WNBA DFS Playbook July 22: Kahleah Copper A Strong Value Option
We have been enjoying some high-scoring WNBA DFS slates of late, but that may not be the case Friday. Of the six teams on Friday’s slate, five are in the bottom half of the league in opponent’s points. While there aren’t a lot of strong fantasy matchups in the slate, there may be an opportunity for value plays with two All-WNBA caliber players, Jonquel Jones and Courtney Vandersloot, missing their third consecutive games. Choosing the players who will step up in their absences could go a long way toward winning your DFS contests.
| Guards | ||||||
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Julie Allemand | CHI | DAL | 4900 | 11.15 | 4000 | 10.87 |
| Allemand struggled against Seattle Wednesday in her second start of the season but she had 23.25 fantasy points in 29 minutes against Dallas in her first start. If she simply matches that production, she will be a nice value Friday. | ||||||
| Kahleah Copper | CHI | DAL | 7500 | 25.42 | 6600 | 23.75 |
| Copper has thrived whenever Candace Parker or Courtney Vandersloot are out of the lineup, averaging 38.8 fantasy points in those four games. Copper is arguably the best value on the slate, for both sites. | ||||||
| Allie Quigley | CHI | DAL | 7100 | 20.88 | 5700 | 20.09 |
| Quigley's usage didn't go up dramatically with Courtney Vandersloot out, but her minutes did. Quigley has played at least 31 minutes and scored at least 29 fantasy points in both games Vandersloot has missed. | ||||||
| Skylar Diggins-Smith | PHO | SEA | 10700 | 37.88 | 8900 | 38.19 |
| Diggins-Smith is the safest player on the slate and it isn't particularly close. I hate the matchup, but Diggins-Smith has scored at least 30 fantasy points in seven consecutive games and 14 of her last 15. I will definitely try to pay up for her in cash games. | ||||||
| Diana Taurasi | PHO | SEA | 9800 | 29.1 | 7800 | 27.48 |
| This isn't a great matchup, but Taurasi has at least 32.5 fantasy points in four straight games and she is averaging 34.7 fantasy points on four-days rest. She is also averaging 31.4 fantasy points in two games against Seattle this season. If you are looking for a narrative angle, Taurasi could be extra motivated to show out in her last regular-season matchup with Sue Bird. | ||||||
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Courtney Williams | CON | MIN | 8400 | 24.67 | 7200 | 24.68 |
| It is easy to focus on the Connecticut forwards with Jonquel Jones out, but Minnesota has allowed the most fantasy points to guards all season. Natisha Hiedeman and Dijonai Carrington are worth a shot in tournaments but Williams has been much more consistent, with at least 21 fantasy points in nine straight games. | ||||||
| Forwards | ||||||
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Alyssa Thomas | CON | MIN | 11000 | 33.84 | 8600 | 33.30 |
| Thomas had a rather pedestrian 29 fantasy points with Jonquel Jones out Sunday, but she bounced back with 54.25 fantasy points on Tuesday. The top tier of forwards is as volatile as any slate I have seen recently, which is all the more reason to simply pay up for Thomas. | ||||||
| Emma Meesseman | CHI | DAL | 9700 | 29.66 | 7400 | 30.60 |
| Meesseman has at least 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists in both games Courtney Vandersloot has missed. She averaged a career-high 4.5 assists with Washington last season and I see no reason why she can't continue to put up big numbers until Vandersloot returns. | ||||||
| Jessica Shepard | MIN | CON | 7600 | 24.76 | 6500 | 23.96 |
| Shepard has played at least 23 minutes and scored at least 23 fantasy points in four of her last five games. Damiris Dantas's absence raises Shepard's floor, even if her ceiling isn't particluarly high. | ||||||
| Brionna Jones | CON | MIN | 8800 | 24.97 | 6600 | 25.70 |
| Jones has scored at least 29 fantasy points in both games Jonquel Jones has missed. Brionna Jones has seen her price increase significantly but she remains the safest player in her price range. | ||||||
| Joyner Holmes | CON | MIN | 3000 | 5.14 | 3200 | 5.11 |
| I have no idea why she is a guard on FanDuel, but I think she is still playable there. It is rare to see anyone with real playing time priced at the minimum on DK, but Holmes has played at least 14 minutes and scored at least 13 fantasy points in two of her last three games. She has a chance to play 10+ minutes again with Jonquel Jones out, though it is far from a sure thing. | ||||||
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Kayla Thornton | DAL | CHI | 6000 | 19.1 | 4900 | 19.53 |
| Thornton has played at least 29 minutes and scored at least 18.25 fantasy points in each of the last two games with Satou Sabally out. Sabally is out yet again and while Thornton's usage will never be high enough for her to really pop, she looks like a nice value with a high floor. | ||||||
| Tina Charles | SEA | PHO | 8000 | 28.05 | 6000 | 27.07 |
| We are finally starting to see post players have some success against Phoenix's small lineups, most notably Aerial Powers scoring 35 points with 13 rebounds and Cheyenne Parker with 21 and 12 the last time out. Charles has been quiet since joining Seattle but she had at least 23 fantasy points in four of her last five games, and I think she has a chance to win some tournaments for some DFS players Friday. | ||||||
| Draftkings Core Plays | ||
| Top Tier | Skylar Diggins-Smith | $10,700 |
| Alyssa Thomas | $11,000 | |
| Mid Tier | Kahleah Copper | $7,500 |
| Jessica Shepard | $7,600 | |
| Value Tier | Julie Allemand | $4,900 |
| Joyner Holmes | $3,000 | |
| Fanduel Core Plays | ||
| Top Tier | Jewell Loyd | $6,500 |
| Emma Meesseman | $7,400 | |
| Mid Tier | Allie Quigley | $5,700 |
| Brionna Jones | $6,600 | |
| Value Tier | Julie Allemand | $4,000 |
| Kayla Thornton | $4,900 | |
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