DFS Alerts
Gary Harris (shoulder) and Juan Hernangomez (illness) questionable Saturday
Harris has officially been listed as questionable on the Denver Nuggets’ injury report for tonight’s game against the Orlando Magic with sore right shoulder, while Juan Hernangomez has been upgraded to questionable from out as he continues to recover from a bout of mononucleosis. Harris’ production has been a bit more sporadic than we’ve been used to in past seasons with the addition of Paul Millsap to the Denver starting lineup, but if he is ruled out, there would be a plethora of minutes that open up for Will Barton and Malik Beasley, even if neither guard draws the start in Harris’ place. To make that a possibility, Emmanuel Mudiay and Jamal Murray would have to man the backcourt in a makeshift two-point-guard starting lineup with Murray likely taking on the role of the “two-guard” more often than not. Regardless of who starts in the Nuggets’ backcourt, Murray has been the clear beneficiary with Harris off the court this season and owns a +4.2% usage rate differential in that scenario, while leading the team with a 27.5% usage rate and averaging more than a fantasy point point per minute, making him an intriguing tournament option on Saturday’s slate if Harris is unavailable.
As reported by: Harrison Wind via Twitter Other tagged players: Juancho Hernangomez
An Ageless Value Play
Zach Randolph continues to be under-priced, and despite never quite exceeding 30 minutes, he’s been a consistent source of production, and an excellent value play in cash games. On a day where there are plenty of studs you’ll want exposure to, a cheap guy like Randolph who runs very little risk of dropping a dud or seeing an unexpected dip in playing time has immense value. His usage rate on the season is nearly 30%, and even though the Kings and Knicks are two of the slower-paced teams in the league, I expect Randolph to once again be a solid point per dollar contributor.
A Cheap New Buck
Bledsoe made his debut last night in a win over the Spurs, playing 28 minutes and posting a solid 13 point, seven assist, four rebound performance in one of the worst possible matchups for a point guard. Now, he draws one of the opponents in the league as the fast-paced, defensively-challenged Lakers come to town. He’s much too cheap around the industry as his price dropped while he was inactive and still with the Suns. He’s only going to get better as he familiarizes himself with his new teammates, and he should be a top target while he’s way too cheap.
Stanley Johnson (hip) doubful for Sunday; Jon Leuer (ankle) questionable
Johnson has officially been listed as doubtful on the Detroit Pistons injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Miami Heat with a sore right hip flexor that has forced him to miss two consecutive games, while Jon Leuer is listed as questionable with a sprained left ankle that has kept him sidelined for four straight games. Anthony Tolliver has ended up being the beneficiary of some of Johnson’s playing time during the last two games, but Reggie Bullock will start a small forward for the third time in as many games if Stanley is eventually ruled out. That said, head coach Stan Van Gundy doesn’t exactly have a consistent, set rotation, making it difficult to really pinpoint which wing player will receive the starters’ minutes on a night-to-night basis. In Leuer’s absence, Eric Moreland has served as the backup center behind Andre Drummond but remains out of consideration in daily fantasy formats with Drummond soaking up such a large majority of the center minutes in the Pistons frontcourt rotation.
As reported by: Keith Langlois via Twitter Other tagged players: Jon Leuer There's No Shot He Doesn't Like
Lou Williams will probably be chalk on Saturday after he exploded for 35 real life points off a team-high 22 shots on Friday. He is filling the offensive void for the Clippers, who are currently missing Patrick Beverley to an injury. He played 39 minutes on Friday, which is a big concern considering he was averaging just 23.2 minutes per game coming in. It is a bit scary to go back to the well on a jump shooter who just played 16 more minutes than his normal workload, but he will have no competition for shots.
Target This Poor Defense
The Cavs are ranked dead last in defensive efficiency and are allowing 114.2 points per game, 3rd most in the NBA (only the Nets and Suns are allowing more, which should tell you how bad the Cavs are playing right now). The Cavs have not defended the point guard spot well this season and that is why I want to attack them with Dennis Smith Jr. We just witnessed James Harden morph into Wilt Chamberlain against the Cavs, as nobody could stop him. If there is a knock against DSJ, it is that he is only averaging 28.2 minutes per game. However, DSJ still leads the Mavs with a 29% usage rate so he can do damage in limited time.
John Wall (illness) misses shootaround, considered questionable Saturday
Wall missed the team’s morning shootaround and has officially been listed as questionable on the Washington Wizards’ injury report for tonight’s game against the Atlanta Hawks with an illness. Should Wall eventually be ruled out, Tim Frazier would almost certainly draw the start at point guard once again, just as he did in the only other game Wall has been sidelined this season. Frazier saw 31 minutes of action in that contest but largely underperfomed, barely exceeding his salary-based expectations. That said, he will still make a fine salary-saving at the point guard position on Saturday’s slate against Dennis Schroder and the Hawks’ backcourt defense, if Wall is ultimately unavailable. Predictably, Bradley Beal and Markieff Morris have been the main beneficiaries in the starting unit with Wall off the court this season, as each own at least +7.9% usage rate differential in the aformentioned scenario. While Morris has yet to see a full minute workload since returning from injury, Beal sets up as an absolute smash play at his price tag across the industry, assuming Wall is unable to suit up Saturday evening.
As reported by: Chase Hughes via Twitter Derrick Rose (ankle discomfort) remains out Saturday
Rose has been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Dallas Mavericks due to left ankle discomfort that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games. He’ll be replaced in the starting lineup by Iman Shumpert for the second time in as many games, which means LeBron James will essentially be the de facto point guard in the starting unit. Rose has already missed four games earlier in the season with the same ankle issue, so there is definitely some concern from the team now that this has become a recurring injury. With Rose and Tristan Thompson off the court this season, Iman Shumpert and Jeff Green have been the beneficiaries among Cleveland’s ancillary pieces from a usage and production standpoint, as both forwards own at least a +1.5% usage rate differential in the aforementioned scenario, putting them in the conversation as punt options in large-field tournaments. Meanwhile, LeBron also sees his production increase to a solid 53 fantasy points per 36 minutes, solidifying his viability as a cash game option on Saturday’s slate.
As reported by: Fred McLeod via Twitter Ben McLemore (foot) will play around 15 minutes off the bench Saturday
McLemore has been cleared to play and will suit up in his Memphis Grizzlies debut for tonight’s game against Houston Rockets after missing every game so far this season with a non-displaced fractured metatarsal in his right foot. In his debut, McLemore will come off the bench and play somewhere around 15 minutes, according to head coach David Fizdale, as he works his way back into game shape. Andrew Harrison has already long been removed from the Grizzlies rotation entirely, so the presence of McLemore in the rotation looks to affect Dillon Brooks’ playing time the most, while Tyreke Evans could eventually see a slight downtick in minutes as well. This news is probably enough to relegate both wing players to tournaments-only, even in a juicy matchup with the Rockets backcourt defense.
As reported by: Grind City Media via Twitter Steven Adams (calf contusion) ruled out Friday
Adams has been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers after previously being listed as questionable on the Oklahoma City Thunder’s injury report with a right calf contusion he sustained late in Thursday’s loss. With Adams officially unable to suit up, the Thunder now find themselves shorthanded in a potential mismatch in the frontcourt against Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, putting the Clippers big men in prime position to dominate the glass. The Thunder could go in several different directions at the starting center spot, and Adams’ replacement has yet to be announced, but Jerami Grant and Patrick Patterson will likely see extended playing time either way with Oklahoma City being forced to roll with small ball lineups more often in hopes of counteracting the Clippers size advantage. That said, the players that have been the biggest beneficiaries with Adams off the court this season have been Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony, as each of them owns at least a +6.9% usage rate differential in the aforementioned scenario, while Westbrook leads the team with a 43.1% usage rate and produces roughly 1.60 fantasy points per minute.
As reported by: Royce Young via Twitter Domantas Sabonis (calf contusion) will play Friday
Sabonis has been cleared to play and will suit up for tonight’s game against the Chicago Bulls after previously being listed as questionable on the Indiana Pacers’ injury report with a left calf contusion that had kept him sidelined for two consecutive games. In his return, Sabonis will serve as the primary big man off the bench for Indiana, which will all but remove Al Jefferson and possibly T.J. Leaf from the rotation entirely, though head coach Nate McMillan has been quoted on numerous occasions that he wants to get Leaf at least 10 minutes of playing time per contest. The availability of Sabonis will also allow McMillan to lighten the minute workloads of both Myles Turner and Thaddeus Young to some extent, each of whom had been seeing minutes in the upper-30s with Sabonis sidelined. There is no word of a minute restriction for Sabonis, but he remains out of consideration in daily fantasy formats until his price tag adjusts to his new role in the rotation.
As reported by: Cody Westerlund via Twitter Al Horford (concussion) ruled out Friday; Jayson Tatum (ankle) will play
Horford has officially been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Charlotte Hornets’ after previously being upgraded to questionable from out on the Boston Celtics’ injury report with a concussion and lingering concussion-like symptoms. Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum will play, barring a setback in pregame warmups, after previously being listed as questionable. Horford has entered the NBA’s concussion protocol and will not play in tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers due to concussion-like symptoms. In his absence, Aron Baynes will stick in the starting lineup at center with Marcus Morris continuing to man the power forward spot. While Baynes will see a significant increase in playing time and become a viable salary-saving option at center on Friday’s slate, the three other players that have benefited the most when Horford is off the court this season have been Kyrie Irving, Marcus Smart, and Jayson Tatum, all of whom own at least a +3.1% usage rate differential, while Tatum, Smart, and Baynes all see a substantial increase in their per minute production as well, making them intriguing tournament options this evening.
As reported by: Sean Grande via Twitter Other tagged players: Jayson Tatum Stanley Johnson (hip) and Jon Leuer (ankle) officially ruled out Friday
Johnson and Leuer have both officially been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Atlanta Hawks after previously being listed as questionable on the Detroit Pistons’ injury report with a sore right hip flexor and a sprained left ankle, respectively. Anthony Tolliver has ended up being the beneficiary of some of Johnson’s playing time during the last two games, but Reggie Bullock will start a small forward for the second time in as many games but did very little from a fantasy standpoint in Wednesday’s contest, despite playing 33 minutes. That said, head coach Stan Van Gundy doesn’t exactly have a consistent, set rotation, making it difficult to really pinpoint which player will receive the starters’ minutes on a night-to-night basis. In Leuer’s absence, Eric Moreland has served as the backup center behind Andre Drummond but remains out of consideration in daily fantasy formats with Drummond soaking up such a large majority of the center minutes in the Pistons frontcourt rotation.
As reported by: Jake Chapman via Twitter Other tagged players: Jon Leuer Nik Stauskas (ankle sprain) doubtful for Saturday
Stauskas has officially been listed as doubtful on the Philadelphia 76ers injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Golden State Warriors with a sprained right ankle. Unfortunately, Stauskas’ likely unavailability doesn’t affect the Sixers rotation in any way, as he has only seen the court in three games this season and has failed to play more than eight minutes in any such contest. This means we can approach Sixers players as we normally would for daily fantasy formats on Saturday.
As reported by: Jessica Camerato via Twitter Top Value Play
Believe it or net, Wesley Johnson will likely be very popular tonight. The Clippers will have to run a tight rotation without both Patrick Beverley and Danilo Gallinari, which should lead to 30+ minutes for Johnson. He’s not a star per minute player by any means, but he’s dirt cheap on DK and FDRAFT and can be used as a strong value option. He’s less appealing on FanDuel but is certainly still in play over there.
