Friday features a seven-game NBA slate and there are definetly some injury situations to keep an eye on leading up to tip-off. We could also have the return of a couple players, Rudy Gobert and D’Angelo Russell. If they play than use the matrix below to determine which players will be negatively impacted which would be the reverse of who gains if they sit out.
This article will attempt to list all of the relevant injury situations to monitor for the day’s NBA slate and provide guidance on which players will benefit with either an increase in minutes or usage or both if that player is ruled out. I will also place an asterisk (*) by players that I think are worth DFS consideration if that player is ruled out. Players that have been out for at least five consecutive games I will not list as general playing time and usage patterns should be established.
This will NOT be an interactive article that is continually updated throughout the day as I hope to capture all of the potential relevant injury situations that could impact DFS lineups for the night and pre-determine what players benefit. Ideally you monitor late-breaking news leading up to tip off, find out a player is ruled out and come check the matrix below to see who the players are you should consider for your DFS lineups based on that news.
This article series will be a work in progress and I welcome any and all feedback on its usefulness and format either in the Comments below or directly to me on Twitter @Rotopilot.
NBA What If – Friday, January 19
| Team | Player | Status | If OUT |
| Grizzlies | James Ennis | Out | Wayne Selden (minutes) Tyreke Evans (usage)* |
| Grizzlies | Andrew Harrison | Questionable | Mario Chalmers (minutes) Kobi Simmons (minutes/usage) |
| Grizzlies | Brandan Wright | Doubtful | Deyonta Davis (minutes) JaMychal Green (minutes)* |
| Grizzlies | Marc Gasol | Probable | Brandan Wright (minutes) Deyonta Davis (minutes) JaMychal Green (minutes/usage)* Tyreke Evans (usage)* |
| Heat | Tyler Johnson | Out | Wayne Ellington (minutes)* Justise Winslow (minutes) Goran Dragic (usage)* Hassan Whiteside (usage)* Josh Richardson (usage)* |
| Jazz | Rudy Gobert | Probable | Derrick Favors (minutes)* Ekpe Udoh (minutes) Rodney Hood (usage)* |
| Jazz | Jonas Jerebko | Questionable | Derrick Favors (minutes)* |
| Kings | Skal Labissiere | Questionable | Zach Randolph (minutes/usage) Kosta Koufos (minutes/usage) |
| Knicks | None | ||
| Lakers | Kyle Kuzma | Questionable | Julius Randle (minutes)* Larry Nance (minutes)* Brandon Ingram (usage)* Corey Brewer (usage) Jordan Clarkson (usage)* |
| Lakers | Brandon Ingram | Questionable | Josh Hart (minutes)* Corey Brewer (minutes) Larry Nance (minutes)* Jordan Clarkson (usage)* Brook Lopez (usage) Tyler Ennis (usage) Julius Randle (usage) |
| Lakers | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | Doubtful | Josh Hart (minutes/usage)* Jordan Clarkson (minutes)* Larry Nance (usage)* Tyler Ennis (usage) |
| Lakers | Lonzo Ball | Out | Tyler Ennis (minutes) Jordan Clarkson (minutes/usage)* Gary Payton (minutes) Julius Randle (usage)* Larry Nance (usage)* |
| Nets | D’Angelo Russell | Probable | Spencer Dinwiddie (minutes/usage) Caris LeVert (minutes/usage) Allen Crabbe (minutes/usage) |
| Nuggets | Jamal Murray | Questionable | Will Barton (minutes/usage)* Emmanuel Mudiay (minutes/usage)* Trey Lyles (usage) Mason Plumlee (usage)* |
| Pacers | None | ||
| Pistons | Avery Bradley | Questionable | Luke Kennard (minutes) Langston Galloway (minutes)* Andre Drummond (usage) Tobias Harris (usage) Ish Smith (usage) |
| Pistons | Luke Kennard | Questionable | Avery Bradley (minutes)* Langston Galloway (minutes/usage)* |
| Pistons | Stanley Johnson | Questionable | Reggie Bullock (minutes)* Avery Bradley (usage) Ish Smith (usage) |
| Pistons | Reggie Bullock | Questionable | Stanley Johnson (minutes) Anthony Tolliver (minutes) |
| Raptors | Fred VanVleet | Questionable | Delon Wright (minutes) |
| Spurs | Manu Ginobili | Out | Danny Green (minutes) Bryn Forbes (minutes) Dejounte Murray (usage) Patty Mills (usage) |
| Spurs | Kawhi Leonard | Out | Kyle Anderson (minutes) Danny Green (minutes) Tony Parker (usage) LaMarcus Aldridge (usage)* |
| Suns | TJ Warren | Probable | Josh Jackson (minutes)* Troy Daniels (minutes) Tyson Chandler (usage) Tyler Ulis (usage) Alex Len (usage) Isaiah Canaan (usage) |
| Suns | Marquese Chriss | Out | Dragan Bender (minutes)* Isaiah Canaan (usage) Alex Len (usage) |
| Wizards | None |
