5 days agoCleveland Cavaliers forward
Cedi Osman continued his stellar play in Saturday's 124-105 loss to the Heat, chipping in 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in 38 minutes of play. The 24-year-old has now scored in double digits during five of the last seven games, and he led the team in scoring in this game. The 2015 pick has certainly proved his worth in the starting lineup. Roll with him in another matchup against Miami on Monday.
--Rishi Patel - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoCharlotte Hornets power forward/center
PJ Washington appears to have regained his previous offensive form to open the second half, collecting a team-best 16 points during Saturday’s loss to the Brooklyn Nets. After not having led the team in scoring since Dec. 31, Washington has reeled off back-to-back team-leading scoring efforts. In addition to sinking four threes, he added seven rebounds and dished out four assists across his game-high 37 minutes Saturday. Back healthy and firmly entrenched in the starting rotation, Washington could be on the precipice of gaining a continuous role with the Hornets down the final six-plus weeks of the year.
--Jesse Borek - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoBrooklyn Nets point guard/small forward
Caris Levert was the team’s catalyst on both ends of the floor during Saturday’s win over the Charlotte Hornets. Levert went for 17 points on 7-for-19 shooting overall, including 3-for-10 from behind the arc. In addition to his scoring, he also collected a career-best six steals to go along with three rebounds and two assists. Along with
Spencer Dinwiddie, Levert figures to benefit immensely from
Kyrie Irving (shoulder) undergoing season-ending surgery. Levert hasn’t been a beacon of field-goal efficiency thus far in 2019-20 (39.6 percent), but he likely possesses enough value to justify being rostered in the majority of formats over the final two months.
--Jesse Borek - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoBrooklyn Nets shooting guard/small forward
Garrett Temple logged a double-double with points and rebounds for the first time in his career during Saturday’s victory over the Charlotte Hornets. Temple played 26 minutes off the bench and collected 15 points to go along with a career-high 11 rebounds, marking just the second double-double of his 564-game NBA career. During his age-33 campaign, Temple has had an offensive revival, on pace for new career-bests in scoring (10.2) and threes made (2.0) on a nightly basis. With
Kyrie Irving (shoulder) out for the remainder of the year, Temple is one of multiple Nets who could vie for an increased offensive role moving forward.
--Jesse Borek - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoCharlotte Hornets point/shooting guard
Devonte' Graham compiled another underwhelming stat line during Saturday’s loss to the Brooklyn Nets, shooting 1-for-10 from the field overall. After opening the second half with an 0-for-7 shooting performance Thursday, Graham finished with just six points against the Nets, adding two assists and two steals. The recent two-game stretch has been the weakest of the year for Graham, who remains in contention for Most Improved Player honors. The Hornets have little reason to shy away from Graham down the stretch as they look to further his development. He next faces a stout Pacers defense Tuesday, whom he has averaged 23 points per game against in three prior meetings this season.
--Jesse Borek - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoBrooklyn Nets small/power forward
Timothe Luwawu had everything working on the offensive end during Saturday’s win over the Charlotte Hornets, collecting a season-high 21 points on 7-for-12 shooting. With Brooklyn running away with the victory in the second half, Luwawu took on an increased offensive role, also adding four rebounds across his 23 minutes. With
Kyrie Irving (shoulder) done for the season, Brooklyn will have to find new sources of offensive punch. Luwawu has never been known for his offensive contributions, but how Brooklyn’s rotations shake out moving forward will largely determine his viability for a case of being rostered.
--Jesse Borek - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoPhiladelphia 76ers point guard/small forward
Ben Simmons (back) missed the first game of the second half due to a back ailment Thursday and after just five minutes on Saturday he departed to the locker room, only to be ruled out for the remainder of the contest. During his time on the floor, he made both of his field goals, finishing with five points, two rebounds, one assist and one block. In his absence, the trio of
Alec Burks,
Shake Milton and
Josh Richardson are all likely to pitch in with ball-handling duties. Departing so soon into the outing likely doesn’t bode well for Simmons’ status Monday when the team faces Atlanta.
--Jesse Borek - RotoBallerSource: Serena Winters
5 days agoDallas Mavericks point/shooting guard
Jalen Brunson (shoulder) departed Saturday’s contest versus the Atlanta Hawks after less than a minute and has been deemed unavailable to return. Brunson made the first shot of the game, but sustained the ailment on a foul, missing the free throw before heading to the locker room.
Delon Wright entered the starting five to begin the second half and should see extended run with
Luka Doncic (ankle) also sidelined. Brunson has seen his minutes and spot in the starting five fluctuate during February, with a shoulder injury to his non-shooting arm likely further complicating the matter. His next chance at getting back on the floor comes Monday against Minnesota.
--Jesse Borek - RotoBallerSource: Dallas Mavericks
5 days agoPortland Trail Blazers small/power forward
Mario Hezonja (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday’s game versus the Detroit Pistons. The left ankle sprain has hampered Hezonja for two weeks, paving the way for
Trevor Ariza to continue seeing a significant workload on the wing, in addition to
Nassir Little getting additional run off the bench. Hezonja would be particularly valuable without
Damian Lillard (groin) available for the time being, but his offensive infusion will be sidelined until at least Tuesday against the Celtics.
--Jesse Borek - RotoBallerSource: Jamie Goldberg
5 days agoMinnesota Timberwolves point/shooting guard
D'Angelo Russell (rest, knee) will miss Sunday’s contest versus the Denver Nuggets. Russell missed practice Saturday reportedly due to knee maintenance, with the team opting to keep him out of the mix for the first leg of a back-to-back.
Jordan McLaughlin figures to enter the starting five in Russell’s place and see a considerable workload at the point guard spot. Additionally,
Malik Beasley and
Naz Reid figure to see large offensive roles with
Karl-Anthony Towns (wrist) also unavailable. Russell can firmly be considered questionable for Monday’s matchup against Dallas.
--Jesse Borek - RotoBallerSource: Jace Frederick
5 days agoBoston Celtics point guard
Kemba Walker (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday’s contest versus the Los Angeles Lakers, the second consecutive outing that he will spend on the sidelines.
Marcus Smart entered the starting five in his place Friday and collected a double-double, as he figures to retain a significant role for the club so long as Walker remains out. Additionally, the trio of
Jayson Tatum,
Gordon Hayward and
Jaylen Brown all figure to see their shot opportunities increased. Boston head coach Brad Stevens has spoken about being cautious as it pertains to Walker’s injury, with his next chance to get back into action coming Tuesday against Portland.
--Jesse Borek - RotoBallerSource: Boston Celtics
5 days agoMilwaukee Bucks shooting guard/small forward
Kyle Korver (back) will miss at least the next three games as head coach Mike Budenholzer confirmed Saturday that the veteran would not join the team for the upcoming road trip. Korver’s absence will stretch to at least five consecutive games, paving the way for
Donte Divincenzo and
Pat Connaughton to continue seeing an increased role off the bench. Aside from holding value in category formats due to his three-point marksmanship, Korver holds little season-long fantasy intrigue, with his next chance to return to action coming next Friday against Oklahoma City.
--Jesse Borek - RotoBallerSource: Matt Velazquez
5 days agoDallas Mavericks point/shooting guard
Seth Curry (knee) has been given the green light to take the floor for Saturday’s contest versus the Atlanta Hawks after having been deemed questionable throughout the day. With
Luka Doncic (ankle),
Kristaps Porzingis (rest) and
Willie Cauley-Stein (personal) all sidelined, Curry should see an increased offensive workload. Factor in Dallas’ lack of depth Saturday and Atlanta’s defensive woes, and Curry should see ample interest in DFS contests as he starts for the second consecutive outing.
--Jesse Borek - RotoBallerSource: Dallas Mavericks
5 days agoToronto Raptors point guard/small forward
Patrick McCaw (illness) is likely to miss his second straight game Sunday versus the Indiana Pacers, having been deemed doubtful to suit up. Without McCaw in the mix Friday,
OG Anunoby saw 39 minutes at the small forward slot, while
Terence Davis drew 25 minutes off the bench with the Raptors essentially keeping their rotation at eight players. McCaw himself has hardly been a notable fantasy asset for the vast majority of the year, but his absence funnels more shots and minutes to his teammates. Barring a last-minute pivot, McCaw’s next chance to get back into the mix comes Tuesday against Milwaukee.
--Jesse Borek - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
5 days agoIndiana Pacers shooting guard
Victor Oladipo (back) may have had his minutes limit removed for the second half of the season, but due to back spasms, he has been listed as doubtful to play in Sunday’s game versus the Toronto Raptors. Oladipo was limited to 25 minutes Friday due to the ailment, paving the way for
T.J. Warren to see a larger share of the offensive looks.
Jeremy Lamb figures to slot back into the starting five without Oladipo in the mix, giving Lamb DFS appeal, even as Indiana has been known to spread the offensive load around. Barring a significant change of fortune, the next opportunity that Oladipo will have to get back in action comes Tuesday against Charlotte.
--Jesse Borek - RotoBallerSource: J. Michael
5 days agoGolden State Warriors point guard/power forward
Draymond Green (pelvis) has been preemptively ruled out for Sunday’s game versus the New Orleans Pelicans. Green’s absence due to a right pelvic contusion marks his 14th time on the sidelines this year, and rookie
Eric Paschall figures to enter the starting five and benefit from both additional playing time and an up-tempo matchup. Green has packed the stat sheet over the last month, but his scoring output has wavered alongside his minutes, continuing to make him a risky DFS play as well as a finicky season-long option. His next chance to get back onto the floor comes Tuesday against Sacramento.
--Jesse Borek - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
5 days agoGolden State Warriors center
Marquese Chriss (calf) has been tagged as questionable to play Sunday versus the New Orleans Pelicans. Dealing with left calf soreness, Chriss’ absence could pave the way for
Kevon Looney and
Alen Smailagic to see the vast majority of minutes at the center slot. Since entering the starting lineup Jan. 24, Chriss has averaged 13.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in that 10-contest span, shooting 61.5 percent overall. As Golden State attempts to map out who will be apart of the equation come 2020-21, Chriss has made a favorable impression and proven himself to be a fantasy asset in a handful of formats over the final two months of the season.
--Jesse Borek - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
5 days agoLos Angeles Clippers power forward
Montrezl Harrell finished Saturday's 112-103 loss to Sacramento with his ninth double-double of the season, scoring 16 points on 5-for-9 shooting and notching 10 rebounds. He also had two assists, two steals, and one block during a good all-around performance. Harrell has come alive on the glass lately, with this being his second consecutive double-double. He's also getting more scoring opportunities while
Paul George (hamstring) is out. Harrell had one of his best scoring nights of the season with 28 points on Jan. 4 against the Grizzlies, who the Clippers face again on Monday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoMinnesota Timberwolves point/shooting guard
D'Angelo Russell (knee) was unable to suit up for practice Saturday, thus complicating his status ahead of Sunday’s meeting with the Denver Nuggets. The Timberwolves are already stretched thin due to the absence of
Karl-Anthony Towns (wrist), which has forced Russell to carry an extended offensive workload, alongside newcomers
Malik Beasley and Juancho Hernangomez. An absence from Russell would likely pave the way for
Jordan McLaughlin to enter the starting five and see a sizable role out of the backcourt. Due to the nature of Minnesota’s lineup construction with/without Russell in the mix, owners will want to make it a priority to check on his status prior to tip-off.
--Jesse Borek - RotoBallerSource: Dane Moore
5 days agoLos Angeles Clippers small forward
Kawhi Leonard scored a game-high 31 points against the Kings on Saturday, but his effort wasn't enough in an eventual 112-103 loss.
Lou Williams supported him with 24 points off the bench, while the rest of the team had a tough time. Leonard shot 10-for-23 from the field and 4-for-7 from behind the arc, adding eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals. He had free rein on offense, with
Paul George (hamstring) sitting out. The Clippers suddenly find themselves on a three-game losing streak, so they should be very amped up for Monday's matchup against Memphis. It's a pace-up spot for the Clippers, and Kawhi should be around the 30-point mark again.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoAtlanta Braves starter
Felix Hernandez tossed two scoreless innings without allowing a hit during Saturday's Grapefruit League win over the Baltimore Orioles. He walked one batter while striking out two. The 33-year-old is currently fighting for the last spot in the Braves starting rotation, and appearances like this will help his case. Nevertheless, Hernandez compiled a 15-27 record to go along with a 5.42 ERA over the past three seasons, so it will take a bit more for him to earn the trust of fantasy owners. If the former Cy Young winner does get a spot in the rotation, he is a valid option in deeper mixed leagues and NL-only formats.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
5 days agoSacramento Kings point guard
De'Aaron Fox and guard/forward
Bogdan Bogdanovic crushed the Clippers on Saturday, combining for 40 points in a 112-103 win. Fox notched 20 points on 7-for-16 shooting and Bogdanovic got his by sinking eight of his 17 shots. He went 4-for-10 from downtown and added five rebounds with two assists and one steal. Fox had eight dimes with four rebounds and one steal. Bogdanovic has had a few awful outings recently, but he's remained in the starting unit with
Buddy Hield coming off the bench. The latter had a disappointing seven-point outing on Saturday. The Kings take on the Warriors next, a team that's struggled against backcourts all season long, so Fox and Bogdanovic, even Hield, will be in a potential smash spot on Tuesday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoMiami Heat point/shooting guard
Jimmy Butler (personal) becomes the latest star to be absent from play Saturday as his squad takes on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Without Butler in the mix,
Kendrick Nunn figures to take on an increased offensive role, while second unit members
Goran Dragic and
Andre Iguodala could also absorb some additional looks on the wing. An All-Star in his first season with the Heat, Butler has gotten off to a hot offensive start in February, shooting 52.1 percent from the field overall en route to 22.7 points per game. His next chance of getting back onto the floor comes Monday as the Heat run it back against the Cavs.
--Jesse Borek - RotoBallerSource: Ira Winderman
5 days agoSacramento Kings forward/center
Harry Giles navigated his way to his first career double-double in Saturday's win over the Clippers, scoring 14 points on 6-for-10 shooting and grabbing 12 rebounds. He also had a pair of assists and one block in 32 minutes as a starter. Giles, who finished off his performance with a monster alley-oop dunk, had now logged at least 20 minutes of action in four of his past five games, and it seems like the Kings are ready to give him an extended look. He gets a great matchup next against Golden State to build up even more confidence.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoSacramento Kings guard/forward
Kent Bazemore led the team in scoring against the Clippers on Saturday, finishing a 112-103 win with 23 points on 7-for-13 shooting. He sank two of three attempts from deep and added seven points from the line with eight attempts. Bazemore also did a great job on the defensive end with four steals and one block. He polished things off with six rebounds and one assist in 30 minutes off the bench. It took some time for Bazemore to adjust to his new surroundings, but he seems to have found his game now in Sacramento, going for 15-plus points in three of his past four games. He should get plenty of scoring opportunities again on Tuesday against the struggling Warriors.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoThe Green Bay Packers agreed to a three-year contract extension with kicker
Mason Crosby on Saturday, according to a source. Crosby has been with the Packers since he was drafted in 2007, and he missed just two field goals and one extra point in 2019. The veteran kicker will turn 36 before the start of the 2020 season, but he should remain fantasy relevant as at least a low-end fantasy kicker as long as the Packers offense remains effective under quarterback
Aaron Rodgers. Crosby finished last season with 106 fantasy points, which came in at 14th in the league.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Pro Football Talk - Michael David Smith
6 days agoNew York Yankees outfielder
Giancarlo Stanton (knee) will make his spring training debut on Monday, Feb. 24, along with fellow outfielder
Brett Gardner. This is in line with manager Aaron Boone’s comments from last Monday when Boone confirmed that Stanton is fully healthy. Stanton heads into the 2020 season after having played in just 18 games last year before being shut down with a knee injury, but the outfielder played in more than 150 games in both 2017 and 2018. If he can maintain his health this season, Stanton figures to once again be a force in one of the most impressive lineups in the major leagues, so fantasy owners should be encouraged by his continued health.
--Sam Chinitz - RotoBallerSource: Lindsey Adler
6 days agoWinnipeg Jets right wing Patrik Laine extended his point streak to four games on Saturday, scoring the team's second goal on a power play in a 4-2 loss to Philadelphia. Neal Pionk and Blake Wheeler provided the helpers, Josh Morrissey also scored for the Jets, who suffered their first loss in four games. Laine now has six points during the four-game stretch, taking his points tally for the season up to 59. The Finnish winger has bounced back nicely from last year's 50-point season, and he could be celebrating his first 80-point year in April if things go well. Laine gets a nice matchup against Buffalo on Sunday to extend his scoring streak further.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
6 days agoChicago Cubs relief pitcher
Brandon Morrow (chest) has suffered a right chest muscle strain and is considered day-to-day. The Cubs brought Morrow back on a minor league deal this offseason, but after missing the entire 2019 season, the injury prone right-hander will need to be healthy to have any chance of breaking camp with the big league squad. He can be avoided in all formats.
--Daniel Burdeen - RotoBallerSource: Mark Gonzales
6 days agoPhiladelphia Flyers defenseman Justin Braun recorded three assists in Saturday's 4-2 win over Winnipeg. Scott Laughton notched two first-period goals, while Sean Couturier and Tyler Pitlick also scored for Philly. Braun has now managed two games with three assists in his past four appearances, after registering only 10 assists in his first 51 games of the season. He's got some offensive ability, but Braun has never posted outstanding numbers, with his career-best 33 points coming in 2017-18. It's highly unlikely that he can sustain his current levels of performance, especially as he's stuck on the bottom pairing. He'll face his former team, San Jose, next on Tuesday, sitting on 19 points for the year.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
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