After a Friday slate in which nearly every game had playoff implications, the playoffs are very nearly set for Sunday’s five-game WNBA DFS slate. Minnesota needs a win over Washington to secure the third seed, though they have a bye regardless of the outcome. Washington needs to win to secure the final playoff spot; if they lose, they would lose the tie-breaker to the New York Liberty, who are off Sunday. The Sparks would also lose the tie-breaker to the Liberty, so if Washington loses, Los Angeles would need to win to make the playoffs.
The rest of the teams playing Sunday are all set. Indiana and Atlanta have missed the playoffs yet again, and while the rest of the teams are locked into their playoff spots. Unless we find out that some starters are being held out for rest, it will be difficult to play anyone from Connecticut, Phoenix, Dallas, Chicago and even Minnesota. I wouldn’t expect the starters to play their usual complement of minutes, but we don’t know for sure which backups will play or how much they will play. If Candace Parker plays 20 minutes, that probably isn’t enough for her to be valuable, but it isn’t enough to make Ruthy Hebard a fantastic play, either. We probably won’t be able to avoid those teams entirely, but I will try my best unless we get some more news.
Guards
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Courtney Williams
#N/A
#N/A
10300
34.39
#N/A
#N/A
Williams has quietly been much more consistent of late. She has at least 27 fantasy points in 10 straight games, with at least 34 fantasy points in four straight. She hasn't been great against her former team this season but I'm not expecting Connecticut's trademark suffocating defense, even if the starters play significant minutes.
Ariel Atkins
WAS
MIN
8500
28.01
6200
27.96
Atkins played 35 minutes and took 22 shots Friday following a two-game absence. She is averaging 32.1 fantasy points in two games against Minnesota this season, and the Lynx are 12th in fantasy points allowed to guards.
Kelsey Mitchell
IND
CHI
10000
26.84
7000
25.94
I often avoid Mitchell because I think you have to pay for all of her upside. In this slate however, against a Chicago team with little to play for, I think she is one of the safest guards on the slate. Mitchell has at least 32 fantasy points in four of her last five games, playing at least 34 minutes in each.
Victoria Vivians
IND
CHI
6400
14.87
6000
14.76
With Danielle Robinson, Tiffany Mitchell and Aaliyah Wilson all injured, Victoria Vivians is one of just six healthy players for Indiana. I still don't understand why she is so cheap on DratKings, but I will gladly take someone with three straight games of 26+ fantasy points at her price.
Lindsay Allen
IND
CHI
6200
12.11
5800
11.90
I probably trust Vivians more than I trust Allen, but I could easily see myself playing both of them Sunday. Allen has at least 36 minutes and 29 fantasy points in two straight games.
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Leilani Mitchell
WAS
MIN
5600
14.25
3800
13.32
Michell has played at least 27 minutes in three straight games, with at least 19 fantasy points in each of the last two. I don't completely trust the production, though consistent minutes at her price on FanDuel is enough to make her worth playing.
DiJonai Carrington
#N/A
#N/A
3500
6.76
#N/A
#N/A
Carrington played 20 minutes Wednesday against New York, and I would expect similar minutes, if not more, with Connecticut trying to keep its older starters fresh for the playoffs. Carrington scored 30.75 fantasy points in that game, and while I'm not expecting that again, it is nice to know she has that upside. It also helps that she is cheaper than Kaila Charles and Natisha Hiedeman.
Tiffany Hayes
#N/A
#N/A
8200
27.58
#N/A
#N/A
I'm not sure how Hayes remains so cheap after scoring at least 33 fantasy points in four of her last five games. It is nice to see her finally back healthy and playing full minutes.
Forwards
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Monique Billings
#N/A
#N/A
9100
21.47
#N/A
#N/A
For some reason Monique Billings has struggled against the Sparks this season, but Billings has scored at least 21 fantasy points in her last eight games against non-Sparks opponents. This isn't a great matchup but it will be less scary if Connecticut rests some of its starters.
Teaira McCowan
IND
CHI
9800
28.98
7900
29.28
The Fever finally gave McCowan consistent minutes down the stretch. She played at least 30 minutes in seven of her last nine games. McCowan's numbers are down a bit thanks to facing Minnesota in three of her last four games, but she has at least 36 fantasy poitns in five of her last eight games. Chicago is 10th in fantasy points allowed to forwards, and their defense should be even worse if Stefanie Dolson and Candace Parker see reduced minutes.
Ruthy Hebard
CHI
IND
4300
14.9
3000
15.52
Hebard played 20 minutes Friday against Las Vegas, and I think she has a good chance at similar minutes Sunday. She was very quiet against the Aces, but this should be a much better matchup. She is obviously a bit risky, but the risk is mitigated by her low price.
Nneka Ogwumike
LA
DAL
8700
28.54
7500
28.38
Either the Sparks will need to win this game to make the playoffs, or they will have been eliminated right before tip-off. Either way, Sparks head coach Derek Fisher will have no reason to rest his best player. Nneka Ogwumike has plyaed at least 31 minutes in five straight games, with at least 27 fantasy points in each. She is the cheapest of the top-tier forwards Sunday, and she appears to have a very high floor.
Nia Coffey
LA
DAL
6700
18.9
4800
19.16
It is nearly impossible to find mid-priced forwards you can trust on this slate. Nia Coffey is it. Dallas is 10th in fantasy points allowed to fowards, and Coffey is averaging 26.5 fantasy points in 24.0 minutes in two games agianst the Wings this season. She has played at least 27 minutes in three straight games, averaging 20.3 fantasy points in those games.
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Napheesa Collier
MIN
WAS
10500
33.57
8100
34.05
It is difficult to guess how much Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve will play her starters in this game. Getting the third seed instead of the fourth seed would mean avoiding Phoenix in the second round of the playoffs, and that is potentially significant. On the other hand, I would imagine getting Sylvia Fowles and Aerial Powers some rest is even more important. Naphessa Collier is young enough that resting her probably isn't a priority, and even if she plays 30 minutes intead of 35, she could still have a huge game for fantasy.