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Warriors won't have in-house answer for fantasy owners trying to replace Durant

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Here are the fantasy repercussions of Golden State Warriors SF Kevin Durant being ruled out for at least four weeks due to a knee injury:

Season-long fantasy leagues

Durant's 25.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.6 blocks, 1.1 steals and 1.9 3-pointers per game will be impossible for fantasy owners to entirely make up.

The Warriors will fill the 33.6 minutes per game with the combination of G/Fs Matt Barnes, Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, Kevon Looney, James Michael McAdoo and Patrick McCaw, but the production will most likely be split among fellow All-NBA talents PG Stephen Curry, SG Klay Thompson and PF Draymond Green.

Barnes and Iguodala will likely split starts at small forward but the strength of both players is on the defensive end. McCaw and Livingston have slightly more offensive upside, but neither will provide consistent returns worthy of a roster spot.

Daily fantasy

Expect the respective salaries of Curry, Thompson and Green to rise, as Durant's 27.7 percent usage rate is divided up among the three. As is currently the case, owners will need to choose one of the three based on matchup and current play.

Choosing between Barnes, Iguodala and the other bargain options is a larger challenge. With near-minimal salaries, they represent less risk, but any member of the group could post a total of zero fantasy points. The likelihood of one producing at a tournament level for multiple games in a row is even lower. Don't fall for recency bias, and focus more on playing time, usage and shot attempts.

Barnes and Iguodala could be most effective cash-game options due to sustainable production via rebounds, steals and blocks.

Waiver wire

As mentioned above, Durant's production won't be replaced by anyone available on the waiver wire. Here are the three best options for filling the roster spot and replacing at least some of the stats:

  • PF/C Richaun Holmes, 76ers: Holmes is capable of plugging a hole at either the forward or utility spot. He has averaged 11.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game in just 23:19 of court time over his past three contests. His playing time and usage have spiked since the trade of PF/C Nerlens Noel. C Joel Embiid's uncertain health will also continue to provide opportunities.
  • SG/SF Terrence Ross, Orlando Magic: More owned than Holmes, Ross also offers multi-position flexibility. He has played 33 and 35 minutes in each of his first two games with the Magic, scoring a total of 37 points with nine rebounds, three assists and five steals. He is being given a larger role with his new team and can provide reliable returns on the offensive end.
  • PG Jameer Nelson, Denver Nuggets: Though he doesn't serve as a positional replacement, Nelson has recently been handed starting duties. He has made two 3-pointers in four consecutive games, and he has scored in double figures in seven of his past eight. He'll also provide a handful of assists.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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