DFS Alerts
Stacking Point Guards
The news of Kevin Durant being out doesn’t really help Jeff Teague directly, but it should help keep the game competitive. As long as this game stays within ten points, Teague should play 35+ minutes in a pace-up spot against the Warriors. Teague has been playing well the last couple of weeks and we know that defending isn’t Curry’s strong suit. One of my favorite strategies is to pair the two point guards of a game in hopes that it turns into a shootout and that’s exactly what I plan to do tonight.
Taking Advantage of an Injury
I was already high on Stephen Curry before the Kevin Durant news broke. Jeff Teague is a below-average defender and the Wolves are currently ranked 28th against point guards. Now that Durant has been ruled out, I will be locking Curry into all of my lineups. His usage is going to go up and he may see a couple extra minutes as well. The best part is that KD being out actually helps the chances of this game staying competitive.
Tyson Chandler (back spasms) doubtful Wednesday
Chandler has been listed as doubtful in the Phoenix Suns’ game notes for tonight’s game against the Miami Heat due to back spasms. If he is unable to suit up, Alex Len would almost certainly draw the start at center in his place with newly-acquired Greg Monroe still sidelined at least another week with a sore left calf. While game notes aren’t the most reliable source of information, there were rumblings was several Suns beat reporters that Len could start tonight with Chandler dealing with a bad back. Len has historically been extremely productive when given starters’ minutes but will need to stay out of foul trouble against Hassan Whiteside in order to have a realistic shot at paying off his price tag in tournaments. That said, Whiteside could be in a prime spot to bounce back from a disappointing performance against the Golden State Warriors on Monday, where he was benched after just 16 minutes of action.
As reported by: Scott Bordow via Twitter
Finding The Rhythm With My New Team
After a very slow start to the season, Avery Bradley has finally started playing well with his new team. He’s averaging 33 minutes, and 30.12 DK points per game in his last six games. He’s still well underpriced on DraftKings, and priced almost perfect on FanDuel. I think it makes him more of a DraftKings play tonight, but if you’re building multiple lineups on FanDuel, I think he’s in play. The Pacers play at a fast pace, and this is a nice pace up spot for the Pistons.
Kevin Durant (thigh contusion) ruled out Wednesday
Durant has been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a left thigh contusion he sustained in Monday’s win over the Miami Heat. The team and Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr could decide to go in several different directions with their starting lineup, but Patrick McCaw is the likeliest candidate to start and would join Klay Thompson on the wing. That said, he really failed to consistently produce in limited playing time during Durant’s 20-game absence last season, as Kerr opted to roll with a small-forward-by-committee approach more often than not. He could easily opt for that same strategy again tonight with Nick Young and Andre Iguodala both likely to see some extended run off the bench as well. The overwhelming beneficiary of Durant’s absence is Steph Curry, who owns a ludacris +12.8% usage rate differential with Durant off the court this season, in a limited sample of course, while averaging nearly two (TWO!) fantasy points per minute. Needless to say, that Curry can and should be deployed in an appealing matchup with the Jeff Teague and the Timberwolves backcourt defense and is bordering on must play status across all formats around the industry.
As reported by: Mark Medina via Twitter Kristaps Porzingis (ankle, elbow) questionable Wednesday
Porzingis has officially been listed as questionable in the New York Knicks’ injury report for tonight’s game against the Orlando Magic with a sprained right ankle and right elbow contusion. The Knicks are on the second leg of a back-to-back set, which may lead to them erring on the side of caution and resting Porzingis on Wednesday night. If Porzingis is eventually ruled out, the Knicks could go in several directions with his replacement, but Lance Thomas looks to be the likeliest candidate to start at power forward. However, the players that have benefited the most with Porzingis off the court this season are Enes Kanter, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Kyle O’Quinn, all of whom own at least +6.5% usage rate differential in the aforementioned scenario, while Hardaway Jr. and O’Quinn have experienced the largest bump in to their per minute fantasy production, making them intriguing tournament targets should Porzingis be ruled out closer to game time.
As reported by: Al Iannazzone via Twitter Al Horford (concussion) ruled out Wednesday
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. The diagnosis of a concussion is worrisome considering Horford missed nine games last season with a separate concussion and he will obviously remain sidelined until he clears the protocol. In his absence, Aron Baynes will likely stick in the starting lineup at center with Marcus Morris returning from a one-game absence due to rest 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 Wednesday’s slate, the three players that actually 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 +4.6% usage rate differential, while both Smart and Tatum see a substantial increase in their per minute production as well, making them intriguing tournament options this evening.
As reported by: Adam Himmelsbach via Twitter Luc Mbah a Moute (knee) questionable for Thursday
Mbah a Moute has been listed as questionable on the Houston Rockets’ injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers due to soreness in his left knee stemming from a bone bruise. He has been seeing significant playing time in head coach Mike D’Antoni’s tight rotation, and if he is unable to give it a go, there would be extra minutes available for the likes of P.J. Tucker off the bench, while starters Trevor Ariza and Ryan Anderson would be expected to see an uptick a well. The Cavaliers rank last in the NBA in defensive rating this season, so Thursday’s matchup will be a great spot for the aforementioned trio of players, regardless of Mbah a Moute’s availability, along with James Harden and Eric Gordon, each of whom has dominated the Rockets’ offensive usage in the absence of Chris Paul.
As reported by: Jonathan Feigen via Twitter Domantas Sabonis (calf contusion) remains out Wednesday
Sabonis has been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Detroit Pistons after previously being listed as questionable on the Indiana Pacers’ game notes with a right calf contusion that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games. Leaf had played a major role in the Pacers frontcourt rotation during the seven games Myles Turner was sidelined with a concussion and sore neck but has lost almost all of that aforementioned playing time now that Turner is no longer limited. In fact, both Turner and Thaddeus Young each played over 35 minutes in Tuesday’s contest, limiting Leaf and Al Jefferson to 10 and 12 minutes of action, respectively. The main beneficiary of Sabonis’ absence off the bench actually ended up being Lance Stephenson, who logged a season-high 27 minutes and could end up being an intriguing punt option in tournaments on Wednesday’s abbreviated five-game slate.
As reported by: the Indiana Pacers via Twitter Elfrid Payton (hamstring strain) will be a game-time decision Wednesday
Payton didn’t participate in the Orlando Magic’s shootaround Wednesday morning and is considered a game-time decision for tonight’s game against the New York Knicks with a strained left hamstring that has kept him sidelined for eight straight games, though he did manage to practice on Tuesday despite the aforementioned missed shootaround. Should Payton be unavailable, Shelvin Mack is the likeliest candidate to draw the start at point guard for the second time in as many games and could provide some value at the point guard position with D.J. Augustin already ruled out with a strained left hamstring for the second consecutive contest. That said, Johnathon Simmons should end up being a better overall option than Mack, as he has been the primary ballhandler with the second unit while also playing significant time with the starters and may even draw the start in place of Mack on Wednesday evening.
As reported by: Josh Robbins via Twitter Stanley Johnson (hip flexor) ruled out Wednesday
Johnson has been ruled out and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Indiana Pacers after his status was previously considered uncertain following his early exit from the Detroit Pistons’ practice on Tuesday morning. He’ll join Jon Leuer among the Pistons inactives, who will miss his third consecutive game with a sprained right ankle. Anthony Tolliver ended up being the beneficiary of most of Johnson’s playing time during Saturday’s contest and is a candidate to enter the starting lineup along with possibly Reggie Bullock, though head coach Stan Van Gundy doesn’t have a consistent, set rotation, making it difficult to really pinpoint which player will receive the starters’ minutes. 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 A Fun Matchup Awaits
Even though the Magic and Knicks aren’t two of the best teams in the NBA, I am still very much looking forward to seeing Aaron Gordon and Kristaps Porzingis face off for the next 10 years. Both players are high upside options, and Gordon came to life after a quiet spell with a solid 18 point, 12 rebound performance on Sunday. He should be ready to roll for this fun game, and he will likely go under-owned with DFS players looking to pay up for more consistent options. There’s difference-making upside here.
Minutes Equal Money on the Cheap
KCP remains surprisingly affordable for DFS purposes, and while he will never blow you away with his fantasy upside, he’s still a solid option. He has played at least 33 minutes in each of his last three games, and his defense will be valuable in a difficult matchup against the Celtics. If you don’t want to get super frisky with your value plays, KCP is a fine value to mid-range option who should be good for his usual 25 fantasy points. If you decide to play him in GPPs, perhaps you can be a little more contrarian with your higher dollar plays.
Earning More Time
To the surprise of almost nobody, Ntilikina has earned his way into a time share with Jarrett Jack at point guard. Ntilikina is going to gradually earn more minutes as the season goes along, and his price should also begin to rise at some point. He’s a talented young point guard who should thrive alongside Kristaps Porzingis, and I’m intrigued at the thought of buying at a low price and low ownership before the herd starts climbing aboard.
Sending a Message
Whiteside flat out got benched for a lack of effort on Monday against the Warriors, and I think he will come out with some gusto tonight. It also helps that he has a favorable matchup against the corpse of Tyson Chandler and an inconsistent Alex Len tonight. I think you see a statement game from Whiteside here, and there is massive GPP upside against the Suns.