We have already had our first injury bomb of the day with the news that Kyrie Irving has been ruled out. Of course, that opens up some value options in Boston but be sure to continue to watch for injury news updates on a variety of other players leading up to tipoff on Monday’s seven-game slate and then check out the What If matrix to see who to benefits.
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 tipoff, 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.
NBA What If – Monday, March 5
| Team | Player | Status | If OUT |
| Bucks | Tyler Zeller | Questionable | Thon Maker (minutes) John Henson (minutes) |
| Bulls | Paul Zipser | Doubtful | David Nwaba (minutes) Denzel Valentine (minutes) |
| Cavaliers | Tristan Thompson | Out | Larry Nance (minutes)* Ante Zizic (minutes) Jordan Clarkson (usage) |
| Cavaliers | Jeff Green | Out | Larry Nance (minutes)* Cedi Osman (minutes/usage) |
| Celtics | Kyrie Irving | Out | Terry Rozier (minutes/usage)* Marcus Smart (minutes/usage)* Al Horford (usage) Jayson Tatum (usage) |
| Grizzlies | Mario Chalmers | Out | Ben McLemore (minutes/usage)* Kobi Simmons (minutes) Wayne Selden (minutes/usage) |
| Grizzlies | Andrew Harrison | Out | Ben McLemore (minutes/usage)* Kobi Simmons (minutes/usage) Wayne Selden (minutes/usage) |
| Grizzlies | Tyreke Evans | Out | Ben McLemore (minutes)* Kobi Simmons (minutes/usage) Wayne Selden (minutes) Chandler Parsons (usage) Marc Gasol (usage) |
| Grizzlies | Wayne Selden | Probable | Ben McLemore (minutes)* Kobi Simmons (minutes) |
| Grizzlies | Marc Gasol | Questionable | Deyonta Davis (minutes) Jarell Martin (minutes/usage)* JaMychal Green (minutes/usage)* Wayne Selden (usage) Kobi Simmons (usage) |
| Grizzlies | Deyonta Davis | Questionable | Jarell Martin (minutes)* Ivan Rabb (minutes) |
| Heat | Wayne Ellington | Doubtful | Dwyane Wade (minutes/usage)* Rodney McGruder (minutes) Tyler Johnson (minutes)* Justise Winslow (minutes)* |
| Heat | Bam Adebayo | Probable | Kelly Olynyk (minutes)* James Johnson (minutes) Dwyane Wade (usage) |
| Heat | Tyler Johnson | Questionable | Dwyane Wade (minutes/usage)* Rodney McGruder (minutes) Wayne Ellington (minutes/usage) Justise Winslow (minutes)* |
| Jazz | None | ||
| Lakers | Brandon Ingram | Doubtful | Kyle Kuzma (minutes)* Brook Lopez (usage) Julius Randle (usage) Isaiah Thomas (usage)* |
| Lakers | Josh Hart | Out | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (minutes)* Isaiah Thomas (minutes/usage)* Ivica Zubac (usage) |
| Magic | None | ||
| Pacers | Darren Collison | Questionable | Cory Joseph (minutes/usage) Joe Young (minutes) Victor Oladipo (usage)* Domantas Sabonis (usage) |
| Pistons | None | ||
| Spurs | LaMarcus Aldridge | Questionable | Davis Bertans (minutes) Joffrey Lauvergne (minutes) Rudy Gay (usage)* Dejounte Murray (usage) Pau Gasol (usage)* Manu Ginobili (usage) |
| Suns | Tyson Chandler | Rest? | Alex Len (minutes)* Marquese Chriss (minutes) |
| Trail Blazers | Moe Harkless | Questionable | Evan Turner (minutes) Pat Connaughton (minutes) Shabazz Napier (minutes) Damian Lillard (usage)* |
