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Daily Fantasy Basketball Injury News and Updates for FanDuel and DraftKings - 3/28/16
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
Not a whole heck of a lot. Most of the relevant news is packed into the next section. I'll update this throughout the day as updates come through. It's early yet. A whole lot more now than when I published this about an hour ago.
Oh boy. We've had some news.
Cousins, Gay and Rondo are all out
Holy moly. This is huge news and basically takes the top three offensive weapons out of the picture for the Kings. Darren Collison enters close to must play territory as does Koufos and possibly Cauley-Stein. Will be digging more into how this is likely to shake out, but for now know the Kings are a different team.
Update: See below, Kawhi is out
Update: Tyson Chandler and Jon Leuer will play
What We're Waiting to Know
Demarcus Cousins is doubtful
This news comes very early which makes me think he doesn't play tonight. This would have major effects on the Kings' starting lineup and overall playing time. In the past Rudy Gay's been a major contributor when Boogie's sat. But that hasn't been the case of late and he hasn't seen a minutes increase when the big man is shelved. The usage bump is real over the course of the season. But I can understand being hesitant about playing Gay. Collison and Rondo also see usage bumps (something in the range of 10-15% depending on the source). I do think Gay represents a value play in the sense that folks are scared off of his production, but I understand not wanting to go there. Update: Cousins is now expected to play
Will Tyson Chandler and/ or Jon Leuer play?
This news has a pretty major impact on potential lineups tonight. If neither were to go Mirza Teletovic becomes darn close to a must start on this slate. He played 32 minutes last game and went 17/8 at a low tier salary. He'd be in all of my lineups if I new for sure the other two bigs were sitting. It's an 8PM EST start so I think there's some chance we know ahead of the main slate lineup lock. This though is another example of why playing multiple slates for NBA is a great natural hedge. Our optimizer allows you to run lineups for different game times. If the news comes late, run some turbo lineups with Mirza in there. Update: Tyson Chandler and Jon Leuer will play
Will Kawhi play?
He's sat out the last couple of games and is questionable tonight. Kyle Anderson would stand to see minutes in the high 20's in the start, though I don't think he's a fantastic DFS play because he doesn't figure much in the offense with the other Spurs back. Tony Parker sees a definite usage jump with Kawhi off the court, something in the 20% range and would make an especially nice DraftKings option. Update: Kawhi, Tony Parker and Tim Duncan are out. Kyle Anderson will see the minutes at the three, but the biggest beneficiary is probably Aldridge who sees a big bump in usage with all three of those guys off the court. He dominates the possession.
Will Deron Williams play?
He was ruled out well in advance of yesterday's game and I think that would make him lean more towards doubtful for this game. With him off the court the biggest minutes' beneficiary has been Raymond Felton who's seen 38 and 35 minutes in that last two games. J.J. Barea's been the more popular play but I think you'd see that shift tonight if D-Will sat again. Felton's been the primary ballhandler with J.J. and Harris rotating between the two.
Will Jrue Holiday play?
Man the Pelicans are such a mess though it's mostly bad luck as they've been just decimated by injuries this season. If Holiday didn't play tonight you'd see increased minutes from Frazier and Douglas, but Alonzo Gee's also been playing a ton of minutes from the shooting guard while the former two guys have rotated the point guard duties. Gee is an excellent DraftKings play at the minimums if Jrue sat.
The "Every Lineup" Guys
Russell Westbrook - FD 10600 DK 10400
Opponent - TOR
FD Proj. Pts - 54.16 DK Proj. Pts - 55.88
Kevin Durant - FD 10300 DK 10000
Opponent - TOR
FD Proj. Pts - 48.79 DK Proj. Pts - 51.61
I'm trying to remember the last time he played that I didn't want to lock him into my cash game lineups. It's been awhile and won't change tonight. With cheaper options on the board to offset costs and this game projected to stay close with a 210 total I don't see a reason to move away from Russ' floor.
Similarly, Durant falls much into the same category as Westbrook. I don't think his floor is quite as high, but stacking these two in the game for 50/50 purposes gives you such an implied baseline that I really can't see getting away from it. If they are showing up in all lineups this early there's almost nothing that can happen with news that will change it.
Kristaps Porzingis - FD 6700 DK 6100
Opponent - NOP
FD Proj. Pts - 34.86 DK Proj. Pts - 35.96
He's really looking like an "everywhere" guy. The minutes are headed in the right direction and that's been the only question mark for him this year. He's still priced like a guy playing 25-28 a night, but now he's running 31+ and that projects him to crush his prices against a Pelican team that can't stop anyone. He's an especially great play in DraftKings.
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.
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
- Raul Neto, Deron Williams: (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
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Thoughts on this lineup tonight on Fanduel? Westbrook,Barea,Hood,LaVine,Durant, turner,cauley-stein,porzinis,horford. Any sugestion?
Kawhi is out! Duncan out! Aldridge must play!
I wouldn’t call him a must-play only because there is other potential PF value out there. But he’s very strong yes.
If Koufus starts he is a must start right?
What’s your guys’ opinion on Maurice Harkless? Dude has been on fire since entering the starting lineup a few games ago.
Agreed. His minutes are up there which help, but the on fire piece is what scares me. Last two games he’s shooting like 60% which is well above his averages. Good play, but Stotts been known to jockey around minutes.
I don’t think he’s a must start, no
Deron Williams has been ruled out for a while now. He was sent back to Dallas for an MRI.
Cousins is probably to play.
Do you fade Russ with so much value at PG today?
Not me. I’m playing Westbrook in every lineup for cash games
I notice the optimal has Parker and Duncan in, are they in now, or is it just too early to start updating???
How do you say your optimal lineup killed it on FD last night ? I must be doing it wrong because I ran the 30 minute prior and 15 minute prior and won nothing . Could you please explain I signed up for the pro and really think in doing it wrong
The optimal lineup last night I don’t think changed in the last 30 minutes.
Barea
Wall
Harden
Matthews
George
Porter
Randle
Gortat
This lineup scored 289.5 and cashed all formats. Was this not the lineup you saw?
Forgot Cauley-Stein at PF
I combined 1 and 3 like you wrote yesterday sorry I forgot .
Does WCS still have value if Boogie plays? Or is Ed Davis a better cheap option over WCS if Boogie plays?
Thoughts on Rudy Gobert tonight? I know he’s been slumping but a matchup with the Lakers and a decreased price seems to good to pass up
Is it possible to get a source for some of this injury news in the article?
I’m seeing reports that the “shutdown” talk around Cousins is premature, but that they still aren’t expecting him to play tonight since it is the second night of a back to back. I have not seen the words doubtful nor probable used to describe his situation (which are being thrown around a lot on here). The info i’m referencing comes from rotoworld – http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/1715/demarcus-cousins/1
If Cousins is indeed “expecting to play”, where does that info come from? Your guys best guess? Another article i’m missing?
Thanks
Sorry to write the same question twice, but is Tony Parker suddenly playing today? If not, might want to get him out of the optimal DK lineups, haven’t checked FD…
Brendon, from what i’ve seen, Duncan, Parker, Leonard and Ginobili are all out tonight. It was announced over the weekend that the guys resting Saturday would also rest Monday (Aldridge excluded, he rested saturday but is back today). I use rotoworld.com for all my injury news.
Seems like there is some conflicting information getting thrown around today so probably a good idea to double check multiple news sources
Rondo cousins gay are out
Cousins gay and rondo out
Cousins, Rondo, and Gay out tonight for SAC
well its official, BOOGIE, RONDO and GAY all of them OUT!!!! COLLISON, CASSIPI, KOUFOS, and STEIN, lets win some money!
Leonard Parker Duncan and gino all out to per the roto ap
And there we go, questions answered. Good luck to all tonight.
Ok, then DFSR, please get Parker out of your #1 lineup, or if this is just on my side, please let me know people…
Yup. Parker out. Had misread that piece of news and he didn’t come through our injury feed as out. Taken care of.
Cool, thanks!!!
@doug How do you feel about Evan Turner tonight?
Hey Doug . Who has a better match up since boogie is out. Mason or punt with koufous for a center position
Thoughts on Westbrook, LaVine, Durant, Porzingis, Koufos, Collison, David West, and Robin Lopez for Draft Kings
Decent wouldn’t run it in a 50-50 @andrewchen
Does anyone know if Evan Turner is playing the 2 or 3 with Crowder out?
What would you run for a 50/50? I’m new to this trying to figure out how to make the best lineups for each game type @DwayneSingletary
Got a lil busy huh, Doug! Baseball is almost here!!!
Definitely. Today was nuts. Working on MLB projections while also updating NBA. This is our busiest time of year without a doubt. Good news is we have readers who are all over the news. It really helps actually.
I just signed up for pro where do I find optimal lineups on mobile format?
Sweeeeeett. Going to see the Royals as much as I can this year. Thanks for everything DFSR.
Man all this news almost makes this a fade day. Just too many punt plays means we are likely headed for 400fp and cash lines over 300fp. A safe lineup probably gets you 285-305 and that might not be enough. Perfect day for single/limited entry.
Shocked Aldridge isn’t an every lineup guy. Put up almost 60fp against MEM 3 days ago and that was with Duncan playing.
Rubio or Knight?
Knight
I use the basic paid optimizer and do ok. I’m runoff l thinking of upgrading. Does the pro optimizer recommend different players or does it just make sorting through the players easier?
Thanks
Matt
It makes lineup creation easier in that you aren’t fiddling with salaries but instead choosing a lane and letting the program do the heavy lifting
isiah or lilliard?
Dragic OUT!
Just made wade a contrarian to mccolum…but i think wade will be the center of the offense for the heat so hes a must play in my book..his usage is a ridonculous 31 and projected for 30 min…and against a weak defender in BKN…cmon!
And another one bites the Dragic…. so did Josh Richardson just shoot up as a must play yall??
Not a must play, no. Solid, though.
thoughts on amir johnson?
Especially on DK for Richardson as a SG, which was looking kinda weak to me considering back to backs etc…
@dirty You might be right on with Richardson. I think it also helps Wade. I also think Norman Powell is a great play with T. Ross out. $3200 on DK.
Although perhaps minutes could be in question with Powell.
Richardson or Felton?
Collision or Felton fd double up? Aldridge/WCS or prozingis/dieng? Thsnks
Feeling kinda nervous with so much Zinger exposure. Feels like i never pick him on the right day. I’ll just close my eyes and hope it works.
Westbrook
Felton——i feel hes just a better player over barea
Matthews
Durant
Stein
Zinger
LOCKED DOWN and MUST plays for me tonight
Holiday playing
Boban STARTING!
Westbrook,Felton, Hayward, Aldridge, Koufos, Collision, Zinger, Wade. First time using the optimizer. Let’s see how it goes!!
Boban starting – the system is going to like him over Koufos even on like 20 minutes, but we feel that Koufos is safer. FWIW.
Thoughts on amir Johnson
What a mess!!
Im having a hard time with C.
Asik, Koufos, Boban, or just… Towns?
Doug, Thoughts on Evan turner?
Not for me tonight with some of the other value.
wade or CJ?
he is not anywhere near his brother in terms of talent but I see a gradual improvement from Seth Curry and with the possibility that an undermanned Sac team gets run out of the building tonight there is potential for more minutes for the brother of Steph named Seth to do show a bit more of his own talents -3,600 on FD makes an easy punt play for me
Wade over McCollum? ?
I think so. Wade gets a massive usage bump when Dragic off court.
I’m taking the top system lineup on FD and splitting C between Koufos and Boban. Think both are fine plays for the price.
WADE
We good to lock in Number one? What else can happen in 12 min?! lol
I think so. Like I said, I think Koufos is safer than Boban but system is going to love Boban at those projected minutes
If you think Koufos plays 31 minutes (rather than 30 we have him for), then that’s the lineup. It’s that close.
doug do you like amir Johnson
Not on this slate, no
Locked in
Westbrook
Felton
Wade
Lavine
Durant
Turner
Cauley-Stein
Aldridge
Koufos
Hoping to turn the tides. Had a rough run of late.
Winning lineup….
Rubio
Lowry
Anthony
Richardson
Jordan
Harkless
Koufos
Aldridge
Faried is playing…
Chandler 0.9 % owned!
Any opinions on a Mavs punt play? Devin Harris, Dwight Powell, Justin Anderson?
On draftkings would you start WCS or Koufos?
David West. thanks a lot Spurs. head in palms
Ugh Zach lavine cmon man
You guys have nailed it so far tonight
371 for me tonight
You guys nailed it again!!!$$$$
Thanks!
Dj what lineup did you run
Westbrook
Barea
Booker
Matthews
Durant
Kyle Anderson
Aldridge
Porzingis
Lopez
My 2nd lineup had 359:
Knight
Collison
Wade
Richardson
Wiggins
Casspi
Aldridge
Millsap
Jordan (still playing)
Final lineup 328
As expected some giant scores. Had some points I needed to use on FanDuel so swung for some mega tickets. 342 and that still wasn’t high enough. Crazy!
I won a mega ticket, how does it work ?
you’ll get a lineup auto loaded into your lineup page day of ( usually a bunch of injured guys) just fill it out like normal and win some money 🙂
Thanks !