Utah Jazz DVOA, Stats, & NBA Rankings

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (quadriceps) will sit out a fifth consecutive game on Friday versus Atlanta. The 26-year-old has been struggling with a right quadricep contusion. Following Friday, his next chance to return comes against Minnesota on Saturday night. Markkanen participated in practice Thursday but at a limited capacity. Luka Samanic, Walker Kessler, and Brice Sensabaugh could see more action like they had seen in previous contests while the All-Star forward has been injured.

Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (groin) did not practice with the team on Wednesday. In the aftermath of Tuesday's loss to the visiting Boston Celtics, Clarkson is tending to a right groin injury. It's unclear how much danger the status of the 31-year-old combo guard is in for Friday's game versus the Atlanta Hawks, but he should be considered questionable until the Jazz submit their official injury report. If Clarkson is unable to play, it would open up more minutes for Kris Dunn from Utah's second unit and further solidify the playing time of Collin Sexton and Keyonte George in the starting backcourt. After dropping at least 26 points with five threes in each of his past three healthy appearances, George will be a strong bet against a Hawks squad yielding the third-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards.

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (quadriceps) will sit out a fourth consecutive game on Tuesday versus Boston. The 2023 All-Star is battling to overcome a right quadriceps contusion. Following Tuesday, his next chance to return comes in a matchup against Atlanta on Friday night. Markkanen's absence has given Luka Samanic a couple of starts, which he hasn't used well, while Walker Kessler and Brice Sensabaugh joined the starting five on Saturday versus Denver. With Taylor Hendricks (toe) also out, the Jazz frontcourt rotation is looking very different, and Markkanen's injury has allowed Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson to take on larger roles offensively. The latter has averaged a whopping 20.3 shot attempts over the last three games, with Sexton not far behind with 17.7 shots.

Boston Celtics small forward Svi Mykhailiuk (personal) won't play on Monday versus Portland. He has been ruled out for personal reasons. Mykhailiuk has seen the court just five times since the beginning of last month, so he doesn't play a significant role for the team. Across the entire campaign, the 26-year-old has averaged 7.9 minutes in 20 games, scoring 2.8 points. Mykhailiuk might be missing a good opportunity to get some game practice, as the C's are overwhelming favorites for the contest, and the bench is looking at a chance to get extended minutes in a blowout situation.

Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (foot) will play on Saturday against the Denver Nuggets. He missed the last four games with a sprained right foot. However, the 2022 No. 22 overall pick is good to go. Walker has had a down season compared to his rookie campaign, averaging 8.5 points and 7.4 rebounds. But he's at least made up for it defensively, logging a career-high 2.7 blocks. With that in mind, Walker is worthy of being featured in all category lineups. On the other hand, the 22-year-old has had some weak showings against the Nuggets throughout his career, so DFS participants should consider alternative options.