DFS Alerts
Cavaliers big three likely to sit out tonight for rest purposes
Cavaliers Head Coach Lue hinted last night that Kyrie Irving, Lebron James, and Kevin Love would probably sit out today’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder leaving Cleveland with nine active players (after signing Derrick Williams this morning) for their game. Outside of Williams (who shouldn’t top 10-15 minutes), the other eight are all viable value options with Channing Frye, Tristan Thompson, Jordan McRae, and Kyle Korver the top options. DeAndre Liggins, Richard Jefferson, Kay Felder, and James Jones are the other four bodies and are also in play as well.
As reported by: Jason Lloyd on Twitter Other tagged players: Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving
Anthony Tolliver starting for DeMarcus Cousins (suspension) tonight; Ty Lawson replaces Ben McLemore
Tolliver will draw the start at power forward in tonight’s game against the Boston Celtics despite many expecting Willie Cauley-Stein to receive the starting nod. The move makes sense for Sacramento to start Tolliver alongside Kosta Koufos, as Al Horford can certainly stretch the floor from the center position. Regardless of starters, Koufos, Tolliver, and Cauley-Stein all will need to absorb significant playing time with DeMarcus Cousins, Garrett Temple, Omri Casspi, and Rudy Gay all unavailable. Additionally, Ty Lawson will draw the start ahead of Ben McLemore, meaning that the Kings will likely roll with a two-point guard lineup for a majority of this contest. Both Lawson and Darren Collison are elite options in a plus matchup with the Celtics’ backcourt defense on the late slate this evening.
As reported by: Jason Jones Other tagged players: Ty Lawson
Dwyane Wade (illness) ruled out tonight; Paul Zipser will start
Wade will not play in tonight’s game against the Golden State Warriors after previously being listed as questionable on the Bulls’ injury report due to an illness. Paul Zipser will draw the start at small forward alongside Michael Carter-Williams and Jerian Grant with Jimmy Butler also unavailable with lingering heel soreness. We don’t have a huge sample with both Wade and Butler off the court for Chicago, but Carter-Williams, Rajon Rondo, and Denzel Valentine seem to be the options to target in tournaments. Additionally, Christiano Felicio will be available to play off the bench after previously being expected to miss at least a week of action with a strained right lower leg, though he is not a viable daily fantasy option with no guarantee he will even see the court and with Chicago’s frontcourt relatively healthy.
As reported by: K.C. Johnson Other tagged players: Cristiano Felicio Patrick Patterson (left knee contusion) ruled out tonight
Patterson will not play in tonight’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves after previously being listed as questionable on the Raptors’ injury report with a left knee contusion that has now forced him to miss three consecutive games. Pascal Siakam will remain in the starting lineup at power forward with Lucas Nogueira seeing some extra run off the bench at both the power forward and center spots. Nogueira is the preferred punt option of the two, as he has averaged just over 26 minutes per contest in the last games Patterson has been sidelined. However, on a 12-game slate, there are much better value options available at nearly every position.
As reported by: Jerry Zgoda Markieff Morris (calf) officially ruled out for tonight; Kelly Oubre will start in his place
Morris was a late scratch from the Wizards lineup for tonight’s game against the Brooklyn Nets as he is reportedly dealing with a strained calf. Kelly Oubre will replace him in the starting lineup, sliding Otto Porter down to the power forward spot. Oubre is clearly in play for his inexpensive price tag across the industry and saw a whopping 40 minutes of playing time in the only other game Morris has been sidelined this season. The rest of the starting lineup will also see a significant bump in usage and minutes, as Wizards head coach Scott Brooks prefers to keep a tight rotation. However, John Wall seems to be the largest beneficiary, as seen by his positive 6.9% usage rate differential (38.9%) with Morris off the court this season.
As reported by: @Wizards Other tagged players: Kelly Oubre
Chris McCullough recalled from Nets D-League affiliate
The Nets have recalled big man Chris McCollough in advance of tonight’s game against the Wizards. The Nets are playing on the second night of a back-to-back and are playing their third game in four nights. It’s does not look like anyone is being rested by the Nets and McCullough is simply being recalled for emergency purposes.
As reported by: @Nets Other tagged players: Brook Lopez Dion Waiters (ankle) officially ruled out for tonight
Waiters will not play in tonight’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks after previously being listed as doubtful on the Heat’s injury report with a sprained right ankle. Waiters had been seeing significant usage and playing well over 30 minutes contest, so his absence will certainly provide a boost to the projected fantasy value of the remaining members of the Miami backcourt, primarily Goran Dragic, Tyler Johnson, and Wayne Ellington. In Waiters’ absence, Ellington will almost assuredly draw the start at shooting guard is the preferred Heat guard to target, especially on FanDuel where he is only $3.6K. Ellington has averaged roughly 35 minutes per contest with Waiters and Josh Richardson off the court this season, effectively raise his floor and ceiling for all daily fantasy formats.
As reported by: @Heat Tyreke Evans (ankle) officially ruled out for tonight
Tyreke Evans was listed as doubtful for tonight’s game and has been officially ruled out by the team. Evans was playing off the bench and E’Twuan Moore will likely soak up Evans’ minutes. Langston Galloway should also see a slight bump in minutes with Evans out but is not a viable GPP play against the Jazz. Moore is also a tough sell with 12 games on the slate. Solomon Hill and Buddy Hield will soak up most of the minutes on the wing and Jrue Holiday looks like a lock for 35+ minutes.
As reported by: @Pelicans Other tagged players: E'Twaun Moore, Langston Galloway, Solomon Hill, Buddy Hield, Jrue Holiday Ian Mahinmi expected to play tonight, likely to see between 10-12 minutes
This news doesn’t have much DFS relevancy, but it’s worth noting that the Wizards will have a little more depth in the front-court, which could lead to a slight downturn in minutes for Marcin Gortat and potentially Jason Smith. Mahinmi has only seen action in one game this season, so he’ll need to get his legs under him before resuming any type of normal minutes load. It’s not totally clear what his role will be when he’s back to full strength, but he doesn’t figure to push Gortat or Markieff Morris for much playing time.
As reported by: J. Michael Other tagged players: Marcin Gortat
Evan Turner (fractured right hand) expected to be out 5-6 weeks
Evan Turner fractured his hand against the Mavericks last night and will likely be out 5-6 weeks. The injury does not require surgery and Turner should be back with the team before the regular season ends. Moe Harkless will likely slide back into the starting lineup and should be considered an elite option against the Celtics tomorrow. Harkless was playing really well earlier in the season when he was the starter and now his salary has fallen off a cliff. With the Celtics playing on the second night of a back-to-back tomorrow and ranking 20th in defensive efficiency, Harkless should be able to exceed salary-based expectations.
As reported by: @Blazers Other tagged players: Maurice Harkless Richaun Holmes (upper respiratory infection) ruled out for tonight
Holmes will not play in tonight’s game against the San Antonio Spurs after previously being listed as questionable on the Sixers’ injury report with an upper respiratory tract infection. With Embiid also ruled out, Jahlil Okafor will remain in the starting lineup at center with Noel soaking up most. if not all, of the reserve minutes. In the three games, Embiid and Holmes have been unavailable this season, Okafor has averaged just over 27 minutes per game and leads the Sixers with a 25.8% usage rate with the aforementioned duo off the court this season. The matchup with San Antonio is less than ideal, but Okafor is certainly in play on sites where his price tag remains cheap.
As reported by: Tom Moore Gerald Henderson replacing Nik Stauskas in the starting lineup tonight
Henderson will be reinserted into the Sixers starting lineup for tonight’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, sending Nik Stauskas back to the bench to resume a reserve role off the bench. This move doesn’t do all that much to move the needle on Henderson’s or Stauskas’ projected fantasy value considering they were basically splitting the shooting guard and backup wing minutes prior to the lineup change. There’s no reason to punt with either guard on a massive 12-game slate that has a plethora of value at nearly every position.
As reported by: Tom Moore Other tagged players: Nik Stauskas Zach Randolph (sore left foot) ruled out for tonight
Zach Randolph will not play against the Suns tonight due to a sore left foot. JaMychal Green has only played 30 minutes once in his last 7 starts but looks like a lock for 30+ minutes tonight with Randolph out of the lineup. Green scored over 40 FPs in that game against the Timberwolves and should be considered an elite punt option at PF tonight. With so many strong PF plays available and 12 games on the slate, Green will likely not be heavily owned. The Suns rank 24th against PFs on the season, making this a highly exploitable situation for Green. Brandon Wright should be considered as well with Randolph out but is a strong play on the later slates against his former team.
As reported by: @Grizzlies PR Other tagged players: JaMychal Green, Brandan Wright Dwyane Wade questionable for Bulls tonight due to illness
Wade has a cold and missed the team shootaround this morning. He’s considered a game-time decision for Chicago tonight. If he is unable to go, Jerian Grant would likely get the start in his place and would be a viable punt option, albeit with limited upside. Rajon Rondo also could be an intriguing play if Wade sits as someone has to get minutes with Jimmy Butler also out.
As reported by: Nick Friedell on Twitter Other tagged players: Jerian Grant, Rajon Rondo Jimmy Butler OUT tonight for Chicago
Butler missed team shootaround and is still dealing with pain in his heel. He hasn’t played in a week and there is no timetable on his return. Michael Carter-Williams should benefit the most from Butler’s absence and with Dwyane Wade also questionable he could be in line for big minutes and is a top guard value option tonight.
As reported by: K.C. Johnson on Twitter Other tagged players: Michael Carter-Williams