DFS Alerts
Ryan Anderson (lower back pain) questionable Monday
Anderson has been downgraded to questionable for tonight’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies with lower back pain. If Anderson is unable to give it a go, either P.J. Tucker or Luc Mbah a Moute would likely draw the start at power forward with Chris Paul still sidelined and Eric Gordon already a member of the starting lineup in his absence. In a small sample size this season, Gordon has been by the far the biggest beneficiary with Anderson off the court, but it is difficult to imagine Trevor Ariza and whoever starts between Tucker and Mbah a Moute to not to begin seeing an increase in fantasy production and usage should Anderson be ruled out this evening.
As reported by: Jonathan Feigen via Twitter
Dennis Smith Jr. (knee effusion) says he will play Monday
Smith Jr. told reporters at the Dallas Mavericks’ shootaround this morning that he will play in tonight’s game against the Golden State Warriors after previously being listed as questionable on the injury report with a left knee effusion that had forced him to miss two consecutive games. Smith Jr. was listed as a probable starter for Monday’s contest prior to this news, so it’s not a huge surprise that is available to play. Devin Harris does remain listed as questionable as he continues to deal with a personal matter and will be afforded as much time as he needs with his family, according to Mavericks’ head coach Rick Carlisle, drawing some doubt as to whether he will be back with the team in time for tonight’s game after missing shootaround. If Harris is unavailable, J.J. Barea and Yogi Ferrell will continue to see some additional playing time in the Mavs backcourt and have alternated starts in each of the past two games.
As reported by: Earl K. Sneed via Twitter Jason Smith (sore shoulder) questionable for Monday
Smith has been listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game against the Denver Nuggets with a sore right shoulder that forced him to miss the Washington Wizards’ previous game. Smith underwent an MRI on Thursday and it exhibited no structural damage to his right shoulder. 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 should Smith be unavailable again Monday night. In his absence, Kelly Oubre will likely remain in the starting lineup alongside Otto Porter, who will now see a majority of his playing time at the four spot, making him and Oubre very intriguing daily fantasy options on Monday’s slate if Smith is sidelined.
As reported by: Zachary Rosen via Twitter Omri Casspi (ankle sprain) probable for Monday
Casspi has officially been upgraded to probable for tomorrow’s game against the Dallas Mavericks after missing the previous two games with a sprained left ankle. He saw just four minutes of action in the season opener against the Houston Rockets before being forced to leave the game with the aforementioned ankle injury. Even with his probable return, Casspi’s fantasy impact remains minimal with Warriors head coach Steve Kerr comfortably rolling with 11 or 12-man rotations on a nightly basis. It would take an injury or even two for Casspi to become somewhat relevant in daily fantasy formats.
As reported by: Warriors PR via Twitter Dennis Schroder (foot) scheduled to undergo MRI, unlikely to play Monday
Schroder sustained a foot injury during Sunday’s contest against the Brooklyn Nets and told reporters that he does not expect to play in tomorrow’s game against the Miami Heat. He is scheduled to undergo an MRI on his injured foot but it is believed by the team that he suffered a bone bruise. With Schroder likely unavailable, Malcolm Delaney can be expected to draw the start at point guard and sets up to be one of the better early value options on Monday’s slate. 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.
As reported by: Adam Zagoria via Twitter Milos Teodosic (plantar fascia) out indefinitely
Teodosic has been diagnosed with plantar fascia in his left foot and is without a timetable for return, effectively ruling him out for Tuesday’s game against the Utah Jazz. In his absence, Austin Rivers should be expected to move into the starting lineup alongside Patrick Beverley in the Los Angeles Clippers’ backcourt. This should also allow Juwan Evans to enter the rotation, even in a limited fashion, while Lou Williams will continue to be the sixth man and primary scoring option for the second unit.
As reported by: Adrian Wojnarowski via Twitter Kawhi Leonard (quad) and Tony Parker (quad) remain out Monday
Leonard has officially been ruled out for tomorrow’s game against the Toronto Raptors with right quadriceps tendinopathy that has now forced him to miss three consecutive games to begin the season. Additionally, Tony Parker remains sidelined with a ruptured quad and has also been yet unable to suit up in any game this year. In Leonard’s absence, Kyle Anderson is expected to continue on as the Spurs’ starting small forward until Rudy Gay is ready to see starters’ minutes, while LaMarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol should be expected to shoulder the offensive load alongside Gay while Leonard is sidelined with the quad injury.
As reported by: the San Antonio Spurs via Twitter Other tagged players: Tony Parker Jonas Valanciunas (ankle sprain) listed out Monday, considered game-to-game
Valanciunas has been listed out by the Toronto Raptors for tomorrow’s game against the San Antonio Spurs with a sprained left ankle he sustained in Saturday’s win against the Philadelphia 76ers. He is traveling with the team for their six-game road trip and will reportedly be reevaluated on a game-by-game basis. While Valanciunas remains sidelined Lucas Nogueira and Jakob Poeltl will man the available minutes at center, while the other starters like Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, and possibly even Serge Ibaka will benefit from some extra usage with Valanciunas off the floor.
As reported by: Mike Ganter via Twitter Dennis Smith Jr. (knee) and Devin Harris (personal) questionable for Monday
Smith has officially been listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game against the Golden State Warriors with a left knee effusion that has forced him to miss two consecutive games. Harris is also listed as questionable as he continues to deal with a personal matter and will be afforded as much time as he needs with his family, according to Mavericks’ head coach Rick Carlisle. For what it’s worth, Smith Jr. has been listed a probable starter for Monday’s contest, a positive sign that he may be available to play. If both guards are unable to suit up, J.J. Barea and Yogi Ferrell will continue to see additional playing time and have alternated starts in each of the past two games.
As reported by: Earl K. Sneed via Twitter Other tagged players: Devin Harris Devin Booker (back, hip) and Mike James (shoulder) will play Saturday
Booker and James both briefly appeared on the Phoenix Suns injury report as questionable for tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers, but head coach Earl Watson told reporters that he expects both guards to be available to play this evening. Booker took a spill in Friday’s contest but was ultimately able to play through the back and hip contusions and finish the game, so his availability is unsurprising given the overall lack of reliability of game notes injury designations. Booker should continue to be the Suns primary scoring option on the offensive end and could end up avoiding an individual matchup with Patrick Beverley for the most part, firmly entrenching him as a tournament option on Saturday’s slate. As for James, he will continue to have a minimal role in the rotation barring any injuries to the starting unit or other rotational pieces off the Suns’ bench.
As reported by: Scott Bordow via Twitter Other tagged players: Mike James James Johnson and Jordan Mickey starting for Kelly Olynyk and Hassan Whiteside (knee) Saturday
Whiteside is dealing with a knee bone bruise that he sustained in the Miami Heat’s season opener, according to head coach Erik Spoelstra, and will not play in tonight’s game against the Indiana Pacers. In his absence, Kelly Olynyk was originally expected to slide over to the starting center spot, while James Johnson would assume the starting power forward responsibilities for Saturday’s contest. Well, one of these assumptions were correct, but Jordan Mickey will surprisingly draw the start at center (perhaps Spoelstra forgot Myles Turner is out?). That said, even with the starting nod, it’s hard to imagine Mickey receiving a higher minute workload than Olynyk this evening, leaving Olynyk as the preferred center option to target in tournaments. Josh Richardson and Dion Waiters figure to be the biggest beneficiaries in terms of usage and production in the Heat’s starting unit sans Whiteside, while Olynyk should have more rebounding opportunities playing closer to the basket on defense more often than he normally does at the four spot.
As reported by: Miami Heat via Twitter Other tagged players: Jordan Mickey, Kelly Olynyk Denzel Valentine (sore knee) expected to play Saturday
Valentine did not practice on Friday but Chicago Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg expects him to play in tonight’s game against the San Antonio Spurs after previously being listed as questionable on the Bulls’ injury report with knee soreness. With Valentine likely to give it a go, the Bulls look to have avoided some serious depth issues but still have five players already injured or suspended and may be forced to roll with more two-point guard lineups. Additionally, newly-acquired Kay Felder is expected to leapfrog Ryan Arcidiacono as the backup point guard behind Jerian Grant, though Hoiberg was quoted that he will continue to deploy the same starting five that was led by Justin Holiday, Robin Lopez, and Lauri Markkanen for Saturday’s matchup with San Antonio.
As reported by: Nick Friedell via Twitter Omri Casspi (ankle sprain) ruled out Saturday
Casspi has been ruled out and will not play in tonight’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies after previously being listed as questionable on the Golden State Warriors’ with a sprained left ankle that had already forced him to miss Friday’s contest versus the New Orleans Pelicans as well. With Casspi ruled out for a second consecutive game, Patrick McCaw and Nick Young will continue to compete for the few extra minutes available on the wing, though neither player is particularly intriguing daily fantasy options with Andre Iguodala back in the fold and set to play his second game since returning from injury.
As reported by: Warriors PR via Twitter Aaron Gordon (sore ankle) ruled out Saturday
Gordon did not participate in shootaround this morning and will not play tonight’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers after previously being listed as questionable on the Orlando Magic’s injury report with a sore left ankle that already forced him to miss Friday’s contest as well. Jonathan Isaac will draw the start at power forward for the second straight game with Gordon unable to suit up, but he may be tasked with guarding LeBron James on the defensive end, possibly leading to more early foul trouble that limited him to just under 23 minutes of action against the Brooklyn Nets in last night’s loss. Isaac will clearly be afforded the minute workload with Gordon sidelined, it’s just a matter of him remaining disciplined enough to take advantage of his opportunity and provide significant daily fantasy value for a second consecutive slate on Saturday.
As reported by: John Denton via Twitter Michael Beasley (ankle sprain) available to play Saturday; Jarrett Jack active
Beasley will be available to play off the bench in tonight’s game against the Detroit Pistons after previously being listed as questionable on the New York Knicks’ injury report with a sprained left ankle he sustained early in Thursday’s loss to Oklahoma City Thunder. He’ll be expected to be a key cog in the Knicks second unit, especially with Willy Hernangomez seeing limited time, as long as he is healthy. With Frank Ntilikina officially unavailable with a sprained ankle, the Knicks have activated Jarrett Jack for added depth at point guard, but Ramon Sessions and Ron Baker should continue to split a majority if not, all of the playing time at the point while Ntilikina is sidelined.
As reported by: Ian Begley via Twitter Other tagged players: Jarrett Jack