DFS Alerts
A few situations to monitor after the All Star Break
As we head into the All Star Break here are a few situations that came across the news wire today that are worth keeping an eye on when play resumes (we’ll of course update you with any critical updates).
Avery Bradley – the Celtics guard is looking to return on February 24th against Toronto, the teams first game back after the All Star break. It’ll be a huge boost for Boston on both ends of the court.
Thabo Sefolosha – his name has popped up in recent trade rumors and there is a chance Atlanta will move him before the trade deadline, especially with him becoming a free agent this offseason.
Lance Stephenson – the Timberwolves guard is out for at least two weeks with a severe ankle sprain and given that he’s just on a 10 day contract there is a chance he could be without a team once he heals up.
Malachi Richardson – the Kings guard will undergo a MRI on a hamstring injury he suffered last night.
As reported by: Scott Souza on metrowestdailynews.com Other tagged players: Thabo Sefolosha, Lance Stephenson, Malachi Richardson
Thaddeus Young remains OUT for Pacers tonight; Lavoy Allen questionable
This will be Young’s seventh consecutive game as the team is letting him heal up through the All Star Break while his backup, Lavoy Allen, is listed as questionable and appears to be a game-time decision for the Pacers game tonight. If Allen can’t go, Kevin Seraphin will be a viable (with limited upside) value option as the likely starter.
As reported by: Indiana Pacers official Twitter feed Other tagged players: Lavoy Allen, Kevin Seraphin Dwyane Wade OUT tonight for Bulls; Jimmy Butler will play
Wade is being listed out due to an illness meaning Michael Carter-Williams should get another start at shooting guard. He’s a viable option given the small two game slate but it’s Jimmy Butler who should get the most usage for the team tonight and he will play without any minutes limitations. Nikola Mirotic has been listed as questionable but is expected to play tonight while Paul Zipser has been ruled out. Mirotic has had a diminished role in the Bulls rotation of late and is not a viable DFS play today.
As reported by: Nick Friedell on Twitter Other tagged players: Jimmy Butler, Nikola Mirotic, Paul Zipser Thabo Sefolosha (groin) ruled out tonight
Sefolosha will not play in tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers after previously being listed as questionable on the Hawks’ injury report with a left groin injury that has now forced him to miss nine consecutive games. With Sefolosha officially ruled out, Tim Hardaway Jr. will draw the start at the shooting guard spot in his place once again, sliding Kent Bazemore down to small forward. However, given Sefolosha’s low usage, none of the remaining starting five see a particularly substantial bump from his absence. Mike Dunleavy, Malcolm Delaney, and to some extent Taurean Prince should be expected to pick up additional minutes off the bench. Hardaway Jr. is a viable option on Wednesday’s slate, as he has an exploitable individual matchup with J.J. Redick and the Clippers backcourt defense, and has performed extremely well in stretches with the starting unit.
As reported by: Chris Vivlamore
Ed Davis replaces Noah Vonleh in the Trail Blazers starting lineup tonight
Devis will be inserted into the Blazers starting lineup for tonight’s game against the Utah Jazz, sending Noah Vonleh back to the bench to resume a reserve role. The starting lineup change makes sense in a matchup with the Utah’s big frontline and with Al-Farouq Aminu unavailable. Davis is coming off a double-double in the Blazers previous game and could be a viable tournament option on the late slate despite the less than ideal matchup with Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert in the Jazz’s frontcourt.
As reported by: Jason Quick Mason Plumlee replaces Will Barton in Nuggets starting lineup tonight
Chandler will not play in tonight’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves after previously being listed as questionable on the Nuggets’ injury report due to an illness that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games. Denver is already without Emmanuel Mudiay, Kenneth Faried, Darrell Arthur, and Danilo Gallinari, so they are now extremely thin in the frontcourt with Chandler officially ruled out. The recently acquired Mason Plumlee will be available to play and will start at power forward tonight, sliding Juancho Hernangomez up to small forward and sending Will Barton back to the bench to resume a reserve role. It still remains unclear how much of a factor Plumlee will actually play in his Nuggets debut despite the starting nod. In the same scenario Monday, minus Plumlee, Hernangomez saw just over 43 minutes of action, putting him firmly in play for all formats this evening as the Nuggets’ primary forward in the frontcourt. Will Barton (even off the bench), Nikola Jokic, and Jameer Nelson still round out the top options to target from this Denver squad.
As reported by: Chris Dempsey Brandon Jennings (sore left Achilles) ruled out tonight
Jennings will not play in tonight’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a sore left Achilles despite not appearing on the Knicks’ injury at any point throughout the day. His absence won’t have any effect on the Knicks starting lineup but should raise the expected minute floor of Derrick Rose and allow Ron Baker to reenter the rotation to absorb some backup point guard minutes. Baker could be worth a look as a punt option on the late slate, but Rose looks to be the primary Knicks guard to target sans Jennings.
As reported by: Al Iannazzone Norman Powell replaces Jakob Poeltl in Raptors starting lineup
Patterson will not play in tonight’s game against the Charlotte Hornets after previously being listed as questionable on the Raptors’ injury report with a left knee contusion that has now forced him to miss six consecutive games. Jakob Poeltl had been starting at power forward alongside Jonas Valanciunas the last two games, but he will be replaced by Norman Powell this evening, sliding DeMarre Carroll down to the power forward spot. Powell could be worth a look in tournaments and is a particularly intriguing option given his shooting guard eligibility. Additionally, Lucas Nogueira should continue seeing some extra run off the bench at both the power forward and center spots and he would seemingly be the preferred big man punt option, as he has consistently seen minutes in the mid-to-upper 20’s in the most recent games Patterson has been sidelined.
As reported by: Blake Murphy Wilson Chandler (illness) officially ruled out tonight
Chandler will not play in tonight’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves after previously being listed as questionable on the Nuggets’ injury report due to an illness that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games. Denver is already without Emmanuel Mudiay, Kenneth Faried, Darrell Arthur, and Danilo Gallinari, so they are now extremely thin in the frontcourt with Chandler officially ruled out. The recently acquired Mason Plumlee will be available to play tonight but it remains unclear how much of a factor he will actually play in his Nuggets debut. In the same scenario Monday, minus Plumlee, Juancho Hernangomez saw just over 43 minutes of action, putting him firmly in play for all formats this evening as the Nuggets’ primary power forward. Will Barton, Nikola Jokic, and Jameer Nelson round out the top options to target from this Denver squad.
As reported by: T.J. McBride Eric Gordon (sore back) will play against the Heat tonight
Eric Gordon has missed the last two games due to a sore back but will be available off the bench tonight for the Rockets. Gordon is a scoring dependent guard that will need to play over 32 minutes to really exceed value. Gordon will likely lack much ownership on a full slate and could carry more risk than reward against the Heat. Sam Dekker will not be a viable option off the bench.
As reported by: Craig Ackerman Other tagged players: Sam Dekker
Terrence Ross will not make his debut for the Magic tonight
Terrence Ross will not be available for the Magic tonight. Jeff Green will replace Serge Ibaka in the starting lineup and Mario Hezonja will be used off the bench. Green is a viable punt option but since the game is against San Antonio, he’ll likely be defended by Kawhi Leonard, not providing us much upside. Aaron Gordon is expected to play at PF but the team is just currently listing both Gordon and Green as forwards.
As reported by: @Magic PR Other tagged players: Aaron Gordon, Jeff Green Lavoy allen (sore right knee) has been officially ruled out for tonight
Allen will not play in tonight’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers after previously being downgraded to doubtful on the Pacers’ injury report with right knee soreness that has now forced him to miss two consecutive games. With Thaddeus Young already ruled out, Kevin Seraphin should remain in the starting lineup at the power forward spot once again. Seraphin did see 27 minutes of action in his previous start so he could be worth a look in tournaments against a Kevin Love-less Cavaliers squad with Allen and Young both officially unavailable.
As reported by: @Pacers Ty Lawson (adductor strain) ruled out tonight
Lawson will not play in tonight’s game against the Golden State Warriors after previously being listed as questionable on the Kings’ injury report with a strained left adductor that has now forced him to miss four consecutive games. Ben McLemore will remain in the starting lineup at the shooting guard spot in his place once again. With Lawson officially ruled out, Darren Collison is the only true point guard available for Sacramento and will see all the minutes he can handle with Garrett Temple also remaining sidelined. Collison has seen at least 40 minutes of playing time in three of the last four games Lawson has missed and should be expected to find himself in that ballpark again Wednesday as long as Sacramento is able to keep this matchup with Golden State respectable, which it’s certainly in the realm of possibilities that the Kings do not on the second night of a back-to-back set.
As reported by: Jason Jones Wilson Chandler still sick, likely closer to doubtful for Wednesday
Chandler is still officially listed as questionable for tonight’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but he is reportedly still sick and is likely closer to doubtful than questionable, according to Nuggets head coach Mike Malone. Denver is already without Emmanuel Mudiay, Kenneth Faried, Darrell Arthur, and Danilo Gallinari, so they would become extremely thin in the frontcourt once Chandler is officially ruled out. The recently acquired Mason Plumlee will be available to play tonight but it remains unclear how much of a factor he will actually play in his Nuggets debut. In the same scenario Monday, Juancho Hernangomez saw just over 43 minutes of action, putting him firmly in play for all formats this evening as the Nuggets’ primary power forward. Will Barton, Nikola Jokic, and Jameer Nelson round out the top options to target from this Denver squad.
As reported by: T.J. McBride Trevor Booker (sore right knee) will be available for the Nets tonight
Booker will be available to play in tonight’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks after previously being listed as questionable on the Nets’ injury report with a sore right knee. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson will remain in the Nets starting lineup at power forward but is unlikely see the minute floor he would have if Booker had been ruled out. Either way, the Nets tend to roll with an extremely deep rotation on a nightly basis, limiting the projected ceiling of every single Brooklyn player for daily fantasy purposes, which makes it difficult to really target any of them on a massive 14-game slate.
As reported by: Anthony Puccio