Saturday’s WNBA DFS Slate offers a sharp contrast between the teams with someone the play for and those without. A lot will be determined by which players get to play heavy minutes, so let’s take a look at where each team stands going into Saturday’s games. 

The Sparks need a win against the Aces to keep their hopes for the double-bye alive. The Aces would have another chance to clinch their double-bye Sunday against Seattle, but they might prefer to be able to rest their starters in that game. The Mystics are suddenly in the driver’s seat for the eighth seed; if they win Saturday and Sunday, they are in. Washington’s starters have already been playing heavy minutes, and if they can get up big early, they might try to get the players some rest for Sunday’s game.

Minnesota has clinched the #4 seed and a first-round bye, and while the starters still might get some run in this game, there is no reason to play them heavy minutes. Minnesota has multiple bench players who would be interesting for fantasy if they start and play heavy minutes, but we can’t really play them unless the starters get ruled out. If the starters play 15-20 minutes, everyone loses.

New York and Indiana have been eliminated from the playoffs for some time now, and while the Liberty have alternated with resting veterans Amanda Zahui B and Layshia Clarendon, the Fever obviously hate fun. Tearia McCowan continues to play 20ish minutes per game down the stretch, and there is no reason to think that would suddenly change.

 

Guards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Brittney SykesLALV730020.09490020.53
Sykes returned from a one-game absence to play 28 minutes and score 21.25 fantasy points. Prior to her abdominal injury, she had scored 28+ fantasy points in four of her last six games. I like her chances of topping 28 fantasy points again in this game, and we don't even really need her to at her price.
Paris KeaNYWAS690014.03460013.32
Paris Kea is averaging 0.93 fantasy points per minute this season. She started Thursday with Layshia Clarendon out, scoring 29.25 fantasy points in 31 minutes. She is playable if she starts, but I'll like her even better if Clarendon is out.
Ariel AtkinsWASNY810024.75570024.51
Atkins shot 20 percent from the field Thursday and still finished with 27 fantasy points. She has at least 24 fantasy points in four straight games, and the Liberty are 11th in fantasy points allowed to guards.
Leilani MitchellWASNY840022.65580021.69
Mitchell has scored at least 25 fantasy points in six of her last seven games, and she is averaging 33.8 fantasy points in her last four games. It took her nearly the entire season to get going for fantasy, but there is no reason to think she will slow down in this game.
Jackie YoungLVLA860022.3650022.01
Young finally missed a few shots Thursday and came back down to earth for fantasy, but she is still averaging 36.9 fantasy points in her last five games.
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Kayla McBrideLVLA780021.29540021.26
The Sparks are ninth in fantasy points allowed to guards, and McBride has at least 27 fantasy points in three straight games. She has been a lot more active on the boards and creating shots for teammates lately, and I expect that to continue Saturday.
Tiffany MitchellINDMIN630021.82500020.78
Mitchell has scored at least 18 fantasy points in four of her last five games, and this could be a relatively easy matchup if Minnesota rests its starters.
        
Forwards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Teaira McCowanINDMIN850023.21620022.83
I have (mostly) given up on Teaira McCowan playing 25+ minutes for head coach Marianne Stanley. That being said, McCowan has scored at least 24.5 fantasy points in six straight games despite limited playing time. The Lynx don't have anyone to match McCowan's size, and she could really have her way inside if Minnesota's starters rest. McCowan is a cash play, but I don't hate her for tournaments.
Jocelyn WilloughbyNYWAS640012.34480012.13
Willoughby played a season-high 31 minutes Thursday, and I will like her even better if Layshia Clarendon is ruled out. Willoughby is averaging 23.7 fantasy points in her last three games, and she is a cash play even if Clarendon starts.
Myisha Hines-AllenWASNY1090034.52750033.29
On some level, you have to wonder how long Hines-Allen can keep playing at an MVP level. At the same time, the Liberty are 10th in fantasy points allowed to forwards, so I'm guessing it lasts at least one more game. Hines-Allen is averaging 45.25 fantasy points over her last four games.
Candice DupreeINDMIN930025.08610025.23
I don't know why Dupree is averaging 33.8 minutes in her last four games, but she is. She is also averaging 30.4 fantasy points in that span. There is a slight chance she plays fewer minutes and Teaira McCowan gets some extended run, but beyond that, Dupree is quite safe for fantasy.
Nneka OgwumikeLALV910023.06710023.06
Ogwimike wasn't good in her first game returning from a back injury, but she is averaging 36.5 fantasy points in her two games since. I think she will deliver again in a huge game for the Sparks, but I think I like her better for tournaments.
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Candace ParkerLALV1130037.9780037.23
Parker is playing as well as anyone right now, with at least 45 fantasy points in four of her last five games. There are better values on the slate, but if you can afford her, few players can match her ceiling.
Kiah StokesNYWAS660018.59500018.80
If you need a cheap forward outside of Jocelyn Willoughby, Stokes is your best bet. She has played at least 20 minutes in nine straight games, averaging 18.1 fantasy points in her last four.

 

 

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. 

DK Cash  DK GPP
Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary  Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
GJocelyn WilloughbyNYWAS12.34$6,400  GJackie YoungLAV@LA22.3$8,600
GLeilani MitchellWAS@NY22.65$8,400  GParis KeaNYWAS14.03$6,900
FMyisha Hines-AllenWAS@NY34.52$10,900  FMyisha Hines-AllenWAS@NY34.52$10,900
FTeaira McCowanINDMIN23.21$8,500  FNneka OgwumikeLALAV23.06$9,100
FNneka OgwumikeLALAV23.06$9,100  FKiah StokesNYWAS18.59$6,600
UtilTiffany MitchellINDMIN21.82$6,300  UtilBrittney SykesLALAV20.09$7,300
    Total$49,600      Total$49,400
              
DK Pivot Cash  DK Pivot GPP
Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary  Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
G       G     
GJackie YoungLAV@LA22.3$8,600  GJocelyn WilloughbyNYWAS12.34$6,400
F       F     
F       F     
FAngel McCoughtryLAV@LA28.01$9,200  F     
Util       UtilLeilani MitchellWAS@NY22.65$8,400
    Total$17,800      Total$14,800
              
FD Cash  FD GPP
PosPlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary  PosPlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
GParis KeaNYWAS13.32$4,600  GBrittney SykesLALV20.53$4,900
GBrittney SykesLALV20.53$4,900  GKiara LeslieWASNY12.09$3,800
GKayla McBrideLVLA21.26$5,400  GLeilani MitchellWASNY21.69$5,800
FJocelyn WilloughbyNYWAS12.13$4,800  FMyisha Hines-AllenWASNY33.29$7,500
FMyisha Hines-AllenWASNY33.29$7,500  FJocelyn WilloughbyNYWAS12.13$4,800
FTeaira McCowanINDMIN22.83$6,200  FKiah StokesNYWAS18.80$5,000
FEmma MeessemanWASNY29.91$6,500  FCandace ParkerLALV37.23$7,800
    Total$39,900      Total$39,600
              
FD Pivot Cash  FD Pivot GPP
PosPlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary  PosPlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
G       G     
G       G     
GLeilani MitchellWASNY21.69$5,800  GKayla McBrideLVLA21.26$5,400
F       FEmma MeessemanWASNY29.91$6,500
F       F     
F       F     
FCandice DupreeINDMIN25.23$6,100  F     
    Total$11,900      Total$11,900