This feels like one of those slates where we will differentiate ourselves by the cheap players we use. There seems to me to be a pretty obvious divide between the studs who are in good spots and the studs to avoid, and if that is indeed the case, then picking the right punt plays will be more important than ever. There are a handful of reasonable cheap options, but as you might expect, they are all risky. The guards are probably safer than the forwards, but they will cost you a bit more.

As always, the lineups below are examples of lineups you can make using the players in the Playbook and are not for plug and play.

Guards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Sami WhitcombSEALA580017.09480016.71
Jordin Canada is doubtful, so Whitcomb will likely be the first guard off the bench, and she could play as much or more than Sue Bird. Whitcomb is averaging 0.99 fantasy points per minute this season.
Sue BirdSEALA700020.09520018.63
Bird has scored at least 20 fantasy points in five of her eight games this season, and I thought it was encouraging that she played 25 minutes Wednesday after missing four games with knee soreness. Bird may not play more minutes with Jordin Canada out, but she will probably have the ball in her hands more.
Courtney VanderslootCHIWAS1050034.64720033.67
Vandersloot has made exactly four field goals in each of her last four games, averaging 37.9 fantasy points in those games. If she knocks down a few more shots, her ceiling is considerably higher than that.
Marina MabreyDALMIN790018.77520016.86
Mabrey has scored at least 21 fantasy points in eight straight games, averaging 26.9 fantasy points in that span. I don't love the matchup, but she could get a few extra minutes with Katie Lou Samuelson out.
Allisha GrayDALMIN840022.63620022.68
Gray has played at least 33 minutes, shot at least 50 percent and scored at least 30 fantasy points in each of her last two games. The shooting probably isn't sustainable, but the minutes could be with Katie Lou Samuelson out. Gray has at least 21 fantasy points in nine of her last 10 games, and that is probably her floor.
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Riquna WilliamsLASEA550018.05450018.10
Williams is averaging 16.5 fppg over her last three games, and while that isn't much, it's enough for cash games at her price. She is always capable of getting hot and making a bunch of threes as well.
Odyssey SimsMINDAL660014520013.40
Sims has shot better than 37 percent from the field once this season, and she had 38.75 fantasy points in that game. That's probably too much to hope for, but she has at least 16 fantasy points in three of her last four games, and there's a decent chance she starts making shots at some point.
Crystal DangerfieldMINDAL930025.1590024.06
Dangerfield is underpriced on FanDuel, and I like her just fine on DraftKings even though she will cost you. She has at least 30 fantasy points in four straight games, and while her ceiling isn't much higher than that, she is among the safest guards in the game.
        
Forwards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Nneka OgwumikeLASEA810021.5600021.49
It sounds like she's going to be a game-time decision, and if that's the case, I'm probably not waiting on her. That being said, she's too cheap on DraftKings. Prior to suffering a back injury, she had scored at least 21 fantasy points in six consecutive games. If we find out early that she's going to play, she's a strong cash play.
Natasha HowardSEALA960022.72700023.41
Howard has scored at least 31 fantasy points in four straight games and six of her last seven. I don't think the Sparks have anyone who can slow her down if Nneka Ogwumike doesn't play.
Bella AlarieDALMIN40009.82460011.09
Dallas is running out of forwards with Katie Lou Samuelson doubtful Friday. At the very least, Alarie should back up Kayla Thornton and Satou Sabally, and she could play alongside them as well. Alarie's production has come and gone, but she is averaging 0.80 fantasy points per minute.
Napheesa CollierMINDAL1130037.72840038.19
Collier was held to eight points on 3-9 shooting against the Sky Wednesday and she still finished with 36 fantasy points for the eighth time in the last nine games. No team has allowed as many fantasy points to forwards as Dallas this season.
Emma MeessemanWASCHI940029.52650029.17
Someone in Washington's frontcourt will probably have a big game against the Sky, who are ninth in the WNBA in fantasy points allowed to forwards. My best guess is it will be Meesseman, who hasn't been great since returning from a shoulder injury, but we know is capable of having big fantasy games.
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Satou SaballyDALMIN1020030.02690029.23
Sabally is averaging 43.4 fantasy points in her last four games, and that makes her a strong fantasy play even in a tough matchup against Minnesota.
Gabby WilliamsCHIWAS770018.22580017.99
Williams came off the bench Wednesday and played 37 minutes, so she should be safe no matter what her role is. She has at least 20 fantasy points in five straight games, and she is the cheapest forward I trust for DraftKings.
Mikiah HarriganMINDAL44009.840009.93
Harrigan's best game of the season came a couple of weeks ago against Dallas, when she had 29 fantasy points in 20 minutes. She has at least 12 fantasy points in three of her last four games, and Dallas is last in the league in fantasy points allowed to forwards.

 

Example Lineups: 

 

DK Cash  DK GPP
Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary  Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
GSami WhitcombSEA@LA17.09$5,800  GOdyssey SimsMIN@DAL14$6,600
GRiquna WilliamsLASEA18.05$5,500  GCourtney VanderslootCHI@WAS34.64$10,500
FGabby WilliamsCHI@WAS18.22$7,700  FBella AlarieDALMIN9.82$4,000
FNapheesa CollierMIN@DAL37.72$11,300  FNapheesa CollierMIN@DAL37.72$11,300
FSatou SaballyDALMIN30.02$10,200  FSatou SaballyDALMIN30.02$10,200
UtilCrystal DangerfieldMIN@DAL25.1$9,300  UtilBrittney SykesLASEA19.29$7,300
    Total$49,800      Total$49,900
              
DK Pivot Cash  DK Pivot GPP
Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary  Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
G     1 G     
GSue BirdSEA@LA20.09$7,0001 GChelsea GrayLASEA27.62$8,900
F     1 F     
F     1 F     
F     1 F     
UtilMarina MabreyDALMIN18.77$7,9001 UtilCheyenne ParkerCHI@WAS26.73$8,800
    Total$14,900      Total$17,700
              
FD Cash  FD GPP
PosPlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary  PosPlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
GSue BirdSEALA18.63$5,200  GCrystal DangerfieldMINDAL24.06$5,900
GMarina MabreyDALMIN16.86$5,200  GSami WhitcombSEALA16.71$4,800
GCrystal DangerfieldMINDAL24.06$5,900  GAllisha GrayDALMIN22.68$6,200
FMikiah HarriganMINDAL9.93$4,000  FEmma MeessemanWASCHI29.17$6,500
FNatasha HowardSEALA23.41$7,000  FSatou SaballyDALMIN29.23$6,900
FSatou SaballyDALMIN29.23$6,900  FMikiah HarriganMINDAL9.93$4,000
FAlysha ClarkSEALA23.91$5,700  FAlysha ClarkSEALA23.91$5,700
    Total$39,900      Total$40,000
              
FD Pivot Cash  FD Pivot GPP
PosPlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary  PosPlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
G     1 G     
G     1 G     
GGabby WilliamsCHIWAS17.99$5,8001 GMarina MabreyDALMIN16.86$5,200
F     1 F     
F     1 F     
FMyisha Hines-AllenWASCHI30.77$6,9001 F     
F     1 FCheyenne ParkerCHIWAS26.85$6,300
    Total$12,700      Total$11,500