DFS Alerts
Matthew Dellavedova (knee) and Mirza Teletovic (knee) ruled out Saturday
Dellavedova has been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Dallas Mavericks due to left knee tendinitis that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games, while Mirza Teletovic will also remain sidelined for the fifth straight game with a sore left knee. This injury news would have been more notable if the Bucks didn’t recently acquire Eric Bledsoe in a trade, as Dellavedova has really seen his playing time dwindle in recent games. His absence won’t necessarily benefit one particular player off the bench either since head coach Jason Kidd was quoted saying “there’s no shortage of guards on the bench who can fill his minutes”.
As reported by: Matt Velazquez via Twitter Other tagged players: Mirza Teletovic
Mike Muscala (ankle) available to play Saturday; Isaiah Taylor (eye) ruled out
Muscala will be available to play in tonight’s game against the Boston Celtics after previously being listed as questionable on the Atlanta Hawks’ injury report with a sprained left ankle that had forced him to miss six consecutive games, while Isaiah Taylor has been ruled out. However, despite being active, it appears that Muscala will only see the court in the event of an emergency. With Ersan Ilyasova back from injury, head coach Mike Budenholzer has declined to name his starting power forward for Saturday’s contest, though Luke Babbitt certainly seems to have the upper hand in that regard, as long as he’s healthy, considering Ilyasova came off the bench in his first game back.
As reported by: Brad Rowland via Twitter Other tagged players: Isaiah Taylor, DeAndre Bembry A Small Forward To Consider
The Mavericks are playing the back end of a back-to-back, and we generally don’t see Coach Carlisle run his older veterans heavy on the back end games. Barnes generally isn’t part of that older veteran group and he leads the team in minutes per game at 35.3. Barnes only played 33 minutes on Friday as the Mavericks were blown out, so he should be good to log heavy minutes on Saturday. Additionally, the matchup against the Bucks isn’t too daunting. The Bucks rank 20th in defensive efficiency and are allowing the 14th most fantasy points to opposing small forwards this season. In other words, this matchup is fairly neutral. Barnes has flashed 40 DraftKings point upside recently and is averaging nearly a fantasy point per minute this season, so he’s someone I would look to on this Saturday slate.
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With the big news that Mike Conley will be out at least two weeks due to a sore Achilles, this is going to thrust Mario Chalmers into the starting lineup. The first thing I need to say is that while I consider him a Core Play for cash games, the matchup is extremely difficult. Chris Paul is now back for the Rockets and bolsters their defense tremendously. Still, Chalmers has a 20% usage rate this season and is coming off a game against the Pacers where he started and played 30 minutes. The bottom line is the minutes should be there against an uptempo team, and while the matchup against Paul is far from ideal, Mario Chalmers is a solid option for your cash game lineups.
Thabo Sefolosha (sore knee) ruled out Friday
Sefolosha has been ruled out and won’t suit up for tonight’s game against the Brooklyn Nets after previously being listed as questionable on the Utah Jazz’ injury report with a sore right knee. In his absence, Jonas Jerebko will likely see some extended run at power forward with Rudy Gobert, Ricky Rubio, Joe Johnson, and Dante Exum all unavailable, leaving the Jazz relatively thin at several positions. Nate Wolters was recently recalled from the G-League to provide another warm body off the bench and head coach Quin Snyder should be expected to go with small-ball lineups much more often given the lack of depth at the forward positions. Rodney Hood is expected to re-enter the starting lineup at shooting guard, sliding Donovan Mitchell over to point guard, and will also likely see significant minutes at small forward. Hood hasn’t necessarily turned his extra usage into additional fantasy production with Rubio off the floor to this point in the season, but he could end up being the cheaper tournament pivot to Mitchell and is second on the Jazz in usage rate (32.9%) coming off easily his best performance of the young season in the Jazz’ previous game against the New York Knicks.
As reported by: Tony Jones via Twitter Rodney Hood expected to start for Ricky Rubio (Achilles) on Friday
Rubio has been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Brooklyn Nets after previously being listed as questionable on the Utah Jazz’ injury report with a sore right Achilles, while Thabo Sefolosha was added to the injury report with right knee soreness and remains questionable. This Jazz squad is also without Rudy Gobert and Joe Johnson, meaning that they are now missing two key starters for Friday’s matchup. With Rubio officially unable to suit up, Rodney Hood is expected re-enter the starting lineup at shooting guard, while Donovan Mitchell would take over the primary ballhandling duties in the starting unit at point guard. Mitchell now becomes a relatively popular option on Friday’s slate, as he will be locked into big minutes and owns a +5.6% usage rate differential with Rubio off the court this season while averaging a lofty 1.15 fantasy points per minute. Hood hasn’t necessarily turned his extra usage into additional fantasy production with Rubio off the floor to this point, but he could end up being the cheaper tournament pivot to Mitchell and is second on the Jazz in usage rate (32.9%) coming off easily his best performance of the young season in the Jazz’ previous game against the New York Knicks.
As reported by: Tony Jones via Twitter Jon Leuer (ankle sprain) officially ruled out Friday
Leuer has officially been ruled out and won’t suit up for tonight’s game against the Indiana Pacers after previously being considered doubtful with a sprained right ankle that forced him to miss the Detroit Pistons’ morning walkthrough after already missing Thursday’s practice. Leuer reportedly suffered a setback with his ankle and didn’t play in Wednesday’s contest despite being available to play off the bench. His absence will leave Eric Moreland and Boban Marjanovic to compete for the backup center minutes behind Andre Drummond, who has consistently seen playing time in the upper-30s in terms of minutes, meaning there won’t be much time leftover for either reserve big man.
As reported by: Rod Beard via Twitter Serge Ibaka (swollen knee) officially ruled out Friday
Ibaka has been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the New York Knicks after previously being listed as questionable on the Toronto Raptors’ injury report with a swollen left knee and was not expected to play, while Norman Powell and Delon Wright have already been ruled with their respective ailments. In the only game Ibaka missed this season, Pascal Siakam drew the start at power forward and is expected to do so once again with Ibaka unable to suit up. Fred VanVleet will also likely step into a sizable role off the bench, serving as the primary backup point guard behind Kyle Lowry, while also playing alongside him at times with Lowry and DeMar DeRozan’s playing time typically being staggered. Additionally, OG Anunoby will draw the start at small forward for the third time in as many games in place of Powell with Casey seemingly preferring to keep C.J. Miles as a primary scoring option in the second unit. There isn’t a tremendous sample size with Ibaka, Powell, and Wright all off the court this season, but in that limited time, Kyle Lowry has been the main beneficiary and owns a +6.6% usage rate differential in the aforementioned scenario, while averaging a solid 1.20 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.07 fantasy points per minute on FanDuel.
As reported by: RaptorsMR via Twitter Denzel Valentine will start ahead of Quincy Pondexter on Friday
Valentine will be inserted into the Chicago Bulls starting lineup for tonight’s game against the Charlotte Hornets, a move that will send Quincy Pondexter back to the bench to resume his normal reserve role and may now be on the outside looking in at the rotation. Justin Holiday will play and start after missing Wednesday’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder due to the birth of his child. Kris Dunn started in place of Holiday on Wednesday night at the shooting guard spot and struggled massively, shooting 1-11 from the floor, and will head back to the bench with Jerian Grant continuing to hold down the starting point guard spot for at least the time being.
As reported by: Cody Westerlund via Twitter Domantas Sabonis (illness) available to play Friday
Sabonis has been cleared to play and will suit up for tonight’s game against the Detroit Pistons after previously being listed as questionable on the Indiana Pacers’ injury report and considered a game-time decision due to an illness. He’ll resume his normal sixth man role off the bench operating primarily as the backup center while also playing several minutes alongside Myles Turner at power forward. This will in all likelihood displace Al Jefferson from the frontcourt rotation which likely means Boban Marjanovic will not see any backup center minutes behind Andre Drummond with Jon Leuer still doubtful to play.
As reported by: Jeremiah Johnson via Twitter Norman Powell (hip pointer) officially ruled out Friday
Powell has officially been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the New York Knicks after previously being listed as doubtful on the Toronto Raptors’ injury report with a right hip pointer that has now forced him to miss three consecutive games. Serge Ibaka remains questionable with left knee swelling, while Delon Wright has already been ruled with a dislocated shoulder. In the only game Ibaka missed this season, Pascal Siakam drew the start at power forward and is leading candidate to do so once again of Ibaka is unable to suit up. Fred VanVleet will also likely step into a sizable role off the bench, serving as the primary backup point guard behind Kyle Lowry, while also playing alongside him at times with Lowry and DeMar DeRozan’s playing time typically being staggered. Additionally, OG Anunoby will likely draw the start at small forward for the third time in as many games in place of Powell with Casey seemingly preferring to keep C.J. Miles as a primary scoring option in the second unit. There isn’t a tremendous sample size with Ibaka, Powell, and Wright all off the court this season, but in that limited time, Kyle Lowry has been the main beneficiary and owns a +6.6% usage rate differential in the aforementioned scenario, while averaging a solid 1.20 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings and 1.07 fantasy points per minute on FanDuel.
As reported by: Ryan Wolstat via Twitter Luke Babbitt (back), Mike Muscala (ankle), and Isaiah Taylor (eye) questionable for Saturday; DeAndre Bembry (wrist) probable
Babbitt, Muscala, and Taylor are all officially listed as questionable on the Atlanta Hawks’ injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Boston Celtics with their respective ailments, while DeAndre Bembry has been upgraded to probable with a fractured wrist that has kept him sidelined for all but one game this season. His role in the rotation will still have to be determined, but Bembry will most likely see some sort of playing time given head coach Mike Budenholzer’s propensity to roll with a deep rotation. With Ersan Ilyasova back from injury, Budenholzer has declined to name his starting power forward for Saturday’s contest, though Babbitt certainly seems to have the upper hand in that regard, as long as he’s healthy, considering Ilyasova came off the bench in his first game back.
As reported by: Brad Rowland via Twitter Other tagged players: Mike Muscala, Isaiah Taylor, DeAndre Bembry Mason Plumlee (core strain) questionable Friday
Plumlee has been added to the Denver Nuggets’ injury report for tonight’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans and has been listed as questionable with what is being classified as a core strain. Plumlee has had a minimal role in the rotation of late, as he has eclipsed 17 minutes just once in the last seven games, so his potential absence does very little to alter the remaining members of the Denver frontcourt. That said, he was expected to see an increased role on Friday in an effort to better matchup with the Pelicans frontcourt duo of DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis on the defensive end. Meanwhile, Gary Harris will play and start following a two-game absence, which will send Will Barton back to the bench to resume his normal reserve role. The return of Harris is also a slight knock to the projected fantasy value of Jamal Murray, who has really flourished in the last two games and should be probably be avoided in all formats until his salary across the industry returns to the normal levels prior to Harris’ injury.
As reported by: the Denver Nuggets via Twitter I Benefit The Most From Injuries
Rodney Hood becomes a very interesting GPP play with the Ricky Rubio news. In 60 minutes without Gobert and Rubio on the floor, Hood has a 33.9% usage, and he’s averaging 1.03 fantasy points per minute. I think Mitchell and Hood benefit the most for the injuries, and I don’t think you need to take a shot on the other punt options in this offense. This game opened at 211.5, and even after the injury news, the implied total is 208.5. Hood played 32 minutes against the Knicks in the last game, and could easily see a lot of minutes in the game tonight.
Gary Harris (sore shoulder) will start Friday, as expected
Harris has been cleared to play and will suit up for tonight’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans after previously being listed as questionable on the Denver Nuggets’ injury report with right shoulder soreness that had forced him to miss two consecutive games. In his absence, Will Barton had been starting at the shooting guard spot but will be relegated to the bench to resume his normal reserve role with Harris officially good to go. The return of Harris is also a slight knock to the projected fantasy value of Jamal Murray, who has really flourished in the last two games and should be probably be avoided in all formats until his salary across the industry returns to the normal levels prior to Harris’ injury.
As reported by: Harrison Wind via Twitter