Fantasy WNBA Week 8: Top Risers and Fallers
Although Week 8 is shortened due to the Commissioner's Cup Championship, there are still opportunities to find valuable contributors on the waiver wire. In this article, I'll highlight a few viable pickups who have been producing recently, as well as some players with changing roles to avoid.
Top Fantasy WNBA Risers for Week 8
Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Connecticut Sun 
Nelson-Ododa has started back-to-back games due to her strong play recently. The 25-year-old center is rostered in just 23.6 percent of leagues and has closed with 20 or more fantasy points in six of her last seven outings. During that stretch, she has averaged 11.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.0 combined steals-plus-blocks and 1.4 assists across 22.7 minutes per showing.
Leila Lacan, Connecticut Sun
The 22-year-old guard is rostered in just 19.5 percent of leagues despite scoring double-digit points in six consecutive outings. The Sun's primary floor general, Lacan has tallied between 19 and 40 fantasy points in each of her last seven games, and she's reached the lower mark in all but one of her 10 regular-season appearances this season.
Chennedy Carter, Las Vegas Aces 
Carter is back from her five-game absence due to an illness, and she chipped in 14 fantasy points in 16 minutes during her first regular-season game back. She provided a major spark in Tuesday's Commissioner's Cup Championship loss to the Liberty, supplying 18 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals in 25 minutes. She's rostered in 35.4 percent of leagues.
Key Fantasy WNBA Fallers to Avoid This Week
Gabriela Jaquez, Chicago Sky 
Courtney Vandersloot is back from the inactive list and should continue ramping up her workload moving forward, impacting Jaquez's playing time. Jaquez logged just 12 minutes in her last outing and has finished with single-digit fantasy points in three of her last four appearances, averaging 5.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists across 20.0 minutes per contest in that time.
Stefanie Dolson, Seattle Storm 
Ezi Magbegor (foot) is likely to make her season debut Thursday, and her return to action figures to mean a dip in playing time for Dolson. The veteran center's production has already been on the decline, as she's posted fewer than 13 fantasy points in eight consecutive games. Over that stretch, Dolson has averaged 2.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 14.1 minutes per showing.
Saniya Rivers, Connecticut Sun
Rivers' role continues to change, making her a drop candidate in season-long leagues. The second-year guard reverted to a bench role in the June 22 win over Chicago and didn't see the floor in the Sun's win over the Mystics on Friday. She's finished with single-digit fantasy points in two of her last three appearances (two starts), averaging 4.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 0.7 steals in 18.0 minutes per tilt during that span.
Fantasy WNBA Player to Watch in Week 8
Valeriane Ayayi, Phoenix Mercury 
Ayayi is rostered in 6.5 percent of leagues and is a solid addition with the Mercury still depleted by injuries. The 32-year-old forward has logged at least 20 minutes in four consecutive contests, generating between 19 and 34 fantasy points while averaging 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.5 combined steals-plus-blocks across 24.3 minutes per game in those appearances.
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.
