Five of the top seven teams in Opponents’ scoring go Thursday, so we can probably expect a lot of fantasy scoring. The outlier in this group is Seattle, which is tied with Minnesota for the fewest points allowed. I wasn’t rushing out to play anyone from Atlanta anyway, but I think this is a great time to look elsewhere for fantasy production.
There are a couple of injuries to watch, but, unfortunately, they are both in the late game. Stefanie Dolson has not yet been ruled out against Phoenix, which is a departure from previous games when she was ruled out well ahead of time. That doesn’t mean she’s playing, but I think you at least need to check the lineups before the game if you’re planning on playing anyone from Chicago’s frontcourt.
Bria Hartley is questionable for tonight, and since she has been coming off the bench, there’s a chance we won’t know her status until after the game starts, if at all. I like several Mercury players whether Hartley can go or not, but there will certainly be more minutes and shots to go around if she is out.
| Guards | |||||||
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG | |
| DeWanna Bonner | CON | DAL | 11300 | 44.1 | 8000 | 43.38 | |
| Bonner went from leading the league in points through four games to scoring just five points against Seattle Tuesday. I blame a lot of that on Seattle's defense as well as the fact Seattle made Bonner work on the defensive end. Dallas is not nearly as formidable defensively, and I expect Bonner to get back to normal. | |||||||
| Diana Taurasi | PHO | CHI | 9600 | 33.7 | 6800 | 33.76 | |
| She has played at least 29 minutes and scored at least 39 fantasy points in three straight games. She is handling the ball a lot and racking up assists, and she could get up more shots if Bria Hartley cannot go. | |||||||
| Courtney Vandersloot | CHI | PHO | 10000 | 32.35 | 6700 | 30.94 | |
| Vandersloot has been the most consistent player for fantasy in the entire league. That could change if Diamond DeShields ever gets back up to full speed and full minutes, but until then, Vandersloot is an exceptionally solid cash play. | |||||||
| Natisha Hiedeman | CON | DAL | 5600 | 11.1 | 3400 | 10.66 | |
| I mentioned in the preseason how much I liked her game, and she showed why in her first start of the season, scoring 26.75 fantasy points in 33 minutes despite shooting 3-10 from the field. She is a must-play if she starts again. | |||||||
| Sami Whitcomb | SEA | ATL | 5200 | 13.2 | 3800 | 12.48 | |
| Whitcomb played 20 minutes Tuesday with Sue Bird and Epiphanny Prince both out. She might not score 28 fantasy points again, but the minutes alone make her worth playing. | |||||||
| Forwards | |||||||
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG | |
| Azura Stevens | CHI | PHO | 9700 | 30.75 | 5900 | 30.82 | |
| Stevens has at least 35 fantasy points in three of the four games Stefanie Dolson has missed. If Dolson is out again, Stevens is a GPP play. | |||||||
| Brianna Turner | PHO | CHI | 6800 | 22.45 | 5400 | 23.10 | |
| Turner is fourth in the league in offensive rebounds per game, and we have seen Napheesa Collier, Kayla Thornton and Bella Alarie have success against the Sky on the offensive glass the last two games. Turner has played at least 22 minutes in three straight games, averaging 25.75 fantasy points in that span. | |||||||
| Alanna Smith | PHO | CHI | 5400 | 15.4 | 3500 | 14.96 | |
| Smith has played at least 16 minutes in three of her last four games, averaging 22.3 fantasy points in those three games. She should be pretty safe if Bria Hartley cannot go. | |||||||
| Breanna Stewart | SEA | ATL | 11800 | 42.6 | 7800 | 43.08 | |
| Stewart has scored at least 45 fantasy points in both games with Sue Bird out. She should be awfully safe for this game. | |||||||
| Satou Sabally | DAL | CON | 9000 | 28.8 | 6600 | 29.04 | |
| Sabally is still struggling on threes, but it is encouraging to see she is still shooting them. She already has one game with 50 fantasy points, and if the shots start falling, we could see her get another one. | |||||||
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG | |
| Bella Alarie | DAL | CON | 5500 | 14 | 4900 | 16.30 | |
| Alarie was very good against the Sky Tuesday, even though she wasn't involved much offensively. I am a bit concerned she will play fewer minutes against Connecticut at Alyssa Thomas, but she's still pretty cheap on DraftKings. | |||||||
| Kayla Thornton | DAL | CON | 6400 | 17.25 | 4800 | 17.32 | |
| After starting off slowly, Thornton has played at least 27 minutes and is averaging 22.7 fantasy points over her last three games. | |||||||
| Gabby Williams | CHI | PHO | 7500 | 23.8 | 5800 | 22.74 | |
| Williams has gone back and forth between good games and bad games for the past week, and if that continues, she should have another 35 fantasy points in her Thursday. I wouldn't count on it for cash games, and I don't know that I would play her at all if Stefanie Dolson returns. | |||||||
As always the example lineups aren't meant to plug and play but to help you build your lineups.
| DK Cash | Pivot | DK Cash Pivot | ||||||||||
| Pos. | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary | Pos. | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary | |
| G | Diana Taurasi | PHO | CHI | 33.7 | $9,600 | G | ||||||
| G | Courtney Vandersloot | CHI | @PHO | 32.35 | $10,000 | G | ||||||
| F | Brianna Turner | PHO | CHI | 22.45 | $6,800 | F | ||||||
| F | Bella Alarie | DAL | CON | 14 | $5,500 | to | F | Kayla Thornton | SEA | ATL | 13.2 | $5,200 |
| F | Breanna Stewart | SEA | @ATL | 42.6 | $11,800 | F | ||||||
| Util | Natisha Hiedeman | CON | @DAL | 11.1 | $5,600 | to | Util | Sami Whitcomb | SEA | ATL | 13.2 | $5,200 |
| Total | $49,300 | Total | $49,900 | |||||||||
| DK GPP | Pivot | DK GPP Pivot | ||||||||||
| Pos. | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary | Pos. | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary | |
| G | Natisha Hiedeman | CON | @DAL | 11.1 | $5,600 | G | ||||||
| G | Diana Taurasi | PHO | CHI | 33.7 | $9,600 | G | ||||||
| F | Alanna Smith | PHO | CHI | 15.4 | $5,400 | F | ||||||
| F | Satou Sabally | DAL | CON | 28.8 | $9,000 | F | ||||||
| F | Azura Stevens | CHI | @PHO | 30.75 | $9,700 | to | F | Breanna Stewart | SEA | @ATL | 42.6 | $11,800 |
| Util | Alyssa Thomas | CON | @DAL | 39.65 | $10,600 | to | Util | Skylar Diggins-Smith | PHO | CHI | 26.35 | $8,500 |
| Total | $49,900 | Total | ||||||||||
| FD Cash | Pivot | FD Pivot Cash | ||||||||||
| Pos | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary | Pos | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary | |
| G | Courtney Vandersloot | CHI | PHO | 30.94 | $6,700 | G | ||||||
| G | Diana Taurasi | PHO | CHI | 33.76 | $6,800 | G | ||||||
| G | Natisha Hiedeman | CON | DAL | 10.66 | $3,400 | to | G | Sami Whitcomb | SEA | ATL | 12.48 | $3,800 |
| F | Breanna Stewart | SEA | ATL | 43.08 | $7,800 | F | ||||||
| F | Alanna Smith | PHO | CHI | 14.96 | $3,500 | F | ||||||
| F | Brianna Turner | PHO | CHI | 23.10 | $5,400 | F | ||||||
| F | Alysha Clark | SEA | ATL | 23.68 | $6,000 | to | F | Azura Stevens | CHI | PHO | 30.82 | $5,900 |
| Total | $39,600 | Total | $39,800 | |||||||||
| FD GPP | Pivot | FD Pivot GPP | ||||||||||
| Pos | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary | Pos | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary | |
| G | Natisha Hiedeman | CON | DAL | 10.66 | $3,400 | G | ||||||
| G | Diana Taurasi | PHO | CHI | 33.76 | $6,800 | G | ||||||
| G | Jewell Loyd | SEA | ATL | 20.98 | $5,000 | to | G | Jasmine Thomas | CON | DAL | 17.98 | $5,000 |
| F | Azura Stevens | CHI | PHO | 30.82 | $5,900 | F | ||||||
| F | Alanna Smith | PHO | CHI | 14.96 | $3,500 | F | ||||||
| F | Breanna Stewart | SEA | ATL | 43.08 | $7,800 | F | ||||||
| F | Alyssa Thomas | CON | DAL | 38.98 | $7,400 | to | F | Brittney Griner | PHO | CHI | 30.86 | $7,200 |
| Total | $39,800 | Total | $39,600 | |||||||||