Fantasy Basketball Injury Updates for Week 3

November 3, 2021

Keith Cork's fantasy basketball injuries and NBA lineup updates for Week 3. Find injury replacements and set optimal NBA lineups for seasonal and DFS formats.

There was at least one major injury this week with Patrick Williams of the Bulls, but the fantasy implications there are a bit difficult to sort out. Quick note: If you're complaining about injuries, you're doing this wrong.

Unless your top one or two dogs go down, stop complaining and start scraping. You can get the guys to win your league while it's happening, it's not all about the draft!

We'll just be covering the stuff that has changed since I wrote this article last week because I know you've been following and taking copious notes since we began! These players are listed in the alphabetical order of the teams for which they play.

Short-Term Injuries for Fantasy Basketball

Kevin Huerter, SG/SF, Atlanta Hawks - Undisclosed

We'll start with the strangest one on the list as Kevin Huerter has been marked inactive but is not reportedly injured in any way. Whatever is going on with Red Velvet, I wish him the best. Huerter is reportedly going to return to the team for the next one, but it's not really clear. In his absence, Cam Reddish is certainly worth a roster spot until we figure out what is going on with Huerter.

Nicolas Claxton, C, Brooklyn Nets - Non-COVID Illness

With Claxton battling an illness and Paul Millsap out for unclear personal reasons, LaMarcus Aldridge slid into the starting lineup and is certainly worth a flier for teams in need of boards, points, blocks, and good field goal percentage. All the typical big man stats are on the table. Blake Griffin is worth a stream in deeper leagues but doesn't much outside of a handful of points and rebounds with the occasional three.

Isaac Okoro, SG, Cleveland Cavaliers - Hamstring

As Isaac Okoro watched from the sidelines with his hamstring injury, Lauri Markkanen managed 35 minutes and Cedi Osman managed 20 minutes. Not a whole lot to like here, but Okoro will reportedly miss "several" games, so adding Osman as a streamer for the week isn't out of the question.

Kristaps Porzingis, PF/C, Dalas Mavericks - Back

Kristaps Porzingis just can't stay healthy and he has already missed three games this season with this back issue. He's just been upgraded to questionable for their last game, and normally I'd say that Maxi Kleber would be worth a look as a speculative add, but Kleber left in their last game with his own back issue. Dorian Finney-Smith isn't rostered enough and is worth a look in the short term with some added responsibilities. He's a borderline guy even without KP and Kleber down. Reggie Bullock, Willie Cauley-Stein, and Moses Brown will all see some additional minutes, but none of these guys are worth a roster spot outside of Bullock for teams in need of threes in deeper leagues.

James Wiseman, C, Golden State Warriors - Knee

Just a quick update on James Wiseman who has been cleared to practice in full: He has no official timetable to return. He's not worth a stash by any stretch of the imagination, but those who were streaming Nemanja Bjelica can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Cut him for someone more promising here pretty soon.

Malcolm Brogdon, PG/SG, Indiana Pacers - Hamstring

Malcolm Brogdon is currently day-to-day, but T.J. McConnell should absolutely be rostered everywhere. He's worth a roster spot long term for teams desperate for steals and assists. With Caris LeVert back, it's hard to trust anyone else beyond T.J., even with Jeremy Lamb out currently.

Khris Middleton, SF/PF, Milwaukee Bucks - Health & Safety Protocols

It's unclear what the situation is exactly, but there's a potential here for Khris Middleton to miss weeks depending on a number of factors. Grayson Allen is a hold as they'll need his scoring and Jrue Holiday is still on the sidelines without a clear timetable for a return. Jordan Nwora might be worth a speculative add, but Bobby Portis might be the biggest winner here with all these wings sidelined in Milwaukee. He's only rostered in 43% of leagues and is just getting his legs under him this season. Go grab him. Rough start for the champs, but they'll be fine once they get healthy.

D'Angelo Russell, PG/SG, Minnesota Timberwolves - Ankle

D'Angelo Russell tweaked his ankle in last night's game, and he may be able to play through it or he might have to take a game or two off. Malik Beasley is the obvious benefactor here and deserves a stream for the ability to get hot in a hurry. Teams in need of points are going to need his services most. Patrick Beverley (calf) will be worth a look if he can suit up for the next one and D'Lo misses. Jordan McLaughlin started the second half without both of these guys in the lineup but is only worth a look in deep leagues.

Brandon Ingram, SF/PF, New Orleans Pelicans - Hip

Brandon Ingram is day-to-day but the Pelicans have an upcoming back-to-back coming up on Tuesday and Wednesday night. I'd imagine they sit him for one of the contests or at least take it very easy on him in at least one game. Zion Williamson is still out, which means the Pelicans are absolutely terrible right now and need all the help they can get. Everyone on the roster gets a boost with Ingram's massive usage missing, but especially Jonas Valanciunas and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Josh Hart is worth an add if we get news that Ingram is going to sit out another game, but he's not too enticing.

Devonte' Graham, PG/SG, New Orleans Pelicans - Left Abductor

Devonte' Graham is currently questionable for Tuesday's game, and it is a back-to-back. These guys are dropping like flies, but Tomas Satoransky might get some minutes if Graham has to miss either game. He's worth a look for points and assists if Graham sits.

Tobias Harris, SF/PF, Philadelphia 76ers - Health & Safety Protocols

He's going to miss at least the next three games as he has tested positive for COVID-19. It's an unfortunate development for the shorthanded Sixers, but Matisse Thybulle is worth a look for teams in need of defensive stats. Georges Niang is also worth a long look as someone who has great per-minute fantasy production. Both of these guys are worth a speculative add, while guys like Furkan Korkmax and Shake Milton would also be worth an add. It all depends on what kind of stats your team needs.

Danny Green, SG/SF, Philadelphia 76ers - Hamstring

Danny Green experienced tightness during last night's game and had to leave. If he remains on the sidelines for a while, that will help Shake Milton, Furkan Korkmaz, and Seth Curry in the meantime. Seth Curry should already be rostered, but Furkan would be worth a look if your waiver wire is thin. Not a huge upside play, but a nice source of threes, points, and assists, with good percentages.

Deandre Ayton, C, Phoenix Suns - Leg

Deandre Ayton has popped up as questionable for Tuesday with a leg contusion. If he's forced to miss some time, Jalen Smith, JaVale McGee, and Frank Kaminsky could see a bump in minutes. JaVale McGee is the most fantasy-relevant option here and is worth an add for teams that need rebounds, blocks, and FG%. However, he really doesn't play more than 15 minutes a game these days, so it will be interesting to see who draws the start. McGee is still the only one worth a look.

Pascal Siakam, PF/C, Toronto Raptors - Shoulder

We got a quick update on Pascal Siakam as he was assigned to the team's G-League team and then strangely recalled just hours later. It's been reported that he's still "weeks, not days" away though, so there's no rush to cut your Raptors bigs just yet unless there's a really enticing add on the waiver wire.

Scottie Barnes, SF, Toronto Raptors - Thumb

Scottie Barnes is just dealing with a sprained thumb, so he should be back soon. It was interesting to note that that people were wondering if Dalano Banton or Chris Boucher would get additional run with the rookie on the sidelines, but it turned out to be Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk who saw nearly 35 minutes. That might have had more to do with the matchup though as the Knicks are comfortable giving up threes to the opposition and Svi can certainly shoot them.

Davis Bertans, PF/C, Washington Wizards - Ankle

Davis Bertans has had a miserable season, and this latest injury doesn't help. He wasn't getting a ton of minutes, but his absence will mean more minutes for Corey Kispert and Deni Avdija. There aren't a whole lot of fantasy ramifications here.

Long Term Injuries for Fantasy Basketball

Patrick Williams, SF/PF, Chicago Bulls - Wrist

Ah, here's the big one. Patrick Williams was starting and playing 25 minutes per game, so it's a decent-sized role to fill when it comes to minutes. The problem is that Patrick Williams only sported a 9.6% usage rate for the season. What does this mean? It means that there just probably isn't enough offensive workload here to justify adding anyone and having a reasonable degree of certainty that they'll produce solid numbers. I've been a proponent of adding Javonte Green in roto leagues as he doesn't have bad percentages and he puts up defensive numbers at a nice rate, but Derrick Jones Jr. has admittedly looked better in the first two games without P Dubs and is probably most worthy of a speculative add if you need steals and blocks. The problem is his jump shot, and I do think that Javonte does end up having the better value long term. Ayo Dosunmu has emerged out of nowhere and is someone to keep your eye on as an up-and-coming rotational player for this Bulls squad.

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