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Season 2 of WNBA Pick One Challenge is here for the 2008 season. The format is tested and true, the NBA version having finished a wildly successful season for 2006-07. If you're playing fantasy during the NBA Playoffs, it is also a format similar to what is utilized in the NBA Drive to the Finals playoff fantasy game. Pick one player for each day that a game is being played, but you can't pick that player twice throughout the entire season.
Not so easy anymore, right? Love it.
Let me step you through the roadblocks you could possibly run into with such a system, and the strategy you should employ to navigate unscathed.
One Game Days
Many will be tempted to pick the best player each day of the season, from start to finish. That strategy will work -- for a while. Right around a month into the season, you will quickly realize that more planning is needed.
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> Pick one player per day > Fantasy Points for Points + Rebounds + Assists > Pick same player only once all season > Rookies worth Double Fantasy Points
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Now we come to May 23. On that day, there is only one game being played -- between the Shock and Dream. You have already used three of your top options. Your best remaining option for that day is Betty Lennox.
Now, Lennox is a good player, don't get me wrong. The problem is, though, that she averaged about the same PRA (Points + Rebounds + Assists) as the third best player on the Shock last season. Ideally, you'd have Cheryl Ford available on this day, to differntiate your score from others.
This example is for the end of the first full week of the season. Now, try to imagine a similar scenario in which you've already picked through 30+ players without regard to timing and run into another one-game day. You'll need to dig deep.
Use the Calendar
There will be a handful of days this season when you'll only be able to pick players from only a single match-up. To help you target these days, we have provided an interactive color-coded calendar that allows you to easily isolate such days and jump quickly to make your selection.
The calendar colors days based on number of games played: one game, two games, three games, more than three games, or no games. Maximize your PRA and use the calendar. Personally, I have gone through and made picks for every one-game day, prior to the season even starting, selecting the player with the highest average PRA. After completing this task, I made selections for every two-game day. It is important to make the one-game day selections first since you will simply have more options on the other days. Finally, I made selections for every three-game day.
What you are looking to do is get the highest possible PRA on these one, two, and three-game days. If successful, you will separate yourself from the pack on these days. The disparity in possible scores will be much greater the fewer the player options.
Although I made these picks ahead of time, you have plenty of time to react to injuries and improved play. I have simply reserved these players for now, but I will likely change many of these picks down the road.
Rookies: Double Up!
The biggest twist is that rookies are worth double fantasy points. This means that a player like Lindsay Harding last year averaged a 39.8 PRA while the highest scoring non-rookie, Lauren Jackson, averaged a 34.8. It also means that rookies who may not typically be considered as an option will get enough points to keep you happy. Do not ignore the rookies -- they can win this game for you.
That said, I'd suggest saving the rookies until at least the second half of the season. Most take a while to get into the flow of their teams' game plan, and minutes should increase as the season progresses. Trust me, you'll be happy you have those double points available late in the season when you are running out of star non-rookie players.
Match-ups
Although I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to match-ups when going through my calendar, you should definitely pay attention to match-ups. Since personnel and coaching is different, defensive PRA will also change this season, depending on the team. Last season, whenever possible I took players who were facing the Storm, since they gave up the highest number of combined points, rebounds and assists. The Storm may not be the hot choice this year, but certainly keep them in mind when making selections.
Also, try to pick players when playing at home whenever possible. The difference isn't huge (about 5%), but a point here and there piles up by the end of the season.