DFS Alerts
Justise Winslow (wrist) ruled out tonight; Dion Waiters (groin) is a game-time decision
Winslow will not play in tonight’s game against Washington with a sore left wrist that has now kept him out three consecutive games. Josh Richardson will likely draw the start at small forward once again, while James Johnson would see extended run off the bench for Miami. In Winslow’s absence, Dion Waiters has led the Heat with a 28.1% usage rate with Richardson seeing the largest boost in minutes (35.2 minutes per game). However, Waiters is listed as questionable with a sore groin and will be a game-time decision, but is fully expected to play barring a setback in pregame warmups. If Waiters is unable to go, look for Rodney McGruder to draw the start at shooting guard for Miami, assuming they still prefer to keep Tyler Johnson in his normal role off the bench. It’s a small sample, but according to our CourtIQ tool, Goran Dragic has an elite 41.7% usage rate, which is a massive 14.4% increase over his season average. Dragic becomes an elite option at point guard if Waiters is ultimately ruled out.
As reported by: Ira Winderman Other tagged players: Dion Waiters
Alexis Ajinca (shoulder) listed as questionable tonight
Ajinca has been listed as questionable for tonight’s game against Charlotte. He missed Friday’s game against the Trail Blazers with the same left shoulder injury. Anjinca hasn’t been a major factor in the Pelicans rotation with Anthony Davis, Terrence Jones, and Omer Asik soaking up a majority of the minutes available at center. However, there will be a few extra minutes to go around if Ajinca were to be ruled out, as he has averaged 13.4 minutes per game this season.
As reported by: Pelicans PR C.J. Miles (knee) out ruled out Sunday; Paul George and Kevin Seraphin listed as questionable
Miles has been officially ruled out for tomorrow’s game against Oklahoma City after leaving Friday’s game with a knee injury. Glenn Robinson started the second half of that contest in place of Miles due solely to a lack of other viable options with Paul George already sitting. George is questionable for Sunday’s game with a sore ankle, and if he were unable to suit up, Robinson would likely draw the start at small forward in his absence. In addition, Seraphin has been listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game as well with a sore left knee. Seraphin had recently begun displacing Al Jefferson from the Pacers’ frontcourt rotation, as he has averaged nearly 13 minutes per game over the last three games compared to Jefferson’s six. If Seraphin were to be unable to play, expect Jefferson to resume his old 16-20 minute role off the bench for Indiana.
As reported by: Official Twitter Account of the Indiana Pacers Other tagged players: Paul George, Kevin Seraphin Jose Calderon expected to start for D'Angelo Russell (knee), but still has not been confirmed
Russell was a late scratch for tonight’s game against San Antonio with a sore left knee. Young will be available to play after dealing with an illness, but there is no official word on the Lakers’ starting lineup or who will start at point guard this evening. Jose Calderon will draw the start at point guard in Russell’s place, but he is likely a starter in name only. Jordan Clarkson and Lou Williams will still come off the bench and will likely see the highest usage bump and minutes increase of the Lakers’ guards. According to our CourtIQ tool, Williams and Clarkson lead the Lakers with 33.3% and 30.0% usage rates, respectively, when Russell is off the floor. However, Williams has done more with the extra opportunities, as he is averaging 1.20 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings (1.10 FanDuel) compared to 0.97 for Clarkson (0.90 FanDuel).
As reported by: Eric Pincus Other tagged players: D'Angelo Russell, Lou Williams, Jordan Clarkson D'Angelo Russell (knee) ruled out tonight; Nick Young (illness) is available to play
Russell is a late scratch for tonight’s game against San Antonio with a sore left knee. Young will be available to play after dealing with an illness, but there is no official word on the Lakers’ starting lineup or who will start at point guard this evening. Jordan Clarkson or Lou Williams are the most likely to start in Russell’s place, though whomever comes off the bench may be the preferred target, as they will likely see the highest usage bump. According to our CourtIQ tool, Williams and Clarkson lead the Lakers with 33.3% and 30.0% usage rates, respectively, when Russell is off the floor. However, Williams has done more with the extra opportunities, as he is averaging 1.20 fantasy points per minute on DraftKings (1.10 FanDuel) compared to 0.97 for Clarkson (0.90 FanDuel).
As reported by: Mark Medina Other tagged players: Nick Young Ed Davis will start at power forward over Meyers Leonard tonight
Davis will be inserted into the Trail Blazers starting lineup for tonight’s game against New Orleans, sending Meyers Leonard back to the bench in a reserve role. Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts continues to have a revolving door at the power forward spot in the starting unit with Al-Farouq Aminu sidelined. He has been rotating between Leonard, Maurice Harkless, and now Davis depending on matchup. Stotts clearly preferred to go with a more efficient rebounding frontcourt for tonight’s contest in an effort to contain Anthony Davis on the glass.
As reported by: Jason Quick Other tagged players: Meyers Leonard Chandler Parsons (knee) will play tonight, remains on restriction of 20 minutes
Parsons will play in tonight’s game against Dallas, but will continue to be limited to a hard minutes restriction of 20 minutes. Parsons will draw the start at small forward, while James Ennis with start at shooting guard with Tony Allen coming off the bench. All three of these Memphis wing players can be avoided, however. If playing the late slates on DraftKings or FanDuel, Mike Conley and Marc Gasol would be the only targets in consideration here, as the Grizzlies still own the second-lowest implied total of the night. Our exposure to them should be limited.
As reported by: Eddie Sefko Lucas Nogueira (personal) ruled out tonight
Nogueira is not with the team and will not play in tonight’s game against the Nuggets, as he deals with a personal matter. Jakob Poeltl will likely will the void in the rotation left by Nogueira, while Jonas Valanciunas and Patrick Patterson should see some extra minutes in tonight’s contest. Poeltl can safely be avoided, but Valanciunas becomes a great tournament option on late swap sites and late slates at a shallow center position, while Kyle Lowry remains an elite play in an ideal matchup with the Denver backcourt defense.
As reported by: Mike Ganter Randy Foye will start over Sean Kilpatrick at point guard tonight
Foye will be inserted into the Nets starting lineup for tonight’s game against Oklahoma City, sending Sean Kilpatrick back to the bench in a reserve role. Foye will start alongside Bojan Bogdanovic, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Trevor Booker and Brook Lopez. He had been running the point position for brief stretches in the past two games, so this move isn’t all that surprising in hindsight. Kilpatrick is still priced as a starter around the industry, so he can easily be ignored on late swap sites this evening. As for Foye, he becomes one of the best value options on the slate in all formats.
As reported by: Brian Lewis Other tagged players: Sean Kilpatrick Alexis Ajinca (shoulder) ruled out
Ajinca has officially been ruled out for tonight’s game against the Trail Blazers after being downgraded to questionable with a shoulder injury. With Anthony Davis returning to action tonight after a one game absence, one of Omer Asik or Terrence Jones will be displaced from the starting lineup, but nothing has been confirmed as of this writing. Portland has started either Meyers Leonard or Maurice Harkless at power forward with Al-Farouq Aminu sidelined, so we should see more of Jones regardless of starting lineup. That’s assuming Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry actually knows what he is doing of course, as he has already made some questionable decisions with his rotation in this young season.
As reported by: Justin Verrier
Anthony Davis (quad) expected to play tonight against the Blazers
Head coach Alvin Gentry said in his pregame presser that he expects Anthony Davis to play tonight. The team and multiple beat writers have also noted as much. Davis should be considered an elite option that could see less than usual ownership coming off injuries. He is not for the faint of heart or for cash games but has tournament-winning upside. If he is ruled out for any reason, we’ll follow up with that, but as of right now it seems like he will play. Terrence Jones sees a considerable drop in fantasy value with Davis returning.
As reported by: @Pelicans Al Horford (concussion) and Jae Crowder (ankle) ruled out for Friday
Horford has been officially ruled out for tonight’s game against Golden State after being listed as questionable earlier in the day. Celtics coach Brad Stevens will continue to utilize the same starting lineup of Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart, Kelly Olynyk, and Amir Johnson while Horford remains sidelined. Olynyk and Smart continue to be excellent mid-range value options and tonight is no different. Thomas will continue to see elite usage as well and is in a prime matchup against Steph Curry defense, making him a viable play in all formats around the industry.
As reported by: Sean Grande Other tagged players: Jae Crowder LeBron James and J.R. Smith return to the starting lineup tonight
Smith will make his return to the lineup for tonight’s game against the Pistons after missing the Cavaliers’ three previous games with a right ankle injury. Smith will be immediately reinserted into the starting lineup and will be joined by Lebron James, who was rested in Cleveland’s previous game. This will send Iman Shumpert and Richard Jefferson back to the bench to resume their roles as reserves.
As reported by: Sam Amico Other tagged players: J.R. Smith C.J. Miles starting in place of Paul George; Rodney Stuckey will be limited to 10-15 minutes
George will not play in tonight’s game against Phoenix with a sore right ankle that kept in out of another recent game. The Pacers seem concerned with George’s long-term health, as he is expected to have an x-ray on the injured ankle Saturday. C.J. Miles with draw the start at small forward in George’s place and is an interesting mid-range small forward option in tournaments. Rodney Stuckey will also make his return from a hamstring injury that has kept him out of the Pacers’ previous 10 games. Even for the stone minimum around the industry, Stuckey can easily be ignored with his minutes restriction of 10-15 minutes this evening. In this pace up game against the Suns, really any Pacers’ starter can be considered in tournaments, as the Suns play incredibly fast and are one of the worst defense teams in terms of efficiency. This contest is a prime stacking candidate in large-field GPPs.
As reported by: Jeremiah Johnson Other tagged players: Paul George Paul George (ankle) ruled out for tonight
George will not play in tonight’s game against Phoenix with a sore right ankle that kept in out of another recent game. The Pacers seem concerned with George’s long-term health, as he is expected to have an x-ray on the injured ankle Saturday. C.J. Miles with draw the start at small forward in George’s place and is an interesting mid-range small forward option in tournaments. In this pace up game against the Suns, really any Pacers’ starter can be considered in tournaments, as the Suns play incredibly fast and are one of the worst defense teams in terms of efficiency. This contest is a prime stacking candidate in large-field GPPs.
As reported by: Wheat Hotchkiss