DFS Alerts
Rockets recall Kyle Wiltjer from D-league roster
The Houston Rockets have activated Kyle Wiltjer from their D-league team to their active roster. He’s not a viable DFS option.
As reported by: Calvin Watkins on Twitter
LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Kyrie Irving ALL ruled out for rest on Wednesday
James, Love, and Irving will not travel with the team to Memphis for tomorrow night’s game against the Grizzlies, effectively ruling out the trio in advance of Wednesday’s contest. The Cavaliers will reportedly roll with a starting lineup consisting of DeAndre Liggins, J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert, James Jones, and Tristan Thompson. There isn’t a large enough sample size to accurately predict which players will benefit most from the Big Three’s absence, though one would expect Smith to shoulder the offensive load. With that said, every single Cavaliers starter is in play for basically every format given the amount of usage and minutes that are vacated by James, Love, and Irving. This game will be our primary source of value on Wednesday’s main slates.
As reported by: Jason Lloyd Other tagged players: Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving
Al-Farouq Aminu (back) ruled out tonight
Aminu will not play in tonight’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a back contusion that also kept him sidelined for another recent Trail Blazers game. Either Ed Davis or Meyers Leonard will likely draw the start at power forward with Aminu unable to give it a go, though it’s been nearly impossible to predict Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts’ starting power forward carousel sans Aminu. It will be tough to pull the trigger on either Davis or Leonard in a tough matchup against the Thunder, as they are one of the better rebounding teams in the entire Association. However, whomever draws the start is certainly a viable tournament option at a shallow power forward position on the late slates across the industry.
As reported by: Casey Holdahl Rodney Hood (hamstring), Dante Exum (knee), and Derrick Favors (knee) listed as questionable for Wednesday
Hood, Exum, and Favors are all considered questionable for tomorrow night’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder with their respective physical ailments. Exum is a new addition to the Grizzlies injury report, while Hood has been sidelined the previous two games with the aforementioned hamstring injury. Joe Ingles and Shelvin Mack have each had a crack at the starting shooting guard spot in place of Hood, so one of the two is likely to start if Hood is unable to suit up. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that they both start with Exum questionable as well. This is certainly a situation to monitor going into Wednesday, as Mack would be a borderline must play in a pace up game against the Thunder if Hood and Exum are unable to give it a go.
As reported by: Official Twitter Account of the Utah Jazz Other tagged players: Dante Exum, Derrick Favors Alex Len (hip) and T.J. Warren (head) ruled out tonight
Len and Warren will not play in tonight’s game against the New York Knicks after previously being listed as questionable on the Suns Injury report with their respective physical ailments. Len’s absence from the lineup is a bump to the fantasy outlook and minute floor of Tyson Chandler, and he is one of the top options at center for the late slates around the industry. Meanwhile, P.J. Tucker will continue to start at small forward in place of Warren. He and Leandro Barbosa are both interesting tournament value options on the late slate, as Barbosa seems to really have found a role for himself in the Suns second unit.
As reported by: Phoenix Suns Stats Other tagged players: TJ Warren Kyle O'Quinn (ankle) will play tonight, as expected
O’Quinn will play in tonight’s game against the Phoenix Suns after missing the Knicks previous game due to a sprained right ankle. Guillermo Hernangomez will likely see his role in the rotation diminished, if not eliminated entirely, after seeing 20 minutes in O’Quinn’s absence. None of the Knicks bench players are really in play this evening, barring a blowout, as Knicks coach Jeff Hornancek has really tightened his rotation in recent games, which does provide a decent bump in value and minute floor to the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis, and Derrick Rose.
As reported by: Al Iannazzone Jrue Holiday (toe) will play tonight, as expected, confirmed in starting lineup
Holiday will play in tonight’s game against the Golden State Warriors after being listed as probable on the Pelicans injury report with a nagging turf toe injury. Buddy Hield will remain in the starting lineup despite barely playing in the second half of Sunday’s overtime win over the Suns. He can be safely ignored in all formats after losing playing time to D-League call up, Reggie Williams, and Tim Frazier. As for Holiday, he is better reserved for tournaments, as he hasn’t quite lived up to expectations in recent games and seems to still be bothered by the turf toe injury.
As reported by: Official Twitter Account of the New Orleans Pelicans Nemanja Bjelica (ankle) will play tonight
Bjelica will play in tonight’s game against the Chicago Bulls after being listed as questionable on the Timberwolves’ injury report with an ankle injury. With Bjelica is officially active and available off the bench, Adreian Payne is likely to fall out of Minnesota’s rotation entirely, though this news doesn’t do a whole lot to move the needle of the fantasy value of anyone on the Timberwolves bench, as coach Tom Thibodeau prefers to keep a tight rotation and his starters all average well over 30 minutes per game on a typical night. Bjelica’s is not a viable option in any format this evening, and his fantasy relevance hinges on the availability of the members of the Timberwolves’ starting unit.
As reported by: Jerry Zgoda JaVale McGee starting in place of Zaza Pachulia
McGee will draw the start at center for tonight’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans in place of the injured Zaza Pachulia. He will almost certainly see an uptick in minutes, though that’s not saying much, as he is highly unlikely to see more than 15-20 minutes this evening. However, McGee has always been a solid fantasy point per minute producer, so he could easily return value in that time span. He should still only be reserved for tournaments given his production and minute volatility. In addition, Draymond Green will some extended run at center and his minutes floor is increased in Pachulia’s absence, making him a viable option in all formats.
As reported by: Ethan Strauss Other tagged players: Zaza Pachulia
Jerian Grant confirmed as the starter in place of Rajon Rondo
Jerian Grant will start in place of Rondo and is expected to see 24-30 minutes tonight. Grant sees about a 1% usage rate increase with Rondo off the court this season. He’s averaging 20.73 FanDuel points in three starts this season, with a high of 34.6 and a low of 11.1. That’s a pretty broad range, making it tough to trust Jerian Grant in cash games. It’s understandable since he is a minimum priced option but keep your expectations in check as well. Most of the usage flows through Dwyane Wade (+5.2% w/o Rondo) and Jimmy Butler (+5.5% w/o Rondo). Both Wade and Butler are elite options based on your build type. Wade is significantly cheaper and is averaging 40.35 DrafTKings points ins his last four games. Butler is playing similarly well, averaging 45.47 DK Points in his last four games. Butler is the higher ceiling play because he has scored over 50 DraftKings points four times in his last 10 games.
As reported by: Nick Friedell Other tagged players: Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade, Jimmy Butler Rajon Rondo (ankle) ruled out for tonight
With Rondo on the floor this season, Dwyane Wade actually leads the team in usage rate with a 38.1% mark, followed by Jimmy Butler at 36.2%. Butler has still been the better per-minute producer (1.44 FP/min compared to 1.17 for Wade), but Wade is probably the stronger dollar per point target across the industry. Both wings are elite targets in any format this evening, as both should remain integral in the Bulls offense. Jerian Grant will draw the start in Rondo’s place, and while he does have a nice floor at minimum price, his ceiling is still pretty limited, so a GPP fade could be a worthwhile play. Both Zach LaVine and Andrew Wiggins have been plus draws for opponents, as both carry friendly DRPMs this season.
As reported by: KC Johnson Other tagged players: Dwyane Wade, Jimmy Butler Vince Carter (hip) active for tonight
Carter will be active and available to play in tonight’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers after being listed as questionable on the Grizzlies injury report with a strained right hip flexor. His presence in the lineup is a bump down to the fantasy value of Troy Daniels and Troy Williams, as they were will absorbing a majority of the extra wing minutes in his absence, along with vetaran shooting guard, Tony Allen. With Marc Gasol, Mike Conley, James Ennis, and Chandler Parsons off the court this season, Zach Randolph has recorded an elite usage rate of 40.5%, a 6.4% increase over his season average, while posting well over a fantasy point per minute. The biggest concern in this matchup is the potential (likely) blowout factor, which would leave Randolph short of the necessary minutes he would likely need to crush value. Still, with that said, he’s shaping up to be a viable cash game option for this depleted Grizzlies squad.
As reported by: Michael Wallace Nikola Vucevic (back) ruled out for tonight; Bismack Biyombo (shoulder) is active and available
Vucevic will not play in tonight’s game against the Atlanta Hawks after being listed as questionable on the Magic’s injury report with a lower back contusion. This will be the second consecutive game Vucevic will be sidelined with said injury. As for Biyombo, he has been cleared to play and will draw the start at center as normal. Biyombo was listed as questionable in Orlando’s previous contest and proceeded to play 34 minutes, so he should be a full go this evening. However, the largest beneficiaries of Vucevic’s absence are Serge Ibaka and Aaron Gordon, as both forwards should see an uptick in minutes and usage with Vucevic off the floor.
As reported by: Magic PR Other tagged players: Bismack Biyombo Tim Hardaway Jr. starting regardless of Kent Bazmore's status
Hardaway Jr. will draw the start at shooting guard for tonight’s game against the Orlando Magic despite the expected return of Kent Bazemore. Speaking of, Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said he would be “surprised” if Bazemore didn’t play in this contest. With uncertainty surrounding Bazemore’s minutes, he is firmly out of play in all formats this evening. Thabo Sefolosha will continue to start at small forward and is the preferred Hawks wing player for cash games. Obviously, Dennis Schroder, Paul Millsap, and Dwight Howard are in play, as they are nearly every night.
As reported by: Chris Vivalamore Other tagged players: Kent Bazemore Zach Randolph confirmed as the starter in place of Marc Gasol
Gasol has been ruled out in advance of tonight’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers due to rest. Zach Randolph will draw the start in his place alongside JaMychal Green. With Gasol, Mike Conley, James Ennis and Chandler Parsons off the court this season, Zach Randolph has recorded an elite usage rate of 40.5%, a 6.4% increase over his season average, while posting well over a fantasy point per minute. The biggest concern in this matchup is the potential (likely) blowout factor, which would leave Randolph short of the necessary minutes he would likely need to crush value. Still, with that said, he’s shaping up to be a viable cash game option for this depleted Grizzlies squad.
As reported by: Rob Fischer Other tagged players: Marc Gasol