DFS Alerts
Danny Green (rest) and Manu Ginobili (rest) ruled out Saturday; Rudy Gay (back) "50-50" to play
Green and Ginobili have been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Chicago Bulls due to rest, while Rudy Gay is “50-50” to play, according to San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, with a back issue. Ginobili had been listed as doubtful so his status doesn’t come as a surprise, but both Green and Gay weren’t ever listed on the injury report any point during the day. Bryn Forbes will draw the start alongside Patty Mills in the Spurs backcourt with Green unavailable. The Spurs are still without Kawhi Leonard and Joffrey Lauvergne, neither of whom have a definitive timetable for their return. Somewhat surprisingly, neither Mills or Dejounte Murray have really capitalized on Ginobili’s absence in previous games the veteran has sat out, and it’s been Brandon Paul who’s averaged nearly 29 minutes of action and performed extremely well when given the opportunity, putting him on the radar as a punt option in tournaments on Saturday’s slate, along with Forbes to a lesser extent.
As reported by: Paul Garcia via Twitter Other tagged players: Manu Ginobili, Rudy Gay
Vince Carter (kidney stones) remains out Saturday
Carter has officially been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the New York Knicks due to a bout with kidney stones that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games. It’s tough to pinpoint exactly where Carter’s playing time will be allocated given Sacramento Kings head coach Dave Joerger’s inconsistent rotations, but both Justin Jackson and De’Aaron Fox saw over 30 minutes of action in Thursday’s contest, though Fox’s uptick in minutes ended up coming more at the expense of George Hill, as he saw just a season-low 19 minutes, and it’s still too early to tell if that will be the trend moving forward. That said, Jackson is priced near minimum salary across the industry and collects enough peripheral stats on the defensive end to be a viable punt option in tournaments, especially if he continues to average 13 shot attempts per game like he has in the Kings previous two contest.
As reported by: Jason Jones via Twitter Kristaps Porzingis (ankle, elbow) will play Saturday, as expected
Porzingis will play and start in tonight’s game against the Sacramento Kings after previously being expected to suit up with a sprained left ankle and right elbow contusion that forced him to miss one game. Porzingis was a full participant in Friday’s practice, which led New York Knicks’ head coach Jeff Hornacek to pronounce that he expected Porzingis to be available for Saturday’s contest. There has been no reported minute restriction for Porzingis, so assuming he is a full go, he sets up as an intriguing tournament option, as he still leads the entire NBA with a 35.7% usage rate and the Kings have consistently struggled on the glass in the early going, ranking dead last in rebounding rate. The presence of Porzingis is a significant knock on the projected fantasy value of Enes Kanter, who averages just 25 minutes per game with Porzingis active alongside him in the Knicks frontcourt.
As reported by: Fred Kerber via Twitter Luc Mbah a Moute (knee bone bruise) will play Saturday
Mbah a Moute will play in tonight’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies, according to Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni, after previously being listed on the injury report with a left knee bone bruise that forced him to miss one game. In his absence on Thursday, every Rockets starter outside of Ryan Anderson and Clint Capela eclipsed the rare 40-minute plateau in playing time, as D’Antoni opted to roll with a super tight rotation opposed to turning to the end of his bench. His presence in the rotation will bring the minutes of Trevor Ariza and Eric Gordon back down to their normal levels and the entire Rockets starting lineup, including James Harden, are interesting tournament fades given their historical struggles against this Grizzlies squad.
As reported by: Craig Ackerman via Twitter Mike Muscala (ankle sprain) officially ruled out Saturday
Muscala has officially been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Washington Wizards after previously being listed as doubtful on the Atlanta Hawks’ injury report with a sprained left ankle that has now forced him to miss four consecutive games. In his absence, Luke Babbitt will continue to start at power forward with Ersan Ilyasova also still sidelined with a knee injury and has played at least 24 minutes in each of the past five games while exceeding salary-based expectations on each occasion. The matchup is not exactly ideal, but Dewayne Dedmon has taken on a majority of the rebounding responsibilities with both Muscala and Ilyasova inactive and Babbitt spending a majority of his time on the perimeter, meaning he is certainly in play for tournaments at a relatively affordable price tag across the industry.
As reported by: Michael Cunningham via Twitter John Wall (illness) will play Saturday
Wall will play and start in tonight’s game against the Atlanta Hawks despite missing shootaround and beginning the day listed as questionable on the Washington Wizards’ injury report with an illness. There has been no report of a minute restriction for Wall, but his availability certainly does remove Tim Frazier from consideration in daily fantasy formats, as he will resume his normal reserve role off the bench. There’s obviously always added risk in rostering a player that is attempting to play through an illness, but Wall will almost assuredly come at an ownership discount on Saturday’s slate even in a plus matchup. That said, he still looks to be largely overpriced across the industry and has a substantial chance of underperforming in what is projected to be a possible blowout.
As reported by: Ben Standig via Twitter Kyrie Irving (face) doubtful for Sunday; Al Horford (concussion) probable
Irving has officially been listed as doubtful on the Boston Celtics’ injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Toronto Raptors with a minor facial fracture he sustained early on in Friday’s contest. Meanwhile, Al Horford has been listed as probable with a concussion and is fully expected to make his return following a two-game absence. In Irving’s absence, Marcus Smart started the second half of Friday’s game and is the likeliest candidate to draw the start at point guard, though he is a lock for big minutes regardless of starting status. Assuming Horford is a full go and not limited in any way, he is the clear beneficiary of Irving’s probable absence, as he owns a monstrous +11.2% usage rate differential with Irving off the court this season and averages roughly 1.15 fantasy points per minute, putting him in a prime position to pay off his salary across the industry on Sunday’s slate.
As reported by: the Boston Celtics via Twitter Other tagged players: Al Horford Tony Allen (knee inflammation) ruled out Saturday
Allen has been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers due to left knee inflammation, despite never appearing on the New Orleans Pelicans’ injury report at any point during the day. This is the first game Allen has missed this season, and a majority of his minutes will likely be absorbed by Ian Clark off the bench, while either E’Twaun Moore or Dante Cunningham could also see some extended run over their normal minute workloads. That said, all in all, this news does not do much to move the needle of anyone in the Pelicans rotation in terms of daily fantasy production.
As reported by: Daniel Sallerson via Twitter Correction: Rudy Gobert (knee contusion) remains questionable Saturday
An erroneous report from a Utah Jazz beat writer stated that Gobert would not play tonight, but he actually remains listed as questionable on the Utah Jazz’ injury report for tonight’s game against the Brooklyn Nets with a right knee contusion he sustained during Friday’s loss to the Miami Heat in a collision with Dion Waiters that was knee-to-knee. Ekpe Udoh has been serving as the primary backup center behind Gobert but Derrick Favors is more than capable of holding down the fort at center, especially in a matchup with a Nets squad that almost always prefers to play small, so this means the Jazz can clearly go several different directions with their starting lineup on Saturday night if Gobert is ultimately unavailable. If Rodney Hood does reclaim a spot in the Jazz starting lineup, he would immediately become an elite tournament and borderline cash game option, along with Favors, as he owns a massive +11.9% usage rate differential with Gobert and Joe Johnson off the court this season while averaging well over a fantasy point per minute in that scenario.
As reported by: David Locke via Twitter Elfrid Payton (rest) ruled out Saturday
Payton has been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Denver Nuggets due to rest purposes after previously being listed as probable on the Orlando Magic’s injury report with lingering effects from a strained left hamstring. In his prior absences with D.J. Augustin also sidelined, Shelvin Mack and Johnathon Simmons each drew the start at point guard on one occasion, though if we had to bet, Mack is the likeliest candidate of the two to start Saturday night in Denver on the second leg of a back-to-back set. Regardless of starter, Simmons is far and away the preferred option for daily fantasy formats, as he owns a +3.6% usage rate differential with Payton off the court this season in route to leading the Magic with a 29.1% usage rate while averaging roughly a fantasy point per minute in the aforementioned scenario.
As reported by: Orlando Magic PR via Twitter Spencer Dinwiddie (hamstring) questionable Saturday; Trevor Booker (back) and Tyler Zeller (illness) probable
Dinwiddie has officially been listed as questionable on the Brooklyn Nets’ injury report for tonight’s game against the Utah Jazz with right hamstring tightness, while both Trevor Booker and Tyler Zeller have been listed as probable with their respective ailments and seem primed to return after a one-game absence. The Nets are nearing full strength in the frontcourt with just Jarrett Allen sidelined currently with a strained left foot, meaning that Zeller will likely split the backup center minutes with Quincy Acy and Booker will resume his normal role as the backup power forward. Their presence in the rotation does lower the already limited minute ceiling of players like Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, making it tough to pay his elevated price tag, even in tournaments. If Dinwiddie is unable to suit up, Isaiah Whitehead or Sean Kilpatrick would likely take on a larger role in the backcourt rotation, while D’Angelo Russell could be extended a slightly longer leash in the playing time department as well.
As reported by: the Brooklyn Nets via Twitter Other tagged players: Trevor Booker, Tyler Zeller Rudy Gobert (knee contusion) questionable Saturday
Gobert has officially been listed as questionable on the Utah Jazz’ injury report for tonight’s game against the Brooklyn Nets with a right knee contusion he sustained during Friday’s loss to the Miami Heat in a collision with Dion Waiters knee-to-knee. Ekpe Udoh has been serving as the primary backup center behind Gobert but Derrick Favors is more than capable of holding down the fort at center, especially in a matchup with a Nets squad that almost prefers to play small, so the Jazz can clearly go several different directions with their starting lineup on Saturday night if Gobert is ultimately unavailable. If Hood does reclaim a spot in the Jazz starting lineup, he would immediately become an elite tournament and borderline cash game option, as he owns a massive +11.9% usage rate differential with Gobert and Joe Johnson off the court this season while averaging well over a fantasy point per minute in that scenario.
As reported by: Tony Jones via Twitter Manu Ginobili (rest) doubtful Saturday
Ginobili has officially been listed as doubtful on the San Antonio Spurs’ injury report for tonight’s game against the Chicago Bulls due to planned rest on the second night of a back-to-back set. The Spurs are still without Kawhi Leonard and Joffrey Lauvergne, neither of whom have a definitive timetable for their return. Somewhat surprisingly, neither Patty Mills or Dejounte Murray have really capitalized on Ginobili’s absence in previous games the veteran has sat out, and it’s been Brandon Paul who’s averaged nearly 29 minutes of action and performed extremely well when given the opportunity, putting him on the radar as a punt option in tournaments on Saturday’s slate, assuming Ginobili, in fact, ends up being inactive.
As reported by: the San Antonio Spurs via Twitter Keep An Eye on This Potential Value Play
In the absence of Tyson Chandler, Len played 39 minutes against Orlando and posted a very impressive stat line. He’s in line for another huge workload if Chandler is forced to miss tonight’s game as well. The matchup against the Timberwolves and Karl-Anthony Towns could be better, but we’re looking a guy who is still dirt cheap across the industry and can provide necessary salary cap relief that will allow you to pay up for studs at other positions. Monitor the situation as we get closer to rosters locking, and if Chandler is either ruled out or appears unlikely to play, be ready to deploy Len as a top value play tonight.
Andre Iguodala (rest) ruled out Saturday
Iguodala has been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers due to a planned rest day. This will be the second time Iguodala has sat out for rest purposes this season and Patrick McCaw, Omri Casspi, and Nick Young will likely to absorb his playing time as a committee once again, essentially making it difficult to rely on any one of them as an option in any daily fantasy format. If looking to take a shot at a Warriors big man in tournaments, Jordan Bell may end up being the best bet, as Golden State may need him to better matchup with the Sixers’ length and athleticism in the frontcourt, something Zaza Pachulia should have a difficult time doing. Meanwhile, Kevin Durant remains listed as probable but is fully expected to play after a one-game absence due to a thigh contusion.
As reported by: Warriors PR via Twitter