We have a five game slate on Friday for WNBA DFS. Now normally on five game slates you want all your plays to be strong, but there is really limited value on this slate.
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LA Sparks Forwards
Let’s get right to the lead. The LA Sparks travel to Indiana to play the Fever with Candace Parker out. I don’t think this is the cannot miss spot that everyone will think as Parker has had few games where she has hit thirty minutes this year. That said Chiney Ogwumike and NNeka Ogwumike are both extremely strong plays here, and one should be in your cash lineup. I prefer Nneka but play both. Now the first game of the year Parker was out and Maria Vadeeva started for her and put up 40 fantasy points. Then she left for Europe. The European championships ended last Thursday so in theory she should be back, but as of this writing I see no indication that she is back. She is the flat min on FanDuel and 5.1 on DraftKings. If she were to play I would lock her on FanDuel and play an extremely high percentage on DraftKings.
LA Sparks Guards
Chelsea Gray also receives a massive bump with Parker out and I have a feeling she will be less owned than the sisters. She is too cheap on FanDuel. Riqua Williams has clearly won the two guard job for the Sparks. I worry about playing a high owned shooting dependant player on a five game slate, but she is for real.
Indiana Fever Guards
On a five game slate I doubt I play any Fever guards. If I were it would be Kelsey Mitchell in a GPP. She is at home and she can get hot.
Indiana Fever Forwards
Theresa McCowan is becoming a star. Nneka is great defensively so it’s not an easy matchup but she is under priced related to her talent. Candace Dupree is underpriced on FanDuel although it might be time to worry about the upside for her.
Minnesota Lynx Guards
Odyssey Sims is in a nice spot here, but it’s tough to justify spending up for her over Bonner. Danielle Robinson is too cheap on FanDuel and a cash play over there. I worry about Stephanie Talbot’s minutes if Temi Fagbele is back from Europe.
Minnesota Lynx Forwards
Sylvia Fowles and Naphreesa Collier are in huge smash spots against an Atlanta frontcourt that doesn’t rebound or defend well. Collier has been playing 30 plus minutes but if Temi and Cecilia Zafandolsi are back from Europe we could see a reduction of some minutes.
Atlanta Dream Guards
This is a bad matchup and it is a five game slate. But, Renee Montgomery and Alex Bentley are cheap enough on FanDuel where you can play them. Also its a revenge game for Monty.
Atlanta Dream Forwards
The Matchup stinks. Jessica Breland is cheap enough on FanDuel that you can play her but that’s about it for me here.
New York Liberty Guards
Bria Hartley is back for the Liberty and that will reduce all the guards’ minutes some. The only one I have interest in is Kia Nurse. Chicago struggles defensively against guards but the Liberty are crowded now.
New York Liberty Forwards
Amanda Zahuii is back from Europe. Tina Charles had three 40 Fantasy point outings while she was gone. This matchup versus Chicago is positive. I prefer Charles here over Zahuii, but both are really strong plays.
Chicago Sky Guards
I always like Diamond DeShields at home. Again it’s hard to pay up at guard and not choose Bonner but I like DeShields a lot here. Kaliegh Copper is an interesting value play as she has averaged twenty minutes the last two games with twenty fantasy points.
Chicago Sky Forwards
Jantel Lavender struggled against Minnesota but now she gets a much easier assignment and her price does not reflect a player I expect to get thirty minutes in a game where they will need her size.
Phoenix Mercury Guards
Dianne Taurasi is currently listed as questionable. If she were to play with Yvonne Turner being back it really crowds the Mercury back court. You could still play Briann January on FanDuel where she is only 4100, but last game was an outlier and if she is going to be 30% she is a strong fade. I still like Dewanna Bonner. Even if Taurasi plays she is still the best guard spend up especially in a game I expect to stay close.
Phoenix Mercury Forwards
Brittany Griner has turned the corner from her early season struggles. I am not in love with the value on this slate and she is the most expensive forward. But I am not going to tell you not to play her (Tout hedge). The Sun with Jones are not an easy matchup. Sancho Lytle has played twenty minutes the last two games. If Vadeeza were not to play she becomes a nice pivot.
Connecticut Sun Guards
The Suns guards make me nervous. The team as a whole has lost four in a row. I would not be surprised to see the coach shake up the lineup. Jasmine Thomas is still cheap on FanDuel and I like her there even though the matchup isn’t strong. Courtney Williams is at home but has struggled mightily. Bria Holmes is an interesting play. If there is a change to the starting lineup she has gotten over 20 minutes two of the last three games.
Connecticut Sun Forwards
Jonquel Jones’ price has come down but this is far from a safe matchup with serious foul trouble risks against Griner. That being said with her playing at home I would take a couple GPP shots. She can destroy that price and is a strong play at home.
Dallas Stars Guards
Arike Ogunbowale has massive usage. If she gets hot she can smash her price point. I like her some in this spot. In a five game slate it’s tough to get there.
Dallas Stars Forwards
If we go by last game Glory Johnson and Kayla Thorton have emerged as their two main forwards. I will probably fade some recency bias on Johnson (though the price on DK is nice) and play Thorton. I also like Isabelle Harrison in GPPs as she should be low owned.
Seattle Storm Guards
I like Jordin Canada a lot at that price point on DraftKings, and Sami Whitcomb is a solid cash play.
Seattle Storm Forwards
I will have a Storm forward in every lineup I make. Natasha Howard is my number one stud on the slate. Mercdes Russell is my favorite value play (Vadeeva news pending). Alicia Clark has been getting minutes and not doing much but I like her here.
Cash Core: Vadeeva, Chiney, Nneka, Chelsea Gray, Howard, Clark, Russell, Whitcomb, Canada (DK) J Thomas (FD) Charles, Fowles, Collier Robinson (FD), January, G Johnson (DK)
GPP: Sims, J Jones, Bonner, Thorton, Bria Holmes, Copper, Lavender, K Mitchell, Arike
