Of the three games Thursday, two are rematches from Tuesday. I tend to think players and teams that struggled are able to make adjustments in the second game, so I am inclined to target players who got a lot of minutes Tuesday but didn’t necessarily produce for fantasy.
The game that isn’t a rematch is Washington vs. Phoenix, and I am targeting a couple of players to bounce back in that game as well. From a fantasy standpoint, that game will come down to whether or not Skylar Diggins-Smith’s sprained ankle will keep her out. I like a couple of Mercury players either way, but a lot of minutes and shots open up if Diggins-Smith is out.
| Guards | |||||||
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG | |
| Diana Taurasi | PHO | WAS | 9600 | 29.19 | 6300 | 26.88 | |
| Taurasi should be one of the safest guards on the slate if Skylar Diggins-Smith is out. Taurasi played 33 minutes Tuesday and finished with 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. She will have to carry the offense if Diggins-Smith cannot play. | |||||||
| Sophie Cunningham | PHO | WAS | 5600 | 10.95 | 4200 | 10.88 | |
| Cunningham was the first player off the bench when Skylar Diggins-Smith suffered her ankle sprain, playing 24 minutes. Cunningham will spend most of her time off the ball but she is a safe cash play for as long as Diggins-Smith is out. | |||||||
| Courtney Williams | ATL | LA | 9100 | 33.19 | 6800 | 32.58 | |
| Williams played 37 minutes Tuesday but finished with 21.75 fantasy points on 2-13 shooting. She can't possibly shoot so poorly in the rematch, though I'm only playing her in GPPs. | |||||||
| DeWanna Bonner | CON | MIN | 9700 | 34.06 | 7500 | 33.85 | |
| Minnesota is 11th in fantasy points allowed to guards, so it wasn't surprising to see Bonner score 34.5 fantasy points against them Tuesday. She had 43 fantasy points in her first game against Minnesota, and she is worth paying up for, especially if Skylar Diggins-Smith plays. | |||||||
| Natasha Cloud | WAS | PHO | 8300 | 23.58 | 5800 | 22.97 | |
| Cloud played at least 33 minutes and scored at least 25 fantasy points in both games after the break. She has a high floor and doesn't cost as much as the top guards, especially on FanDuel. | |||||||
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG | |
| Shey Peddy | PHO | WAS | 6000 | 11.94 | 4400 | 11.82 | |
| Sophie Cunningham is the better fantasy play, if for no other reason than she is cheaper, but if Skylar Diggins-Smith is out, I might play both Cunningham and Peddy in cash lineups. | |||||||
| Layshia Clarendon | MIN | CON | 6900 | 20.79 | 5700 | 19.47 | |
| This pick is risky, but I think Clarendon has a better chance of bouncing back since she plays Connecticut again. Clarendon managed just 11 fantasy points Tuesday, breaking a streak of five straight games with at least 23 fantasy points. If they reach that point total again, they will be a nice value on DraftKings. | |||||||
| Forwards | |||||||
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG | |
| Brittney Griner | PHO | WAS | 10800 | 40.31 | 8800 | 40.30 | |
| Griner has topped 40 fantasy points in four of her last five games, and she could get even more shot attempts if Skylar Diggins-Smith is out. I think Griner is the best forward on the slate and it is a bonus that Jonquel Jones and Tina Charles both cost more. | |||||||
| Candice Dupree | ATL | LA | 6400 | 12.06 | 5100 | 12.19 | |
| Dupree's price has gone up on both sites but we are still getting a nice value. She played 36 minutes Tuesday, scoring 29 fantasy points. If she reaches 30 minutes again, she will be a nice cash play. | |||||||
| Myisha Hines-Allen | WAS | PHO | 8900 | 28.88 | 6300 | 28.68 | |
| I don't know why Hines-Allen struggled against Las Vegas, though perhaps the Aces' size had something to do with that. Phoenix's frontcourt is good but it isn't deep, and Hines-Allen should bounce back against them. Hines-Allen is averaging 34.6 fantasy points when she tops 20 minutes, and there is no reason to believe she won't play closer to 30 minutes Thursday. | |||||||
| Brianna Turner | PHO | WAS | 8200 | 25.82 | 5800 | 26.72 | |
| Brianna Turner is averaging 35.8 fantasy points since the Olympic break, and she had a career-high 12 field goal attempts Tuesday. Someone needs to take more shots if Skylar Diggins-Smith is out, and it looks like its going to be Brianna Turner. | |||||||
| Sylvia Fowles | MIN | CON | 10000 | 37.18 | 8000 | 38.55 | |
| Don't let the matchup scare you away; Fowles is averaging 36.3 fantasy points in two games against Connecticut. Fowles looks like one of the safest forwards on the slate but she will save you some money over the other stud forwards. | |||||||
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG | |
| Natalie Achonwa | MIN | CON | 5800 | 9.88 | 4000 | 10.42 | |
| Lauren Cox may be a better value, but Achonwa is safer and she is nearly as cheap. Achonwa has played at least 14 minutes and scored at least 14.75 fantasy points in both games since the Olympic break. Damiris Dantas has struggled since the break and unless she can turn it around early on, Achonwa should provide value for cash lineups. | |||||||
| Draftkings Core Plays | ||
Top Tier | Courtney Williams | $9,100 |
| Myisha Hines-Allen | $8,900 | |
Mid Tier | Layshia Clarendon | $6,900 |
| Candice Dupree | $6,400 | |
Value Tier | Sophie Cunningham | $5,600 |
| Fanduel Core Plays | ||
Top Tier | DeWanna Bonner | $7,500 |
| Brittney Griner | $8,800 | |
Mid Tier | Diana Taurasi | $6,300 |
| Candice Dupree | $5,100 | |
Value Tier | Sophie Cunningham | $4,200 |
| Natalie Achonwa | $4,000 | |