RotoBaller has assembled NBA injury updates and advice on various injury situations throughout the NBA to help you prepare both your seasonal and daily fantasy league lineups in the NBA season. Understanding the injury landscape, including who's out and who could benefit is a key skill in all forms of fantasy basketball.
Here we will focus on the important questions: Who is injured? When are they coming back? Should you stash an injured player on your roster? Who is getting an opportunity in the mean time? This injury analysis should assist in projecting how to respond to injuries in seasonal leagues. Consider this your one-stop overview of fantasy-relevant injuries in the NBA.
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NBA Injury Roundup for Week One
Playing Through the Pain
Justin Hamilton (PF/C, BKN): Left Ankle. He tweaked his ankle earlier in the week, but should be deployed as usual.
Jahlil Okafor (C, PHI): Knee. The Sixers have increased Okafor’s minute limit to the 20 – 24 minute range.
Questionable To Play
Jeremy Lin (PG/SG, BKN): Hamstring. Lin strained his hamstring, but doesn’t play until Friday, so he may be able to go then. Isaiah Whitehead started the third quarter and should rack up the minutes.
Boris Diaw (PF/C, UTA): Leg Contusion. Trey Lyles will be the primary backup behind Derrick Favors.
Out Short Term
Greivis Vasquez (PG/SG, BKN): Right Ankle. Isaiah Whitehead saw a significant increase in backup minutes with Vasquez’ absence.
Randy Foye (PG/SG, BKN): Hamstring. It’ll take at least a few more days until he makes his season debut. Rondae Hollis Jefferson, Joe Harris and Sean Kilpatrick will share the minutes.
Roy Hibbert (C, CHA): Knee. Cody Zeller and Frank Kaminsky will fill the C spot for the Hornets.
Will Barton (SG/SF, DEN): Left Ankle Sprain. Jamal Murray could start, while Wilson Chandler will get all the perimeter minutes he can handle.
Jae Crowder (SF/PF, BOS): Left Ankle Sprain. Will sit out “at least a week.” Brad Stevens will allot more minutes to a three-guard lineup meaning Marcus Smart will get the minutes in Crowder’s absence.
Al Horford (PF/C, BOS): Concussion. Tyler Zeller started, but Amir Johnson closed out the game. It’s anyone’s guess who benefits the most with Horford out.
Gary Harris (SG, DEN): Groin injury. Harris and the Nuggets are playing it safe, so he'll make his return when the pain has subsided. Wilson Chandler, and Jamal Murray (in that order) benefit.
Doug McDermott (SF, CHI): Concussion. The bench minutes were spread through Isaiah Canaan, Jerian Grant, and Denzel Valentine.
Timofey Mozgov (C, LAL): Eye. Ivica Zubac drew the start, but Larry Nance will benefit the most.
Josh Richardson (SG/SF, MIA): Partial right MCL tear. Tyler Johnson and Dion Waiters will share time at SG.
Darren Collison (PG, SAC): Eight game suspension. Ty Lawson will play full-time minutes. Three games and counting.
Gordon Hayward (SG/SF, UTA): Broken finger. The Jazz will lean on Joe Johnson for his offensive output. Targeting the end of next week.
No Timetable to Return
Jrue Holiday (PG, NOP): Personal leave, Tim Frazier will be the full-time starter as Jrue takes care of his family.
Chandler Parsons (SF/PF, MEM): Knee. Parsons is participating in practice and could be nearing a return; nothing concrete just yet. James Ennis benefits the most.
Kelly Olynyk (C, BOS): Shoulder. Amir Johnson, Tyler Zeller, and Jonas Jerebko benefit from the congestion relief.
Ricky Rubio (PG, MIN): Elbow Sprain. ROY favorite, Kris Dunn is starting and should be owned. Tyus Jones will be the main backup.
Out Multiple Weeks
Mike Scott (PF, ATL): Knee. Has been ruled out for at least four weeks. Mike Muscala will be the first big off the bench and should receive extended minutes.
Michael Carter-Williams (PG, CHI): Wrist Sprain, Bone Bruise. Isaiah Canaan gets an increased role as the primary backup with Denzel Valentine getting a promise of more minutes from Hoiberg.
Devin Harris (PG, DAL): Sprained Right Toe. Target date is Mid-November. JJ Barea is eating up most of the backup PG minutes with Seth Curry in the background.
Reggie Jackson (PG/SG, DET): Knee tendinitis. Ish Smith gets bumped up to the starting spot and Beno Udrih is backing him up.
Ben Simmons (SF/PF, PHI): Foot. Saric will start for the next couple of months.
Danny Green (SG/SF, SAS): Thigh. Kyle Anderson will draw some of the starts, but Jonathan Simmons looks like the biggest beneficiary here.
Jerryd Bayless (PG/SG, PHI): Left wrist. Sergio Rodriguez will draw the starts and T.J. McConnell will have some deep league value for assists as well.
Tyreke Evans (PG/SG, NOP): Knee. Solomon Hill will start while Buddy Hield will benefit with the extra run as well.
Nerlens Noel (PF/C, PHI): Left knee surgery. Embiid and Okafor will eat up all the minutes at Center.
Patrick Beverley (PG/SG, HOU): Left knee surgery. Eric Gordon will get some extra minutes in the backcourt.
Jared Sullinger (PF/C, PHI): Foot surgery. Pascal Siakam will draw the starts with Patrick Patterson getting most of the minutes.
Likely Out for the Season
Khris Middleton (SG/SF, MIL): Torn hamstring. The Bucks push Tony Snell to the starting lineup for his ability to space the floor.
Chris Bosh (PF/C, MIA): Blood clot. Luke Babbitt will get the starts for now, but James Johnson and Willie Reed benefit from the extra frontcourt minutes.
Alec Burks (PG/SG, UTA): Left Ankle. Suffered a setback after off-season surgery. Rodney Hood should continue to earn the starts.