RADIO
So, about that Chennedy Carter game on Thursday. I avoided playing any Dream players in DFS because of the matchup with Seattle, which gave me a ton of pause, especially for Carter, who was being guarded by Jordin Canada. Didn't matter. Carter's now the youngest player in league history with a 30-point game.
In this article, I'll be providing you with some daily fantasy WNBA lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 8/7/20. 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
Featured Promo: For this week only, take 50% off any full-season or yearly Premium Pass on the site! Just enter discount code THANKS when checking out. Thanks for being a reader, and Happy Holidays! Sign Up Now!
WNBA - DFS Guards
Ariel Atkins (G, Washington Mystics) – vs New York Liberty (DK: $8,700, FD: $6,000)
New York is bad, y'all.
Their 108.1 defensive rating is the second-worst in the league, they haven't won a game yet, and the only thing that might slow down the Washington starters in this one is the possibility of a blow out leading to limited minutes for them.
Atkins only had nine points against Vegas, but had back-to-back 20-plus point games before that, has done a really good job of getting to -- and converting at -- the foul line, and her defense always give her steal upside, which will come in particularly handy against a turnover-prone New York team.
Lexie Brown (G, Minnesota Lynx) – vs Indiana Fever (DK: $7,400, FD: $5,200)
Speaking of bad defenses, Indiana is the only team with a worse defensive rating than New York!
Odyssey Sims is set to return soon, so get you shares of this Lynx backcourt while you can before the players become overvalued once they have smaller roles!
Brown returned last game after missing time with a concussion and made an immediate impact, scoring 15 points on 5-for-11 shooting while adding five rebounds, four assists, and seven steals. She won't have seven steals against Indiana because they aren't New York, but she should have a sizable role on both ends of the floor against a porous defense.
Danielle Robinson (G, Las Vegas Aces) – vs Los Angeles Sparks (DK: $6,000, FD: $4,800)
Vegas has been needing to play Robinson -- their best pure point guard -- more, even though her lack of shooting hurts the team's spacing.
Well, she played 24 minutes on Wednesday, scoring 20 points on 7-for-12 shooting and dishing out three assists to go along with two steals.
Robinson's a good two-way guard. Los Angeles is allowing their opponents to record the most assists and the sixth-most steals per game.
Look, this is a fairly risky play because her minutes have been fluctuating, but Wednesday she showed what she can do in a larger role on this team.
Additional Notes: Bridget Carleton had a career game against New York. That likely won't happen again, but if she winds up starting again, she could be a strong value option. And if you want to take a real swing at a cheap play, the Mystics/Liberty game has some real "this is a blow out, bench the starters" potential, which makes Essence Carson's potential for garbage time minutes at least slightly interesting. Risky -- incredibly risky -- but nonetheless, slightly interesting.
WNBA - DFS Forwards
Candace Parker (F, Los Angeles Sparks) – vs Las Vegas Aces (DK: $11,200 FD: $7,000)
Candace Parker is off to another good start this season. 13.6 points per game on 50 percent shooting, as well as averages of 10 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.6 blocks. Parker does it all.
And on Friday, she gets to do it with her teammate Nneka Ogwumike sidelined, leading to what should be even more chances for Parker to fill up the box score.
Parker's had three double-doubles in a row and seems like a lock to get exactly three assists based on her recent results.
Vegas does allow the fewest rebounds in the league and have played some really strong defense this year, but Parker's in a good position here. The Sparks will need her to come up big.
Teaira McCowan* (F, Connecticut Sun) – vs Dallas Wings (DK: $7,400, FD: $5,400)
See that asterisk there? That stands for "monitor Sylvia Fowles status, as she missed Minnesota's last game, and if she misses this one, play McCowan."
Why? Because we saw on Wednesday that without Fowles, the middle of the court is wide open for the opposing team. New York was able to consistently score points in the paint despite being a team that struggles to score inside. Imagine what McCowan can do against a Fowles-less Lynx defense?
If Fowles does play, McCowan is less interesting, because Fowles is a good defender. I wouldn't write McCowan off completely, but she'd likely play a lot closer to her baseline than her ceiling.
Marie Gülich (F, Los Angeles Sparks) – vs Las Vegas Aces (DK: $6,700, FD: $3,900)
With Nneka Ogwumike out, someone is going to step into a larger role. Gülich made her season debut on Wednesday, playing 17 minutes and scoring six points while grabbing three boards and recording a steal and a block.
Not great, but someone is going to have to start at center on Friday, and that someone will either be Gülich or Reshanda Gray. Gray's offensive game is too raw for me to suggest you play her, but Gülich has enough offensive upside to work as an intriguing dart throw in this matchup, even against a good Vegas defense.
Additional Notes: With no Ogwumike, A'ja Wilson should find the going pretty easy. Washington's forwards are solid plays, but I do have some serious concerns about their starters sitting in the fourth. Amanda Zahui B has been finding her shot, but tough to play anyone on this Liberty team, although I did say the same thing about Atlanta players on Thursday. Lauren Cox made her WNBA debut last game, but doesn't seem quite ready to play in DFS. And for a deep sleeper, I know I said to avoid New York players, but Megan Walker is super cheap and is coming off her best game as a pro.
