Much of the discussion for the WNBA DFS slates lately has focused on which players could potentially be out. Wednesday, the focus is on players returning from injury. Sue Bird and Stefanie Dolson are both probable, and their returns cap the ceiling for the other players in the Seattle backcourt and Chicago frontcourt respectively. That isn’t to say it would be shocking to get a big game from Jordin Canada or Azura Stevens, but it isn’t as likely as it was two days ago.

The biggest player we’ll be watching Wednesday is Diana Taurasi, who should probably be considered questionable after she missed Monday with a hip injury. Taurasi has battled back injuries in the last couple of seasons, and even though it doesn’t sound like this injury is serious, there is no guarantee she returns Wednesday. If she does return, Skylar Diggins-Smith and Breanna Turner become much riskier for fantasy.

 

Guards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Courtney WilliamsATLSEA830022.33530021.20
I assume Williams is going to play heavier minutes with Chennedy Carter out. Even if that isn't the case, she will almost certainly take more shots. Williams has played at least 23 minutes and scored at least 24 FD fantasy points in four of her last five games.
Skylar Diggins-SmithPHOCHI980029.09660028.56
Diggins-Smith had her best game of the season with Diana Taurasi out Monday. If Taurasi cannot go Wednesday, Diggins-Smith is the best guard play of the slate.
Betnijah LaneyATLSEA880029.31630028.48
Laney has seen her minutes and production fall off in her last three games, but she will likely have a carry a greater load with Carter out.
Blake DietrickATLSEA42009.4140008.64
It shouldn't come as any surprise her two best games of the season came when Courtney Williams was out. She should get 25+ minutes and have the ball in her hands plenty with Carter out.
Bria HartleyPHOCHI780030.62590029.70
Hartley is playable in this matchup whether Diana Taurasi plays or not, especially considering how bad Chicago's defense has been lately. That being said, I'll like her better for cash if Taurasi is out.
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Jasmine ThomasCONDAL800024.5630024.29
Thomas has turned her season around after a slow start, and that has resulted in Connecticut finally winning a couple of games. I think she will continue to have an increased role in the offense, which should make her pretty safe for cash games.
Kaila CharlesCONDAL54009.46400010.03
I really liked Charles as a second-round pick and I thought she could be a perfect fit for Connecticut. That has come to fruition in her last two games, when she has played at least 25 minutes and scored at least 20 fantasy points. Bria Holmes has played well of late also, and I'll probably just play whoever starts for Connecticut.
DeWanna BonnerCONDAL1110039.66800040.26
Bonner topped 40 fantasy points in 24 minutes Monday despite shooting 35.7 percent from the field and 1-7 on threes. She should play more minutes if Dallas can keep the game close, and we know her ceiling is as high as anyone's.
        
Forwards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Brianna TurnerPHOCHI720020.53540021.09
Turner played a season-high 31 minutes and had a double-double with Diana Taurasi out. I don't really expect a repeat, but she's worth a shot if Taurasi is out.
Brionna JonesCONDAL770022.91580023.86
Jones has at least 19.5 fantasy points in five straight games. She gets a lot of high-percentage shots around the rim, and that should continue against a Dallas team that has given up a lot of fantasy points to forwards this season.
Alysha ClarkSEAATL810024.03610024.96
Clark is always a cash play, but her safety is even more valuable in this slate, where all the mid-priced forwards have risk. Clark has scored at least 19.8 fantasy points in every game this season, and at least 23 fantasy points in five straight.
Alyssa ThomasCONDAL1070037.06760036.31
Thomas has scored at least 34 fantasy points in six of her eight games this season. Only Chicago has allowed more fantasy points to forwards than Dallas this season.
Natasha HowardSEAATL670014.03470014.59
We expected Howard to regress with Breanna Stewart returning, but this is ridiculous. Howard averaged 25.6 minutes and 30.3 fantasy points in 2018, and now she's averaging 18.1 minutes and 14.6 fantasy points. I don't know why she has started so poorly, though it has been nice to see her be more aggressive the last two games, even if the shots haven't fallen. Howard has at least 17.25 fantasy points in each of her last two games, despite shooting 26.3 percent in that span. I probably prefer her for GPPs, but I think she's playable in cash as well.

 

Example Lineups

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.

 

DK CashPivotDK Pivot Cash
Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
GBlake DietrickATL@SEA9.4$4,200ToG     
GCourtney WilliamsATL@SEA22.3$8,300ToG     
FBreanna StewartSEAATL42.8$12,000 F     
FAlyssa ThomasCONDAL37.1$10,700 F     
FNatasha HowardSEAATL14.0$6,700 FBrionna JonesCONDAL22.97700
UtilAlysha ClarkSEAATL24.0$8,100 UtilKayla ThorntonDAL@CON16.96800
    Total$50,000     Total14500
DK GPPPivotDK Pivot GPP
Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
GCourtney WilliamsATL@SEA22.3$8,300ToG     
GSkylar Diggins-SmithPHO@CHI29.1$9,800ToG     
FAlyssa ThomasCONDAL37.1$10,700 F     
FNatasha HowardSEAATL14.0$6,700 F     
FKayla ThorntonDAL@CON16.9$6,800 FBrianna TurnerPHO@CHI20.57200
UtilBrionna JonesCONDAL22.9$7,700 UtilIsabelle HarrisonDAL@CON15.17100
    Total$50,000     Total14300
FD CashPivotFD Pivot Cash
PosPlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary PosPlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
GKaila CharlesCONDAL10.04000 G     
GBlake DietrickATLSEA8.64000 G     
GCourtney WilliamsATLSEA21.25300ToG     
FAlysha ClarkSEAATL25.06100 FBrionna JonesCONDAL23.95800
FNatasha HowardSEAATL14.64700 F     
FBreanna StewartSEAATL43.08200 FKayla ThorntonDALCON17.04800
FAlyssa ThomasCONDAL36.37600ToF     
    Total39900     Total10600
FD GPPPivotFD Pivot GPP
PosPlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary PosPlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
GCourtney WilliamsATLSEA21.25300 G     
GSkylar Diggins-SmithPHOCHI28.66600 G     
GKaila CharlesCONDAL10.04000ToG     
FBrianna TurnerPHOCHI21.15400 F     
FNatasha HowardSEAATL14.64700 F     
FAlyssa thomasCONDAL36.37600 FBreanna StewartSEAATL43.08200
FSatou SaballyDALCON26.76300ToFBrionna JonesCONDAL23.95800
    Total39900     Total14000