Yes we are back for another thrilling year of WNBA DFS, there are riches to be had. So like last year the two best places to find me are Awesemo discord and Twitter. Especially these first couple of slates where there will be many last minute changes and lineups. Now a word of warning I have 4 kids that are doing a ton of sports this Spring, there is a decent chance I maybe watching their sporting event near lock and not paying attention like I should. So if I do not answer your question do not take it personally,
Now word to the wise the first games of the year starting lineups are MASSIVELY IMPORTANT. There is going to be a surprise starter or two, the WNBA has limited pre season and information is very small. For example Indiana nobody really knows who they are going to start we are all guessing, but there is going to be some inexpensive starters for Indiana.
So today I will go team by team (right now FanDuel is the only one with pricing so I will have a DK addendum at the bottom), be sure to follow me on twitter as I will tweet thoughts and articles on Friday. There is still a bunch of news we are waiting on at the time of this article @Finhater1374. This article will be more verbose than the others since the contests are bigger and there is a lot of info to cover.
Lets start off with the Elena Della Donne question, every quote and statement coming from training camp was that she has never been this healthy and the back is no longer a problem after playing just 3 games in the last 2 years. And than news comes out that she is sitting this weekend but playing on Friday. We need to know minutes here Indiana is awful and this is a great matchup EDD at 30 minutes is in a smash spot. My personal feel is the discount is not enough for the risk on Fanduel. I like Arial Atkins a lot in this spot, and she is too cheap on FD, Natasha Cloud was struggled last year and I need to see it before I play her. Myesha Hines-Allen is an okay play if you think EDD is limited. If you are playing 150 lineups Shakira Austin is very cheap, she is the third overall pick and smashed in the pre season, if EDD is limited or Hines Allen has issue Austin is in a great spot. I love taking shots on Austin in GPPs.
Indiana is a whole new team the only holdovers are Tiffany Mitchell, Kelsey Mitchell, Victoria Vivians and Danielle Robinson that means a whole new frontcourt. This is the most important starting lineup on the slate we want whoever starts. This is nice since its the first game. NaLyssa Smith figures to be the best producer of the four rookies and she is under priced for what her role will be, I think she is a lock to start. After that I want the other starters. I will say if Queen Egbo starts I am not sure she is a smash play, she is very defensive centric. Lexie Hull is 3.3 on FanDuel I would like her a lot if she draws the start. In a nutshell its tough to crunch before we get this lineup. One dart throw a like if she were to draw the start is Bria Hartley
LA-Chicago
This is actually my least favorite game on the slate for DFS purposes. Jordin Canada should start she is only 3.6k on Fanduel that is a mis price you should play her over there. Liz Cambage will be popular at her reduced price but I dont really love the spot. That being said she is inexpensive for what her role will be, the key will be getting her the minutes is she capable of playing 30. Nneka is fine if you are building 150.
Chicago brings back everyone from their championship team and adds Emma Messeman. To me with all the value and studs in great spots Chicago is mostly a fade for me, they will probably be running 8-9 deep and everyone is priced accordingly.
Minnesota Lynx vs the Seattle Waddells
Minnesota is down Naphressa Collier they also cut half their back court. Angel McCourtney is min price on FD, now she did have a knee injection on Tuesday but she started pre season games prior to that. If she starts you are going to want her on FD make sure to check the news. Aerial Powers is my favorite player on Lynx she is going to soak up tons of usage with Collier being gone I think she is 2k too cheap. So the Minnesota backcourt is a quandry Clarendon, Turner and Dangerfield were all cut, Odyssey Sims was signed this week and Kayla McBride is in Europe. We need to know who start as I think either Bridget Carlton or Rachel Barnham could be in line for big minutes depending on how it breaks down. Again here we need a starting lineup.
Seattle Jewel Lloyd will be popular on FD, there is nothing to argue with she looked great in the preseason and this is a strong spot. Brenna Stewart is my second favorite stud on the slate. Ezi Megabor is interesting assuming she starts she could be in line for 25 minutes and is a point per minute player.. People will play Sue Bird, I wont.
Las Vegas Phoenix
Aja Wilson is the number one play on the slate Cambage is gone, there is no Griner to slow her down. Wilson is in store for a huge year. I expect Vegas to play at a faster pace and take more 3s with new coaching which makes me love Kelsey Plum, Riqona Williams and Chelsea Gray all a lot. I order tham Plum>Gray>Williams I hope people are scared off Gray because of the injury designation. Cambage is gone and you have to believe D’erica Hamby now has a clear path to 30 minutes, she is too cheap on Fanduel.
Phoenix Griner is in a Russian prison opening full run and usage for Tina Charles she is a strong play here. I expect this game to be up tempo makes me love Skylar Diggins who I must prefer over Diane Taurasi. Breanna Turner is a nice spot too and she is price in no womens land where I dont think people will play her. Either Sophie Cunningham or Shey Peddy will start and whoever it is will be a decent play.
Stud rankings
Wilson>Stewie>Charles>Fowles>Diggins>EDD>Parker>Vandersloot>K Mitchell>Taurasi
Value: Angel McCoutney (FD), Indiana starters, Barnham or Carlton, Hamby,, Peddy, Sims, Canada (FD), Megabor
GPP Plays I like
Powers, Hamby, Diggins, Turner, EDD, Austin, Barnham, Indiana, Plum, Gray
Bust of the slate: Parker
Lock of the slate Wilson (for the chalk donkeys) getting a little frisky Powers
I will try and post somethings on twitter tomorrow (Friday with news) if you read it you realize we need some news and lineups