WNBA DFS Playbook September 10: Top DraftKings & FanDuel WNBA DFS Picks

The WNBA playoff field is set, though a handful of teams are still fighting for seeding. We will discuss those teams in a bit, but the safest players may be from the teams that have already been eliminated. Seattle has effectively been out of the playoff race since before the All-Star break, but they have continued to play Jewell Loyd the third-most minutes per game in the entire league. I see no reason why that would change Sunday. On the other hand, we have no way of knowing how much these coaches are going to push for a higher playoff seed. I think having the No. 1 overall seed is extremely important. Similarly, I would be doing whatever it took to face Dallas in the first round of the playoffs and not Connecticut. But we don’t know if the coaches involved feel the same way. Perhaps they believe having healthy, well-rested starters is more important than playoff matchups or homecourt advantage. In general, I’m more inclined to use players from teams that have something to play for, but it would be a mistake to assume those teams will have normal rotations. The games may mean something, but rest and health mean something, as well.

Of the aforementioned teams that still have something to play for, Las Vegas and New York are the trickiest. The Aces can clinch the top seed with a win, while the Liberty would need to win their ninth straight game and get help from Las Vegas. Both have veteran teams that could probably benefit from some rest, so while I expect the starters to play, I would not be surprised to see both teams lean more heavily on their benches.

I think Atlanta and Minnesota have the most to play for, and it probably helps that they are pretty young. Rhyne Howard and Napheesa Collier could probably benefit from only playing 20 minutes Sunday, but their coaches may believe they will be just fine playing 35+ minutes one more time.

Finally, the Sky deserve a mention because while they have nothing to play for, it may not affect their rotations much. They only have three healthy guards with Kahleah Copper out, which is a problem for a team that has spent the overwhelming majority of the season with three guards on the court. I’m sure the Sky would love to rest Courtney Williams or Marina Mabrey, but they might not have that option.