One of the best ways to optimize your NBA lineups is to keep close track of potential scratches and to adapt quickly to changes. Every Wednesday and Friday, I'll give you a few things to watch for based on players with statuses that could indicate they won't play -- and what that could mean for adjustments to your lineup. I'll also answer questions on Twitter closer to lock @cfrelund.
Good luck!
If Knicks big man Kristaps Porzingis doesn't play...
Then consider the Knicks' Derrick Williams against the Hornets tonight. Charlotte ranks in the bottom third against opposing power forwards, and especially on FanDuel where he's under $4,000, Williams has an opportunity to exceed value even in a game where the Knicks are projected to score only 96 points (home underdogs by five points).
If the Hornets' Nicolas Batum sits and Jeremy Lin starts...
Then Lin would be a top low-cost option at slightly more than $4,000 on each site. Last night, he played 40 minutes and posted 21 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists, which was almost double his last nine-game averages of 26.9 minutes, 3.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists. Against the Knicks, his former team who are about average versus opposing point guards, Lin would be in a great spot to return fantasy points that far exceed his cap charge
Watch the Clippers in terms of resting players. If Chris Paul gets the night off...
Then Jamal Crawford and Austin Rivers become low-cost options. It's no secret that the Lakers rank near the bottom of the league against opposing point guards and shooting guards.
If Crawford starts then he's a great option. When Crawford's minutes are there, he's been a great fantasy option over the past 10 games. Last night, he played only 18 minutes and had four points and an assist against these same Lakers; however, Paul was playing. Here are Crawford's averages over the past 10 games: 27.7 minutes, 15.2 points and 3.1 assists.
Rivers also played 18 minutes last night with CP3 active and had eight points along with two rebounds and an assist (versus these averages over the past 10 games: 23.7 minutes, 12.5 points and 2.7 rebounds).