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 |
Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
Courtney Williams | ATL | SEA | 8300 | 22.33 | 5300 | 21.20 |
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-Smith | PHO | CHI | 9800 | 29.09 | 6600 | 28.56 |
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 Laney | ATL | SEA | 8800 | 29.31 | 6300 | 28.48 |
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 Dietrick | ATL | SEA | 4200 | 9.41 | 4000 | 8.64 |
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 Hartley | PHO | CHI | 7800 | 30.62 | 5900 | 29.70 |
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. |
Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
Jasmine Thomas | CON | DAL | 8000 | 24.5 | 6300 | 24.29 |
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 Charles | CON | DAL | 5400 | 9.46 | 4000 | 10.03 |
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 Bonner | CON | DAL | 11100 | 39.66 | 8000 | 40.26 |
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. |
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Forwards |
Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
Brianna Turner | PHO | CHI | 7200 | 20.53 | 5400 | 21.09 |
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 Jones | CON | DAL | 7700 | 22.91 | 5800 | 23.86 |
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 Clark | SEA | ATL | 8100 | 24.03 | 6100 | 24.96 |
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 Thomas | CON | DAL | 10700 | 37.06 | 7600 | 36.31 |
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 Howard | SEA | ATL | 6700 | 14.03 | 4700 | 14.59 |
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 Cash | Pivot | DK Pivot Cash |
Pos. | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary | | Pos. | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary |
G | Blake Dietrick | ATL | @SEA | 9.4 | $4,200 | To | G | | | | | |
G | Courtney Williams | ATL | @SEA | 22.3 | $8,300 | To | G | | | | | |
F | Breanna Stewart | SEA | ATL | 42.8 | $12,000 | | F | | | | | |
F | Alyssa Thomas | CON | DAL | 37.1 | $10,700 | | F | | | | | |
F | Natasha Howard | SEA | ATL | 14.0 | $6,700 | | F | Brionna Jones | CON | DAL | 22.9 | 7700 |
Util | Alysha Clark | SEA | ATL | 24.0 | $8,100 | | Util | Kayla Thornton | DAL | @CON | 16.9 | 6800 |
| | | | Total | $50,000 | | | | | | Total | 14500 |
DK GPP | Pivot | DK Pivot GPP |
Pos. | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary | | Pos. | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary |
G | Courtney Williams | ATL | @SEA | 22.3 | $8,300 | To | G | | | | | |
G | Skylar Diggins-Smith | PHO | @CHI | 29.1 | $9,800 | To | G | | | | | |
F | Alyssa Thomas | CON | DAL | 37.1 | $10,700 | | F | | | | | |
F | Natasha Howard | SEA | ATL | 14.0 | $6,700 | | F | | | | | |
F | Kayla Thornton | DAL | @CON | 16.9 | $6,800 | | F | Brianna Turner | PHO | @CHI | 20.5 | 7200 |
Util | Brionna Jones | CON | DAL | 22.9 | $7,700 | | Util | Isabelle Harrison | DAL | @CON | 15.1 | 7100 |
| | | | Total | $50,000 | | | | | | Total | 14300 |
FD Cash | Pivot | FD Pivot Cash |
Pos | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary | | Pos | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary |
G | Kaila Charles | CON | DAL | 10.0 | 4000 | | G | | | | | |
G | Blake Dietrick | ATL | SEA | 8.6 | 4000 | | G | | | | | |
G | Courtney Williams | ATL | SEA | 21.2 | 5300 | To | G | | | | | |
F | Alysha Clark | SEA | ATL | 25.0 | 6100 | | F | Brionna Jones | CON | DAL | 23.9 | 5800 |
F | Natasha Howard | SEA | ATL | 14.6 | 4700 | | F | | | | | |
F | Breanna Stewart | SEA | ATL | 43.0 | 8200 | | F | Kayla Thornton | DAL | CON | 17.0 | 4800 |
F | Alyssa Thomas | CON | DAL | 36.3 | 7600 | To | F | | | | | |
| | | | Total | 39900 | | | | | | Total | 10600 |
FD GPP | Pivot | FD Pivot GPP |
Pos | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary | | Pos | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary |
G | Courtney Williams | ATL | SEA | 21.2 | 5300 | | G | | | | | |
G | Skylar Diggins-Smith | PHO | CHI | 28.6 | 6600 | | G | | | | | |
G | Kaila Charles | CON | DAL | 10.0 | 4000 | To | G | | | | | |
F | Brianna Turner | PHO | CHI | 21.1 | 5400 | | F | | | | | |
F | Natasha Howard | SEA | ATL | 14.6 | 4700 | | F | | | | | |
F | Alyssa thomas | CON | DAL | 36.3 | 7600 | | F | Breanna Stewart | SEA | ATL | 43.0 | 8200 |
F | Satou Sabally | DAL | CON | 26.7 | 6300 | To | F | Brionna Jones | CON | DAL | 23.9 | 5800 |
| | | | Total | 39900 | | | | | | Total | 14000 |