It is getting late in the year and teams have different motivations as the season comes to a close. During the article I will attempt to discuss the motivations, and who is trying and who is mailing it in.
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Indiana Fever Guards
Erica Wheeler’s price has come down and she did get 23 minutes last game. This is an easy matchup. The question obviously is the minutes and if you are looking for secure minutes Tiffany Mitchell is averaging 30. Those are the two guards I would take a shot on.
Indiana Fever Forwards
Teaira McCowan’s price has come up but the minutes are holding steady. I like her a ton here in this matchup. One caveat, if Natalie Achonwa were to play that might make me nervous enough to get off her at the high prices. If Achonwa is out Candace Dupree is a strong play at her still reduced price, as she has also been seeing 30 minutes a game.
New York Liberty Guards
The Liberty got blown out last game so it is hard to get a read on minutes here. The Liberty also have nothing to play for and are firing their coach at the end of the year. But this is not an imposing matchup. Kia Nurse is a strong play at her price, if, as expected, this game stays close she should get 30 minutes. It all comes down to if she makes her shots. Bria Hartley also might be in line for 30 minutes if the game stays close, but I lean Nurse.
New York Liberty Forwards
This is the big who the hell knows part of the slate. Will Tina Charles get 30 minutes if the game stays close? If she does this is a great spot at a reduced price and probable low ownership. The same can be said of Amanda Zahuii. Nayo Raincock-Ekwue’s price is too much to take a shot on. If you are on DraftKings I would rather take a shot on Han Xu at 4100. In cash games I would just ignore the Liberty forwards, but in GPPs Zahuii and Charles both make very strong plays.
Washington Mystic Guards
Aerial Powers is going to play in this game, which reduces expectations here. This will likely be a blow out as well. That being said the Mystics do need to win this game, so they will go all out. Aerial Atkins exploded last game. Powers being back will hurt her some, but she is too cheap on FanDuel and playable in GPPs on DraftKings. Natasha Cloud falls into the same category as Atkins for me.
Washington Mystic Forwards
For the 500th slate this year LaToya Sanders is still too cheap on FanDuel, especially with Tianna Hawkins out. I also like Aerial Powers a ton here, though I do worry if the game blows out they sit her quickly. Powers being back reduces Elena Delle Donne’s usage a fairly significant amount. At the end of the day it’s EDD versus Dallas and if this game stays close she can smash.
Dallas Wings Guards
Arike Ogbunwale has morphed into some weird combination of Devin Booker/Allen Iverson. she shoots then she shoots some more and to be sure she shoots a little bit more. The team is encouraging it too as they want her to win Rookie of the Year. Last game they lost by 40 points. She played until the final minute of the game and got 40 fantasy points. She got 40 fantasy points in this matchup this weekend. The one caveat I would say is there is decent guard value on this slate so I do not consider her a must play. If you think Arike passes the ball today,she won’t. Alicia Gray is cheap enough on FanDuel to take a shot with; same with Kaela Davis.
Dallas Wings Forwards
Normally this would be a fade but Glory Johnson got hurt last game and never returned. There has been no information on her injury. If she were to miss Kristen Anigwe and Megan Gustaffson would leap to the front as some of the stronger value plays on the slate. If Glory were to play she is too cheap on FanDuel.
Connecticut Sun Guards
If you want safety the Sun might be the way to go. They need to win and will be playing up in pace at home. Jasmine Thomas and Courtney Williams are both strong plays here. On DraftKings I prefer the discount for Thomas. On FanDuel I prefer finding the money for WIlliams.
Connecticut Sun Forwards
So I asked the question last slate whether Jonquel Jones was healthy and she then answered in the affirmative by posting 35 FPs in 30 minutes. Based on matchup and situation Jones is probably the strongest play on the slate. I will warn this is a classic Jones lets everyone down spot. If you think Jones does let people down, Alyssa Thomas is a strong play as well and a nice pivot. Morgan Tuck got a lot of her points in blow out run. My guess is this game she recesses again to her regular 15 minutes.
Chicago Fire Guards
One unique thing about this slate is because of Arike nobody else is going to play any other high priced guards, making both Courtney VanDerSloot and Diamond DeShields strong GPP plays in a game I expect to stay close. My lean is Vandersloot, but I like both.
Chicago Fire Forwards
Stefanie Dolson is real inexpensive on FanDuel and is a cash play there. Both Cheyenne Parker and Astou Ndour are both priced efficiently. Of the two I lean Ndour, but do not love either.
Minnesota Lynx Guards
Pace wise this is the worst game on the slate. However, with both teams trying to win and extending full effort this is probably the safest bet. That being said Odyssey Sims is the only strong play here. You attack Phoenix with Guards. Other than that Levi Brown in a GPP is not crazy. Do not chase Seimone Augstus. Last game was her last home game in Minnesota. That is why she got those minutes.
Minnesota Lynx Forwards
Silvia Fowles prices is down and has been a disappointment all year. One of her issues is she keeps getting in foul trouble and I doubt a game against Griner will fix that. That being said I like her a lot in GPPs at her reduced price. Napheesa Collier is also a strong play here. Phoenix does not really have a player that can guard her.
Phoenix Mercury Guards
It’s really just DeWanna Bonner for me in GPPs. She will be unowned and I am always interested in an unowned Bonner. Do not be scared of the minutes. Phoenix has been blown out their last two games.
Phoenix Mercury Forwards
Brittney Griner has been killing is at home nobody can guard her. Play Griner.
WNBA DFS Picks
Cash Core: Griner, Arike, Sanders (FD), T Mitchell, Nurse, Atkins (FD), Jones, Griner, Anigwe (if Glory out), Dolson (FD)
GPP: Bonner, VanderSloot, DeShields, Sims, Wheeler, Charles, Zahuii, C Williams
One note: in lineup Builds I like getting off the chalk tonight. There are some extremely variant situations that could go either way and playing some of them can pay off. Also I think all these games make interesting game stacks. My favorite being Indiana-NY.
