RADIO
Welcome back to the WNBA! Friday is the first night of regular season WNBA action, with four games on the docket.
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 5/5/22. These lineups picks will range from elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. The slate locks on 5/5/2022 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
Skylar Diggins-Smith (Phoenix Mercury) - vs Aces - DK: $9,700, FD: $7,400
The biggest WNBA storyline heading into the season is Brittney Griner, as she is currently being detained in Russia on drug charges.
Without Griner available, the Mercury will need to find other sources of offense. A lot of that will come from the team's new addition, Tina Charles, but because of her age and previous wear, I wouldn't be shocked to see Charles play five or so fewer minutes per game than Griner did last year.
The team also has some serious depth issues at guard and SDS's backcourt mate, Diana Taurasi, is 39 and likely will play fewer than her 28.4 minutes per game last year.
This all adds up to Diggins-Smith, who averaged 17.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game, seeing a slight jump in her usage rate this year, which was already 25%. I expect Diggins-Smith to consistently be the top fantasy guard this season.
Gabby Williams (Seattle Storm) - vs Lynx - DK: $6,600 FD: $4,600 - Note: Williams is listed at Guard on FanDuel and Forward on DraftKings
I really love the value here on Williams. She last played in 2020, when she averaged 7.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game in a reserve role for the Sky. Now, she's either the starting three or the Sixth Woman on this Storm team, which will lead to increased offensive responsibility. The big concern I have is that Williams has always struggled with her three-point shot, something that has to be fixed for her to maximize her value with the Storm. Friday is the beginning of the path toward seeing if she can be a major contributor for this team.
Rachel Banham (Minnesota Lynx) - @ Storm - DK: $5,100, FD: $3,100
The Lynx moved on from Crystal Dangerfield and Layshia Clarendon this past week, plus Kayla McBride hasn't reported yet. That backcourt is...iffy.
But reports were that Banham was getting training camp run at the point guard and based on the construction of this roster, we're going to see her on the floor a lot in the early going. Odyssey Sims will likely start at the one, but Banham will back up both guard spots until McBride returns.
WNBA DFS Lineup Picks: Forward
Sylvia Fowles (Minnesota Lynx) - @ Storm - DK: $10,300, FD: $8,500
With no Napheesa Collier, the Lynx will need to rely even more heavily than usual on Sylvia Fowles, who is starting her final WNBA season.
Fowles averaged 1.13 points per possession last year with Collier off the floor while posting a 27.6 usage rate in those minutes. By contrast, when she played with Collier, her usage rate was 21.1 with 1.05 points per possession. I expect Fowles to dominate this season.
Emma Meesseman (Chicago Sky) - vs Sparks - DK: $9,500, FD: $6,400
Last time we saw Meesseman was 2020, when she started 20 games for the Mystics and averaged 13.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.8 blocks per game.
Now, she heads to Chicago, where she'll need to help make up for the lost offensive production from Stef Dolson and Diamond DeShields. A Meesseman and Candace Parker frontcourt is really interesting and probably lacks the size to play as many minutes together as you'd like, but I think the DFS salary on Meeseman is low enough after her missed 2021 season that I'll take a risk on her.
Ezi Magbegor (Seattle Storm) - vs Lynx - DK: 7,200, FD: $4,700
Mercedes Russell missed all of training camp and barring some very unforeseen thing, she won't be on the floor on Friday night for the Storm.
That likely pushes Magbegor into the starting lineup at the five. The third-year Australian has shown a lot of potential in her career but just hasn't really gotten the minutes to show all that she can do. Last year, she started three games and averaged 10.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in those starts, so this is a good player to take a chance on.
WNBA Betting Picks for 5/5/2022
Looking to make some WNBA bets? Let's look at some options for you.
Washington Mystics Moneyline (-280)
This is the obvious pick of this slate, but sometimes you've got to take the easy money. The spread of 7.5 is a little high for me just because of the uncertainty about how healthy the Mystics are, but the Fever have five rookies on their roster and are going to lose a ton of games this year, so betting on them to lose is going to be a winning strategy all season.
Las Vegas Aces Spread (-3.5)
The Mercury don't have Brittney Griner to start the season because of her detainment in Russia. They also don't have Brianna Turner and Diamond DeShields because both players are still playing overseas.
Factor in that the Mercury already had a lack of depth before these absences and you get a team that'll likely get off to a slow start. I don't see how they can effectively slow down this Aces team, so I'm taking Vegas to win by at least 3.5.
Minnesota Lynx Spread (+7)
Seattle starts the season without center Mercedes Russell and faces a Lynx team that has Sylvia Fowles at the five. I think it'll be a long day for the Storm on the interior. Minnesota might not win, but it'll keep this one close throughout.
