Fantasy Basketball Injury Round-Up
Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
Injury: Right MCL sprain
Projected Return Date: Mid-March
Durant is yet to suit up for his new Phoenix Suns team, however, reportedly, he is training with the team and hasn’t had any setbacks in his recovery. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him back on the court in the first game after the All-Star break. Regardless, Durant will almost certainly return before the end of the fantasy season and play a major role in fantasy title deciders. On a per-game basis, he ranks second in the NBA in 9-cat leagues. Behind Nikola Jokic. Josh Okogie is currently filling in for Durant in the Suns rotation, but, he is unlikely to remain a 20+ ppg scorer once Durant returns.
Recommendation: Not long to wait for now.
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
Injury: Right hamstring strain
Projected Return Date: March?
Bad news for Williamson owners as he re-aggravated the hamstring injury that has kept him out of action since January 4. The report of the re-injury claimed “weeks” for Williamson’s return, which might just move him outside the realm of usefulness for fantasy players. Whether to drop him will come down to the league-end date in each league as well as the marginal value of the freed roster spot. It is, certainly, possible for Williamson to return before the last week of fantasy and tear it up in the fantasy playoffs.
Recommendation: Consider a drop.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Injury: Right calf strain
Projected Return Date: Unknown
Towns has been out with a calf strain since November and there isn’t an official public timeline for his return either. Considering the duration of the injury and the unclarity of the return, it wouldn’t be totally outrageous to drop or trade him for a much lower-tier player. Once again, what’s the marginal value of the free roster spot in your league? Towns is, obviously, an elite player, and seeing him ripping it for another fantasy team in the playoffs would be painful. But what are the odds? His return would likely start off with a minutes restriction too.
Recommendation: Consider a drop.
Jusuf Nurkic, Portland Trail Blazers
Injury: Left calf strain
Projected Return Date: Post-ASG
Nurkic has missed pretty much the whole of February with a calf strain and is expected to return after the All-Star game, which is in line with the 2-3 week timeline generally associated with the injury. Nurk’s return will likely end the Drew Eubanks fantasy experience, which was marginal anyway.
Recommendation: Move on from Drew Eubanks.
Anferee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers
Injury: Right ankle sprain
Projected Return Date: April?
Simons has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 ankle sprain, which likely puts his return outside of most fantasy leagues. So there isn’t much else to do but drop him. What a shame – Simons ranks in the top 50 for the season in 9-cat fantasy. Cam Reddish, Matisse Thybulle, and dunker extraordinaire Shaedon Sharpe will all get a boost in minutes/touches.
Recommendation: Drop Simons. Take a peek at Reddish, Thybulle, and Sharpe.