A lot of the time I spent writing our first WNBA DFS Playbook of the 2022 season was devoted to the value and mid-priced plays. It took a lot of digging into the news, stats and film to finally settle on the players who made the playbook and my core plays, so it was gratifying to see so many of them hit. Queen Egbo, Stefanie Dolson, Chelsea Gray and Betnijah Laney all had their best fantasy games of the young season while Theresa Plaisance and Alysha Clark returned value as well. Our top-tier plays weren’t great but they were good enough for us to cash on both sites. Saturday’s WNBA DFS slate, while also featuring three games, feels completely different. Most of the teams have four or five core players who get all the minutes and fantasy points, with a rotating cast around them that offer very little from game to game. That makes it difficult to find value, especially at the bottom tier. Everyone feels fairly priced or over-priced.

 

The other theme of this slate is rosters in flux. Before you add anyone to your lineup, especially from the Lynx, make sure they are still on the team. Odyssey Sims, Rennia Davis and Angel McCoughtry have all been released or bought out in recent days. For the Sky, Allie Quigley will make her season debut, and while I don’t trust her at her price, I think she will play enough for Rebekah Gardner and Dana Evans to turn into pumpkins. The most interesting situation is on the Seattle Storm, where Jewell Loyd and Sue Bird stepped up with Breanna Stewart and Epiphanny Prince in Covid protocols Wednesday. If they are out again, choosing the players who will take advantage could be the key to another winning fantasy day.

Guards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Gabby WilliamsSEAPHO590015.17###15.97
Williams is just 2-18 from the field in her last two games but with Breanna Stewart and Epiphanny Prince in health and safety protocols, she should be safe for 25+ minutes again. If she actually knocks down some shots, she could be a nice value Saturday.
Brittney SykesLACON820031.25###35.33
I love to find players who produce fantasy points even when they don't shoot well and Brittney Sykes has certainly fit the bill this season. She is shooting 34.4 percent from the field and 0-5 on threes but has had at least 24.75 fantasy points in all three games. Derek Fisher only has four players he trusts to play heavy minutes and as such, those four are as safe as it comes for fantasy.
DiJonai CarringtonCONLA410018.5###17.80
Carrington is the closest thing we have to a value play on Saturday's slate, having played 32 minutes in the season opener. She was just 2-8 from the field but finished with 18.5 fantasy points. We don't need much more from her at this price, and she is certainly capable of scoring a handful of buckets at any given time. 
Jasmine ThomasCONLA750023###21.30
I still don't really understand how Jasmine Thomas can be one of the most exciting guards to watch and yet she is one of the most boring for fantasy. She had a ho-hum 23 fantasy points in her only game this season despite five fouls, four turnovers and 1-4 shooting on threes. She is the cheapest guard on both sites who isn't a complete dart throw, and she has some upside as well.
Courtney VanderslootCHIMIN960023.75###20.80
Vandersloot has gotten off to a slow start, thanks mostly to her 11 turnovers through two games. Increased familiarity with her new teammates should help, as should the return of Allie Quigley. Perhaps more importantly, Minnesota has struggled to defend guards ever since Lindsay Whalen retired. I couldn't bring myself to pull the trigger on Sabrina Ionescu and Arike Ogunbowale after their slow starts and they led the slate in fantasy points Friday. Vandersloot is capable of the same thing and I'm not going to miss out.
Forwards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Jessica ShepardMINCHI840036.5###33.93
I think Shepard is going to turn into a pumpkin sooner or later, and her assists could dry up if Minnesota gets competent point guard play from Moriah Jefferson. That being said, she has been much better to this point than all of the similarly-priced forwards on DraftKings. Her minutes and shots are safe, which certainly helps me feel better about this pick. 
Nikolina Milic#N/A#N/A35008.5####N/A
With Angel McCoughtry gone, Milic has a chance to play an important role off the bench. She has 25.5 fantasy points in 22 minutes and if she plays 15+ minutes Saturday she would be a solid punt play. 
Alyssa ThomasCONLA####43.25###45.40
Thomas played just two games last year but she averaged 37.9 fantasy points per game in 2020. 
Ezi MagbegorSEAPHO740023.08###25.83
Magbegor's minutes have increased in every game this season, but it hasn't translated to more fantasy points yet. I don't think she's equipped to carry a bigger part of the offense at this stage of her career but if Breanna Stewart is out again, she won't have a choice. She has at least 20 fantasy points in all three games and that is a fine floor for her price, but she is on this list for her upside if she can knock down a few more shots and grab a few more rebounds with her increased minutes.
Alyssa ThomasCONLA####43.25###45.40
Thomas averaged 37 fppg two seasons ago and now that she appears to be healthy again, I feel comfortable considering her an elite fantasy play again. She is the cheapest of the elite forwards on FD and I think she is playable on DK as well. 
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Emma MeessemanCHIMIN900028.5###28.65
Like Alyssa Thomas, I think Meesseman is fairly priced on DK and underpriced on FD. Her production this season is in line with what she did in her last six seasons in Washington, and I think she can be even better as she builds more chemistry with her new teammates. 
Tina CharlesPHOSEA####34.5###32.65
Charles had 22 points and 11 rebounds against Seattle three days ago and while I don't expect her to go 3-4 on threes again, the rest of her performance seems emminently repeatable. Seattle just doesn't have the personnel to stop her inside right now.
Chiney OgwumikeLACON560015.83###15.33
Derek Fisher has gotten next to nothing from his fifth starter spot, with Jasmine Walker, Amy Atwell and Rae Burrell all being underwhelming at best in their one-game tries at that role. At some point, Fisher has to simply put his five best players on the court for most of the game, which would mean increased minutes for Chiney Ogwumike and/or Chennedy Carter. The Sparks should probably go big to match up with Connecticut anyway, which is why I gave Ogwumike the nod in this playbook. Really, though, this is just my way of saying that if Ogwumike or Carter joins the starting lineup, they could provide great value for DFS.
Draftkings Core Plays
Top TierTina Charles$10,500
Courtney Vandersloot$9,600
Mid TierEzi Magbegor$7,400
Brittney Sykes$8,200
Value TierNikolina Milic$3,500
DiJonai Carrington$4,100
   
Fanduel Core Plays
Top TierJewell Loyd$6,800
Alyssa Thomas$7,300
Mid TierEmma Meesseman$6,100
Jasmine Thomas$5,100
Value TierAzura Stevens$4,700
DiJonai Carrington$3,700

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