WNBA DFS Playbook June 9: Top DraftKings & FanDuel WNBA DFS Picks
On Tuesday we discussed the importance of punt plays in a WNBA DFS slate, and we saw that importance on display that night. Only one of our punt plays popped, as Dana Evans went off for 41.9 fantasy points. Oddly enough, my best WNBA DFS lineup didn’t even have Evans in it. That is because even though Jade Melbourne struggled, she allowed me to afford four players on DK who all scored at least 40 fantasy points, and a fifth who finished with 31. With five games and a fair number of injuries on Friday’s WNBA DFS slate, punt plays are not terribly hard to find. I know I won’t get all of mine correct, but we should be fine so long as we identify the correct players to pay up for. Let’s dig into the WNBA DFS top picks and plays for tonight’s five-game slate.
| Guards | ||||||
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Sabrina Ionescu | NY | ATL | 9900 | 29.25 | 6700 | 27.83 |
| One the one hand, I thought Ionescu would cost less after she struggled in consecutive games against Chicago. That being said, Ionescu said after the second Sky game that dealt with hamstring tightness in those games but would be fine moving forward. She got two extra days rest when Wednesday's game was cancelled, and if her hamstring actually is better, she should score 30+ fantasy points for the fifth time in seven games. | ||||||
| Natasha Cloud | WAS | SEA | 8700 | 25.71 | 6300 | 25.48 |
| The numbers say we should go with Brittney Sykes, and I am fine with that if you need to save some money. That being said, I think Kia Nurse will likely guard Sykes or Ariel Atkins, which will leave Cloud to take advantage of Seattle's rookie guards. For as much as Cloud struggled at the end of May, she still has at least 27 fantasy points in four of her six games. I think this is the game Cloud finally gets her offense on track. | ||||||
| Jade Melbourne | SEA | WAS | 3800 | 11.38 | 3900 | 12.00 |
| I think Melbourne is going to start with Jewell Loyd out. Even if I am wrong, she should play heavy minutes. No one on this team can replace Loyd's shot creation but I give Melbourne a better chance than any of her teammates. Melbourne is averaging 0.73 fppm and if she plays just 20 minutes in this game, she should provide value at her price. | ||||||
| Sophie Cunningham | PHO | DAL | 7600 | 21.81 | 6100 | 21.40 |
| Cunningham started the season slowly due to a knee injury but she has played at least 35 minutes in each of her last two games, scoring at least 23.75 fantasy points in her last three. She is too cheap, especially if Moriah Jefferson is out. | ||||||
| Courtney Williams | CHI | LA | 8800 | 27.47 | 6100 | 25.85 |
| In my mind, Chicago's backcourt is very similar to Washington's. Only two teams have allowed more fantasy points to guards than Los Angeles, but there is no telling which guard(s) will take advantage. Marina Mabrey costs the most, and I think Kahleah Copper will be guarded by Jordin Canada, which is why I settled on Williams. That being said, I'll pay up for Mabrey if I have extra salary to spend. | ||||||
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Dana Evans | CHI | LA | 6900 | 19.54 | 5200 | 18.97 |
| Jordan Horston will be a more popular pick, but Evans was even better her last time out, and she has a better matchup. She is certainly safer, though I'll pivot to Horston if I need to save money. | ||||||
| Forwards | ||||||
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Azura Stevens | LA | CHI | 5700 | 7.75 | 3900 | 6.10 |
| Stevens struggled in her first game of the season but she still played 15 minutes. Stevens has averaging 0.90 fppm in her career so I'm willing to bet that she'll play better this time around. I love her if Chiney Ogwumike is out again but I might roll the dice on her even if Chiney is active. | ||||||
| Elena Delle Donne | WAS | SEA | 10600 | 37.08 | 8100 | 36.32 |
| Delle Donne scored 46 fantasy points last week against Dallas on six days rest, and I expect similar production tonight on five days rest. No team has allowed more fantasy points to forwards than Seattle this season. | ||||||
| Dorka Juhasz | MIN | IND | 5900 | 11.18 | 5200 | 11.41 |
| At some point Cheryl Reeve is going to realize Nikolina Milic is a better player and Juhasz will fade into obscurity. Until then, Juhasz has played at least 34 minutes and scored at least 21 fantasy points in both games Diamond Miller has missed. I wish she was more efficient but nobody else in her price range is scoring 20 fppg. | ||||||
| Napheesa Collier | MIN | IND | 10500 | 34.68 | 7900 | 34.89 |
| Collier has averaged 37.63 fantasy points in two games with Diamond Miller out, despite facing two of the best defensive teams in the league. Only Seattle has allowed more points than Indiana this season, and Collier is poised to take advantage, especially if she plays the three. | ||||||
| Kalani Brown | DAL | PHO | 7400 | 19.5 | 5600 | 18.75 |
| Brown started and scored 39.75 fantasy points in 30 minutes against Phoenix Wednesday. With Crystal Dangerfield out again, I like Brown's chance at a repeat performance. She isn't exactly a sure thing but she is probably too cheap so long as she starts. | ||||||
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Jessica Shepard | MIN | IND | 9800 | 29.86 | 6600 | 28.90 |
| One of the pivot points in this slate is at the bottom of the elite forward tier. Alanna Smith has a rough matchup and NaLyssa Smith played just 18 minutes in an overtime game her last time out. I'm fine with either if you need to save money but Shepard has been consistent all season and I see no reason why Friday would be different. | ||||||
| Brianna Turner | PHO | DAL | 4000 | 13.85 | 4900 | 14.02 |
| There is enough value at other tiers and positions that I don't know if we actually need a value forward on DraftKings. That being said, anyone who costs $900 less on DK is automatically worthy of consideration. Turner just doesn't shoot anymore, which obviously limits her viability, but she has double-digit rebounds in two of her five games. Only two teams have allowed more rebounds than Dallas this season. | ||||||
| Draftkings Core Plays | ||
| Top Tier | Sabrina Ionescu | $9,900 |
| Elena Delle Donne | $10,600 | |
| Mid Tier | Sophie Cunningham | $7,600 |
| Dorka Juhasz | $5,900 | |
| Value Tier | Jade Melbourne | $3,900 |
| Brianna Turner | $4,000 | |
| Fanduel Core Plays | ||
| Top Tier | Sabrina Ionescu | $6,700 |
| Napheesa Collier | $7,900 | |
| Mid Tier | Dana Evans | $5,200 |
| Kalani Brown | $5,600 | |
| Value Tier | Jade Melbourne | $3,900 |
| Azura Stevens | $3,900 | |
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