DFS Alerts
Tony Allen (knee) officially ruled out for Friday
Tony Allen will miss his seventh consecutive game with a knee injury and P.J. Hairston will continue to start in his place. Hairston is an extreme boom-or-bust option and should be left off your rosters against the Jazz. Tony Allen has no timetable for his return.
As reported by: Ronald Tillery Other tagged players: P.J. Hairston
Alan Anderson (rest) ruled out on Friday
Alan Anderson will be rested on the first leg of a back-to-back. Anderson should play tomorrow against the Pacers. With Gary Neal also out of the lineup, Bradley Beal will likely see between 26-32 minutes tonight. In his last game, Beal had 39.8 DKFP on 10-15 shooting. The Cavs are much tougher defensive team making a Beal a tournament option only.
As reported by: @Wizards Other tagged players: Bradley Beal Cody Zeller (back) confirmed as the starter on Friday
Cody Zeller was questionable for Friday with a back issue but has been confirmed as the starter. Zeller has seen his minutes fluctuate with Al Jefferson back in the lineup, making him a tournament only option tonight. On a ten-game slate, Zeller should only be used in low dollar tournaments because he has flashed 40+ FP upside on his punt salary.
As reported by: @Hornets Michael Carter-Williams (knee) is out tonight
Michael Carter-Williams will miss his third consecutive game with a knee injury, opening the door for Jerryd Bayless to possibly get over 30 minutes again tonight. Bayless has not exceeded value in three consecutive games against the Timberwolves dating back to last season. Bayless will likely be a heavily owned player, so you can consider fading him in tournaments and only using him in cash games.
As reported by: Aron Yohannes Other tagged players: Jerryd Bayless Iman Shumpert starting for the resting Kevin Love
Iman Shumpert will be starting tonight for Kevin Love, moving LeBron James into the post. Iman Shumpert does have an elite matchup as the Wizards rank 26th in DvP against small forwards. Shumpert’s salary is a viable punt option with his salary at $3,500 on FD and $3,400 on DK. Stacking him with LeBron James or Kyrie Irving is not a bad idea and could allow for other top-tier options to fit in your lineup.
As reported by: Tom Withers Other tagged players: Kevin Love, LeBron James, Kyrie Irving Kyrie Irving and LeBron James in a fantastic spot with Kevin Love out
Kevin Love has been ruled out tonight with rest, and while many would think the biggest bump goes to Timofey Mozgov and Tristian Thompson, Kyrie Irving actually sees the most significant bump. His usage rate takes a substantial leap from 27.5 to 35.9, which would be one of the highest in the league. He has a great opportunity to exceed value tonight vs. the Wizards who are average against PGs. The other player that will see a boost is obviously LeBron James who also sees a bump in usage from 30.9 to 36.5. He has one of the highest, if not the highest, floor of any player tonight and is almost a lock for 40+ fantasy points tonight. Take advantage of these two guys with Kevin Love being out as they are both great options for cash games tonight.
Other tagged players: LeBron James
Evan Fournier starting tonight for Victor Oladipo; Mario Hezonja to remain in the starting lineup
Evan Fournier will be returning to the starting lineup after missing three games with a wrist injury. Fournier exceeded 5x in eight straight games before getting hurt against the Knicks. Fournier is an extremely streaky player but he should still be in your lineups against the lowly Suns. Mario Hezonja is coming off a game where he scored a career-high 21 points and he will try to keep his strong play going tonight. Hezonja is under $4k on both major sites and should be considered an elite punt option.
As reported by: Joshua Robbins Other tagged players: Mario Hezonja Thaddeus Young has been playing well with Joe Johnson gone
In the last four games since Joe Johnson has been off the Nets, Thaddeus Young has been averaging over 40 DK points per game. According to nbawowy.com, without Johnson in the lineup, Young’s usage jumps from 20% to 24% on the season. We wrote him up the day that Johnson was traded, and he proceeded to put up 52 DK points. Since then he has put up two straight double-doubles and gets a great matchup with the Nuggets tonight. Denver is 24th in defensive efficiency vs. opposing PFs, and Young should have no trouble going to work tonight against their soft front court. He is a great option tonight in any format, and while many people will gravitate towards the likes of Tristian Thompson since Kevin Love has been ruled out or Aaron Gordon vs. the Suns, Young makes for a solid pivot in cash or GPP contests tonight.
Victor Oladipo (back) is out; Evan Fournier (wrist) will play
Victor Oladipo has been ruled out with a back contusion and Evan Fournier has been ruled in. Fournier will likely start for Oladipo, keeping Mario Hezonja in the starting lineup. With the Magic facing the Suns, both Fournier and Hezonja should be considered elite options.
As reported by: Joshua Robbins Other tagged players: Evan Fournier, Mario Hezonja Kyle Lowry is a great option vs. the Trail Blazers
PG is an extremely deep position tonight, but there are few candidates that have the upside that Kyle Lowry offers at $8,500 on DraftKings and $9,100 on FanDuel. Lowry has had some huge games lately including a 43-point performance last week vs. the Cavs and 70.75 DK points, and a triple double a week before that vs. the Knicks. He seemingly continues to get overlooked for DFS purposes and I’m not sure why. He offers the upside of a Steph Curry or Russell Westbrook at nearly $2,000 less, and he has a floor of about 35 which is about 4x value at this price. He will likely be under owned tonight because of all the options there are at PG and that makes for an excellent GPP option. The matchup with the Trail Blazers is not worrisome, as they are 17th in DvP vs. PGs. Lowry is in a great spot tonight to possibly 6x or 7x value at $8,500, and even if he doesn’t hit that threshold he will likely not kill your team as he has a great floor as well. He is in play in all formats tonight.
Victor Oladipo (back) and Evan Fournier (wrist) are game-time decisions for tonight
Victor Oladipo and Evan Fournier are both game-time decisions for tonight due to their injuries. Look for an update soon as both players are in the 7 PM EST game.
As reported by: Orlando Magic Other tagged players: Evan Fournier Sixers to start Smith, Covington, Thompson, Grant and Landry on Friday
The Sixers are very short-handed which typically lends well to the active players in terms of fantasy production, but this is a tough spot for the Sixers. The Heat are stout defensively and play at a slow pace, so there aren’t any “core” plays here. Ish Smith, Robert Covington and Jerami Grant all have GPP appeal given that their minutes should be secure regardless of the score, but they aren’t safe cash game plays.
As reported by: Ira Winderman on Twitter Other tagged players: Robert Covington, Hollis Thompson, Jerami Grant, Carl Landry
Jerami Grant starting for Nerlens Noel; Carl Landry starting for Jahlil Okafor
Jerami Grant will make another start tonight for the Sixers and will likely be a heavily owned player. Grant has been chalky the last couple times the Sixers have played and is coming off an 18 DKFP performance on Wednesday. Grant will likely see over 30 minutes tonight with so many other players under minutes restrictions. Grant’s likely high ownership can merit fading him in tournaments but he has decent cash game viability due to the minutes available. Carl Landry will be starting in place of Jahlil Okafor and will make for a decent punt option. Landry has been averaging 16.86 DKFP over his last three games and should be able to exceed value with a few extra minutes tonight.
As reported by: Ira Winderman Other tagged players: Nerlens Noel, Carl Landry, Jahlil Okafor Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor, Nik Stauskas, and Kendall Marshall all ruled out on Friday
Nerlens Noel has been ruled out with a knee injury and Jahlil Okafor has been ruled out with a shin injury. Nik Stauskas and Kendal Marshall are ruled both ruled out with an illness. The Sixers are starting two second-round picks and three undrafted players, so everyone replacing these injured players are risky options tonight.
As reported by: Michael Preston Other tagged players: Jahlil Okafor, Nik Stauskas, Kendall Marshall Josh Richardson (finger) will play on Friday
Josh Richardson will play tonight against the Sixers with his middle finger taped to his index finger. Richardson is a decent value play tonight but will become an elite play if Dwayne Wade sits. There has been no word of Wade sitting but it is on the second night of a back-to-back against the lowly Sixers.
As reported by: Ira Winderman Other tagged players: Dwyane Wade