Rhyne Howard

Howard impressed during her rookie season after being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, and she improved in most areas in 2023. The 23-year-old averaged 17.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 32.9 minutes per game over 39 appearances, all improvements from the 2022 campaign. While she also improved slightly by shooting 38.5 percent from the field, she converted 44.0 percent of her field-goal attempts over her four seasons at Kentucky and will be able to take another step in her professional career if she can shoot closer to that mark in 2024. The Dream improved in 2023 and qualified for the playoffs behind efforts from Howard, Allisha Gray and Cheyenne Parker, but Howard should have every opportunity to remain the focal point for the team next season, even after the Dream brought in Tina Charles during the offseason. Howard has posted just two double-doubles over her first two seasons in the league but generates well-rounded stat lines consistently. She's lived up to her lofty expectations early in her career and could take another step forward in 2024.

There's a reason Howard went No. 1 in the 2022 WNBA Draft, and she proved worthy of the selection with her play as a rookie. Howard contributed across the board over 36 games, finishing the season as a top-20 fantasy player in almost any fantasy format and a top-10 option in points leagues. Howard's primary drawback was her efficiency from the field, converting just 36.1 percent of her shots. While that can hold back her value in eight- and nine-category rotisserie formats, it doesn't factor into most points leagues, hence the upgrade in value. Howard closed the season averaging 19.4 points, 4.7 boards, 3.2 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.8 blocks over the last 11 games and should prove one of the premier fantasy options in 2023.