DFS Alerts
Meyers Leonard confirmed as starter for Jusuf Nurkic (leg) tonight
Leonard will be inserted into the Trail Blazers starting lineup for tonight’s game against the Phoenix Suns in place of Jusuf Nurkic, who was recently ruled out for a minimum of two weeks with a non-displaced fibula fracture in his right leg and will be reevaluated then if Portland makes the playoffs. His extended absence will allow Leonard to receive the first crack at claiming the starting center spot for the remainder of the regular season. However, Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts will be quick to the hook with Leonard if he believes he is underperforming considering Portland is still fighting for their playoff lives. Even so, Leonard is one of the top value options available on tonight’s slate and should be expected to see a minimum of 26-28 minutes on the court. For the stone minimum across the industry, that is more than enough time for him to exceed salary-based expectations this evening.
As reported by: Jason Quick
Vince Carter (rest) ruled out for Sunday; Marc Gasol (foot) and JaMychal Green (shoulder) remain out
Carter will be rested and won’t play in tomorrow’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers, while Marc Gasol and JaMychal Green remain out with their respective ailments. There has yet to be an update on Andrew Harrison from the team but all signs point towards him returning from a one-game absence. The Grizzlies have also yet to announce Carter’s replacement in the starting lineup. With Gasol and Green also unavailable, James Ennis and Brandan Wright should draw the start at power forward and center respectively once again, while Zach Randolph would be relied on to carry a majority of the offensive load in the frontcourt despite coming off the bench. Surprisingly, Mike Conley hasn’t historically seen a bump in usage rate with Gasol and Green off the court this season, but Randolph (32.8%) and Daniels (25.6%) both own a +3.0% usage rate differential in the aforementioned scenario. However, Conley will still be worth a look in tournaments considering he will likely see a slight uptick in playing time, especially if Harrison is unavailable to absorb some of the backup point guard minutes.
As reported by: Peter Edmiston Other tagged players: Marc Gasol, JaMychal Green George Hill (groin) and Raul Neto (groin) ruled out for Sunday
Hill and Neto will not play in tomorrow’s game against the San Antonio Spurs due to their respective ailments that have now forced each guard to miss three consecutive games. With Hill and Neto officially unavailable, should be expected to receive the starting nod at point guard once again. Exum certainly possesses an expected minute floor that would allow him to become a viable option, but he has been a horrendous fantasy point per minute player when given the opportunity in the past. Taking that into consideration, it wouldn’t be an awful idea to take a tournament flier on Shelvin Mack in hopes that Exum ends up being a starter in name only and gives way to Mack down the stretch of Sunday’s contest. The matchup is less than ideal for Utah, but Mack is still the preferred target to Exum, as they are essentially splitting the point guard minutes equally with both Hill and Neto sidelined.
As reported by: Official Twitter Account of the Utah Jazz Other tagged players: Raul Neto LaMarcus Aldridge (thumb), Danny Green (quad), and Manu Ginobilil (rest) ruled out for Sunday
Aldridge, Green, and Ginobili have all been ruled out in advance of tomorrow’s game against the Utah Jazz due to various ailments, while Dejounte Murray will remain sidelined with a left groin injury. The Spurs have yet to announce who will replace Aldridge and Green in the starting lineup, but David Lee and Jonathon Simmons are the most likely candidates. Lee will likely enter cash game consideration for Sunday’s slate given his expected bump in minutes, while Simmons could be worth a look in tournaments if in need of a salary-saving option at small forward. Kawhi Leonard (36.7%), Pau Gasol (27.5%), and Tony Parker (26.1%) all own at least a +3.4% usage rate differential with Aldridge, Green, Ginobili, and Murray off the court this season, putting them all in play as possible roster option. However, Leonard becomes a near must play, even in a difficult matchup, as he has averaged a lofty 55 fantasy points per 36 minutes with the aforementioned players off the court.
As reported by: Official Twitter Account of the San Antonio Spurs Other tagged players: Danny Green, Manu Ginobili Kevon Looney (hip) ruled out for Sunday
Looney will not play in tomorrow’s game against the Washington Wizards due to a strained left hip that has now forced him to miss three consecutive. Looney has had a minor role in the Warriors rotation for some time now, so his absence won’t do much to alter the rotation outside of possibly deferring a few more minutes to David West and possibly James McAdoo as reserve power forwards. Patrick McCaw participated in Saturday’s practice and, according to Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, will be good to go for Sunday’s contest. It remains to be seen whether McCaw will replace Matt Barnes in the Warriors starting lineup, as he was briefly announced as the starter on Friday before being scratched with the aforementioned cramps. Regardless of starter, neither McCaw or Barnes are particularly viable daily fantasy options given the amount of usage Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green soak up on a nightly basis.
As reported by: Warriors PR Patrick McCaw (leg cramps) will play Sunday
McCaw will play in tomorrow’s game against the Washington Wizards after missing Friday’s win over the Houston Rockets due to leg cramps. McCaw participated in Saturday’s practice and, according to Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, he will be good to go for Sunday’s contest. It remains to be seen whether McCaw will replace Matt Barnes in the Warriors starting lineup, as he was briefly announced as the starter on Friday before being scratched with the aforementioned cramps. Regardless of starter, neither McCaw or Barnes are particularly viable daily fantasy options given the amount of usage Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green soak up on a nightly basis.
As reported by: Connor Letourneau Kent Bazemore (knee) will be limited to approximately 20 minutes today; Mike Dunleavy (ankle) available to play
Bazemore will play in today’s game against the Chicago Bulls after previously being listed as probable on the Hawks’ injury report with a knee injury. Bazemore was able to finish the game in Wednesday’s win over the Philadelphia 76ers, so the Hawks likely only listed him as probable as a precaution. Additionally, Mike Dunleavy will be available to play off the bench, while the team has already been confirmed that Paul Millsap and Thabo Sefolosha will remain sidelined for Saturday’s contest. The availability of Bazemore and Dunleavy will add to Atlanta’s depth on the wing, possibly making players like Taurean Prince and Tim Hardaway Jr. less viable at their currently inflated price tags. Bazemore will likely remain on a minute restriction of approximately 20 minutes but his presence off the bench does lower the minute floors of the aforementioned Prince and Hardaway Jr to some degree.
As reported by: Chris Vivlamore Other tagged players: Mike Dunleavy Jameer Nelson (calf), Will Barton (foot), Mason Plumlee (abdominal), and Darrell Arthur (knee) questionable for Sunday
Nelson, Barton, Plumlee, and Arthur have all been listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game against the Miami Heat due to their respective injuries. If Nelson is unable to suit up, Jamal Murray would likely receive the starting nod at point guard and instantly become one the top value options on Sunday’s slate. On the other hand, if Barton is ruled out, Gary Harris will see his already high minute floor increased, as he saw a whopping 41 minutes in Friday’s contest with Barton unavailable. Needless to say, the Nuggets injury news will be a key situation to monitor for Sunday’s slate considering it will either open up significant value plays up and down the roster or make the nearly the entire team rather unappealing if all of the aforementioned players are able to give it a go tomorrow.
As reported by: Harrison Wind Other tagged players: Will Barton, Mason Plumlee, Darrell Arthur Seth Curry (shoulder) ruled out for Sunday
Curry will not play in tomorrow’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks due to a shoulder injury he reaggravated in Friday’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. In his absence, Yogi Ferrell will almost assuredly be reinserted into the starting lineup at point guard, while J.J. Barea and Devin Harris should be in line for some extra playing time off the bench. With Curry off the court since the All-Star break, Dirk Nowitzki (31.7%) and Nerlens Noel (22.0%) have each seen a substantial increase in usage, as they both own at least a +5.4% usage rate differential in the aforementioned scenario, setting them both up to be intriguing tournament options on Sunday’s slate.
As reported by: Earl K. Sneed Larry Nance will start for Ivica Zubac (ankle) today
Nance will be inserted into the Lakers’ starting lineup for today’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers in place of Ivica Zubac, who was recently ruled out for the remainder of the season with a sprained ankle. It remains to be seen whether this small-ball starting lineup will be a norm for Lakers’ head coach Luke Walton, but Nance gets his shot at sticking with the starting five for at least one game. Brandon Ingram is also set to make his return to the starting lineup but will be limited by an unspecified minute restriction as he works his way back from the aforementioned knee injury. There will also be fewer minutes available for the likes of David Nwaba and Tyler Ennis at their respective positions, removing them from consideration entirely. Ingram should be reserved as tournament only option considering the uncertainty surrounding his health and actual minute allotment in Saturday’s contest, but Nance still remains the preferred target by a significant margin.
As reported by: Mark Medina Alexis Ajinca (hip) questionable for Sunday
Ajinca has officially been listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game against the Chicago Bulls due to a hip injury that forced him to miss the Pelicans previous game. If Ajinca is unable to suit up, Donatas Motiejunas will likely step into the backup center role behind both DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis with Omer Asik officially sidelined for the remainder of the season, but only saw 3 minutes of action in Friday’s contest. Ajinca does not see significant playing time when both Cousins and Davis are healthy, so Motiejunas is unlikely to see enough minutes to become fantasy relevant on Sunday’s slate should Ajinca be ruled out.
As reported by: Justin Verrier Brandon Ingram (right patella tendinitis) will start today, but will be on a minute restriction
Ingram will play and start in today’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers after previously being listed as probable on the Lakers’ injury report with right patella tendinitis that had forced him to miss three consecutive games. His return to the starting lineup will send Corey Brewer back to the bench to resume his reserve role, but Ingram will be limited by an unspecified minute restriction as he works his way back from the aforementioned knee injury. There will also be fewer minutes available for the likes of David Nwaba and Tyler Ennis at their respective positions, removing them from consideration entirely. Ingram should be reserved as tournament only option considering the uncertainty surrounding his health and actual minute allotment in Saturday’s contest.
As reported by: Tania Ganguli Tyreke Evans, Garrett Temple, and Kosta Koufos will rest tonight; Arron Afflalo (personal) available to play
Evans, Temple, and Koufos will all be rested and won’t play in tonight’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, while Arron Afflalo is back with the team after dealing with a personal matter for the past three games and is officially available to play. Afflalo will likely be thrust back into the Kings starting lineup at small forward with their sudden lack of depth on the wing, while Skal Labissiere will likely draw the start at power forward in place of Koufos and push Willie Cauley-Stein over to the center spot. Ty Lawson and Arron Afflalo are expected to be available after resting in the previous game, assuming that’s the case, the Kings will have just 10 players available for tonight’s contest. With the aforementioned players off the court since the All-Star break, Buddy Hield has seen the largest increase in usage and fantasy production among the Kings rotation players, as he owns a +3.4% usage rate differential (27.2%), and remains the best bet to see his minutes remain consistent on a nightly basis.
As reported by: James Ham Other tagged players: Garrett Temple, Kosta Koufos, Arron Afflalo Taj Gibson (illness) questionable for Sunday
Gibson participated in practice on Saturday but is still considered questionable for tomorrow’s game against the Charlotte Hornets due to an illness that forced him to miss Friday’s contest. If he is unable to suit up, Domantas Sabonis will likely draw the start at power forward once again. However, even when given the opportunity, Sabonis has been an underwhelming daily fantasy option and is tough to be considered in daily fantasy formats, evidenced by his dismal performance in 33 minutes of action yesterday. The preferred Thunder big man to target in tournaments would be Enes Kanter considering he could continue to see a slight uptick in minutes and is a fantastic fantasy point per minute producer. He also draws a fantastic matchup against a Hornets squad that ranks 24th in DvP against opposing centers.
As reported by: Brett Dawson Avery Bradley (illness) ruled out for Sunday
Bradley will not travel with the team to New York and has officially been ruled out for tomorrow’s game against the New York Knicks due to an illness that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games. In his absence, Jaylen Brown will likely draw the start at shooting guard once again, while Marcus Smart should also be expected to see some additional run off the bench at both the point guard and shooting guard spots. Outside of Brown and Smart, the clear beneficiary of Bradley’s absence from a usage standpoint is Isaiah Thomas, as he owns a +3.2% usage rate differential (39.0%) with Bradley off the court since the All-Star break. Thomas has seen his price tag come down significantly across the industry in recent weeks, and will potentially be an elite play on Sunday in a matchup with a Knicks squad that has been susceptible against opposing star point guards despite ranking 8th in DvP.
As reported by: Official Twitter Account of the Boston Celtics