New Orleans Pelicans

New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones (shoulder) has been ruled out ahead of Friday's game against the Indiana Pacers. This marks the second game in a row that Jones will miss due to a right shoulder strain. The absence of Jones should mean that Jordan Hawkins continues getting increased looks in the rotation. He shined on Wednesday as he scored 23 points with four rebounds in 38 minutes of action. He could be worth a look as a streaming option until Jones is able to get back on the court. He should see significant playing time against the Pacers on Friday.

New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (adductor) won't play in Friday's game versus the Pacers. The veteran wasn't available for Wednesday's loss to the Warriors because of adductor soreness. As a result, Jose Alvarado got the start and finished with 16 points, five rebounds, two blocks, and one steal. He also shot 4-for-8 from deep. With that in mind, Alvarado should remain starting in all fantasy lineups. He'll also be a perfect value option for DFS managers.

New Orleans Pelicans center Daniel Theis suffered an ankle injury in Wednesday's game against Golden State. He had soaked in just five minutes of action before hurting his right ankle. The German big man finished the contest scoreless while recording three rebounds. Theis has kicked off the year as New Orleans' starting center, averaging 4.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 16.0 minutes. Yves Missi will be in line for more playing time if Theis has to miss additional time, although the rookie himself battled a hip problem on Wednesday. With two bigs limited by health issues, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl logged a season-high 23 minutes. He had nine points with five rebounds and three assists. Robinson-Earl could be a speculative add for fantasy managers if Missi joins Theis on the sidelines.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones injured his right shoulder in Tuesday's game against Golden State. He exited the contest in the third quarter, finishing with five points, three rebounds, and one steal in 20 minutes. The two teams meet again on Wednesday, and Jones should be regarded as questionable for the game. Javonte Green and Jordan Hawkins could receive additional minutes with Jones out. Hawkins has the most fantasy upside of the two, but he performed poorly on Tuesday, as the 22-year-old settled for only four points in 26 minutes.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (illness) will be under a minutes restriction for Friday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. The good news is that Williamson is available after sitting out the season opener. However, he still must not be feeling 100 percent considering the team is going to limit him here. Head coach Willie Green didn't say exactly how much Williamson is going to play. Fantasy managers in season-long formats can go ahead and get Williamson in there. DFS players might want to look elsewhere for help as Williamson might not be worth his price for Friday's slate.