What is up Karma Nation, welcome to another edition of my WNBA DFS slate breakdown. I will be writing this article on 3 game slates or more. 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.
Washington Mystics @ Indiana Fever (+2)
Tina Charles has flashed one of the highest usage rates in the league throughout the first few games of the season. The is a concern moving forward with her fantasy production with Myisha Hines-Allen and Elena Delle Donne coming back for the Mystics. For now, we can just continue playing her as she puts up huge fantasy performances.
Myisha Hines-Allen returned for her first game against the Fever last game but came off the bench, playing 14 minutes and converting none of her six field goal attempts into buckets. Ending up well below value with only 12.1 Fpts. Although, she almost mirrored her 2020 campaigns 25% usage rate, falling just shy at 22.9%. The main takeaway from this is, monitor the starting lineup for the Mystics because once she sneaks back into the starting lineup this team is going to struggle to show any fantasy relevance until they lower the players’ salaries.
Natasha Cloud: One last important note to touch on for the Mystics; Natasha Cloud is questionable. This is more of a defensive slow-down for the Mystics than a fantasy-relevant play. The former second-round pick was on the 2019 all-defensive team for the WNBA. If she is ruled out check the starting lineups. This should open up more usage for Ariel Atkins/Tina Charles, while also sliding Sydney Weise most likely into the starting lineup.
If Cloud is out, that will open up more viable guards for the Fever.
Atlanta Dream @ Chicago Sky (-6.5)
Candace Parker is most likely out for a couple of games, this changes a lot of things up for the Sky. She was the 2020 DPOY for the Sparks and carried that defensive mindset over to the Sky. Parker had a 30% usage rate and a defensive rating of 57. While that was just a game that the Sky dominated it still shows the difference in game styles compared to their league-high 108 pace over the last two games, correlated to CP3 missing those games.
One of the biggest beneficiaries of her absence is Ruthy Hebard. Hebard is leading the team in usage rate of the last two games at 23.4%. Followed up by Courtney Vandersloot, 21.5%, Kahleah Copper, 21.3%, and Diamond Deshields, 19.6%. The primary ball-handling role is also back in Sloot’s hands, as she is averaging 12 assists per game over this stretch as well.
We have a scorer’s paradise on our hands on the other side of the court. The Dream are in a Dream scenario to but up a ton of baskets. Unfortunately, you are going to have to pay a premium for these players outside of Tiffany Hayes, who they still refuse to raise her price. Making her one of the top borderline value plays on the board for Draftkings.
Connecticut Sun @ Seattle Storm (-3.5)
Ezi Magbegor slid back into her bench role last game against the leading to only six minutes for 2019 first round pick. This is a purely GPP play is you want some value, but Magbegor started the previous two games because coach liked the way she defended the bigger players. Tonight the Storm matchup aginst Jonquel Jones, one of the best bigs in the league. I am expecting her to get the start again but we won’t know until closer to lock. Make sure to have a back up plan unless you want to take the risk.
As long as their price doesn’t get too high we have the normal stars in this game that shine every slate; Jewell Loyd, Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and DeWanna Bonner. They all make great plays on both sites and always a top spend up on every slate.
