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Daily Fantasy Basketball Injury News and Updates for FanDuel and DraftKings - 3/29/16
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
All seems relatively quiet at this point. Which of course means we'll get some late scratches that will ruin everything. But for now, the news is relatively light. Still, there are a few important things to note, so let's get to them.
LeBron is out.
I covered this last night, and the ramifications are fairly straightforward, here. Kyrie and Love get huge boosts, and the rest of the guys stay relatively the same. One interesting punt tonight, though, will be Iman Shumpert. He played 32 minutes the last time LeBron sat, and had the rare 2/4/5/1/3 line. He's a capable shooter when the game calls for it, and might get a few extra looks with Kyrie being blanketed by Patrick Beverley. Not sure it's "safe," per se, but it's a way to punt on a short slate with relatively little injury news elsewhere.
Victor Oladipo has been cleared to play
One never knows what Scott Skiles will do on a given day, but as of now it looks like Oladipo will suit up for tonight's game against the Nets. I wouldn't trust Oladipo as far as I can throw him at these prices, and especially with wrist problems - we've seen countless instances where a wrist issue takes a huge toll on field goal percentage (Nic Batum last year comes to mind) - but his return does throw a little cold water on the value of guys like Elfrid Payton (who should relinquish some ball handling duties) and Evan Fournier. I still like both, however, given how tough a night it is in general.
Aaron Gordon gets a bump because Ersan Ilyasova is out again.
Recently this has freed up for non-commodities Andrew Nicholson and Jason Smith, but there has also been some signs that Aaron Gordon could be given regular minutes once again. The tricky thing with the Magic, here, is that their game scripts have been all over the place.
A deep dive into the last few games, however, has shown that Gordon actually played 27 minutes in just 3 quarters against the Bulls, and logged big minutes against the Heat before being pulled as part of a blowout late in the 4th. I'm revising my assumptions for his minutes tonight with this continued Ilyasova news, and he's looking like a great play.
UPDATE: Durant and Ibaka are out. Westbrook is a must play.
What We're Waiting to Know
What's up with Jerami Grant and Nerlens Noel?
Both are listed as questionable at the moment, though it looks like Grant is the more likely of the two to play. The Sixers are considering some actual bums for this game (like Wood and Brand), but Carl Landry remains a very interesting play if those guys are all going to sit.
Will Markieff Morris return?
His return would mean the end of this brief Nene era, and would also mean a very intriguing big tournament play. The Wizards are likely to get run out of the gym, yes, but Markieff is their most qualified big to hang with the Dubs if they go small. It's risky, obviously, but he could really post a monster here.
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.
Kyrie Irving - FD 7000 DK 6900
Opponent - HOU
FD Proj. Pts - 39.64 DK Proj. Pts - 41.69
Kevin Love - FD 6900 DK 6800
Opponent - HOU
FD Proj. Pts - 38.37 DK Proj. Pts - 41.05
To the surprise of absolutely no one. It's rare that a player of LeBron's caliber A) sits and B) has such clear teammates to pass his usage to. But that's the case with Kyrie and Love. Both would be at least 10% more expensive if LeBron didn't exist, and getting them at prices that are based on the fact that he very much does exist make these guys incredible bargains tonight. Through in the short slate, and this is an easy one.
James Harden - FD 11000 DK 10400
Opponent - CLE
FD Proj. Pts - 53.98 DK Proj. Pts - 57.03
I was semi-surprised to see Harden showing as the feature big money guy over Westbrook, but with Kyrie hogging a point guard spot in every lineup and the shooting guard position looking so bad, Harden is the anchor our lineup optimizer is building around. The Cavs could sic Iman Shumpert on him here, but the minutes Harden is logging and the way he's logging them should more than make up for it. Harden seems like a fine play in any format.
A close one: Aaron Gordon, if you believe (as I do) that he's going to play 31+ minutes.
Good luck out there today! If you want access to all of our numbers, get started with a free trial below of our lineup optimizer, on us!
image sources
- Trail Blazers Magic Basketball: (AP Photo/John Raoux)
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thoughts on H thompson as i cheap SF option?
If she actually did try to kill her self it was an obvious lame attempt to gain sympathy. For God’s sake she posted this story herself on INSTAGRAM!! So if a fake suicide attempt affects Irving is anyone’s guess. Did you see that last word? Guess? Why waste time GUESSING about Irvings psyche when his performances lately have been all over the map?? Yea James is out. Personally I am stacking Wall/Curry and or wall/Harden.
Kyrie Irvings gf tried to commit suicide last night , I have no
Idea but does off the court issues like this change projections I also feel weird asking such a thing.
I’m always amazed at how DFS players seem to gravitate towards the guys that have some sorta issue. I see a guy like Irving who may be distracted and I pair that with his sporadic all over the board performances of late and I run, not walk, from this dumpster fire. Tons absolutey tons of solid PG tonite so zero reason to spend the day psycho-analyzing Irving. Besides of this game gets side ways would anyone be surprised if Lue pulled everyone of em out??
Aaron Gordon has not been playing well lately. He gets the mintues but he hasn’t been producing lately.
By the way guys, last nights optimal lineup killed it!!! Cash across the board! Nice job to all working on DFSR!
PG is simple IMO. Every GS game everyone says that GS will run em outta the gym. Fact is GS plats exactly ZERO D so they don’t blow anyone out EVER! Last week Phi, Pho, and Mav’s with a D League LU stuck with em till the 4th. I see this game prolly 83-77 start of the 4th. Wall and Curry will both destroy 50fpts tonite easily in head to head battle. I stacked em and still had room to roster 6 solid ass players around them. I will take my 100+ fpts from Curry and Wall and move right along.
PG is tough. Don’t trust the GSW/WAS game and not touching Irving and Payton looked like a good play till Dipo came back. May be an Ish Smith kind of night.
Why not touch Irving?
Bro..She was posted some bull shit “Last nite I tried to leave this earth” crap HERSELF on INSTAGRAM!! So this is just some lame story that people are spreading around. Real suicide attempt she’s in a psyche ward with no phone not posting this bull shit on social media!!! With Curry.Wall. and even Walker to a less degree playing I avoid the obvious “guesses” and “hunches”…
I’m not on Orlando anymore!
Didn.t see comment above about his GF. Wow…
Not because of the GF. For me because of Beverly. I got a little sticky note with things like. Never play AD and don’t play the PG opposite Beverly unless it’s Westbrook.
Yeah the thing is the rockets overall defense is pretty bad so even if PGs don’t go off on Bev, the assists are usually there.
Nicholson, Dudley, or Dunleavy which is the best option?
I’m trying out some slight stacks tonight. I usually just put the good plays in 3 different lineups. Tonight I have one lineup with Curry, Wall, Harden and some GS and WAS players. Then I have one with Westbrook, durant, Reggie, Tobias, Drummond.
maybe I have been looking at this too long but, is Kemba Walker and Batum dropping 40 or more on this Philly team…. maybe even some Jeremy Lin if this game gets out of hand… congrats on the new little member of DFSR family
Why is the optimum so high on BroLo? I also find it interesting that it fades the game with the highest O/U in GS/WAS. Hesitant to take BroLo.
Ooof – should’ve listened
Any thoughts on good punts at C tonight? Jefferson maybe? Or is Mahimi the safest way to go?
I like Mozgov as a PUNT if he gets the start.
I really like that big fat red “1” by Gortat against GS for low % picked.
I’m rolling Mahimi. Pretty sure I could get 10/10 against the Bulls 🙂
I think everyone may be overthinking Irving today. Ok, so his girlfriend is having problems and is on a 96 hour hold. So, this means he cannot take leave to see her, she’s not dead so no funeral and the guy makes millions to put a ball in a basket… I’ve had bad days too, but still had to do my job. I’m no pro but IMO I believe he will be at his projected points. Career/situation he has no control over, team/situation he has no control over Finals/situation he has no control over. I’d save the money and not line up Curry.
For those who play year long just announced Jrue holiday done for the season.
Can Nicholson/Orlando be counted on for decent production given their 2 bigs guys are out tonight. What you think?
Im curiouis should i upgrade to pro, and if so, what are the benefits?
Hopefully we get some news here soon. Optimizer spitting out some names I don’t really love. Hoping some late punt plays like we got last night helps clear some things up.
Sitting here thinking the same thing.
what about kemba
Grant, Noel, Holmes all out. Glad I don’t have to pull Landry from my lineups because there’s not much else in the low end at PF
Think Carl Landry over Aaron Gordon to save $1,000.00 is worth it/safe?
I actually think Landry is safer than Gordon.
@DJ – Even with the almost inevitable blow-out?
I take the value where I can in situations like this. I don’t worry as much about blowouts as most.
Curry, Larkin, Harden, Smith, George, Barnes, Love, Ibaka, Mahinmi…Thoughts?
Thad out, does that make Thomas Robinson appealing at all? I now he’s had a big game or two when given minutes, but not sure how Thad’s absence affects the rotation with Brook still around…
8 game pattern for beverly, high low high low high low high low, he’s due for a good game tonight
Jeremy Lin out!
and here come the punt plays 🙂 Just like last night looked like 300 might be enough and then late news will free up a bunch of cheap-o guys to run with the the big guns and were headed for high 300s again.
Durant, Ibaka OUT!
If Durant out who becomes the play?
I’m guessing that puts Westbrook above Harden now.
It does, though I’m inclined to play both with the cheaper option available elsewhere.
Who are must plays on OKC? Waiters is obvious but who else?
Courtney Lee and Mahinmi, or Dion Waiters and Kanter?
I wouldn’t call Waiters a must, must. I will play him but he’s not the safest guy in the world. No one else for me.
If Ibaka’s out does that make Kanter a must play?
Without Ibaka or Durant, westbrook doesn’t have many options to gain assists and Detroit is pretty good defensively at home, and OKC is on a back to back on the road. I think OKC might get killed early and westbrook won’t come close to reaching his numbers. I’d pass.
Kanter seems like a strong play given he will soak up a ton of Ibaka’s minutes.
The problem with Kanter is he’s such a defensive liability that OKC can’t keep him on the court for tons of minutes.
And I’m also not completely sold on the idea that Kanter and Adams will be on the court at the same time.
I was sold on Mahinmi until Durant toasted my line-up. Now I’m contemplating Howard.
Shumpert starting and I’m weary – liking Love and Thompspon…what do you guys think?
doug is westbrook a must play
Yes
OKC going to small to start.
Westbrook
Singler
Waiters
Roberson
Adams
is it wise to fade westbrook in gap’s since he will be so highly owned?
Waiters or J.R. Smith?
Hard to imagine there’s any middle ground for Westbrook. Dudes either going to go for 70 or OKC has no one else that can score and Westbrook essentially gets a night off in a blowout.
Wish I ran multiple lineups. REALLY tempting to fade Westbrook.
shane larkin getting the start according root. Thoughts?
Oof. Thomas Robinson showing up a lot with only 25 minutes of projection. I’m rolling with it
T. Rob or Waiters in until spot on DK?
Neither are safe. Waiters higher floor, Robinson higher ceiling
Ended up fading the big dogs for some balance since I didn’t love the SF and SG punts so much. Best of luck to everyone tonight! Let’s win some $$$$$
Using some FanDuel points with this..
Rose
Irving
Thompson
Ellis
Batum
George
Love
Robinson
Mahinmi
Oh lord you are throwing money away. No Russ at probably 92% in cash is a death sentence. Hope thats for GPP
Yes, dont ever play cash games.
None? Ever? people overthink it wanting to bag a tourney. Just win a few double ups in a row betting a good amount of money. I’ve won thousands in double ups i split my cash to tourney 95/5 but hey if it works for you it works.
Nope, same reason I don’t play blackjack 🙂 If I win I want to win. Won an entire night ( all 10 GPP entries) in September that would take a decade to make up playing $10-$20 a night in double-ups.
And I’m not 100% gpp. Do play events for tickets.
yeah betting 10-20 dollars it would. I’m talking 200-300 a night in cash or more depending on how much you bet. Returns are much safer and better I bet. but thats awesome you took down 10 gpps congrats.
Rolling with the optimizer tonight good luck everyone
I’m going higher ceiling!! Its a tourney!! Went with Larkin, Harden, Covington, Love, Mahinmi, Westbrook, Landry, T.Rob on DK. Good luck everyone!! Here we gooo!!
I’m with you Wayne, rolling with the Optimizer but I’m a little scared, ha.
This is the chalkiest I’ve seen our optimal lineup run this year
Irving 86
Westbrook 72
Harden 60
JR 56
Morris 30
Cov 70
Love 91
TRob 47
Mahinmi 34
Is that good are bad ? Safe to break even hard to win tourneys??
Wow Love 59% owned in the big $2 tourney. That’s the highest I’ve ever seen in that tourney and I play it every night.
TROB 4.5x in the first q and only about 47% in my double ups. If he stays at a modest pace here on out. that 53% is dead money
This has been my first basketball season with fanduel. We still play for the playoffs right? Planning my last few weeks on how risky I should be before I have to shut it down may 1 in Texas
Damn, in the single entry And One GPP I’m one of 25 people with the same LU. Damn you optimizer lol…hope we at least cash tonight and break even
Does it make sense to upgrade to the pro from the basic? Im on the fence
In my opinion it depends on how much you bet. If you play everyday and bet a good amount then yes. If you play only a few days a week and bet like 5-10 dollars a night i’m not sure it’s worth it. I just recently upgraded and am loving it though.
I agree with Peter. If you aren’t playing much each night I wouldn’t pay for any optimizer. $30 is a lot to make up at $5 a night since you wont win every night.
I just up graded today. Makes things a lot easier. Try it for a month and see what you think.