The New York Liberty may be the worst team in the league, but for one week at least, they have also been one of the most interesting teams for fantasy. Unfortunately, New York has been hit with another injury, as Sabrina Ionescu will miss at least a month with a grade 3 ankle sprain. Kia Nurse already missed Friday’s game with her own ankle injury, and if she is out again Sunday, that will leave a ton of minutes for low-priced rookies. Nurse is also New York’s best perimeter defender by far, so her presence could effect how we feel about Phoenix’s backcourt.

Fortunately, that is the first game Sunday, I will be able to update my example lineups accordingly once we see New York’s starting lineup. As always, the lineups below are examples of lineups you can make using the players in the Playbook and are not for plug and play.

 

Guards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Layshia ClarendonNYPHO860027.33560026.67
Clarendon's took more shots against Atlanta than she did in her two previous games combined, and I think we can expect similar numbers going forward. Clarendon's shooting percentage plummeted and her turnovers doubled, but the Liberty don't have much else going for them offensively with Sabrina Ionescu out.
Jazmine JonesNYPHO630021370021.95
Jones was better than I could have expected when I put her in all of my example lineups Friday. Jones is first on the team in usage, and even if Kia Nurse returns, Jones should play 20+ minutes and take plenty of shots.
Kayla McBrideLVDAL740019.42480019.17
McBride has played at least 23 minutes and scored at least 25.5 fantasy points in each of her last two games. She still hasn't topped seven field goal attempts in a game this season, though she did get to the line more Friday. I don't know that she'll ever be the focal point of the offense again, but she appears to have a high floor at a decent price.
Sophie CunninghamPHONY460010.33340010.30
Phoenix has had a revolving door at the fifth starter spot, but Sophie Cunningham has done the best in that role so far, with 15.5 fantasy points in 19.1 minutes in her only start. Assuming she starts again, she is a solid punt play.
Diana TaurasiPHONY890028.08600027.50
I was torn between Taurasi and Skylar Diggins-Smith, and I'm not sure there's a wrong answer. I think Taurasi will have the weaker defender on her, especially if Kia Nurse is out, and that's what ultimately tipped the scales in her favor.
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Kelsey MitchellINDATL870023.83550020.93
She has played 30+ minutes in every game this season, and Atlanta is 10th in the league in fantasy points allowed to guards. Mitchell probably isn't as safe as Layshia Clarendon, but I like her matchup better.
        
Forwards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Kayla ThorntonDALLV570014.5500014.77
Kayla Thornton is too cheap if she is going to play 28 minutes again, especially on DraftKings. Unfortunately, we probably won't know that for sure going into this game, though it would help if Isabelle Harrison is ruled out for this game or if Thornton enters the starting lineup.
Amanda Zahui BNYPHO800021.33570021.10
If she doesn't have a breakout game Sunday, I might have to give up on her. That being said, we know she's not a 29.6 percent shooter, so there should be a bounce back based on that alone. No team has allowed more fantasy points to forwards than Phoenix last season, and I think the Liberty will have to put the ball in Zahui B's hands more often just to generate some offense with Sabrina Ionescu out.
Jocelyn WilloughbyNYPHO680019.33440020.17
Willoughby scored 30.25 fantasy points in 26 minutes Friday. Willoughby is playable if she starts, especially if Kia Nurse is out again. Phoenix has the worst defensive rating in the league and the second-highest pace.
Teaira McCowanINDATL830019.67550018.87
I think we've been on the wrong foot with McCowan in all three games this season, but hopefully we can break the streak. Part of the reason for her only playing 15 minutes Friday may have been foul trouble, but it might have been matchups as well. With Isabelle Harrison only playing seven minutes, there wasn't a big body for McCowan to bang with, and she can't really chase faster bigs like Astou Ndour, Kayla Thornton and Satou Sabally. I think there is a chance McCowan gets more minutes matched up with Elizabeth Williams, like she did when she had 44.25 fantasy points in 31 minutes against Brittney Griner and Phoenix Wednesday.
Elizabeth WilliamsATLIND960031.92720033.40
Williams has at least 30 fantasy points in all three games this season, and she has another good matchup against the Liberty. Monique Billings is playable in GPPs, but Williams is safer, especially with Glory Johnson likely to play more minutes Sunday.
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Candice DupreeINDATL900029.58680029.73
Dupree has played at least 36 minutes in two straight games, averaging 34.4 fantasy points in those games. Dupree has been good for fantasy despite only shooting 40.9 percent from the floor. She hasn't shot under 47.2 percent in a season since 2009, so if the minutes remain and the shooting improves, we're looking at another huge game. Dupree has a decent floor as well, but I think she's a better GPP play.
Kylee ShookNYPHO39009.42430010.13
I'm surprised Shook is so cheap on DK after she scored 23 fantasy points in 23 minutes Friday. She is a strong punt play if Kia Nurse is out again.
Dearica HambyLVDAL850027.83630027.67
We were expecting a big jump in minutes and fantasy production for Dearica Hamby with Liz Cambage out, and that has yet to materialize. That being said, we have had modest gains, and her price has dropped significantly. Hamby is a safe forward, and we saw last season she is capable of elite production at times. Dallas is eighth in the WNBA in defensive rating, and I like Hamby in what looks like a solid matchup.
A'ja WilsonLVDAL1080039.67780039.17
Wilson had her first poor shooting game of the season Friday, but she salvaged it with a few assists and a few steals. She has been the most consistent forward in the game, and I see no reason that wouldn't continue.
Satou SaballyDALLV1030034610034.23
Sabally had 50.75 fantasy points Friday and is averaging 34 fantasy points on the season, and she still hasn't shot the ball particularly well, going 1-for-12 on threes. I don't love paying up for a player coming off a career game, but her price is still rather modest on FanDuel.

Example Lineups

Please note these lineups are not meant for plug and play however to show examples of lineup builds using our playbook and tools.

DK CashPivotDK Pivot Cash 1
Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
GLayshia ClarendonNYPHO$27$8,600 GSkylar Diggins-SmithPHO@NY26.75$8,600
GKayla McBrideLAVDAL$19$7,400toG    $7,400
FKayla ThorntonDAL@LAV$15$5,700 F    $5,700
FDearica HambyLAVDAL$28$8,500 F    $8,500
F LAVDAL$40$10,800 F    $10,800
UtilCandice DupreeINDATL$30$9,000toUtilDiana TaurasiPHO@NY28.08$8,900
    Total$50,000     Total$49,900
             
DK GPPPivotDK Pivot GPP 1
Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
GSophie CunninghamPHO@NY10.33$4,600 G    $4,600
GSkylar Diggins-SmithPHO@NY26.75$8,400toGLayshia ClarendonNYPHO27.33$8,600
FAmanda Zahui BNYPHO21.33$8,000toFTeaira McCowanINDATL19.67$8,300
FCandice DupreeINDATL29.58$9,000 F    $9,000
F LAVDAL39.67$10,800 F    $10,800
UtilKelsey MitchellINDATL23.83$8,700 Util    $8,700
    Total$49,500     Total$50,000