DFS Alerts
Nikola Vucevic (ankle) will start tonight
Just a half hour after news broke that Nikola Vucevic had been downgraded to questionable for tonight’s game against the Phoenix Suns due to an ankle injury, the Magic have officially announced the Vucevic has been cleared to play and will start in Friday’s contest. The availability of Vucevic immediately removes Bismack Biyombo from consideration entirely, while Terrence Ross and Evan Fournier also become much less appealing options. Vucevic himself can also be considered for tournaments but does carry some additional risk given the uncertainty surrounding his ankle injury.
As reported by: Josh Robbins
Tarik Black (illness) ruled out tonight
Black will not play in tonight’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks after previously being listed as questionable on the Lakers’ injury report as questionable due to an illness. The Lakers recently shut down Timofey Mozgov for the remainder of the season, meaning Ivica Zubac, Julius Randle, and Larry Nance will absorb a large majority of the available frontcourt minutes, while Thomas Robinson may even reenter the rotation to play minimal minutes. Zubac put up a massive dud in the Lakers’ previous game, which caused his price on FanDuel to plummet, but this is an ideal bounce-back spot at possibly reduced ownership given the Lakers’ lack of frontcourt depth and an exploitable matchup with the Bucks defense, who rank 19th in DvP against opposing centers.
As reported by: Tania Ganguli Nick Young (sprained finger) will start tonight
Young will play and start in tonight’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks after previously being listed as probable on the Lakers’ injury report with a sprained left ring finger. Young will also remain in the Lakers starting lineup at shooting guard for at least another game, despite reports that Lakers head coach Luke Walton was considering another lineup change in his starting five. Young is a low-floor, low-upside option on Friday’s slate, which makes him relatively easy to avoid in all formats. Young is highly unlikely to more than 22-24 minutes of action, even with the “starting nod”, as Walton is looking to evaluate his roster of players and will likely give D’Angelo Russell plenty of run with the starting unit as well.
As reported by: Mark Medina Nikola Vucevic (ankle) downgraded to questionable tonight, will be a game-time decision
Vucevic has officially been downgraded to questionable for tonight’s game against the Phoenix Suns due to a sprained left ankle despite never appearing on the Magic’s injury report at any point during the day. If Vucevic is eventually ruled out, Bismack Biyombo will almost assuredly draw the start at center in his absence. However, Magic head coach Frank Vogel did confirm that Vucevic will definitely start if cleared to play. Biyombo is still slightly priced up across the industry following Vucevic’s prior injury stint, but he is still certainly in play as a value option on the late slate should Vucevic be ruled out. Since the All-Star break, both Terrence Ross (24.0%) and Evan Fournier (27.4%) lead the Magic with at least +3.5% usage rate differential with Vucevic off the court, putting them firmly into consideration in a pace up matchup against Phoenix.
As reported by: Josh Robbins Derrick Jones Jr. (lower back) available to play tonight
Jones Jr. confirmed to reporters that he will be good to go and will be available to play in tonight’s game against the Orlando Magic after previously being listed as questionable on the Suns’ injury report with a lower back contusion. The Suns are expected to stick with the same starting lineup as their prior game, meaning Jones Jr. will come off the bench in a reserve role. Phoenix has already shut down Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight, and essentially Tyson Chandler for the remainder of the season so they will be down to just nine active players with Leandro Barbosa not expected to play due to an illness. Tyler Ulis, T.J. Warren, Devin Booker, and Alan Williams are all viable options on Friday’s slate and will be needed to carry the offensive load for Phoenix tonight and going forward sans Bledsoe.
As reported by: Craig Grialou Dante Cunningham confirmed as starter for DeMarcus Cousins (knee, rib) tonight
Cousins will not play in tonight’s game against the Houston Rockets due to a sore left knee and rib contusion despite never appearing on the Pelicans’ injury report at any point during the day. The Pelicans insert Dante Cunningham into the starting lineup at power forward, as expected, a move that will slide Anthony Davis over to center. The absence of Cousins from the lineup is obviously a tremendous bump to the projected fantasy value of Davis and Jrue Holiday since a large amount of usage and production will now need to be diverted elsewhere. In fact, Davis, Holiday and Donatas Motiejunas all see a +3.1% usage rate increase or higher with Cousins off the court since the All-Star break. Clearly, Davis and to some extent Holiday are elite options in all formats this evening.
As reported by: Justin Verrier Richaun Holmes starting ahead of Jahlil Okafor tonight
Following up on an earlier report, Richaun Holmes will, in fact, be inserted into the Sixers starting lineup for tonight’s game against the Dallas Mavericks, which will send Jahlil Okafor to the bench to assume a reserve role. Okafor has been the starting center ever since Nerlens Noel was traded and Joel Embiid was ruled out for the remainder of the season, so it remains unclear whether this is just a spot start for Holmes to better matchup with Dallas on the defensive end. This is a pace down matchup for Philadelphia, but Holmes is still certainly in play, as the Mavericks are one of the worst rebounding teams in the league. Holmes price has come up across the industry given his new role in the rotation, but there is definitely rebounding upside to be had, which keeps him in consideration for tournaments.
As reported by: Tom Moore Other tagged players: Jahlil Okafor
Markieff Morris (illness) ruled out for tonight; Jason Smith to start in his place
Morris will not play in tonight’s game against the Chicago Bulls due to a sinus infection despite never appearing on the Wizards’ injury report at any point throughout the day. In his absence, Jason Smith will be inserted into the starting lineup at power forward alongside Marcin Gortat in the frontcourt. Smith has shown the ability in the past to put up some impressive stat lines when given the opportunity, so he is certainly worth a look as a salary saving option in all formats. Since the All-Star break, both John Wall (36.8%) and Bradley Beal (31.6%) have seen at least +3.3% usage rate differentials with Morris off the court, though Beal has taken the most advantage averaging nearly 11 more fantasy points per 36 minutes.
As reported by: @Wizards Other tagged players: Jason Smith Willie Reed (personal) available off the bench tonight
Reed will be available to play tonight after he missed yesterday’s practice due to personal reasons. The big man has not played over 20 minutes in 8 straight game sand is not a viable DFS option tonight. His availability brings Whiteside’s upside down just a tad bit because he won’t have to play max minutes. Whiteside is still a strong play against the Timberwolves tonight.
As reported by: Manny Navaro Other tagged players: Hassan Whiteside Rodney Hood (knee) upgraded to questionable for Saturday; Derrick Favors and Shelvin Mack ruled out
Hood has officially been listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game against the Chicago Bulls due to a sore right knee that forced him to miss the Jazz’s previous game. Additionally, Derrick Favors and Shelvin Mack will both remain sidelined with their respective ailments. If Hood is unable to give it a go, Joe Ingles will almost assuredly remain in the starting lineup at the shooting guard spot in his place. Not only does George Hill draw the best individual matchup of the Utah starters, but he also owns a +3.3% usage rate differential (26.6%) with the aforementioned trio off the court since the All-Star break. Should Hood be ruled out, Hill is shaping up to be an elite option on Saturday’s slate.
As reported by: Jody Genessy Other tagged players: Shelvin Mack, Derrick Favors Wesley Matthews (right calf strain) confirmed in the starting lineup for tonight
Matthews will play and start in tonight’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers after previously being upgraded from questionable to probable on the Mavericks’ injury report with a strained right calf that forced him to miss one game. The return of Matthews will send Dorian Finney-Smith back to the bench to resume his reserve role. The Mavericks did announce any sort of minutes restriction for Matthews in tonight’s contest, but it would not be surprising to see them limit his minutes to some extent given his cloudy injury history. Matthews hasn’t been a reliable fantasy option even when healthy and without a possible minute restriction hanging over his head, so he can be easily avoided in all formats on Friday’s slate.
As reported by: Earl Snead DeMarcus Cousins (left knee soreness & right rib contusion) ruled out for tonight
Cousins will not play in tonight’s game against the Houston Rockets due to a sore left knee and rib contusion despite never appearing on the Pelicans’ injury report at any point during the day. The Pelicans have yet to announce his replacement in the starting lineup, but Dante Cunningham should be fully expected to start at power forward, a move that would slide Anthony Davis over to center. The absence of Cousins from the lineup is obviously a tremendous bump to the projected fantasy value of Davis and Jrue Holiday given the large amount of usage that will now need to be diverted elsewhere. In fact, Davis, Holiday and Donatas Motiejunas all see a +3.1% usage rate increase or higher with Cousins off the court since the All-Star break. Clearly, Davis is an elite option in all formats this evening.
As reported by: @Pelicans John Wall (foot) will start tonight
Wall will play and start in tonight’s game against the Chicago Bulls after previously being listed as probable on the Wizards’ injury report with a minor left foot sprain. Wall is also not expected to be limited by a minutes restriction in tonight’s contest, according to Wizards head coach Scott Brooks, and should see his normal allotment of playing time. Given this news, Wall should be targeted in daily fantasy formats as normal and draws a juicy matchup with a Bulls squad that ranks 24th in DvP against opposing point guards.
As reported by: Official Twitter Account of the Washington Wizards Richaun Holmes may possibly start ahead of Jahlil Okafor at center tonight
Sixers head coach Brett Brown told reporters that he is undecided on who will start at center for tonight’s game against the Dallas Mavericks, but he did reveal that if Dirk Nowitzki starts at the five for Dallas, then it will be Richaun Holmes replacing Jahlil Okafor in the starting lineup. Considering that the Mavericks have been rolling with Dirk as the starting center, it would be safe to assume that Holmes will indeed start at center in tonight’s contest. This is a pace down matchup for Philadelphia, but Holmes still certainly in play if he draws the start, as the Mavericks are one of the worst rebounding teams in the league. Holmes price has come up across the industry given his new role in the rotation, but there is certainly rebounding upside to be had, which keeps him in consideration for tournaments.
As reported by: Keith Pompey Other tagged players: Jahlil Okafor Evan Turner (fractured right hand) hopeful to play on Saturday; official status yet to be determined
Evan Turner has been out since early February and is likely going to play on Saturday against the Hawks. Since Turner is dealing with a hand issue and has never been a strong shooter, he’ll simply be a GPP dart throw with Moe Harkless and Allen Crabbe also in the rotation. Turner was starting to trend in the right direction before he went down but has to play over 28 minutes to really make a significant impact.
As reported by: Casey Holdahl Other tagged players: Maurice Harkless, Allen Crabbe