DFS Alerts
Damian Lillard out Saturday
Lillard will miss his third straight game with his plantar fasciitis. With Lillard out, C.J. McCollum will handle the point guard duties. Last game with Lillard out, McCollum finished with 33 FD points in 35 minutes. He is listed as a SG on both sites and is reasonably priced. Allen Crabbe will also make a nice value play on this slate. He has played over 30 minutes in both games with Lillard out. He is just $4,200 on FD and $4,600 on DK.
As reported by: Joe Freeman
Jahlil Okafor will be a game-time decision tonight
Okafor will be a game-time decision on Saturday because of a sore right knee. If he can’t go this would give a big boost to Nerlens Noel. It’s always hard to predict who the 76ers starters will be. Noel would likely start at center, and Jerami Grant would probably start at the 4. Noel would make for an intriguing play at just $5,600 on FD and $5,500 on DK. He has averaged 26 FD points over his last three games.
As reported by: Keith Pompey Derrick Favors questionable Saturday
Favors missed shootaround today due to back spasms and is questionable to play tonight. Even if Favors plays tonight he is easy fade considering he has back spasms. If he doesn’t play, the Jazz will be very limited in the frontcourt. Trevor Booker, Trey Lyles and Jeff Withey will play all the minutes they can handle. Lyles and Withey don’t do much for your fantasy lineups. The only play here would be Booker. He is priced at just $4,400 on FD and $4,100 on DK.
As reported by: David Locke Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili out Saturday (Rest)
After playing on Christmas day, both Duncan and Ginobili will not play on Saturday against the Nuggets. With this news and a likely blowout tonight, it will be hard to play any Spurs. Of course Kawhi Leonard is always in play, even if he only plays three quarters or so. He finished with 49 FD points yesterday. With Duncan out, this could also give a bump to LaMarcus Aldridge. You would think with Ginobili out, Danny Green would make a nice play, but he has really struggled this season.
As reported by: Spurs Carmelo Anthony will play Saturday
Anthony didn’t play on Wednesday, but he will be good to go tonight against the Hawks. He makes for a great GPP play tonight, because not a lot of people will play him for a couple reasons. Everyone will likely pay up for LeBron James, Paul George, or Kawhi Leonard. Also you never know about minutes after returning from an injury, and he does have a tough matchup against the Hawks. With Anthony returning this hurts the value of Lance Thomas.
As reported by: KL Chouinard Deron Williams out Saturday
Williams will miss his second straight game because of a hamstring injury. With Williams out J.J. Barea will start again and make for the top value play of the night. Last game with Williams out against Brooklyn, Barea played 41 minutes and finished with 47 FD points. It was an overtime game, but he still got all the minutes he could handle. He is priced at just $3,900 on FD and $4,300 on DK. There is a chance Devin Harris could play, but he would likely be limited.
As reported by: Dwain Price Danilo Gallinari and Emmanuel Mudiay out Saturday
Both Gallinari and Mudiay will miss another game tonight for the Nuggets. Kostas Papanikolaou will likely start for Gallinari again. After only playing only 11 minutes in his 1st start, last time out against the Suns he played 33 minutes. In that game he finished with 27 FD points. He is minimum price on FD, and $3,300 on DK. He is a GPP punt play only because his minutes can’t be trusted. We will have to wait and see if Jameer Nelson is good to go tonight. If both Mudiay and Nelson are out, Randy Foye will likely handle the PG duties. Last game with both out, Foye played 40 minutes and finished with 38 FD points. He would make for a very nice play at just $3,900 on FD and $4,100 on DK.
As reported by: Harrison Wind Cody Zeller will still start Saturday, Al Jefferson will come off the bench
Jefferson will make his return to the lineup Saturday, after serving a five-game suspension. Zeller will start for the Hornets, while Jefferson will come off the bench. With Jefferson coming back, the Hornets frontcourt is an easy fade tonight, especially on a big slate. This news hurts the value of Frank Kaminsky, who has been playing really well as of late.
As reported by: Hornets PR Amir Johnson likely to play Saturday
Johnson will go through shootaround on Saturday to see if he can play Saturday, but Brad Stevens said he thinks he should be good to go. If Johnson is playing tonight, this would hurt the value of Kelly Olynyk.
As reported by: Gary Washburn Los Angeles Lakers starting lineup
The Lakers will be starting Jordan Clarkson, Lou Williams, Kobe Bryant, Larry Nance, and Roy Hibbert tonight. Kobe Bryant will look to continue his strong play as of late, and is a great option on Christmas. Lou Williams will look to bounce back after a lackluster performance in his last game.
As reported by: Mike Trudell
Julius Randle and Nick Young available Friday
The Lakers have listed Julius Randle and Nick Young as available for tonight’s game against the Clippers. Young missed the last game with an illness and Randle missed with an ankle injury. Lakers Coach Byron Scott is not sure if Randle will play, so he should not be in your DFS lineup. Nick Young is not much of a DFS option either with Kobe Bryant and Lou Williams healthy.
As reported by: Mike Trudell Cleveland Cavaliers starting lineup
The Cavs will start Kyrie Irving and J.R. Smith with LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Timofey Mozgov. LeBron James is the elite option against the Warriors with Kyrie Irving being a little too expensive to play coming off an injury. Kevin Love should also see a ton of opportunities and makes for a solid contrarian play.
Golden State Warriors starting lineup
The Warriors will be starting Steph Curry and Klay Thompson in the backcourt, with Brandon Rush, Draymond Green, and Andrew Bogut in the frontcourt. Klay Thompson has been running hot lately and makes for a solid DFS option with his mid-range salary. Steph Curry and Draymond Green are expensive choices, but solid choices on a short slate that don’t allow for much flexibility. Andre Iguodala will remain off the bench, but expect the Finals MVP to log extended minutes in what should be a close game throughout. Andre Iguodala is an intriguing punt option and should see plenty of minutes in crunch time guarding LeBron James.
As reported by: Monte Poole Harrison Barnes officially ruled out for Friday
Harrison Barnes will not play Friday against the Cavaliers. It’s not a surprise as Barnes had been “upgraded” to doubtful yesterday which was a good indication he wouldn’t be ready to return. Brandon Rush will draw another start and is a viable GPP punt play on a day without many strong value options, but Andre Iguodala has the higher ceiling/floor and may see a little extra court time to try to slow down LeBron James. Stephen Curry and Draymond Green are both elite targets, while the other 3 starters plus Iguodala are all playable in GPPs.
As reported by: Marc Spears
Oklahoma City Thunder starting lineup
The Thunders are starting Russell Westbrook, Andre Roberson, Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka, and Steven Adams in their game against the Chicago Bulls today. Durant is, as usual, an elite option at small forward although there is a chance he might face the defense of Jimmy Butler.
As reported by: Randy Renner on Twitter