Rotowire DFS Tools
DAILY MATCHUPS (Odds, Team Efficiency, Pace, Opposing Stats)
DraftKings and FanDuel Price Differences
Top 5 FanDuel
| Name | POS | TEAM | DraftKings Price | % of Budget | FanDuel Price | % of Budget | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chennedy Carter | G | ATL | 8700 | 17.4% | 5200 | 13.0% | 4.4% |
| Kiara Leslie | G | WAS | 6200 | 12.4% | 3300 | 8.3% | 4.2% |
| Tianna Hawkins | F | WAS | 7800 | 15.6% | 4800 | 12.0% | 3.6% |
| Myisha Hines-Allen | F | WAS | 10400 | 20.8% | 6900 | 17.3% | 3.6% |
| Ariel Atkins | G | WAS | 8500 | 17.0% | 5500 | 13.8% | 3.3% |
Top 5 DraftKings
| Name | POS | TEAM | DraftKings Price | % of Budget | FanDuel Price | % of Budget | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shatori Walker-Kimbrough | G | PHO | 5100 | 10.2% | 5200 | 13.0% | -2.8% |
| Shey Peddy | G | PHO | 3500 | 7.0% | 3800 | 9.5% | -2.5% |
| Odyssey Sims | G | MIN | 6300 | 12.6% | 6000 | 15.0% | -2.4% |
| Brittany Brewer | C | ATL | 3600 | 7.2% | 3800 | 9.5% | -2.3% |
| Sophie Cunningham | F | PHO | 4100 | 8.2% | 4200 | 10.5% | -2.3% |
Atlanta Dream 
vs Minnesota Lynx 
Injuries
Note: All return dates are just estimates
Atlanta
| Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chennedy Carter | G | Ankle | GTD | 8/23/2020 |
| Mikayla Pivec | G | Not Injury Related | OUT | 5/1/2021 |
| Tiffany Hayes | G | Personal | OUT | 5/1/2021 |
| Renee Montgomery | G | Personal | OUT | 5/1/2021 |
| Maite Cazorla | G | Personal | OUT | 5/1/2021 |
Minnesota
| Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sylvia Fowles | C | Calf | OUT | 9/2/2020 |
| Maya Moore | F | Personal | OUT | 1/1/2021 |
| Cecilia Zandalasini | G | Personal | OUT | 6/1/2021 |
| Jessica Shepard | C | Knee | SUSP | 6/1/2021 |
2020 Player Stats
Atlanta
| Player | Team | Pos | G | Min | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG% | 3P% | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Betnijah Laney | Atl | G | 13 | 32.8 | 16.8 | 3.7 | 4.1 | 1.6 | 0 | 1.6 | 48.8 | 39.6 | 3.3 |
| Courtney Williams | Atl | G | 11 | 29.4 | 13.4 | 6.8 | 3.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 40.1 | 22.2 | 2.7 |
| Elizabeth Williams | Atl | F | 13 | 29.6 | 10.8 | 5.2 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0 | 56.7 | 0 | 1.3 |
| Chennedy Carter | Atl | G | 8 | 25.5 | 17 | 2.4 | 3.9 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 1 | 44.9 | 42.1 | 3.4 |
| Monique Billings | Atl | F | 13 | 28 | 8.5 | 8.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0 | 38.8 | 0 | 2.5 |
| Shekinna Stricklen | Atl | G | 13 | 23.5 | 7.4 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 1.8 | 36.3 | 37.1 | 0.7 |
| Blake Dietrick | Atl | G | 13 | 21 | 5.2 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 1 | 44.3 | 38.2 | 2.2 |
| Glory Johnson | Atl | F | 11 | 15.3 | 5.5 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 48.9 | 28 | 1.1 |
| Kalani Brown | Atl | C | 6 | 6.8 | 4 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 55.6 | 0 | 0.5 |
| Alexis Jones | Atl | G | 6 | 8.8 | 4 | 0 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0 | 1.2 | 38.1 | 36.8 | 1 |
| Jaylen Agnew | Atl | F | 10 | 6.8 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 | 26.7 | 23.1 | 0.5 |
| Brittany Brewer | Atl | F | 4 | 8 | 1 | 1.3 | 0 | 0.8 | 1 | 0 | 66.7 | 0 | 0.5 |
| Erica McCall | Atl | F | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Minnesota
| Player | Team | Pos | G | Min | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG% | 3P% | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Napheesa Collier | Min | F | 12 | 32.6 | 15.6 | 8.8 | 3.4 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 49.3 | 45.5 | 3.7 |
| Crystal Dangerfield | Min | G | 12 | 28.8 | 14.7 | 1.7 | 3.2 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 1.8 | 47 | 38.6 | 2.4 |
| Damiris Dantas | Min | C | 12 | 25.3 | 10.9 | 5 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 40.9 | 38.6 | 1.7 |
| Sylvia Fowles | Min | C | 7 | 24 | 14.6 | 9.7 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0 | 60.9 | 0 | 1.1 |
| Bridget Carleton | Min | G | 12 | 22.3 | 7.6 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0 | 1.1 | 61.8 | 65 | 1.2 |
| Lexie Brown | Min | G | 10 | 27.1 | 8 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 0 | 0.9 | 33.8 | 25 | 1.7 |
| Rachel Banham | Min | G | 10 | 16.9 | 5.2 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 36 | 30.4 | 1 |
| Mikiah Herbert Harrigan | Min | F | 11 | 12.2 | 4 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 40.9 | 46.7 | 0.5 |
| Shenise Johnson | Min | G | 7 | 16.3 | 5.9 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 30.8 | 27.3 | 1.4 |
| Kayla Alexander | Min | C | 11 | 6.5 | 3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0 | 63.6 | 0 | 0.5 |
| Erica McCall | Min | F | 9 | 10.6 | 3.1 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 41.7 | 50 | 0.8 |
| Odyssey Sims | Min | G | 3 | 12.7 | 3.3 | 2 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 | 13.3 | 0 | 2.3 |
| Karima Christmas-Kelly | Min | G | 2 | 12.5 | 4.5 | 3 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 14.3 | 0 | 2 |
| Megan Huff | Min | F | 3 | 1.7 | 0 | 1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The Skinny
Each of the matchups on the slate Sunday feature a team with above-average pace going against a team with one of the slowest paces in the league. The Lynx have had their highest three-game scoring average of the season during the past three contests. The team is averaging 91.7 points per game over that span. While Minnesota still carries the slowest pace in the league, the team is going up against an Atlanta club is riding a 10-game losing streak. In addition, the Dream have the worst defensive efficiency in the WNBA. As a result, the Lynx's recent scoring surge could continue against the Dream. Napheesa Collier and Crystal Dangerfield have been consistent forces on the scoreboard for the Lynx this season, but Bridget Carleton has seen a recent uptick in playing time as a leader in the frontcourt while Sylvia Fowles (calf) has been sidelined. Fowles will sit once again Sunday, which could allow for Carleton to take on a prominent role against the Dream. Damiris Dantas' playing time also rose in the team's most recent game Friday, but her time on the court has been harder to predict. She also carries a higher average salary than Carleton. The Dream allow the most assists and three-point conversions of any team in the league, and Carleton led the team in each of those areas Friday. Dangerfield has also been strong in those categories over the entire season and could have a strong showing against Atlanta. While the Lynx have the slowest pace of any team in the league, the team could have a strong fantasy showing against the struggling Dream.
Atlanta hasn't been able to garner much consistency on the scoreboard during the recent skid. The team averaged 88 points per game over the past two contests, but that mark could come down against a Lynx defense that excels in multiple areas. Minnesota ranks among the best in the league in preventing scoring, rebounds and assists. Betnijah Laney has driven the offense recently with high marks in points and assists, but that production could be harder to come by Sunday. Since the Dream put up a formidable fight over the past two games, Laney and Courtney Williams have seen their playing time spike, even with already high averages in minutes. Williams and Monique Billings have each been strong on the boards for the Dream this year, but they could see a dip in their output against the Lynx's strong rebounding. The Dream could get a boost if Chennedy Carter (ankle) is able to return to action Sunday. She's missed the past five games but is questionable heading into the matchup against Minnesota. While she played a significant role for Atlanta prior to her injury, she could see a restricted workload even if she returns to the floor. However, any potential minutes she could see would likely cut into Blake Dietrick's playing time. Glory Johnson also posted a season-high 23 points Friday and has seen an uptick in playing time recently. While her lack of production to begin the season makes her a risky play, she carries a reasonable average salary and could provide DFS value if her recent output continues.
Dallas Wings 
vs Los Angeles Sparks 
Injuries
Note: All return dates are just estimates
Dallas
| Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moriah Jefferson | G | Knee | OUT | 8/23/2020 |
| Satou Sabally | F | Back | OUT | 8/23/2020 |
| Luisa Geiselsoder | C | Personal | OUT | 5/1/2021 |
| Imani McGee-Stafford | C | Personal | SUSP | 5/1/2022 |
Los Angeles
| Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riquna Williams | G | Knee | OUT | 8/26/2020 |
| Kristi Toliver | G | Personal | OUT | 1/1/2021 |
| Chiney Ogwumike | F | Personal | OUT | 1/1/2021 |
| Leonie Fiebich | F | Not Injury Related | OUT | 1/1/2021 |
| Maria Vadeeva | C | Suspension | SUSP | 5/1/2021 |
2020 Player Stats
Dallas
| Player | Team | Pos | G | Min | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG% | 3P% | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arike Ogunbowale | Dal | G | 13 | 33.4 | 21.6 | 2.5 | 3.3 | 1.8 | 0 | 2.1 | 42.4 | 31.8 | 1.8 |
| Allisha Gray | Dal | G | 13 | 23.1 | 12.1 | 4.1 | 1.2 | 1 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 42.7 | 40.8 | 0.9 |
| Satou Sabally | Dal | F | 9 | 27.7 | 11.2 | 7 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 35.8 | 15.6 | 2.2 |
| Kayla Thornton | Dal | F | 13 | 24.8 | 7.7 | 4.6 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 42.5 | 35.4 | 1.2 |
| Isabelle Harrison | Dal | C | 13 | 19.8 | 6.4 | 4.6 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0 | 44.7 | 0 | 1.4 |
| Tyasha Harris | Dal | G | 12 | 18.5 | 6.7 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 0 | 1 | 44.8 | 38.7 | 0.8 |
| Marina Mabrey | Dal | G | 9 | 16.2 | 8.6 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 1 | 0 | 1.6 | 47.4 | 46.7 | 1.6 |
| Katie Lou Samuelson | Dal | G | 13 | 17.5 | 4.8 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 40 | 29 | 0.5 |
| Moriah Jefferson | Dal | G | 9 | 16.7 | 5 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 41.9 | 33.3 | 1.7 |
| Bella Alarie | Dal | F | 13 | 14.8 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 0.4 |
| Astou Ndour | Dal | C | 9 | 11.4 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 33.3 | 31.3 | 0.6 |
| Megan Gustafson | Dal | F | 4 | 4.5 | 1.3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33.3 | 0 | 0 |
Los Angeles
| Player | Team | Pos | G | Min | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG% | 3P% | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candace Parker | LA | F | 12 | 28.1 | 13.3 | 9.4 | 3.8 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 46.2 | 37.5 | 3.2 |
| Chelsea Gray | LA | G | 12 | 28.7 | 12.8 | 2.8 | 5 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 40.7 | 20.7 | 2.4 |
| Riquna Williams | LA | G | 12 | 20.9 | 11.7 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 46.8 | 47.6 | 0.8 |
| Nneka Ogwumike | LA | F | 11 | 25.2 | 12.5 | 4.5 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0 | 0.5 | 58.6 | 50 | 1.5 |
| Brittney Sykes | LA | G | 12 | 23.3 | 8.7 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 46.6 | 32 | 1.5 |
| Sydney Wiese | LA | G | 12 | 21.1 | 8.3 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 1.8 | 52.3 | 53.8 | 1.3 |
| Seimone Augustus | LA | G | 11 | 15.9 | 7.5 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0 | 0.8 | 53.7 | 60 | 0.3 |
| Te'a Cooper | LA | G | 10 | 15.2 | 5.9 | 0.7 | 2 | 0.9 | 0 | 0.2 | 50 | 18.2 | 1.6 |
| Kristine Anigwe | LA | F | 9 | 10.3 | 4.6 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 1 | 0.3 | 0 | 66.7 | 0 | 1.1 |
| Tierra Ruffin-Pratt | LA | G | 9 | 16.4 | 3 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 19.2 | 37.5 | 0.9 |
| Marie Gulich | LA | C | 6 | 14.8 | 3.8 | 2.3 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 50 | 0 | 0.5 |
| Reshanda Gray | LA | F | 7 | 6.9 | 1.7 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0 | 37.5 | 0 | 1.3 |
The Skinny
The Wings could once again be forced to operate without Satou Sabally (back) and Moriah Jefferson (knee), who have each missed the past four contests. If they're sidelined for a fifth straight game, Kayla Thornton and Marina Mabrey could once again be in line for significant roles. Thornton has been in and out of the starting five this season, but she's averaged 36 minutes per game over the past two contests. As a result, she posted her first two double-doubles of the year during that time. The Sparks have been one of the top teams at limiting their opponents' scoring, but Thornton was able to generate her solid production against the Lynx, who also boast one of the stingiest defenses in the WNBA. Additionally, Los Angeles allows the second-highest rebound rate of any team in the league, which could play in Thornton's favor. Mabrey had played a minimal role for the Wings to begin the season, but she's stepped into a prominent position recently. She's averaged 28.8 minutes per game out of the starting lineup with Sabally and Jefferson unable to play. Mabrey's role could change if either of the two are able to make it back onto the court Sunday. However, she's averaged 15.8 points and 3.5 assists over the past four contests, and she could see a similar boost in her results if she remains a starter Sunday. While Arike Ogunbowale has been a force throughout the season, she's seen especially high scoring totals over the past four games, and there's little reason to think that should change if Sabally and Jefferson remain out.
The Sparks are also dealing with a recent change after Riquna Williams suffered a knee injury Friday. She's already been ruled out for Sunday's contest. Tierra Ruffin-Pratt saw her playing time increase to 25 minutes after Williams left the game, but she was unable to do much with her time on the floor as she totaled zero points and six rebounds Friday. Chelsea Gray played a season-high 39 minutes Sunday. She carries an average in playing time that's already high, but she could continue to see boosted minutes with Williams out. Gray's heightened minutes weren't in vain as she went 7-for-17 from the floor en route to her first 20-point performance of the season. She could presumably have another high shot volume Sunday, which gives her a fairly high floor due to her 40.7 percent field goal conversion rate. Even before her injury, Williams saw a decrease in production over the past two games, and Candace Parker stepped up in response, averaging 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists during that time. With Williams unavailable once again, Parker could be an incredibly productive force for the Sparks against Dallas. Sydney Wiese has been more willing to attempt three-pointers over the past two games, and her efforts have paid off as she's gone 5-for-9 from beyond the arc. If that trend continues Sunday, she could be another solid contributor on the scoreboard. Nneka Ogwumike has totaled double figures in the scoring column in each of the past five contests. Most of her success came via free throws Friday, but she's also been productive from the floor this year. She could also see an uptick in her rebounds since the Wings are the only WNBA team that allows a higher rebound rate than the Sparks.
Phoenix Mercury 
vs Washington Mystics 
Injuries
Note: All return dates are just estimates
Phoenix
| Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shey Peddy | G | Hip | GTD | 8/23/2020 |
| Brittney Griner | C | Personal | OUT | 8/26/2020 |
| Jessica Breland | F | Personal | OUT | 1/1/2021 |
| Yvonne Turner | G | Knee | OUT | 5/1/2021 |
Washington
| Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emma Meesseman | C | Shoulder | OUT | 8/23/2020 |
| Elena Delle Donne | F | Undisclosed | OUT | 8/30/2020 |
| Natasha Cloud | G | Personal | OUT | 1/1/2021 |
| LaToya Sanders | C | Personal | OUT | 1/1/2021 |
| Aerial Powers | F | Hamstring | OUT | 1/1/2021 |
| Tina Charles | F | Illness | OUT | 2/1/2021 |
2020 Player Stats
Phoenix
| Player | Team | Pos | G | Min | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG% | 3P% | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brittney Griner | Pho | C | 12 | 31.8 | 17.7 | 7.5 | 3 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 0 | 49.7 | 0 | 2.5 |
| Skylar Diggins-Smith | Pho | G | 13 | 29.8 | 15.5 | 3.1 | 4.2 | 1 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 49.6 | 40 | 3.2 |
| Bria Hartley | Pho | G | 11 | 25.6 | 15.8 | 3.2 | 4.8 | 1.3 | 0 | 2.2 | 41.5 | 38.7 | 2.3 |
| Diana Taurasi | Pho | G | 10 | 28.3 | 16.5 | 4.1 | 5.1 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 2.4 | 38.7 | 33.3 | 2.5 |
| Brianna Turner | Pho | F | 13 | 23.4 | 6.8 | 6.2 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0 | 61.7 | 0 | 1.2 |
| Alanna Smith | Pho | F | 13 | 15.2 | 6 | 3.2 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 44.1 | 22.2 | 0.8 |
| Sophie Cunningham | Pho | G | 13 | 18.3 | 4.9 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 40 | 28 | 0.7 |
| Shatori Walker-Kimbrough | Pho | G | 12 | 13.9 | 5.3 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 43.4 | 40.9 | 1.2 |
| Kia Vaughn | Pho | C | 13 | 12.3 | 2.9 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0 | 48.6 | 0 | 1.1 |
| Nia Coffey | Pho | F | 13 | 15.2 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 43.8 | 35.3 | 0.5 |
Washington
| Player | Team | Pos | G | Min | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | FG% | 3P% | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Myisha Hines-Allen | Was | F | 12 | 29.6 | 16.7 | 8 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 1 | 53.2 | 40 | 2.4 |
| Ariel Atkins | Was | G | 12 | 29.8 | 14.6 | 3.2 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 2.2 | 46.6 | 47.3 | 1.9 |
| Emma Meesseman | Was | C | 11 | 31.7 | 12.8 | 6.7 | 4.5 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 43.8 | 25 | 2.6 |
| Leilani Mitchell | Was | G | 12 | 28.2 | 8.3 | 2.4 | 4.4 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 39.8 | 34.1 | 1.8 |
| Aerial Powers | Was | F | 6 | 29.8 | 16.3 | 4.8 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 0 | 1.5 | 46.4 | 34.6 | 1.8 |
| Tianna Hawkins | Was | F | 9 | 19 | 7.7 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 39.1 | 30.3 | 1.4 |
| Essence Carson | Was | G | 10 | 16.8 | 4.3 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 28.8 | 26.1 | 1 |
| Kiara Leslie | Was | G | 9 | 15.3 | 4.7 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 30.4 | 35.3 | 0.7 |
| Stella Johnson | Was | G | 4 | 19.3 | 8.5 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 42.3 | 58.3 | 0.8 |
| Shey Peddy | Was | G | 9 | 12.8 | 3.6 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0 | 0.2 | 31 | 13.3 | 0.9 |
| Alaina Coates | Was | C | 12 | 9.7 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 | 44.4 | 0 | 0.8 |
| Sug Sutton | Was | G | 2 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28.6 | 0 | 1 |
| Jacki Gemelos | Was | G | 2 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 |
The Skinny
With a slate in which few teams have an especially high pace, the final game between the Mercury and Mystics could wind up as the highest-scoring matchup of the day. The Mercury struggle in several areas defensively, and the team sends opposing teams to the charity stripe at the second-highest rate in the league. Myisha Hines-Allen and Alaina Coates have each seen increased playing time with Emma Meesseman (shoulder) sidelined, and one of their strongest areas comes from their ability to get to the free-throw line. Meesseman is doubtful once again for Sunday's contest, and those two could see a spike in production against the Mercury if she's unable to suit up. Hines-Allen, Coates and Ariel Atkins have also showcased their rebounding abilities while Meesseman has been out, and that trend could continue against the Mercury, who are below-average on the boards this season. Stella Johnson put up an incredible 25 points in her first start of her career Wednesday, but she followed up with a zero in the scoring column during her second start Friday. While her six three-pointers from Wednesday pose an enticing mark for DFS managers, she put up that total against a Dream defense that is the second-worst in the WNBA in defending on the perimeter. Her struggles came against the much more formidable Wings, and she could continue to falter against Phoenix's similar defensive style.
For the Mercury, Brittney Griner recently left the bubble for personal reasons, and the team is suddenly forced to replace one of its top performers. Alanna Smith and Kia Vaughn were the biggest benefactors in terms of playing time during Griner's first absence, and they should continue to see significant minutes in Phoenix's frontcourt. Smith was by far the better player on the scoreboard Friday, but Vaughn also recorded her highest rebound total since Aug. 2, mustering five boards compared to three for Smith. Smith's higher shot volume makes her a safer bet for fantasy production Sunday, especially since the Mystics have allowed the third-highest field goal percentage on average in 2020. Skylar Diggins-Smith and Bria Hartley have also picked up the slack in a big way in terms of scoring. Each of them topped 20 points Friday, and it wouldn't be surprising to see that uptick in production continue as long as Griner is away from the team. Both have also been productive at dishing out dimes this season, but Washington is one of the best teams at preventing assists this season. In what could be a high-scoring matchup, both the Mercury and Mystics have several players that could be especially valuable in DFS as they fill in for crucial absences.
