DFS Alerts
Ben Simmons (elbow) questionable Monday
Simmons went through the Philadelphia 76ers’ morning shootaround but has officially been listed as questionable on the injury report for tonight’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers due to a swollen left elbow that has already forced him to miss one game. The fact that Simmons was able to participate in shootaround is certainly a positive sign for his availability, but if he is unable to suit up, T.J. McConnell would likely draw his second start in as many games at point guard in Simmons’ place. He played almost 37 minutes in Saturday’s win and fell just short of a triple-double, making him a virtual lock in all formats is Simmons is eventually ruled out. Joel Embiid has battled some knee soreness in recent games, but would also become an elite option in all formats, as he leads the Sixers with a 36.4% usage rate and averages roughly 1.60 fantasy points per minute with Simmons off the court this season.
As reported by: Keith Pompey via Twitter
Victor Oladipo (bruised knee) questionable Monday, will be a game-time decision
Oladipo has officially been listed as questionable on the Indiana Pacers’ injury report for tonight’s game against the Orlando Magic with a bruised right knee that has already forced him to miss one game. Oladipo is hopeful that he will be available for Monday’s contest, but if he’s unable to give it a go, Lance Stephenson would draw the start at shooting guard for the second time in as many games and is coming off of a 36-minute performance in the Pacers’ previous game where he greatly exceeded salary-based expectations. He’ll obviously be a viable value option on Monday’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 +5.7% 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 Immense Upside
The masses are definitely scared of the Chris Paul factor. While it is a bit of a concern, Harden checked in at extremely low ownership on Saturday against the Knicks. If Harden is going to be low owned, he always carries GPP-winning upside. Some DFS players might be scared off of him again tonight, as the Rockets could very well blow out the Nets at home. However, if this game stays competitive, Harden could post a monster line. Houston has an implied team total of 123 points, which is easily the highest of the night. While he might not be the best high-end play in cash games, I love Harden in GPP formats here.
A Solid Mid-Range Point Guard
Collison has shown his fantasy upside on several occasions this year, while proving to be a boom-or-bust commodity on several occasions. However, he has quietly racked up at least 30 fantasy points (DK scoring) in six straight games, which is a very positive sign. Tonight’s matchup is a positive one against a weak Orlando team, putting Collison squarely on the DFS radar. He gets an even bigger boost if Victor Oladipo is forced to miss a second straight game.
Keep an Eye on the News
This is trending toward being a crazy day of NBA news. The ideal plays from the morning might not be the ideal plays at lineup lock. Keep an eye on the status of several Golden State players. Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, AND Draymond Green are all listed as questionable. If they are all out, Klay Thompson would likely be very busy on offense, and we could also unlock quite a few value plays. This is impossible to peg right now, so it must be monitored closely.
Kevin Durant (ankle), Stephen Curry (hand), and Draymond Green (foot) all questionable for Monday
Durant, Curry, and Green have all been listed as questionable on the Golden State Warriors’ injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Sacramento Kings due to their respective ailments. Both Curry and Green are new additions to the injury report, but Durant’s designation was expected after missing the previous two games with a sprained left ankle. It’s highly unlikely that all three players miss Monday’s game, but if they do, the Warriors starting lineup would likely include Shaun Livingston, Klay Thompson, Omri Casspi, Jordan Bell, and Zaza Pachulia, while Andre Iguodala would continue to be the primary man off the bench. Bell started in place of Green on Friday, who was rested on the first leg of a back-to-back set, and he put up a monster fantasy performance for his price tag in just 26 minutes of action. There obviously isn’t a huge sample size with the trio of Durant, Curry, and Green off the court together this season, but in that scenario, Iguodala and Nick Young have been the primary beneficiaries, as each own at least a +11.2% usage rate differential and have seen their production increase to around a fantasy point per minute. Iguodala would have the safer minute floor if any combination of the aforementioned players are ruled out and would join Bell as an interesting value option in tournaments on Monday’s slate should this situation play out.
As reported by: Warriors PR via Twitter Other tagged players: Stephen Curry, Draymond Green Tyus Jones confirmed as starter for Jeff Teague (Achilles) on Sunday
Teague has been ruled out and won’t suit up for today’s game against the Phoenix Suns after previously being listed as questionable on the Minnesota Timberwolves injury report with a sore right Achilles that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games. Aaron Brooks ended up drawing the start at point guard in the previous game Teague was sidelined and played 15 minutes, but he was replaced in the starting lineup to begin the second half by Tyus Jones, who easily exceeded salary-based expectations in just over 32 minutes of action. Jones has been confirmed as the starter in place of Teague this afternoon and now becomes a lock and load option as an excellent source of value on an abbreviated three-game slate. With Teague off the floor this season, there hasn’t really been another Timberwolves starter that has been a significant beneficiary from a usage or production standpoint, but both Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins have each seen at least a +2.3% usage rate differential in the aforementioned scenario, slightly adding to their appeal in daily fantasy formats on Sunday’s slate.
As reported by: Jerry Zgoda via Twitter Nemanja Bjelica (foot sprain) ruled out Sunday
Bjelica has been ruled out and won’t suit up for today’s game against the Phoenix Suns after previously being listed as questionable on the Minnesota Timberwolves’ injury report with a sprained left foot that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games. Bjelica leads all of the Timberwolves reserves with roughly 14 minutes per game, just exhibiting how short head coach Tom Thibodeau prefers to keep his rotation. In his absence, Shabazz Muhammad could possibly see some extended run off the bench, but Thibodeau is just as likely to spread Bjelica’s minutes out among his starters, as he did on Friday when Muhammad saw just 11 minutes of action, making him a thin play, at best, even on an abbreviated three-game slate.
As reported by: Jerry Zgoda via Twitter Devin Booker (toe inflammation) ruled out Sunday
Booker has been ruled out and won’t suit up for today’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves after previously being listed as questionable on the Phoenix Suns’ injury report with right great toe inflammation. There has yet to be an announcement on Booker’s replacement in the starting lineup, but Josh Jackson or Troy Daniels look to be the primary candidates to draw the start while Tyler Ulis and Mike James will handle a majority of the ball-handling and playmaking duties in his absence. Jackson may actually have the leg up in that regard, as head coach Jay Triano could have his hand forced to go “big” in a matchup with Jimmy Butler and Andrew Wiggins on the wing defensively. Since Eric Bledsoe’s final game as an active member of this Suns squad, both James and Ulis have seen at least a +5.1% usage rate differential with Booker off the court, though Ulis has produced much more consistently in the aforementioned scenario and has been receiving more playing time than James recently, making him the preferred option in all formats on Sunday’s slate.
As reported by: Scott Bordow via Twitter Jeff Teague (sore Achilles) ruled out Sunday
Teague has been ruled out and won’t suit up for today’s game against the Phoenix Suns after previously being listed as questionable on the Minnesota Timberwolves injury report with a sore right Achilles that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games, while Nemanja Bjelica remains questionable with a sprained left foot and is still considered a game-time decision. Aaron Brooks ended up drawing the start at point guard in the previous game Teague was sidelined and played 15 minutes, but he was replaced in the starting lineup to begin the second half by Tyus Jones, who easily exceeded salary-based expectations in just over 32 minutes of action. Regardless of starting status, Jones is a lock and load option on an abbreviated three-game slate as an excellent source of value. With Teague off the floor this season, there hasn’t really been another Timberwolves starter that has been a significant beneficiary from a usage or production standpoint, but both Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins have each seen at least a +2.3% usage rate differential in the aforementioned scenario, slightly adding to their appeal in daily fantasy formats on Sunday’s slate.
As reported by: Jerry Zgoda via Twitter Hassan Whiteside (sore knee) expected to play Sunday
Whiteside will go through pregame warmups with the intent to play and is fully expected to suit up for today’s game against the Chicago Bulls after previously being listed as questionable on the Miami Heat’s injury report with a sore left knee that had forced him to miss Saturday’s practice. Whiteside’s minutes have been sporadic, to put it mildly, over the course of this young season, further evidenced by him averaging less than 25 minutes per contest over the Heat’s last three games. Not only is his playing time and injury a concern, but Whiteside’s price is among the highest on Sunday’s three-game slate, essentially relegating him to the status of a contrarian option in large-field tournaments considering his wide range of outcomes in any given game.
As reported by: Ira Winderman via Twitter Tony Parker (ruptured quad) will play on Monday
Parker has told ESPN’s Marc J. Spears that he will play and make his season debut in tomorrow’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. There has still been no official confirmation from San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich on whether Parker will immediately be inserted into the starting lineup or have a minute restriction, but given his age and severity of the injury, it’s hard to imagine him seeing a full complement of minutes in his first game back. In Parker’s absence, Patty Mills and Dejounte Murray have 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: Marc J. Spears via Twitter Nene (shoulder strain) ruled out for Monday
Nene has been ruled out and won’t play in tomorrow’s game against the Brooklyn Nets due to what’s been diagnosed as strained right shoulder by the Houston Rockets’ medical staff. In his absence, Tarik Black will step in as the primary backup center behind Clint Capela, though is unlikely to see substantial minutes in a matchup with a Brooklyn squad that prefers to play small as often as possible. In fact, both P.J. Tucker and Luc Mbah a Moute have been the primary beneficiaries in the five previous games Nene has missed this season, as each forward has been featured more often in the frontcourt when Capela leaves the floor in games Nene is unavailable, meaning they could end up as interesting tournament options on Monday’s slate in a contest that figures to go small on a consistent basis.
As reported by: Jonathan Feigen via Twitter Don't Avoid this Bench Player in Cash Games
Some daily fantasy players avoid bench players in cash games, but Tyreke Evans isn’t your typical bench guy. He’s sporting a 30.2% usage rate and 1.17 fantasy points per minute with Mike Conley out, and you can bet his per minute production rate will get a boost facing the fast-paced, fantasy-friendly Nets. He’s going to see 30+ minutes and is a lock cash game play for me today.
Monitor Minnesota Injury News
Tyus Jones becomes a must play value option if Jeff Teague is unable to suit up tonight. A home matchup against a terrible Suns team is a great opportunity to give Teague some extra time off to heal, so my expectation is that Jones will draw another start. He posted a very strong fantasy line last game as the starter, playing 32 minutes and posting eight points, six assists, six rebounds, and four steals against Miami. In a much more fantasy-friendly matchup, he should excel once again.