RADIO
WNBA action rolls along today with three games on the slate. The Wings are in action for just the second time all season as they visit the Mercury, while the Aces face the Dream and the Fever take on the Liberty.
Just as I have for the last couple of years, I'll be providing daily fantasy lineup picks for the WNBA this season here at RotoBaller. But because I also moved to a state with legalized sports betting earlier this year, I'll be sprinkling in some basic betting picks. Not going to get complicated since there's limited space in this piece, but I'll throw you a bet or two each day that I like.
In this article, I'll be providing you with some daily fantasy WNBA lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 5/13/22. These lineups picks will range from elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. The slate locks on 5/13/2022 at 7:00 p.m. ET. 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
Rhyne Howard (Atlanta Dream) - vs LV- DK: $8,500, FD: $7,800
There will likely be a point where Howard hits that rookie wall. Heck, that point could be tonight against the Aces. And Howard's FanDuel price has already caught up with her value, so I wouldn't blame you if you avoided her on that platform.
But she's still got value on DraftKings. Howard is averaging 18.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.5 blocks per game through her first two WNBA appearances. Her volume is big right now and while I think Tiffany Hayes returning in the future will cut into her value, you should take advantage of all these Hayes-less games.
Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces) - @ ATL - DK: $8,200 FD: $6,800
Everyone's talking about Kelsey Plum in Vegas, but another guard on the team is producing good numbers too. Jackie Young is averaging 19.3 points per game through the first three games of the year and is averaging 34.7 minutes per game. Like Howard, Young's value will take a hit when Riquna Williams is worked back into things...unless, that is, Young's newfound efficiency from three is real, as she's at 40% on 1.7 attempts per game. (Williams could return for this game, but I'd expect Young to still get most of the work at the three for at least another game.)
Marina Mabrey (Dallas Wings) - @ WAS - DK: $7,500, FD: $5,800
It was a weird first game for the Wings, who were held to 59 points. Mabrey played 24 minutes off the bench and led the team in field goal attempts, going 8-for-16 with 20 points, plus six rebounds and an assist. She was 3-for-7 from deep. Mabrey's role on this team will be "come off the bench, play hard, and take a bunch of shots," which is a role that will be pretty necessary for this team. Mabrey's ability to run the backup point will also be useful.
WNBA DFS Lineup Picks: Forward
Elena Delle Donne (Washington Mystics) - vs DAL - DK: $10,700, FD: $8,500
Delle Donne looks healthy. Sure, she sat out a game, but in the two she has played, she's averaging 29.5 minutes per game, her most since 2018. She's averaging 20.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 blocks per game. That's in spite of her shooting just 20% from deep, far below her career average of 39.3%. EDD has shot 64.7% inside the arc though and seems to be able to find her spot on every play. Against this Dallas defense, she could dominate, unless it becomes a blowout too early. (If that concerns you, play her teammate Myisha Hines-Allen instead.)
Natasha Howard (New York Liberty) - vs IND - DK: $10,500, FD: $7,500
The efficiency isn't there yet as Howard is a combined 9-for-27 from the floor, but a meeting with the Fever is a good recipe for fixing that. Howard should be able to dominate on both ends against this team. I'm really looking forward to the matchup with NaLyssa Smith at the four, but the Fever don't really have a non-Smith big who can even pretend to contain Howard, so any non-Smith minutes for Howard should find her picking her spots on offense and disrupting everything on defense.
Alanna Smith (Indiana Fever) - @ NY - DK: $4,400, FD: $3,700
The Fever moved Smith into the starting lineup last game, where she played 17 minutes and scored nine points on 4-for-6 shooting with five rebounds, one assist, one block and two steals. Smith won't light the world on fire, but if the Fever are going to continue to play her for the 17 or so minutes that they've played her the last two games, then Smith will continue to deliver solid results at a huge value.
WNBA Betting Picks for 5/13/2022
Looking to make some WNBA bets? Let's look at some options for you.
Yesterday's results (1-2) [Breanna Stewart was a late scratch in the Storm/Mercury game, which killed that Storm ML bet]
Washington Mystics Spread (-8)
The Wings looked completely out of in their opener. The Mystics are 3-0 with an average margin of victory of 13. I'm taking the Mystics on the spread.
New York Liberty Spread (-5.5)
Yes, the Liberty were dominated from start to finish against the Sky. And yes, the Fever won a game. But there's a huge talent gap here and I'm probably going to bet against the Fever anytime the spread is this close, because Indiana is a young team that could find itself down by a ton of points at any moment.
Aces/Dream U 168
These two teams combine to average 160.5 points and allow 150.7. The Aces offense is always capable of scoring 100 points in a game, but they also are built to go completely cold from three at times. The Dream have looked good at times, but still don't have a ton of offense beyond Rhyne Howard. You'll sweat this one a little, but I think the under will hit.
