What is up Karma Nation, welcome to my very first WNBA DFS slate breakdown for the 2021 season. I will be writing this article on 3 game slates or more. Over the weekend we only had two-game slates so there were no articles. This article will be focusing on my favorite spend-up spots, as well as, those must needed value plays. If you are new to WNBA DFS, welcome and I am excited to have you join the WNBA train.
Minnesota Lynx @ NY Liberty (+5)
Draftkings: Betnijah Laney, Sabrina Ionescu, Crystal Dangerfield, Sami Whitcomb, Sylvia Fowles, Kiah Stokes, Michaela Onyenwere, Aerial Powers
Fanduel: Betnijah Laney, Sabrina Ionescu, Crystal Dangerfield, Kayla McBride, Sami Whitcomb, Sylvia Fowles, Kiah Stokes, Michaela Onyenwere, Damiris Dantas, Kiah Stokes
There are a few more playable players on FD in his game than DK. Which makes sense with more rosters spots on FD. At the top of the salaries today we have Betnijah Laney, Sabrina Ionescu, and Sylvia Fowles. These are the top players on each team fantasy-wise.
Betnijah Laney: Averaging the third most shot attempts per game in the league and the 5th most 3 point attempts per game. Laney is mainly scoring dependant though so she is fadable especially at her price on DK where she is the most expensive guard. Fade in DK cash, play in DK GPPs.
Sabrina Ionescu: In Inonescu’s short WNBA career she has been one of the best fantasy performers over that five-game stretch. In four full games of play, she averaged 35.55 last season and 32.85 this season. She is a little expensive on FD but will be a chalk cash play on DK. Just like Laney, she is fadable on DK GPPs.
Sylvia Fowles: Fowles is coming off a 38.2 fantasy point game which was the 6th best in the W to start the season. Now gets a way easier matchup than last game against Griner. We last McCowan go off against them the first time she saw the Liberty. Fowles should have a similarly easy time instead of going against them.
Aerial Powers: One last player I will expand on is Powers for one reason. WAY TOO CHEAP on DK. She is only $3700 after dropping 29.0 DK points and shooting the 5th more shot attempts per game. No reason to fade her in any format on DK tonight. DK did a great raising everyone’s prices but her.
Phoenix Mercury @ Washington Mystics (+3)
Draftkings: Diana Taurasi, Skylar Diggins Smith, Natasha Cloud, Brittney Griner, Brianna Turner, Tina Charles, Theresa Plaisance, Erica McCall, Megan Walker
Fanduel: Diana Taurasi, Skylar Diggins Smith, Natasha Cloud, Kia Nurse, Shey Peddy, Brittney Griner, Brianna Turner, Tina Charles, Theresa Plaisance, Erica McCall, Megan Walker
Tina Charles: She’s coming off a rough game with only 18.2 fantasy points, but I still want to go back to her at her cheap price tag. 16 of those FPTs came in the first half and she disappeared in the second half. Going from a 33% usage rate to a 16% usage rate. All it takes is a sustained 33% usage rate to pay off value which we have seen from her, her entire career. Being top 3 in usage rate for the majority of her career.
Megan Walker: Walker missed the first game but was back the second game and played 16 minutes off the bench but what I like about her was that she was second on the team in usage rate. Making those 16 minutes even more valuable. She is a great GPP play tonight for FD but you can’t get off of Powers to play her in DK cash but can take a chance on DK GPPs. Pho also had their highest offensive rating with 112.5 points per 100 possessions.
Skylar Diggins-Smith: I prefer running Diggins for a discount compared to DT if you only want to play one of them. They have similar upside and floor so I would rather just take the discount. DT has the higher usage rate but Diggins has more scoring potential than her. I love both tonight but I lean SDS over DT barely because of the pricing difference. Although, I will take DT over SDS if you have salary for both.
LV Aces @ Seattle Storm (-1)
Draftkings: Jewell Loyd, Jackie Young, Katie Lou Samuelson, Riquna Williams, Breanna Stewart, A’Ja Wilson, Dearica Hamby, Candice Dupree.
Fanduel: Jewell Loyd, Chelsea Gray, Sue Bird, Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum, Katie Lou Samuelson, Riquna Williams, Breanna Stewart, A’Ja Wilson, Dearica Hamby, Candice Dupree.
Jewell Loyd: Based on pricing for FD Loyd is a must-play tonight. After putting up 39 FD points last game she saw no real price bump. We saw a very high paced game last time these two played and expect plenty of points again tonight.
Candice Dupree: Dupree was a surprise to me this season. While Dupree has had one of the most prolific careers in WNBA history. At 36 years old she is showing she is still playing at the top of her game. She was tied for second on her team with shot attempts and second n usage rate. I wasn’t sure how she would fit in this offense but clearly, she is thriving.
