WNBA DFS Playbook: September 10

If there is anything I don’t like about playing fantasy sports, it is trying to read the tea leaves. I think it nearly impossible to guess what motivates strangers, let alone assuming that those motivations will manifest into fantasy points. That is why I try (unsuccessfully) to avoid “revenge games” and I often ignore things like contract years. We don’t know if someone’s going to be motivated to play better in a contract year, so I don’t consider it in my analysis.

This time of year, however, we have to consider motivation, at least to some degree. While coaches are, for the most part, trying to win every game during the regular season, there are different motivations with 2-3 games left. Teams that are out of the playoffs may try to get young players more minutes. Playoff teams may no longer have to worry about securing home-court advantage, but they are still trying to secure byes in the first and second rounds, while also ensuring their teams are healthy and rested for the playoffs. With that in mind, let’s quickly look at what each of the six teams in Thursday’s WNBA DFS slate are playing for.

Indiana and New York have missed the playoffs again, as their rebuilds failed to show much forward momentum. At least New York can blame their record on injuries. The Liberty have leaned somewhat into playing their young players more by essentially shutting down Amanda Zahui B. On the other hand, Layshia Clarendon has played her most minutes since early August. That could easily change in the last two games.

Indiana finally returned Teaira McCowan to the starting lineup Tuesday, but still only played her 23 minutes. Candice Dupree and Natalie Achonwa are both free agents after the season, and there is no apparent reason to play them ahead of McCowan. The Fever have done nothing to indicate McCowan will suddenly play 30+ minutes in these last two games, but I am still hopeful.

Everyone else in the slate is either fighting to secure a playoff bye or, in the case of the Mystics, simply fighting for a playoff spot. While these teams should all play their starters the normal allotment of minutes, it is possible they will have a quick hook if the game starts to get out of hand.

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.