DFS Alerts
Too Cheap Still
FanDuel and DraftKings have done a great job with pricing so far this season, but Joe Ingles is flying under the radar. He’s averaging 30.2 FanDuel PPG, and he’s still only $5,000. With Hood banged up, I would expect Ingles to keep shooting the ball. He has played at least 27 minutes in every game this season, and he’s averaging 8.6 shot attempts per game. With limited value plays tonight, I’m looking for cheaper guys with locked in roles, and Ingles seems to be one of those guys.
I Know This is Crazy
Before you instantly skip over this because it’s Austin River, hear me out. There isn’t a lot of value locks on this slate, and we’re waiting to see if anything opens up with news. It’s going to be hard to find someone this cheap playing over 30 minutes a game, and with the injury to Milos, Rivers should play 30 minutes tonight. Rivers has shot 3 for 18 to start the season, and I expect some positive regression for him. With 30+ minutes and double-digit shot attempts, I think he’s a really good GPP play tonight.
Juan Hernangomez (illness) ruled out Monday; Richard Jefferson will be active
Hernangomez has been ruled out and will not play in tonight’s game against the Washington Wizards after appearing on the Denver Nuggets’ injury report with an illness. Hernangomez has made a minimal impact on the Denver rotation to this point in the season, amassing just 13 total minutes, so his potential absence does little to move the daily fantasy needle of anyone else on this Nuggets squad. If anything, Will Barton or Wilson Chandler could be allotted a few extra minutes this evening but not enough to upgrade their value projections substantially. However, the Nuggets have activated Richard Jefferson for Monday’s contest, so he may just step right into Hernangomez’s role as well.
As reported by: Chris Dempsey via Twitter Other tagged players: Richard Jefferson
Correction: Joel Embiid (rest) will start Monday
Several Detroit Pistons beat writers tweeted out a starting lineup with Amir Johnson listed as the Philadelphia 76ers’ starting center for tonight’s game against the Detroit Pistons, but the information was incorrect and Joel Embiid will start at center, as normal, after his one-game absence due to rest. Head coach Brett Brown made it official addressing the media at shootaround confirming that Embiid will suit up for tonight’s contest. There has been no reported minute restriction for Embiid, and we shouldn’t expect one to be announced, as the Sixers have repeatedly said that they will base his playing time mostly on feel but have a generic range in mind on a night-to-night basis. Well, through two games played for Embiid, he has played 26 and 28 minutes, giving us a realistic expectation to base our decision making on for Monday’s slate.
As reported by: the Philadelphia 76ers via Twitter Tyreke Evans (knee) will play Monday; Chandler Parsons will be limited to about 15 minutes
Evans will play in tonight’s game against the Houston Rockets after previously being listed as questionable on the Memphis Grizzlies’ injury report with a left knee contusion. With the Grizzlies already missing JaMychal Green and Wayne Selden due to injury, the potential absence of Evans could have opened up, even more, playing time for Dillon Brooks and James Ennis at the wing positions but both will still see their fair share of minutes. Even though Andrew Harrison is the starting shooting guard, Brooks has consistently been given more minutes in head coach David Fizdale’s rotation and remains a solid tournament option despite Evans being available. Fizdale also told the media that Chandler Parsons will be limited to roughly 15 minutes of action on Monday, but he has seen 15 minutes in every game this season, so this news does nothing to affect our perception of Grizzlies wing players this evening.
As reported by: Jonathan Feigen via Twitter Other tagged players: Chandler Parsons Matthew Dellavedova confirmed as the starter for Malcolm Brogdon (ankle) Monday
Brogdon will not play in tonight’s game against the Charlotte Hornets due to a sprained left ankle. In his absence, Matthew Dellavedova will draw the start at point guard. This Bucks offense goes as Giannis Antetokounmpo goes and has left little else for the remaining starters in terms of usage. However, if targeting other Bucks starters, Dellavedova obviously tops the list given his near-dead minimum price tag across the industry. Other than that, Kris Middleton could be worth a speculative tournament play with slightly more playmaking opportunities available but definitely remains to risky to be a core cash game option.
As reported by: Matt Velazquez via Twitter Other tagged players: Malcolm Brogdon Ryan Anderson (lower back pain) will play Monday
Anderson is reportedly good to go, according to Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni, for tonight’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies after previously being listed as questionable on the Rockets’ injury report with lower back pain. Anderson has seen some reduced minutes to begin the season due to some Houston blowouts, so he does shape up as a risky play on Monday’s slate given the uncertainty surrounding his back injury and the fact that the Rockets are sizable favorites over this depleted Grizzlies squad. As on most nights, James Harden remains the top Rockets player to target in any format, while Eric Gordon will continue to solid playing time and increased usage with Chris Paul sidelined due to a knee injury.
As reported by: Jonathan Feigen via Twitter Malcolm Delaney and Mike Muscala confirmed as starters for Dennis Schroder (foot) and Ersan Ilyasova (knee) Monday
Schroder sustained a foot injury during Sunday’s contest against the Brooklyn Nets and has officially been ruled out for tonight’s game against the Miami Heat after previously being considered as unlikely. He is scheduled to undergo an MRI today on his injured foot but it is believed by the team that he suffered a bone bruise. With Schroder unavailable, Malcolm Delaney will draw the start at point guard and will set up as one of the better value options on Monday’s slate at any position. Schroder leads the Hawks in usage rate so far this season so there will be plenty of opportunities there for the taking for the rest of the starting unit and even Kent Bazemore off the bench. Additionally, Ersan Ilyasova was ruled out in advance of Monday’s contest with a strained left knee, and his absence will open more minutes and opportunity for John Collins, who has averaged well over a fantasy point per minute this season, and even Mike Muscala, who will draw the start at power forward, in the Hawks’ frontcourt.
As reported by: Michael Cunningham via Twitter Other tagged players: Mike Muscala Rodney Hood (lower leg strain) questionable for Tuesday
Hood participated in portions of the Utah Jazz’ practice on Monday and has been listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers with a strained left lower leg that forced him to miss Saturday’s contest. Hood underwent an MRI on Saturday that revealed he sustained a mild strain to his lower left leg in Friday’s loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Should he be ruled out once again. Donovan Mitchell would presumably draw the start at shooting guard for the second consecutive game but logged just 22 minutes in his previous start, failing to reach value across the industry. He was in a full timeshare with Thabo Sefolosha, who saw 25 minutes of action, though Joe Ingles continues to be the main beneficiary of Hood’s absence and sets up to be an intriguing option on Tuesday’s slate should Hood be ruled out.
As reported by: Andy Larsen via Twitter Jason Smith (shoulder) ruled out Monday, still considered day-to-day
Smith has officially been ruled out and will not play in tonight’s game against the Denver Nuggets after previously being listed as questionable with a sore right shoulder that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games. Before his injury, Smith had already been starting for the injured Markieff Morris at power forward, meaning that the Wizards are will remain extremely thin at that position with Smith unavailable again Monday night. In his absence, Kelly Oubre will remain in the starting lineup alongside Otto Porter, who will now see a majority of his playing time at the four spot, Porter and Oubre very intriguing daily fantasy tournament options on Monday’s slate in a matchup with an uptempo Nuggets squad.
As reported by: Candace Buckner via Twitter Other tagged players: Kelly Oubre Marquese Chriss or Dragan Bender will start at PF on Monday
Phoenix Suns interim head coach Jay Triano told reporters on Monday that he plans to go back to a more traditional starting five for tonight’s game against the Sacramento Kings and either Marquese Chriss or Dragan Bender will draw the start at power forward. Given his past starting experience, smart money would be on Chriss receiving the starting nod but hopefully, we gather more information as we approach game time. Regardless of starting power forward, this lineup change will bump either rookie Josh Jackson or T.J. Warren from starting unit, and enable them to essentially take over as the primary scoring option off the bench with Tyler Ulis expected to start at point guard for Eric Bledsoe, who was sent home from the team earlier today and days are likely number as a member of the Suns franchise.
As reported by: Scott Bordow via Twitter Other tagged players: Dragan Bender Opportunity With Injury
Lucas Nogueira is an extremely risky GPP play tonight, but with the night setting up as a stars and scrubs type of slate, he’s a nice pivot off the chalk. Valanciunas got hurt in the game against the 76ers, and Nogueira was the player that came in for him and played down the stretch. He had ten points and nine rebounds in 16 minutes of that game, and I would expect him to play 18-22 minutes tonight without Valanciunas. The Spurs don’t typically play small, and will need someone to guard Pau Gasol. If Ibaka gets in foul trouble, we could see even more minutes for Nogueira.
Elfrid Payton (hamstring strain) ruled out for Tuesday
Payton will not play in tomorrow’s game against the Brooklyn Nets after previously being considered as unlikely to play with a strained left hamstring he sustained in Friday’s loss to the Brooklyn Nets, coincidentally. In his absence, D.J. Augustin looks in line to draw another start at point guard coming off of a stellar performance in just 27 minutes, enabling him to smash value across the industry. However, Shelvin Mack absorbed the other remaining 21 minutes at point guard on Saturday, so this may still be more a timeshare than the box score would indicate on the surface. Depending on his price tag tomorrow, Augustin sets up as an interesting tournament fade, even in an excellent matchup, with Aaron Gordon on track to play after participating in practice on Monday.
As reported by: John Denton via Twitter My Minutes Are Locked In
Josh Richardson played 35 minutes and 38 minutes in the first two games of the season, and the 38-minute game was without Whiteside. This early in the season it’s really hard to figure out minutes, but it looks like Richardson is the shooting guard they want on the floor in Miami. I picked on Bazemore a lot last season, and this is a good spot to do it again. I don’t expect Richardson to be very popular, and I think he has good GPP upside tonight.
Chalk Value You Have to Play
I’m not one for playing the chalk, but I can’t get past playing Delaney tonight. Delaney and Schroder have played most of the minutes at point guard this season, and without Schroder tonight, I’m expecting a big bump for Delaney. Schroder has a 36.7% usage rate in 67 minutes this season, and while I’m not expecting all of that usage to go to Delaney, I do see him getting a nice bump.