It is great to see DraftKings has joined FanDuel in offering WNBA contests, and I love having an extra set of prices to analyze to try to find the best values. I especially like the DraftKings contest for Saturday’s slate. Value plays are quite difficult to come by, but I think it is easier to fill out a DraftKings lineup because you only need two guards and there is a flex position. My DraftKings cash lineup is loaded in the frontcourt, which wasn’t at all planned, but was simply a happy accident.
On both sites I would probably fill the guard positions first, especially in GPP lineups. While there are some cheaper guards who are fine for cash games, there are only a couple of guards with a high ceiling, so it is best to try to lock those in first. Also, there are a lot of really good forwards, and while I prefer a few over the others, you could reasonably play any of them, which is why I would like to fill out my cheap plays first and the expensive ones last.
Player | FanDuel Price | DraftKings Price | Comments |
Emma Messeman, F, WAS | $ 4,800 | $ 6,400 | Meesseman was a starter at the beginning of the season, but she has come off the bench since returning from EuroBasket. She had 12 points and six rebounds in 22 minutes Wednesday, and while she should be a safe play for her price, she could be a value play if she reenters the starting lineup. |
Maya Moore, F, MIN | $ 7,500 | $ 10,200 | The Sky have allowed the second-most points and rebounds per game in the WNBA, and they have allowed the most steals and assists. Maya Moore is second on the Lynx in points, assists and steals, and third in rebounds. Moore is a nice value on FanDuel. |
Sylvia Fowles, F, MIN | $ 9,200 | $ 12,400 | Fowles is second in the WNBA in points and rebounds and fourth in steals. The only risk here is the Lynx are up so big that Fowles doesn't play in the fourth quarter. |
Alana Beard, G, LA | $ 5,300 | $ 6,900 | Alana Beard leads the WNBA in steals, and on the Sky have allowed more steals than the Storm this season. Beard had a season-high five steals against the Storm in the first game of the season. |
Nneka Ogwumike, F, LA | $ 8,100 | $ 10,000 | Ogwumike is second in the WNBA in steals and fourth in points. The Storm have the lowest offensive rebounding rate in the WNBA and the second-lowest defensive rebounding rate, and Ogwumike could be looking at her fourth 20-point, 10-rebound game of the season. |
Candace Parker, F, LA | $ 8,400 | $ 11,500 | It is a testament to the Lynx that they were able to hold Parker to two points, three rebounds, three assists and two blocks Thursday. Parker had scored at least 37.9 fantasy points on FanDuel in five consecutive games prior to that, and I suspect she gets back to that kind of production Saturday. |
Courtney Vandersloot, G, CHI | $ 4,600 | $ 5,600 | Vandersloot is averaging 7.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.7 assists over her last three games. With Cappie Pondexter in the concussion protocol, Vandersloot should have the ball in her hands quite a bit. |
Lindsay Whalen, G, MIN | $ 4,200 | $ 5,400 | Whalen scored just 3.5 fantasy points on FanDuel Thursday, but she had scored at least 17.9 FD fantasy points in each of her previous four games. Whalen doesn't have much GPP appeal, but you should get solid production in a nice matchup at a discount price. |
Tamera Young, G, CHI | $ 4,400 | $ 7,000 | Young may be a bit overpriced on DraftKings, but she has proven to be a capable scorer when given an opportunity. Young should slide into the starting lineup with Cappie Pondexter in the concussion protocol. Young had 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists in 32 minutes against Minnesota back in May. |
Kahleah Copper, G, CHI | $ 3,000 | $ 3,300 | Copper may be the most athletic guard on the Sky roster, and she figures to see increased minutes with Cappie Pondexter out. Copper could play even more if this game is a blowout, and while she is really risky, a reasonable punt play would be extremely valuable in this slate. |
Breanna Stewart, F, SEA | $ 8,400 | $ 10,400 | Stewart costs the same as Candace Parker on FanDuel, and while I would prefer Parker, especially for cash games, I will gladly take Stewart for $1,100 less on DraftKings. Stewart has had at least 20 points and 10 rebounds six times this season including each of her last three games. |
Alyssa Thomas, F, CON | $ 7,900 | $ 9,500 | In her last 12 games, Alyssa Thomas has failed to score at least 29.1 fantasy points on FanDuel just twice. The Mystics allow 33.9 rebounds per game, and Thomas should get a fair amount of those rebounds Saturday. |
Rebekkah Brunson, F, MIN | $ 4,900 | $ 7,900 | Brunson has had either double-digit points or rebounds in nine of her last 10 games. Brunson's ceiling may be limited but she should be safe in a good matchup, and I like her price on FanDuel. |
Alysha Clark, F, SEA | $ 4,100 | $ 5,300 | Clark is always a GPP consideration because she is cheap, she plays 28.4 minutes per game and she has topped 35 fantasy points on FanDuel twice. The problem is she can disappear from games at times, but she is your best bet if you need a cheap forward. |
Jasmine Thomas | $ 6,500 | $ 8,500 | With Cappie Pondexter out, the only guard in Saturday's slate who can match Jasmine Thomas's upside is Jewell Loyd. Loyd will likely spend much of the game guarded by Alana Beard, while Washington doesn't have anyone who can match Thomas's speed. Thomas had at least 20 points and six assists in three of her last seven games. |
POS | FanDuel Cash | $ | FanDuel GPP | $ | POS | DraftKings Cash | $ | DraftKings GPP | $ |
G | Lindsay Whalen | $4,200 | Tamera Young | $4,400 | G | Lindsay Whalen | $5,400 | Kahleah Copper | $3,300 |
G | Courtney Vandersloot | $4,600 | Jasmine Thomas | $6,500 | G | Courtney Vandersloot | $5,600 | Jasmine Thomas | $8,500 |
G | Alana Beard | $5,300 | Courtney Vandersloot | $4,600 | F | Emma Meesseman | $6,400 | Nneka Ogwumike | $10,000 |
F | Maya Moore | $7,500 | Maya Moore | $7,500 | F | Sylvia Fowles | $12,400 | Breanna Stewart | $10,400 |
F | Candace Parker | $8,400 | Emma Meesseman | $4,800 | F | Alyssa Thomas | $9,500 | Emma Meesseman | $6,400 |
F | Emma Meesseman | $4,800 | Alysha Clark | $4,100 | UTIL | Breanna Stewart | $10,400 | Alysha Clark | $5,300 |
F | Rebekkah Brunson | $4,900 | Nneka Ogwumike | $8,100 | |||||
Total | $39,700 | Total | $40,000 | Total | $49,700 | Total | $43,900 | ||
Remaining | $300 | Remaining | $0 | Remaining | $300 | Remaining | $6,100 |