For the first time this season, we really have to pay close attention to injury reports and starting lineups leading up to the start of Tuesday’s WNBA slate. Several important players are questionable Tuesday, including Sylvia Fowles, Elena Delle Donne and Sugar Rodgers. I’m not playing Delle Donne or Rodgers, but their status will obviously affect the number of minutes and shots that go to their teammates.
The real game-changer in this slate, however, is Sylvia Fowles. Fowles was able to play 32 minutes Sunday despite injuring her ankle in the first half, so I am hopeful she can go. If she is out, I will look to replace her in my fantasy lineups with Tina Charles, Liz Cambage or Breanna Stewart. If Fowles is out, Temi Fagbenle and Lynetta Kizer are both playable for fantasy. Kizer is probably the safer play, but I wouldn’t argue with anyone who wanted to simply play whoever gets the start at center. The rest of Minnesota’s starters would be worth a look as well since they would all likely have to shoulder more offensive responsibility with Fowles out.
Almost equally important, the Atlanta Dream would be a lot more viable for fantasy if Fowles isn’t anchoring the defense and gobbling up rebounds. Jessica Breland and Elizabeth Williams especially are worth a look if Fowles cannot play.
Keep all of this uncertainty in mind when you are setting your WNBA DFS lineups. I will try to update the Playbook and Optimal Lineups as news breaks, but the best way to stay up to date is to follow the individual teams on Twitter. They have been a lot better this season about releasing starting lineups prior to tip-off, and if Fowles or Elena Delle Donne are not starting, they probably aren’t playing.
| Player | FanDuel Price | DraftKings Price | Comments |
| Kia Nurse, G, NY | $ 5,800 | $ 5,900 | Nurse played a team-high 34 minutes against the Lynx, and her floor appears to be pretty high, even if she isn't exactly a double-double threat. Nurse scored at least 14 points in each of her games this season, and she is only shooting 40.9 percent from the floor. |
| Marissa Coleman, F, NY | $ 3,600 | $ 4,900 | One of the best ways to find value is by using players who are coming off a rough game against the Lynx. Everyone struggles to score against Minnesota. Marissa Coleman is shooting 35.3 percent on the season, but she has played at least 23 minutes and taken at least eight shots in both of her games this season. |
| Seimone Augustus, G, MIN | $ 4,100 | $ 5,600 | Augustus has played at least 24 minutes in every game this season, and she is averaging 11.5 points on 9.8 FGA per game. She hasn't exactly been consistent game to game, but at her price, it is nice to get someone who is virtually assured of getting minutes and shots. |
| Sylvia Fowles, F, MIN | $ 8,500 | $ 11,600 | No team has allowed more opponent's blocks than the Atlanta Dream, and only the Liberty have allowed more rebounds. |
| Ariel Atkins, G, WAS | $ 3,800 | $ 4,000 | Atkins led the Mystics in field goal attempts Sunday despite shooting just 38.5 percent. If Elena Delle Donne is out or slowed down by her illness, Atkins could see a high usage again. |
| Myisha Hines-Allen, F, WAS | $ 3,300 | $ 3,100 | She almost certainly won't go 7-8 from the field again like she did Sunday, but her 24 minutes and 13 rebounds are sustainable, especially if EDD is out again. |
| Jewell Loyd, G, SEA | $ 7,900 | $ 10,000 | The Mystics have allowed the second most opponent's steals this season. |
| Tina Charles | $ 7,700 | $ 11,000 | For as good as Liz Cambage is on offense, the Wings have still given plenty of fantasy points to opposing bigs. The Wings have allowed the third most opponent's rebounds and the second most opponent's blocks. |
| Sue Bird, G, SEA | $ 5,000 | $ 5,800 | Bird has scored at least 16.5 fantasy points on FanDuel in every game this season. Even when her shot isn't falling, she finds other ways to contribute. |
| Maya Moore, F, MIN | $ 6,800 | $ 9,800 | Moore is averaging 15.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game despite shooting a career-low 33.3 percent from behind the arc. We know she has a high floor, but she could have a big game at any time if she starts making threes. |
| Natasha Howard, F, SEA | $ 5,800 | $ 6,800 | Howard is averaging 32.1 FPPG on FanDuel, more than Elizabeth Williams, Jessica Breland, Angel McCoughtry, Maya Moore, Elena Delle Donne and Tina Charles. She is cheaper than all of those players. |
| Liz Cambage, F, DAL | $ 8,100 | $ 12,300 | Cambage is finally appropriately priced, but I am willing to pay it. She has scored at least 38.75 fantasy points on DraftKings in every game this season. |
| Kayla Thornton, F, DAL | $ 5,300 | $ 6,500 | Since Glory Johnson went down, Kayla Thornton is averaging 32.0 minutes, 12.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 steals per game. |
| Kristi Toliver, G, WAS | $ 4,400 | $ 7,400 | Toliver is mostly known for her three-point shooting, but she is averaging 2.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 steals to go along with 14.0 points per game. |