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Daily Fantasy Basketball Injury News and Updates for FanDuel and DraftKings - 3/16/16
Welcome to the daily updates and injury news article. We'll try and update it right up to line-up locks with as much information as comes across our desks. Let's get to it!
Last night's picks can be found here, so you can wrap your mind around what you need to be looking at before lineups lock tonight.
By the way - we keep our projection system updated with all of the changes as they occur throughout the day right up until lineup lock. Every day. If you want access to that system so you can cut out a lot of the research element, click the button below!
What We Know
Taj Gibson is still a great play with Pau Gasol out
He's the only thing they've got resembling a strong 5 at the moment, and should play big minutes against the Wizards here. The more interesting discussion for me is what happens with Nikola Mirotic. We're tentatively slating him for 29 minutes, but I could see scenarios where he plays both more or less. How's that for helpful? I think he's still a useful play against the Wiz.
JaMychal Green is starting for Zach Randolph again
But we're on back to back awful games from him after his break-out stretch. It's not the worst match-up with the Timberwolves, but it's impossible to call him safe given his uncertain role and erratic play. Still, he makes for a nice big tournament play given the industry malaise surrounding him right now.
Kristaps Porzingis is back, Arron Afflalo will still come off the bench, and Sasha Vujacic will start
Porzingis can only be considered a big tournament play (though he's an intriguing one, to be honest) given what he can do if his minutes break right. Afflalo and Vujacic, meanwhile, are both unplayable in any format on account of them splitting minutes.
Update: Lebron is out. Irving, Love and Shumpert are borderline must plays.
Update: Rajon Rondo out. Collison gets a bump.
What We're Waiting to Know
Will Derrick Rose return?
He's been out for three games, but he went through a full shoot around on Wednesday, and Hoiberg is "optimistic" that he'll be back here. E'Twaun Moore would likely be the odd man out if he does come back, as the wing/guard spots are starting to get crowded not that Dunleavy and Mirotic are both playing as well. Rose is going to play on a minutes' restriction.
Will Lance Stephenson play?
Stephenson looked good during shoot-around for the Grizz on Wednesday, and his return would certainly steer minutes away from some of the zillion combo guards that Memphis is throwing out right there. The safest bet is to just take minutes assumptions from the Hawks game. It stayed relatively close (at least compared to their 50 pt loss to Houston) and was probably a fair indicator of what we'll see here. Still, the situation is a total mess. If Stephenson plays, though, he looks good to me.
Nikola Vucevic's and Elfrid Payton's status.
Payton missed Tuesday's game, and Brandon Jennings put up a huge night in a spot start for him. If Payton's out again, it stands to reason that Jennings will have the starting role again, in which case he'd probably be an every lineup guy at minimum prices. Meanwhile, Vucevic's absence opened up the door for Jason Smith to pour in 42 fantasy points in 28 minutes on Tuesday, leaving him in big tournament consideration. Smith's performance has been up and down, but he now has some monster games since Vuc went down.
Will Norris Cole come back tonight?
Cole's return would crush the value of Toney Douglas, who has turned in some huge (and some bad) performances as a starter in the New Orleans back court. I don't think Cole will be playable immediately just because his price is based on high 30s minutes, but I'd wait for confirmation on his absence before playing Douglas.
Will Bradley Beal play?
He claimed to have not experienced any soreness after he returned against the Pistons on Monday, but he did miss practice on Tuesday. I'd be cautious even considering him until I get confirmation that he's playing, and frankly, I'm not sure he's worth his prices either way.
The "Every Lineup" Guys
These are players that show up in each of the top 10 lineups as produced by our lineup optimizer. This doesn't necessarily mean that they're "safe," it just means that their projected weighted-mean point total is a solid building block for a great lineup foundation today.
Victor Oladipo - FD 7000 DK 7400
Opponent - CHA
FD Proj. Pts - 34.79 DK Proj. Pts - 36.41
Brandon Jennings - FD 3500 DK 3700
Opponent - CHA
FD Proj. Pts - 23.09 DK Proj. Pts - 24.97
This assumes Payton's absence, but it looks totally sensible to me. We gave you Oladipo as an every lineup guy yesterday, and he put up 42 fantasy points against the Nuggets. Jennings almost paid 10x points per dollar on these prices. All systems go for both unless Payton unexpectedly returns.
Ricky Rubio - FD 6900 DK 6600
Opponent - MEM
FD Proj. Pts - 35.1 DK Proj. Pts - 36.13
Another returner to the "every lineup" circle, Rubio is on back to back games with 46 or more fantasy points, and his salary hasn't moved. This game he'll be up against... Briante Weber? Rubio's seeing the floor as well as anyone in the league right now, and he's still 10% below where his price will land if this continues. Love him in any format.
Good luck out there today! If you want access to all of our numbers, get started with a free trial of our lineup optimizer!
image sources
- Ricky Rubio: (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
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What do you think about kemba walker tonight
Seems like a tourney play only to me. It all comes down to projecting out minutes and shots, really. If he shoots 18 shots, as we’re projecting, there are simply better plays at the same price point. Of course, he could tear up Jennings or whoever and do well in the lane against Jason Smith, but I don’t think he’s a favorite for 5x points per dollar tonight.
Kemba Walker is the man tonight. I’m calling it now. Orlando has been piss poor against the PG. I’m also not buying them tonight because this will be their second game in a row with a banged up team. Thinking CHA takes this game. PUNT play of the night….Courtney Lee
This night is a mess right now. Going to wait till 6:30pm to even look at things. Guys like Gibson saying they have a tight hamstring but are going to give it a go and Zinger saying he doesn’t feel 100% but plans on playing just make me nervous. Add that to about a dozen guys who may or may not play and it’s chaos right now.
No reason to consider Zinger tonight with his question marks, IMO. I’m still all in on Gibson if he’s going to play. Hoiberg don’t care about no stiff hamstring. There are still other good options, though.
I think I’m rolling with both Rubio and Wiggy tonight. Who on Memphis is going to stop them?? Tony Allen can still defend (although not like he used to) but he’ll be on Levine. I don’t see Weber or Barnes covering these 2 guys. I’ve also been riding Kemba and Marvin to victory a lot lately
Solid analysis on Rubio and Wiggins IMO. Love Marvin. Lukewarm on Kemba for reasons stated above.
Why is everyone all over Rubio? I. Thomas has a better matchup.
Because he has back to back huge games and a guy named “Briante” guarding him.. Plus he’s cheaper
Our optimizer likes Thomas, and loves him if you think he’ll play 38 minutes. Rubio’s just 1k cheaper.
Rubio is a stat sheet stuffer man. IT is scoring dependent on comparison and on back to back. Just my two cents.
I see the optimizer is 100% totally in love with Wesley Matthews I think your system has a man crush on him why is that
He’s just cheap related to his upside production. You can def X him out if you’re looking for safety, though – it’s sensible to not shoot for his 8x+ points per dollar upside if you’re concerned about his 2x floor.
Matthews is 100% capable of 8-10x all day long. That said he has been super erratic and I won’t touch him.
Thoughts on willie cauley stein?
He’s a good play if he starts, for sure. Updated the system to reflect the likelihood that he’ll start.
When will Beasley make the list? Doing better than many at that price range.m
Yall what do we think about stein if he starts again tonight. Seems like an awsome play to me vs the sorry pelicans. Also 3 straight games with 20 fantasy points at min price.
Will Watson snipe some of Jennings court time?
All depends on who starts, is my guess. Watson was dealing with a little bug, so there’s a chance that’s why Jennings got the lion’s share last night. But he played so well that it’s tough for me to imagine them going back to CJ tonight. Stay tuned for news for sure.
James what do u think about my stien comment. The system only has him at 15 mins but thats not the case right now
You are right. Bumped his minutes some. Good play.
Think Love’s usage will go up significantly with LeBron out?
Is lebron out
LeBron is OUT
Irving, Love and Shumpert all excellent plays.
I hope I don’t get that death punch and the rule out Gibson at 6:55. This has happened to me last minute several times.
Babbit or Beasley? And why did Beasley’s projection jump?
Beasley’s per minute rates are putting him up there.
I hear you Michael, I had a good night last night that could have been better if hadn’t got derozaned.
With bron out, good night for JR?
JR sees a definite bump in shot volume with Lebron off court.
Stephenson a go? Anybody heard?
I got derozaned as well yesterday.
Ended up fading the Bulls. Have never loved them when they are healthy ( they aren’t now) but these games should be about getting Rose and Butler healthy so makes me nervous the amount of shots those two might chuck.
You guys should revamp your optimal system to eliminate Wesley Matthews automatically because he seems to always be in the top optimal lineups and he’s simple horrible now his price is 4K and I think he’s over priced that’s how bad he is
The top optimal lineup not looking too healthy at this point yesterday’s top optimal was a lot better still lots of basketball to be played on this slate hopefully I’ll be eating my words by the end of the night
Should’ve accounted for the return of rose with the optimal lineups mirotic has only taken 5 shots while rose has taken almost 50% of the bulls shots
Alzono that was my point just a few posts up. LOVED Mirotic until I heard Rose was back. Chuck-machine.
Hating matthews and mirotic right about now
Yea I totally agree they should have not been in the top optimal
I hear you Thomas totally sunk me tonight