playing time substantially affected by Parker’s presence in the rotation.
As reported by: Paul Garcia via Twitter Other tagged players: Patty Mills