RADIO
We have three WNBA games on Thursday night.
The Lynx/Sun game is the highlight, but that's not to say the other games don't have some compelling storylines as well.
In this article, I'll be providing you with some daily fantasy WNBA lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 8/19/21. These lineups picks will range from elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. Want to talk more about the WNBA? I'm always available on Twitter and always down to discuss women's basketball: @juscarts.
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WNBA DFS Lineup Picks: Guard
Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury) - vs Mystics - DK: $9,600, FD: $6,300
Skylar Diggins-Smith is a game-time decision with an ankle sprain, but it's hard for me to believe that the Mercury don't sit her for at least one game. Maybe I'll be wrong, but I'm building my initial lineups with the assumption she's out. If that's wrong, I'll go back in and make changes then.
With SDS out most of last game, Taurasi went off. In 33 minutes, she scored 22 points on 5-for-12 shooting with a pair of threes, then added seven rebounds and seven assists.
In two games since the All-Star break, Taurasi is averaging six rebounds and 6.5 assists per game. She appears to no longer be limited by the injury issues that hampered her early in the season.
Odyssey Sims (Atlanta Dream) - @ Sparks - DK: $7,800, FD: $5,900
The Dream will once again be without Tiffany Hayes and Chennedy Carter, so it's time to say hello to Odyssey Sims again.
Sims is coming off a huge game against the Sparks, scoring 26 points on 10-for-27 shooting to go along with three rebounds and six assists.
Read that again.
27 field goal attempts.
I get that Courtney Williams was having a bad night, which doesn't happen very often. But the Sparks still had no answer for Sims. I have to have some exposure to her on this slate based on her ceiling.
Shey Peddy (Phoenix Mercury) - vs Mystics - DK: $4,700, FD: $4,400
We're working off the assumption that Diggins-Smith will be out. If that changes, pivot off of Peddy.
But if SDS is out, Peddy is a really interesting punt play. Sure, she could do nothing. Sure, it could be Sophie Cunningham who benefits the most from the injury.
But Peddy played 21 minutes last game, and while her numbers weren't great -- seven points, one rebound, one assist, two steals on 2-for-6 shooting -- I still think that on a Mercury team with some of the worst depth in the WNBA, Peddy could wind up starting and playing 25-plus minutes out of necessity. In that case, I think this is an intriguing swing to take, even if it's not the safe play. (Cunningham is the safe play here, but I think she could wind up being too chalky.)
WNBA DFS Lineup Picks: Forward
Jonquel Jones (Connecticut Sun) - vs Lynx - DK: $11,500, FD: $9,000
I mean look, y'all -- if Jonquel Jones is playing, then I'm playing Jonquel Jones.
On paper, a meeting with the Lynx and Sylvia Fowles seems like the kind of thing that could slow Jones down. In reality, she scored 46.25 DraftKings points against the Lynx on Tuesday, scoring 17 points on 6-for-14 shooting and adding 13 rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
The rebound number was her lowest over her last four games, so I guess Fowles impacted her some...but not enough to keep her from grabbing 13 boards, so...yeah, I'm just going to keep rolling along with Jones for...idk, forever?
Amanda Zahui B. (Los Angeles Sparks) - vs Dream - DK: $8,400, FD: $6,200
Zahui's post-Olympic games have been very good. With defenses now having to account for Nneka Ogwumike, stopping Zahui B. has become an issue. She played just 24 minutes against the Dream on Tuesday, but they had no answer for her when she was on the floor, as Zahui finished with 14 points on 7-for-13 shooting to go along with seven boards, four assists, and two blocks.
This makes four times in the last five games that Zahui has multiple blocks. She's also had three or more assists in three of the last five as well, and has scored in double figures in three consecutive games.
Zahui is doing what the Sparks expected from her when they signed her this offseason.
Candice Dupree (Atlanta Dream) - vs Sparks - DK: $6,400, FD: $5,100
With Cheyenne Parker out for the rest of the season because she's pregnant, the Dream brought veteran Dupree in during the Olympic break.
Dupree was okay in her first game, but it was her showing against the Sparks last game that has me excited to play her. In 36 minutes on Tuesday, Dupree had 12 points on 6-for-11 shooting, with eight rebounds, one assist, and three steals.
Look, I think Dupree is on her last leg in the W, but if the Dream are going to give her minutes and usage, she'll produce in them, making her a nice value for this contest.
