Get to the Points: Injury panic meter for Week 19
Yahoo Fantasy basketball analyst Dan Titus and contributor Justin Henry look a list of recent injuries and debate whether or not managers should be worried heading towards the playoffs.
Video Transcript
DAN TITUS: Let's talk about, we just touched on the injuries in Cleveland, man. I feel like that's a good time to talk about some injuries. And let's just start with Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, man. How concerned are you?
JUSTIN HENRY: Donovan Mitchell, I'm concerned. Obviously, when you talk about wear and tear, it's just a pain management thing, right? And the Cavaliers really don't have a reason to put him back in, especially since they've been winning games, kind of tearing up the Eastern Conference.
So the expectation is that it could be out a month, and puts us at the end of March. So if it's a month-long injury, I'd be a little bit concerned. But that's right around the time fantasy playoffs are ending. So it really depends on what you need. If you need to get in the playoffs right now, or if you have a bye, I don't think he's worth dropping at all, worth panicking on, but just know he's probably going to be out for the next couple of weeks.
DAN TITUS: Yeah. And then Evan Mobley, man, just sustained an ankle injury on Tuesday. So I don't know what this looks like. But any time you sprain an ankle, it's going to cost you at least a game or two.
What about the Bucs, though, man? What's good with Khris Middleton?
JUSTIN HENRY: Yo, I'm actually kind of optimistic for Khris Middleton. And this is especially for those teams that probably already have a bye kind of locked up. He's a player that might come back, especially if Giannis is dealing with an injury, I'm sure you're going to get to here in a second.
But Khris Middleton, man, if you are a contending team and somebody else has kind moved off him or maybe dropped him, I think that's a player for those teams to go get. If you are trying to get into the playoffs right now, I'm OK with you dropping, especially because you're probably going to play a little bit of the waiting game before he comes back.
DAN TITUS: Giannis, man, I'm concerned. I watched this pregame video-- I sent it to you-- of his Achilles warming up, and it just didn't look like he could do any kind of lift or any load off of it, right?
So I don't know, man. I feel like there could be some concern here down the stretch. Like why play Giannis when you're in that type of position and you want to see this guy play in the playoffs?
JUSTIN HENRY: It's always a concern when you have an Achilles injury. And then it's also a concern down the stretch for your fantasy team if they give him maintenance days, if there's a back-to-back and they're willing to rest him. So that's the one concern I'd have about Giannis, especially if he's not able to get back on the court soon.
DAN TITUS: Yep. Totally agree with that.
And the Raptors, they just came out late on Tuesday night that Jakob Poeltl got hand surgery. The next victim of hand surgery. What is up with all the hand surgeries and adductor injuries this year? Man, it's been crazy.
But he's out indefinitely. So I feel like you could drop him and Scottie Barnes. What do you think?
JUSTIN HENRY: Yeah, I think Barnes I'd want to hold, but I'm definitely concerned. It's one of those things you have to go-- it's important to win your week, and that's the most important thing. If you feel like you can win your week with Scottie Barnes in a IL spot, or maybe on your bench, that's fine.
But Jakob Poeltl, I'm completely-- if you want to get rid of him and your team needs that roster spot, go ahead and get rid of Jakob Poeltl. I'm good to move off of him if you're contending for a playoff spot.
DAN TITUS: And the Jazz, too. They've had a bunch of injuries. Just saw on Wednesday that Keyonte George has been out. He's going to be out with an illness. So if you're watching this stream, Kris Dunn.
But Lauri Markkanen has missed the last couple of games. Are you worried about him?
JUSTIN HENRY: Yeah, I'm worried about Lauri Markkanen. He's dealing with the quad obviously. But with the Jazz kind of out of the playoff picture, you know they're going to want to see a lot more of their young guys. This is a time where you got to be concerned, especially if this injury, it's like, oh, he's out for the next game, questionable, and it starts to become an extended period of time where Markkanen is out. They're going to end up shutting him down.
So he could be a shutdown candidate. I'm not calling him that. But that's something to monitor and something to be concerned about. Definitely concerned for Lauri Markkanen.
DAN TITUS: Walker Kessler is also dealing with a foot injury. He's on IL right now. I'd say take the similar position. If like you need to win now, you got to drop him. But if you're in a position where you can stash him, you're in a bye week, definitely look to scoop him up, because I think as the season wears on, what's the point of playing John Collins? Might as well see your second-year center that made All-Rookie get a little bit of run with some of those young cats.
All right, y'all, we'll see you next week on "Get to the Points." Make sure you download the Yahoo Fantasy app and play the Yahoo Fantasy Baseball game. It's open. A lot of fun. So do that, please.