DFS Alerts
Delon Wright (dislocated shoulder) ruled out for Friday
Wright has been ruled out and won’t play in tomorrow’s game against the New York Knicks due to a dislocated right shoulder he sustained in Wednesday’s win over the New Orleans Pelicans. The Toronto Raptors’ medical staff is still awaiting test results on his injured shoulder and there is currently no timetable for his return. With Norman Powell listed as doubtful in the Raptors’ game notes, Fred VanVleet will 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 should draw the start at small forward for the third time in as many games with Casey seemingly preferring to keep C.J. Miles as a primary scoring option in the second unit.
As reported by: RaptorsMR via Twitter
Nene (foot sprain) questionable Thursday
Nene has been upgraded to questionable on the Houston Rockets’ injury report for tonight’s game against the Phoenix Suns’ after previously being listed as doubtful with a sprained right foot that has already forced him to miss two consecutive games. In his absence, Tarik Black has served as the primary backup center, while P.J. Tucker has also absorbed some additional playing time in the frontcourt as well. If Nene is able to suit up, Black would likely find himself on the outside looking in at the rotation and Tucker’s projected fantasy value would take the slightest of hits, though he certainly remains in play on Thursday’s abbreviated two-game slate.
As reported by: Jonathan Feigen via Twitter Ricky Rubio (sore Achilles) questionable for Friday
Rubio has officially been listed as questionable on the Utah Jazz injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Brooklyn Nets with a sore right Achilles. The Jazz already will be without Rudy Gobert and Joe Johnson, meaning that it’s entirely possible that they are missing two key starters in Friday’s matchup. If Rubio is unable to suit up, Rodney Hood would likely 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. Depending on price, Mitchell will likely become 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 in the aforementioned scenario. Hood hasn’t necessarily turned extra usage into additional fantasy production to this point with Rubio off the floor, 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: Andy Larsen via Twitter Tony Allen (knee inflammation) likely to play Friday
Allen will most likely play in tomorrow’s game against the Denver Nuggets, according to New Orleans Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry, after missing three consecutive games due to left knee inflammation. His probable return will likely displace Cheick Diallo from the rotation and E’Twaun Moore should begin seeing his playing time to diminish with Rajon Rondo back in the fold as well. Speaking of Rondo, he will suit up for his third game of the season after being a surprise late-addition to the Pelicans active roster on Monday night and, according to head coach Alvin Gentry, will start and see somewhere around 20-24 minutes of action on Friday evening, up from the 14-16 minute restriction he was subject to on Wednesday.
As reported by: Will Guillory via Twitter Greg Monroe (sore calf) will play Thursday
Monroe has been cleared to play and will suit up for his Phoenix Suns debut in tonight’s game against the Houston Rockets after missing over two weeks with a sore left calf. There still hasn’t been any word of a minute restriction for Monroe or further clarification of his expected role in the frontcourt rotation with Tyson Chandler already ruled out for Thursday and Friday’s games. Chandler is one of the Suns’ players currently dealing with an illness, a group that includes Devin Booker, though Booker did not receive a designation on the injury report and remains on track to play on tonight. With Chandler unable to suit up, Alex Len will likely step into the starting lineup and has been a source of value on previous similar occasions as long as he manages to stay out of foul trouble. That should be less of a problem in an individual matchup with Clint Capela, who typically is primarily involved in the pick and roll game and above the rim. That said, James Harden makes a living driving to the basket, which is the situation Len will need to avoid fouling in order to stay on the court and put up a solid fantasy performance.
As reported by: Scott Bordow via Twitter Great Value at Low Ownership
P.J. Tucker was a favorite value of mine on Tuesday night, but he ended up getting thrown out of the game with two technicals. This will naturally lower his ownership tonight, even though he could end up playing around 30 minutes against the worst defense in the entire NBA. His splits without Nene Hilario active are solid this season (if you take out that last game) and he has a little revenge narrative brewing, as he spent nearly five full seasons with the Suns.
Let's Try this Again - Please no Foul Trouble
Alex Len will likely be the best value play on the board tonight if he can stay out of foul trouble. That’s obviously a big if against the likes of Clint Capela and James Harden, but it’s certainly possible. Tyson Chandler has already been ruled out, so Len could play 30+ minutes in an uptempo game that should feature plenty of fantasy production. All he needs to do is keep his hands out of the cookie jar. That’s not too much to ask, right?
Relying on a Volatile Player
T.J. Warren is typically the type of player that I save for my tournament lineups, but I’m hitting the lock button tonight. He draws a favorable matchup against the Rockets, he is playing at home, his minutes have been trending upward, and the Suns are playing short-handed. He has the second highest true usage rate on the Suns and he has shown an incredibly high floor. If Phoenix is able to keep this close, it will likely be thanks to big games from Warren and Booker.
Justin Holiday (personal) will start Friday, the Bulls' starting PG and SF still TBD
Holiday will play and start in tomorrow’s game against the Charlotte Hornets after missing Wednesday’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder due to the birth of his child. While Holiday will make his return to the starting lineup, Chicago Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg told reporters that the remainder of the starting lineup outside of Brook Lopez and Lauri Markkanen is still yet to be determined. Kris Dunn started in place of Holiday last night at the shooting guard spot and struggled massively, shooting 1-11 from the floor, but is still a candidate to start at point guard alongside Holiday in the backcourt on Friday. Meanwhile, Quincy Pondexter drew the start at small forward and his starting status for tomorrow’s game obviously remains up in the air with Hoiberg’s most recent comments.
As reported by: K.C. Johnson via Twitter Tyson Chandler (illness) ruled out Thursday, also ruled out for Friday
Chandler has been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Houston Rockets after previously being listed as questionable on the Phoenix Suns’ injury report with an illness that will keep him sidelined for Friday’s contest against the Los Angeles Lakers as well. Chandler is one of the Suns’ players currently dealing with an illness, a group that includes Devin Booker, though Booker did not receive a designation on the injury report and remains on track to play on Thursday evening. With Chandler unable to suit up, Alex Len will likely step into the starting lineup and has been a source of value on previous similar occasions as long as he manages to stay out of foul trouble. That should be less of a problem in an individual matchup with Clint Capela, who typically is primarily involved in the pick and roll game and above the rim. That said, James Harden makes a living driving to the basket, which is the situation Len will need to avoid fouling in order to stay on the court and put up a solid fantasy performance.
As reported by: Tim MacMahon via Twitter Devin Harris (bruised ribs) questionable for Friday
Harris has officially been listed as questionable on the Dallas Mavericks’ injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves with bruised ribs that have already forced him to miss two consecutive games. Despite the questionable designation, head coach Rick Carlisle told reporters that he expects Harris to be available to play on Friday night. That said, the potential absence of Harris would enable J.J. Barea to continue serving as the primary backup point guard behind Dennis Smith Jr. and could be in consideration for tournaments on Friday’s slate, depending on price, considering he has averaged nearly a fantasy point per minute with Harris off the court this season.
As reported by: Jerry Zgoda via Twitter Continuing a Breakout Season
The breakout has finally arrived for Clint Capela, and he continues to maintain a double-double average on the season. His minutes have also trended higher, as he is averaging 31.75 minutes per game over his last four contests. He should thrive in a matchup against the up tempo, defensively-challenged Suns, making Capela my favorite GPP option at center on a two game slate.
GPP-Winning Upside?
We haven’t seen the Kyrie Irving that we thought we would see in Boston just yet, but he is back from injury and ready to roll now. A nationally televised game against the Warriors could be the potion that sparks a breakout. The Curry vs. Irving battle will be fun to watch, and Irving is still priced at a discount on every DFS site. It’s hard to fit all the studs in your lineup tonight (Curry, Durant, Harden, etc…), so it might be easier to go a little cheaper at PG with Irving instead of Curry. The numbers aren’t there just yet, but they will be, and this is a fine spot to buy low.
GPP Pivot from Harden
James Harden is obviously going to carry massive ownership tonight, and Harden certainly is the most likely player to be the highest scoring fantasy option of the night. However, game theory always tells us that you can attempt to fade those highly owned plays in GPPs, as Harden certainly is prone to a “down” game, and he might take a bit of a back seat with Chris Paul returning tonight. You can grab Devin Booker for a significantly cheaper price tag, and Booker leads the Suns with a 29.4% usage rate this year. This will be an up tempo game between two fast-paced teams, and Booker should fill up the scoreboard in this one. He is somewhat scoring dependent, but the GPP upside is certainly there.
On the Upswing
Marcus Morris entered the starting lineup for the first time the other night, and the results were encouraging, as he posted a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes, which matched his high for playing time since his return from injury. He was a difference-maker on a three game slate the other night, and he has the potential to do the same thing tonight on a two game slate. It’s not fun to click the button to put Marcus Morris into your lineups, but with a starting role and an up tempo game in store for tonight, he should be able to return value with the upside for more.