WNBA DFS Lineup Advice – 8/17/2018 (Fanduel and DraftKings)

Welcome to the Friday edition of WNBA DFS Lineup Advice, a fantasy basketball column dedicated to finding you the best key players and value picks on today’s slate to build your lineups around.

It’s Friday and we have five games on the slate tonight starting at 7 p.m. ET. There are a ton of studs and punts in play tonight. The entry fees are up and the prizes are too. So let’s jump into the slate and find the best key players and value picks to build our lineups around tonight, and go win some money!!!

For those of you stopping by for the first time, I would like to thank you for checking out WNBA DFS Lineup Advice here at FantasyCPR.com Here is a brief summary of what I cover in each article:

1. Where to Play (Websites, contest rules, and prizes)
2. Game Times, O/U, Spreads from Oddshark.com
3. Key players from each game (Over 6K on Fanduel,10K on DraftKings)
4. Value picks from each game (Under 4.5-K on Fanduel, 6k on DraftKings)
5. Team stats from WNBA.com
6. Player projections from LineStarApp.com
7. Final Thoughts on the slate. (Stacks, fades, injuries, etc.)

It’s important to remember these articles are just a first look at the slate. For injury updates, starting lineups, pictures of my dog, and any other WNBA DFS news throughout the day – follow me on Twitter @whelan_ej

WNBA DFS – WHERE TO PLAY

Fanduel – $9 entry fee  (150 max)  6,535  total entries  1st place prize – $10,000

DraftKings – $15 entry fee  (117 max)  4,117  total entries  1st place prize – $12,500

Earlier this week Lynx guard Lindsay Whalen announced her plan to retire from the WNBA at the end of the season. I’m sure Minnesota would love to send her off into the sunset with one more championship title under her belt (she has four already), but it will be a tall order to fill this year. There’s about a month left of summer but the Sun are hotter than ever. Whether its global warming or just good basketball, one thing is for sure – Connecticut is looking like a tough team to beat come playoff time.

7 pm ET   Minnesota Lynx (17-15)  vs.  Connecticut Sun (19-13)  164 O/U CON -8

MIN – Off rating  99.5 Def rating  99.5 Pace  78.5   Off ppg 78.7  Def ppg 77.6

CON – Off rating  107.3 Def rating 100.4 Pace  81  Off ppg 87.3  Def ppg  81.6

Key Players:

Sylvia Fowles – I have been riding the Fowles/Moore train for the last few games and it has paid off but tonight I’m looking for another way to the money. LineStar has her projected to score 43.50 points on Fanduel. She has double-doubled in her last 6 games straight. She’s the most expensive player in the paint today on DraftKings, but on Fanduel she’s priced down a little bit. Brunson is still listed as doubtful, which should continue to open up opportunities for Fowles, especially on the glass. If I had to choose between Fowles and Moore today I would play Fowles, but I’m not big on either one today.

Jonquel Jones – I slept on Jones last game and it cost me. She had 27 points and 10 rebounds against Dallas in 25 minutes off the bench. She’s more expensive than Alyssa Thomas on DraftKings but is still priced relatively cheap on Fanduel. She’s got GPP upside, but it’s hard to pay starter prices for someone seeing about 20 minutes of court time a night. I got burned by not playing Jones last time, but I am willing to take that risk again. I think it will be the guards for the Sun that step up tonight.

Value Picks:  Tanisha Wright (FD & DK), Layshia Clarendon (FD & DK) , Shekinna Stricklen (FD & DK) 

7 pm ET   Los Angeles Sparks  (19-13) vs. Washington Mystics   (20-11) 159 O/U  WAS -3.5

LA – Off rating 101.4 Def rating  98.4 Pace Off ppg 79.1 Def ppg  86.2

WAS – Off rating 106 Def rating  102.3 Pace Off ppg  85.1  Def ppg 81.6

Key Players:

Candace Parker – Parker has helped the Sparks hold onto the #5th seed in a tight playoff race. She has double-doubled in seven out of her last 10 games and averaged 20.1 points in those contests. Linestar has her projected to score 40.15 points on Fanduel. There are so many studs on this slate it’s going to be hard choosing the right ones. She get’s a decent matchup on paper, but Washington has been finding ways to win lately and slowing down Parker will be a key to victory tonight. CP and Ogwumike have each had one big game against the Mystics this year if I had to choose one to play today I would pick Ogwumike, especially if you are playing on DK.

Elena Delle Donne – EDD got off to a slow start last game but was able to still put up over 40 fantasy points against the Fever. The matchup against LA doesn’t look good on paper, but EDD is one of those players where DvP isn’t much of an issue. That said, I’m not rushing to stick her in my lineups today, but I do want some exposure to her. The Mystics need to win out to make sure they hold onto to the #3 seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs. I expect EDD to shoulder the weight of that goal tonight.

Value Picks:  Monique Currie (FD & DK) , Riquna Williams (FD & DK) 

Rookie Kesley Plum has impressed lately, scoring at least 20 points in three out of her last 5 games. Her price on is a little high though, even though I like the matchup, I think she will struggle to hit GPP value. This is the biggest game on the slate today if Dallas can pull off a win they will punch their ticket to the post-season. I expect Vegas to put up a fight, it should be a good game but does lack the DFS appeal it had when these teams played earlier in the year. Prices are up, players are tired, and there isn’t much value to build around for a game stack.

8 pm ET   Las Vegas Aces (14-17 )  vs. Dallas Wings (14-18)  174 O/U DAL -3.5

LV – Off rating  100.6 Def rating  102.4   Pace  83   Off ppg  84.1  Def ppg  86.2

DAL – Off rating 105.5 Def rating 103.3  Pace  81.8  Off ppg  86.6  Def ppg  84.9

Key Players:

A’ja Wilson –  Wilson got some rest against NY in the blowout Wednesday night. She ended up playing 29 minutes in that game, but the Aces never had to work too hard to keep the lead and ended up winning by 13 points. She put up over 60 fantasy points against Dallas the last time these two teams met. LineStar has her projected to score 40.21 points on Fanduel today. I like her price on both sites, if I’m paying up for a forward today she is on a short list of candidates.

Liz Cambage –  Cambage was a bit of a disappointment last game against the Sun. She recorded a double-double but was limited to 24 minutes of court time and picked up four personal fouls. At least she didn’t get a tech – she is one away from facing suspension. Glory Johnson looks like she will miss this game, Dallas NEEDS to win this game, and the matchup is cake. Everything points to Cambage having a good game, except maybe Liz herself. She announced that she is also thinking about leaving the WNBA, but unlike Whalen, her issue is with the pay. Will she treat the rest of the season like an audition and show out for potential GM’s and oversea coaches? Or will she drag herself up and down the court with a grimace on her face all game? It’s hard to say, but I do want a little exposure to her today, just in case she goes off today.

Skylar Diggins-Smith –  SDS gets a good matchup today in a fast-paced game. Her price is still relatively low and she has been playing some decent basketball since missing a few games with an injury. She has played over 35 minutes in each of her last four games and should have plenty of opportunities tonight to hit value. There are a lot of punts in the paint and the backcourt on this slate that are in play. I expect most people to pay up for the big name upfront today, rolling out a few elite guards could help you get an edge on the pack.

Value Picks:  Tayler Hill (FD & DK) , Carolyn Swords (FD & DK) Moriah Jefferson (FD & DK)

10 pm ET New York Liberty  (7-25)   vs. Seattle Storm (24-8)  TBD

NY – Off rating 96.7  Def rating 105.3  Pace  79.5 Off ppg 77.5   Def ppg   84.5

SEA – Off rating  108.1 Def rating   98.2  Pace  80.3  Off ppg  87.4   Def ppg  80.1

Key Players:

Breanna Stewart – Stewie and the rest of the Storm let me down against the Lynx. I expected Hughes to take it easy on them on the road, with the #1 or #2 seed locked in at that point. Instead, she played 29 minutes and had 17 points and 17 rebounds on the night. If Tina Charles misses this game could get ugly quick, but Breanna should still be able to rack up fantasy points in a blowout. Natasha Howard makes a decent option to pivot down too and should have plenty of steals and blocks again this game. I loved Howard in the single game-tourney when these two teams met early this month. I want some exposure to both Howard and Stewie again today. LineStar has Stewart projected at 42.17 and Howard at 38.51 on Fanduel.

Jewell Loyd – She is priced at 7k even on Fanduel and under 10k on DraftKings. She gets a good matchup today but her minutes have been declined a bit over the last 3 games. I still want some exposure to her today, but I also want a little bit of the rookie Jordin Canada in case this game get’s out of hand early and the bench gets a run. I don’t have much interest in Bird today.

Brittany Boyd – If Charles misses again someone is gonna have to take the reins on the offense for New York. It will most likely be someone from the backcourt. Boyd, Hartley, Rodgers, and Nurse are all in play today. Boyd isn’t much of a shooter though, 14 points are the most that she has scored in a single game this season. She eats from feeding Charles the rock, an option she might not have today. If Tina is out, I like Nurse and Rodgers they have a better chance of hitting value today.

Value Picks:  Kia Nurse (FD & DK) , Sugar Rodgers (FD &DK) ,Kia Vaughn (FD &DK ), Kiah Stokes (FD &DK) , Jordin Candada (FD &DK)

This is one of the only games on the slate I feel safe targeting. The spread should be close, the score should be high, and both teams should come to play tonight. The Mercury would love to make a statement tonight by beating the Dream before the playoffs and giving themselves a chance to grab a better playoff seed. The Dream don’t have quite as much to play for, the chances that Seattle loses to New York tonight and opens up a chance for them to grab the top seed are pretty slim.

10 pm ET   Atlanta Dream (22-10)  vs. Phoenix Mercury (18-14)  166.5 O/U PHO -3.5

ATL – Off rating 98.2   Def rating 95.9    Pace  81.7   Off ppg  81.1 Def ppg 78.8

PHO – Off rating 105.4  Def rating  102.5  Pace 80.2   Off ppg  84.9  Def ppg  82.8

Key Players:

Brittney Griner – Griner has had three 50 point fantasy games since returning from the All-Star break. The matchup is better than you would think, and she is one of the cheapest elite forward on DraftKings. We don’t have any projections available to the public today for Griner but I’m sure it’s around 42 points. There are enough punts on the board to run three studs in your lineups tonight.  That said I don’t want much exposure to BG. Taurasi and Bonner are both decent pivots and you can save a little salary cap too.

Jessica Breland –  Breland has been a solid cash option recently, and I like her price today. The matchup is tough, but she’s under 10k on DraftKings and has a GPP upside. She has played over 30 minutes in her last two games and had 6 steals in those contests. Her ownership should be fairly low today and could give you a nice edge on the crowd if she plays well. Elizabeth Williams makes a decent pivot in the paint and should be leaned on today. She had six blocks against PHO earlier this year and has big upside for her price tag.

Value Picks:  Imani McGee-Stafford (FD & DK) , Renee Montgomery (FD)

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Final Thoughts

1. There’s a lot of action on the slate today, I’m staying away from the early games and looking to stack the value and a stud from the  NY/SEA game and mix of players from the ATL/PHO game.
2. The spreads are a lot tighter than they were yesterday, but there are still a lot of players from the pine that I wanna target today.
3. There are a lot of solid mid-teir options on the board today. I expect most people to run stars and scrubs lineups. A solid mid-tier squad with a punt and a stud is a less chalky lineup construction to consider.
4. There a few free tournaments on Fanduel today. Check your notification if you play WNBA often, you may have a royalty play for this week.
5. Injuries that could impact the slate: Glory Johnson (?) , Tina Charles (?) , Natasha Cloud (?), Ariel Atkins (?), Rebekkah Brunson (?) Tianna Hawkins (?),

Thanks for stopping by and reading the article I hope you enjoyed it! Remember to check out FantasyCPR for all your DFS needs. Our experts cover WNBA, MLB, NFL, NBA and more, breaking down slates, analyzing matchups and providing you with the best players to build your lineups around.