Fantasy WNBA Week 15: Top Risers and Fallers
The WNBA regular season is winding down, with one week to go before the FIBA World Cup break. There are plenty of injury-driven additions available on the waiver wire, as well as players who can safely be dropped as the season nears its end.
Top Fantasy WNBA Risers for Week 15
Tiffany Hayes, Golden State Valkyries 
The Valkyries have a league-high-tying four games this week, meaning Hayes will have plenty of chances to contribute. The veteran guard has finished with 19 or more fantasy points in eight of her last nine outings, averaging 12.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.6 steals across 21.1 minutes per outing during that time. She's rostered in 32.9 percent of leagues.
Laura Juskaite, Toronto Tempo 
Juskaite has been a mainstay in the Tempo's starting five since mid-May, though she's rostered in just 21.1 percent of leagues. The club has already been eliminated from playoff contention and is dealing with a plethora of injuries, so Toronto may remain cautious with its injured players the rest of the way. Juskaite could see increased usage moving forward and has posted at least 20 fantasy points in four of her last five appearances, during which she has averaged 11.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 steals across 28.0 minutes per game.
Kiki Rice, Toronto Tempo
Rice is rostered in 42.8 percent of leagues, but if she's still on the waiver wire in yours, she's a strong addition. Moreover, the Tempo are plagued by injuries and have three games this week, so the rookie guard should have plenty of opportunities to produce at a high level. She's recorded between 21 and 34 fantasy points in six consecutive games, averaging 15.5 points, 4.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 0.8 steals across 29.5 minutes per tilt during that span.
Saniya Rivers, Connecticut Sun 
The Sun have four games this week, and they'll play all of them without Leila Lacan (not injury related). Rivers could see increased usage moving forward and has logged at least 26 fantasy points in each of her last three outings, averaging 11.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.3 steals across 25.3 minutes per game over that stretch. She's rostered in just 17.9 percent of leagues.
Key Fantasy WNBA Fallers to Avoid This Week
Rebecca Allen, New York Liberty 
Leonie Fiebich returned from an extended absence Saturday against the Fever, sending Allen to the second unit for the first time since July 18. The 33-year-old forward logged 16 minutes off the bench and finished with 13 fantasy points. Over 11 appearances off the bench this season, she has averaged 2.2 points and 1.2 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per game. Additionally, the Liberty have only two games this week.
Pauline Astier, New York Liberty
Astier will have limited chances to produce this week, and she's closed with 14 or fewer fantasy points in all but one of her last six appearances, averaging 6.7 points, 2.7 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 20.0 minutes per game over that period. With Fiebich back in action, the Liberty have more mouths to feed, making Astier more difficult to trust from a fantasy standpoint.
Jewell Loyd, Las Vegas Aces 
Loyd is still rostered in 47.6 percent of leagues and is coming off a two-point performance in which she logged a season-low-tying 19 minutes. The veteran guard has supplied single-digit fantasy points in three of her last five appearances, during which she has averaged 4.2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists across 20.8 minutes per game. Additionally, the Aces have only one game this week.
Fantasy WNBA Player to Watch in Week 15
Awa Fam, Seattle Storm 
After a two-game stretch in which she totaled 60 fantasy points, Fam stepped into the starting lineup her last time out and provided just eight fantasy points in 25 minutes. The rookie will likely shift back to the second unit once Natisha Hiedeman (shoulder) returns, which could result in fewer minutes for Fam. The 20-year-old has ended with single-digit fantasy points in three of her last five appearances, during which she has averaged 7.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 21.4 minutes per tilt. The Storm have just two games this week, and if Fam doesn't produce or sees fewer minutes Wednesday against Toronto, it could be worthwhile to find a replacement before Sunday's contest versus Los Angeles.
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.
