Fantasy WNBA Week 13: Top Risers and Fallers
As the WNBA playoff push intensifies and several teams navigate shifting rotations due to injuries, there are plenty of opportunities to add under-the-radar fantasy contributors -- though some players are losing value.
Top Fantasy WNBA Risers for Week 13
Saniya Rivers, Connecticut Sun: Rivers was a mainstay in the starting lineup before being replaced by Leila Lacan on Aug. 5. However, Rivers has been terrific in her last five appearances in her new role, averaging 11.2 points, 3.2 assists, 2.4 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.8 blocks across 29.4 minutes per game during that span. The rookie has also shot 57.5 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from beyond the arc in those five games. The NC State product has been stuffing the stat sheet on both ends of the floor recently, posting at least 22 ESPN fantasy points in four consecutive appearances. She has also recorded multiple steals in four of her last five appearances, with the only exception being Sunday's overtime loss to Indiana, when she racked up a career-high five blocks instead.
Cecilia Zandalasini, Golden State Valkyries: After missing three straight games due to a left foot injury, Zandalasini returned to game action in the starting five on Aug. 6. The 29-year-old guard has posted double-digit points in each of her last five appearances, during which she has averaged 16.4 points, 4.2 rebounds. 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals across 32.0 minutes per game. During that span, she
Fantasy WNBA Week 13: Top Risers and Fallers
As the WNBA playoff push intensifies and several teams navigate shifting rotations due to injuries, there are plenty of opportunities to add under-the-radar fantasy contributors -- though some players are losing value.
Top Fantasy WNBA Risers for Week 13
Saniya Rivers, Connecticut Sun: Rivers was a mainstay in the starting lineup before being replaced by Leila Lacan on Aug. 5. However, Rivers has been terrific in her last five appearances in her new role, averaging 11.2 points, 3.2 assists, 2.4 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.8 blocks across 29.4 minutes per game during that span. The rookie has also shot 57.5 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from beyond the arc in those five games. The NC State product has been stuffing the stat sheet on both ends of the floor recently, posting at least 22 ESPN fantasy points in four consecutive appearances. She has also recorded multiple steals in four of her last five appearances, with the only exception being Sunday's overtime loss to Indiana, when she racked up a career-high five blocks instead.
Cecilia Zandalasini, Golden State Valkyries: After missing three straight games due to a left foot injury, Zandalasini returned to game action in the starting five on Aug. 6. The 29-year-old guard has posted double-digit points in each of her last five appearances, during which she has averaged 16.4 points, 4.2 rebounds. 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals across 32.0 minutes per game. During that span, she has also shot 52.8 percent from the field and an impressive 54.8 percent from three-point range while averaging 3.4 made triples per game. Zandalasini has tallied at least 19 ESPN fantasy points in each of those outings, including three performances with at least 31.
Maddy Siegrist, Dallas Wings: Siegrist returned from an 18-game absence due to a right knee injury less than two weeks ago. The Villanova product came off the bench under a minutes restriction in her first three appearances following the extended absence, though she has started the team's last three games since Arike Ogunbowale (knee) has been sidelined. During that three-game span, Siegrist has averaged 20.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 made three-pointers, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks while shooting 64.9 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from beyond the arc across 34.0 minutes per game. Even if Ogunbowale is able to return in Week 13, it wouldn't be surprising to see Siegrist maintain an increased role after delivering two performances with at least 22 points, with her 23 points in Sunday's loss to the Aces marking a career best.
Key Fantasy WNBA Fallers to Avoid This Week
Kia Nurse, Chicago Sky: After starting six consecutive games following the All-Star break due to Ariel Atkins being sidelined with a leg injury, Nurse has come off the bench in each of the Sky's last five games. During that span, she has averaged 2.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting only 18.2 percent from the field across 16.0 minutes per game. The 29-year-old guard also logged a season-low four minutes in Friday's blowout loss to the Valkyries, committing two turnovers and scoring zero points. With Atkins back from her leg injury and Sevgi Uzun taking on a more meaningful role, Nurse isn't guaranteed significant playing time after moving to the second unit.
Megan Gustafson, Las Vegas Aces: Gustafson missed the first 19 games of the regular season due to a lower left leg injury but logged double-digit minutes in 11 of her first 13 appearances. However, she averaged just 3.6 points and 2.2 rebounds while shooting 33.3 percent from the field across 13.6 minutes per game during that span. As a result, the 28-year-old center hasn't seen the court in two of the team's last three games and played only two minutes in Sunday's blowout win over the Wings. The Iowa product doesn't have a clear path to meaningful playing time while competing for minutes with Kiah Stokes behind A'ja Wilson.
Stephanie Talbot, New York Liberty: After signing a rest-of-season contract with the Liberty on July 21, Talbot saw fairly significant minutes since Breanna Stewart (knee), Nyara Sabally (knee) and Kennedy Burke (calf) were sidelined. However, Burke has appeared in each of the team's last two matchups after a seven-game absence, resulting in Talbot totaling just 10 minutes during that span. Even if Stewart and Sabally remain on the shelf in Week 13, Talbot isn't guaranteed meaningful minutes behind Jonquel Jones, Leonie Fiebich, Emma Meesseman and Burke in the frontcourt.
Fantasy WNBA Player to Watch in Week 13
Odyssey Sims, Indiana Fever: With Caitlin Clark (groin), Aari McDonald (foot) and Sydney Colson (knee) sidelined, Sims signed a seven-day hardship contract with the Fever on Aug. 10. She has since agreed to a second seven-day pact and is eligible to sign one more with Indiana this season, which appears likely due to the team's injury woes in the backcourt. Sims showcased why she was deserving of a contract while starting over Lexie Hull in Sunday's overtime win over the Sun, posting 19 points (6-13 FT, 0-1 3Pt, 7-9 FT), seven assists and four rebounds across 42 minutes. Sophie Cunningham was also helped off the court Sunday due to a right knee injury and could join Clark, McDonald and Colson on the shelf in Friday's game against the Lynx, which would mean more opportunity for Sims.
Those looking for up-to-the-minute fantasy WNBA news can check out RotoWire's WNBA Injury Report and WNBA Lineups. RotoWire also features Top WNBA Picks and Player Props on a daily basis to help find the best betting lines for each night's slate.
