DFS Alerts
Kristaps Porzingis (illness) ruled out on Thursday
Kristaps Porzingis has been ruled out with an illness tonight and will be interesting to see who they start. The Knicks are without two of their regular starters and likely will have a tough time overcoming Porzingis’ absence.
As reported by: NY Knicks PR
Pelicans to start Cole, Dejean-Jones, Gee, Ryan Anderson, and Asik on Thursday
The Pelicans will start Norris Cole and Bryce Dejean-Jones in the backcourt with Ryan Anderson, Alonzo Gee, and Omer Asik in the frontcourt. If Ryan Anderson can stay out of foul trouble guarding DeMarcus Cousins he should have significant upside. Norris Cole is also an elite play against the Kings tonight and should see over 28 minutes.
As reported by: Mason Ginsberg Kobe Bryant and Julius Randle to start tonight
Kobe Bryant will return to the starting lineup tonight after missing one game with a sore shoulder. Ever since Bryant sat out with a sore Achilles the Lakers have taken a cautious approach to his minutes. Bryant has not exceeded value in about three weeks, leaving him as a GPP option only tonight. His salary has fallen a bit but still he has been playing passive, compared to the Kobe we know. Julius Randle was probable heading into tonight with a sore leg. He had a CT scan and MRI on Wednesday which both came back clean. Randle’s salary has popped up lately with his solid play making him a tournament option as well.
As reported by: Lakers Other tagged players: Julius Randle Langston Galloway starting for the injured Jose Calderon and Lance Thomas starting for Carmelo Anthony tonight
Langston Galloway will be making his second start of the season tonight. The last time Galloway started he had a double-double with 11 points and 11 assists. He was able to accrue 33 fantasy points in 37 minutes. Galloway has the upside to do it again but could be limited tonight by Kyle Lowry. Lowry is a strong defender and will make it tough on the young guard. Lance Thomas will start again but Derrick Williams has more upside off the Knicks bench. Williams has back-to-back 40+ FPs games and should be able to at the least hit 5x.
Other tagged players: Jose Calderon, Derrick Williams, Lance Thomas Jose Calderon (groin) ruled out along with Carmelo Anthony tonight
Jose Calderon has been ruled out with a groin injury and Langston Galloway will be starting in his place. Galloway makes for a nice punt option but is a tournament play only. Carmelo Anthony has been ruled out and Lance Thomas will be starting again in his place. Thomas is a nice play and should be used in GPPs.
As reported by: Steve Popper Other tagged players: Lance Thomas, Langston Galloway, Carmelo Anthony Willie Cauley-Stein is a value option at center
Willie Cauley-Stein has performed really well since returning from injury carving out a very nice spot in the starting rotation. The rookie is averaging over 30 DK points per game in 32 minutes per game over the last five outings and is relatively low priced for his recent production. He will get the start again alongside Boogie Cousins in a great matchup vs. the Pelicans who are second to last in DvP vs. opposing centers. Better yet, Anthony Davis has been ruled out of this game with a concussion so there goes any hope of a presence inside for the Pelicans. The combination of Cauley-Stein and Cousins should have a hay day inside and at $5,100 on DraftKings Cauley-Stein is in another great spot tonight to reach value.
Other tagged players: DeMarcus Cousins
Ryan Anderson is an elite option with Anthony Davis out
The injury bug has bitten Anthony Davis yet again as he will likely sit out this game with a concussion, and Ryan Anderson will likely start in his place. Whenever Davis sits, Anderson logs heavy minutes to the tune of 0.91 DK points per minute. He will likely see another heavy load tonight with a great matchup vs. the Kings who can’t guard a soul. The Kings rate second to last in DvP vs. PFs and have one of the fastest paces in the league, and this bodes well for Anderson and the rest of the Pelicans tonight. Anderson is a great candidate to at least reach value in a game without Davis in which he should see a lot of minutes in a great matchup.
Bryce Dejean-Jones will start for the injured Tyreke Evans tonight
Bryce Dejean-Jones will make his first career start alongside Norris Cole tonight. Dejean-Jones does not have a ton of upside until he proves he can handle substantial minutes. Dejean-Jones is a risky tournament option tonight but could be chalky with the news coming before lineups locked.
As reported by: Brett Dawson Other tagged players: Tyreke Evans Tyreke Evans (knee) and Anthony Davis (concussion) both ruled out for tonight
Tyreke Evans and Anthony Davis have both been ruled out of tonight’s game. Evans replacement starter will be Bryce Dejean-Jones and Anthony Davis will be replaced by Ryan Anderson. Both Jones and Anderson are viable plays with Anderson having a ton of upside against the Kings tonight.
As reported by: Jim Eichenhofer Other tagged players: Anthony Davis, Ryan Anderson, Bryce Dejean-Jones Emmanuel Mudiay starting tonight not Jameer Nelson, Nikola Jokic starting as well.
Emmanuel Mudiay will continue starting even though Jameer Nelson is back in the active lineup. With Nelson back Mudiay will likely not see over 30 minutes tonight. Nelson is a risky play as well coming off a wrist injury. Nikola Jokic who has a bruised knee is starting and has been exceeding value in the 2 games prior to the injury. Jokic has to stay out of foul trouble if he wants to have extended playing time tonight.
As reported by: Chris Dempsey Other tagged players: Nikola Jokic, Jameer Nelson Derrick Williams is a great option with Carmelo out
Carmelo has been ruled out as a precautionary measure as he rests his sore knee, and that will lead to a combination of Lance Thomas and Derrick Williams at SF for the Knicks. Both are great options, with Lance Thomas being a little cheaper than Williams. Thomas will likely see 35+ minutes, but only averages 0.61 DK points per minute when Carmelo is out. Williams, on the other hand, has a much higher upside but his minutes are a little more volatile. Thomas does not necessarily have the high upside we are looking for in tournaments but is suitable for cash games, but Williams is a great cash or GPP play considering the upside he brings to the table.
Other tagged players: Lance Thomas Bradley Beal and Gary Neal are both active tonight
Bradley Beal will play tonight with a mask after suffering a broken nose and concussion. Gary Neal should also play despite a sore leg. Beal and Neal both will be coming off the bench with Garrett Temple starting. We can’t justify using Beal at this time due to his expensive salary but Temple and Neal are viable punt plays against the Nuggets.
As reported by: Jorge Castillo Other tagged players: Gary Neal, Garrett Temple Joffrey Lauvergne (toe) out, Darrell Arthur to play on Thursday
Backup big man Joffrey Lauvergne has been ruled out of tonight’s game with a toe injury. Darrell Arthur was questionable with a quad injury but has been confirmed as playing. Arthur is a risky DFS option with Jokic and Faried starting tonight. With Lauvergne being ruled out Jusuf Nurkic might see some extra minutes. He also is a risky option due to the lack of minutes.
As reported by: Chris Dempsey Other tagged players: Darrell Arthur, Jusuf Nurkic, Nikola Jokic, Kenneth Faried Myles Turner to start, Lavoy Allen off the bench tonight
Myles Turner will make his first career start tonight against the Hawks with Lavoy Allen moving to the bench. He will start at PF and guard All-Star reserve Paul Millsap. Turner is a chalky must play tonight with the Hawks playing on the second night of a back-to-back. Turner is coming in white hot and is averaging 34.35 FPs over his last 5 games. Turner should see about 30 minutes tonight and should be able to exceed value on his punt salary.
As reported by: Candace Buckner Other tagged players: Lavoy Allen Bradley Beal and Gary Neal both GTD, Kris Humphries out on Thursday
Bradley Beal is being fixed for a mask tonight and will be a game-time decision. Kris Humphries has been ruled out with a knee injury. Gary Neal is a game-time decision with a sore right leg. Beal will most likely play off the bench and pick up the minutes of Gary Neal. Garrett Temple is likely to start again at SG against the Nuggets and could break out of his slump against them. Look for Nene and Gortat to start again in the Wizards frontcourt.
As reported by: Jorge Castillo Other tagged players: Gary Neal, Kris Humphries, Garrett Temple, Nene Hilario, Marcin Gortat