Josh Okogie

With Alperen Sengun sidelined due to an illness, Adams will start in his place. Rockets coach Ime Udoka said that Adams will sit on Saturday against the Mavericks, so if Sengun remains out, Clint Capela could be in line for his first start of the season.

Okogie is back in the starting lineup for the first time in three games. He replaces Reed Sheppard, who can still provide solid fantasy value in a reserve role. Also, the Rockets will have Steven Adams to provide rebounds off the bench.

Adams is dealing with left ankle tendinopathy, and there could be minutes available to Clint Capela if he's unable to play on Monday. However, even if Capela picks up rotation minutes, he would not be worth the risk in most fantasy leagues. Also, the Rockets could bring Josh Okogie back into the starting lineup, especially with the Suns only having one true big (Mark Williams) in their starting lineup.

Durant is away from the Rockets, attending to a family matter, so he will not return to Phoenix for the first time since being traded during the offseason. Reed Sheppard and Josh Okogie are two players who should see more opportunities with Durant unavailable. Sheppard has been a top-75 player in fantasy basketball this season and is the superior option for managers seeking reliable production.

Adams was inserted into the starting lineup for Wednesday's win over the Cavaliers, bumping Josh Okogie to the bench. Okogie may have been moved back into the starting lineup regardless of Adams' status. Still, the chances of him returning to that role increase exponentially if the veteran center's knee keeps Adams out.