You wouldn’t think Friday’s four-game WNBA DFS slate would be drastically different than the three-game slates we have become accustomed to over the last few weeks, but this slate certainly feels different. The combination of prominent absences and some players who appear to be turning their seasons around following rough patches has produced players who look like nice values at just about every price point. I usually try to add cheaper players to my lineups and fill in the expensive players with whatever salary I have left, and I love how that has worked out for this slate. That being said, if there is an expensive player you just have to have, you can add her to your lineup confident that there will be a nice value further down the board should you need it.
Guards
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Victoria Vivians
IND
NY
4100
10.12
3400
9.64
No one has ever gotten rich betting on a Victoria Vivians breakout, but she scored 16 fantasy points in 16 minutes Saturday. The Liberty are 10th in points allowed this season, giving Vivians a relatively good shot at repeating her strong play.
Skylar Diggins-Smith
PHO
SEA
9700
33.29
7100
32.09
Diggins-Smith scored 42.75 fantasy points in 43 minutes on 7-20 shooting Wednesday with Diana Taurasi out. If Taurasi is out again, Diggins-Smith is arguably the safest guard on the slate.
Odyssey Sims
ATL
CON
7700
19.43
5500
19.81
Sims had 33.75 fantasy points in 31 minutes Sunday, the third time in her last seven games she has topped 30 fantasy points. I trust Crystal Bradford more, but Sims could be a better GPP play, especially on DraftKings.
Crystal Bradford
ATL
CON
8100
17.81
5600
18.24
It is remarkable that with all the draft capital Atlanta has spent on guards the last two seasons, Crystal Bradford is the player having the breakout season. She is averaging 28.8 fantasy poitns in 27.6 minutes in her last three games, and her playing time should be safe with Chennedy Carter away from the team. Bradford isn't exactly safe, but so long as she doesn't shoot 25 percent for a second consecutive game, she should provide nice value.
Aari McDonald
ATL
CON
4200
10.77
3000
10.55
Pretty much all of McDonald's good games this season have come against Minnesota, so this pick is pretty risky. That being said, McDonald played 11 minutes Sunday and she could play even more with Chennedy Carter out. McDonald is averaging 0.82 fantasy points per minute, so if she can get to 20 minutes, she would likely be a strong punt play.
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Sabrina Ionescu
NY
IND
8800
29.66
6000
27.46
Ionescu has scored at least 31 fantasy points in three of her last four games despite taking no more than nine shots in any of those games. It is nice to see her regain her shooting touch and if her usage ever goes back to her early-season levels, she could have a truly monster game. There may be better cash plays on DK, but she is a must-play on FD.
Chelsea Gray
LV
MIN
8300
27.8
6200
27.28
I don't understand why Chelsea Gray is so cheap. She has at least 21.5 fantasy points in eight of her last 10 games, and Minnesota has allowed the most fantasy points to opposing guards. She is safer than Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young and she is cheaper than them on FanDuel. Even on DraftKings, I would rather pay up for Gray if I could.
Sophie Cunningham
PHO
SEA
3800
9.56
3200
9.34
Cunningham has played heavy minutes before with little to show for it for fantasy, but I don't know how you get away from her if Diana Taurasi is out. Cunningham scored 28.75 fantasy points in 38 minutes Wednesday and her price remains the same. The only problem is the other punt plays are in the early game, and you may have to make a decision on them before we know Taurasi's status.
Forwards
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Sylvia Fowles
MIN
LV
11400
38.57
8300
39.92
Fowles is too cheap on FanDuel. Vegas has allowed the most fantasy points to forwards this season, and Fowles scored 69.5 fantasy points in 40 minutes in her only game against the Aces. I'm not necessarily expecting that again, but it is on the table, especially after Brittney Griner scored 59.5 fantasy points against them on Wednesday.
Teaira McCowan
IND
NY
8600
26
6700
25.87
I know better than to trust Teaira McCowan, but she should physically dominate New York. Arguably McCowan's best game was against New York, when she had 22 points and 16 rebounds in the season-opener. The Liberty are 11th in fantasy points allowed to forwards
Reshanda Gray
NY
IND
5300
13.84
5200
13.71
Gray has scored at least 20 fantasy points in three of her last four games, including both of her games since Rebecca Allen went down. Gray is a nice value on DraftKings and she could be a nice cash play on FanDuel as well.
Ezi Magbegor
SEA
PHO
6400
12.95
4800
13.27
Magbegor's production fell a bit in the rematch against Los Angeles, but she still played 21 minutes. She is averaging 23.8 fantasy points in her last three games, and if she keeps playing 20+ minutes, she will be a great fantasy play, especially for tournaments.
Brittney Griner
PHO
SEA
10400
39.6
8500
39.54
Griner is coming off a great game against Las Vegas, scoring 59.5 fantasy points in 42 minutes. I am a bit worried she will play fewer minutes, especially if Seattle goes up big, but the Storm are ninth in fantasy points allowed to forwards. Griner has at least 34.5 fantasy points in eight of her last 10 games, and she is too cheap on DraftKings.
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Brianna Turner
PHO
SEA
8400
25.63
6100
26.93
Turner is safer and cheaper than Teaira McCowan, though McCowan has the better matchup. Turner has at least 20 fantasy points in eight of her last 10 games.
Damiris Dantas
MIN
LV
7600
17.91
4400
16.81
Dantas has at least 23.25 fantasy points in three of her last five games, and she faces an Aces squad that has allowed the most fantasy points to opposing forwards. Dantas struggled against the Aces two weeks ago, and I wouldn't trust her for cash games, but I cannot ignore her price on FanDuel. At the very least, she should play 30+ minutes to match up with the Aces' forwards.
