Angel Reese, Tina Charles among players dropping too far in drafts
Credit to Author: ESPN Fantasy| Date: Thu, 9 May 2024 13:59:56 EST
The WNBA season tips off on May 14 and that means fantasy women’s basketball is basically here.
Who are some of the most overlooked players in fantasy drafts this season? Who should have a higher average draft position?
Here are Andre Snellings, Eric Moody, Liz Loza and Jennifer LaCroix with more on the players who are dropping too far.
Angel Reese, F, Chicago Sky: Reese sits at No. 65 in our rankings, just outside of the draft window in most leagues. But she was brought in as frontcourt help on a Sky team that desperately needed it, and with fellow rookie Kamilla Cardoso injured, Reese is likely to get a larger role and more playing time than initially projected. Reese is listed as a starting forward on the Sky depth chart and has scored 13 points in both preseason games so far. She has also been active on defense, averaging seven boards and two steals in 21 minutes per game. I look for her to produce fantasy-worthy numbers once the season begins. — Snellings
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Lexie Brown, G, Los Angeles Sparks: Brown started last season averaging 13.3 PPG, 2.9 APG, 2.0 RPG, 1.2 SPG and 2.3 3PG through the first nine games. However, she missed most of the remaining schedule with a non-COVID illness, playing in only three games. She seems to be back healthy and is a veteran guard on a team that has a lot of young players, which means she will most likely be the Sparks’ primary shooting guard. — LaCroix
Tina Charles, C, Atlanta Dream: Charles is just outside the top 40 in our rankings. I find it hard to believe that the Dream would bring the 35-year-old in and not have a prominent role for her. Charles’ playing career overlapped with current head coach Tanisha Wright when both were with the Liberty, so that’s a positive. In 12 seasons, Charles averaged 18.2 PPG and 9.3 RPG. She’s projected for 28.8 MPG this season and will be viewed as a leader on a young Dream team. — Moody
Karlie Samuelson, F, Washington Mystics: Samuelson has bopped around the league — largely as a bench player — for much of her five-year career. That changed last year, however, as she recorded 23 starts with the Sparks. The 28-year-old posted a career campaign with Los Angeles, averaging 26.1 minutes and 17.75 fantasy points per game. Samuelson signed with the Mystics in February and figures to start, emerging as the team’s best perimeter shooter while offering fantasy managers upside as a utility option. — Loza