Mercedes Russell

Russell underwent offseason surgery to address a recurrent, atypical headache syndrome last year but has been fully cleared for the 2023 campaign. When she's been a full-time starter (2019 and 2021), the sixth-year center has posted season averages of at least 7.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game, but when she's garnered a reserve role, she's been basically irrelevant in fantasy. Her outlook for 2023 seems relatively rosy, with Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird gone and Gabby Williams potentially sitting out the season, Russell could wind up starting beside Ezi Magbegor in the frontcourt and seeing plenty of minutes for what is looking like a relatively shallow group of quality players in Seattle for 2023. Russell should draw some fantasy looks as a result.

Russell finds herself in a similar situation to last year regarding her potential for playing time. She is likely to hold down the five for Seattle but will presumably cede a good chunk of playing time to Eziyoda Magbegor once again. Russell works almost exclusively around the rim (78.3 percent of her points came in the paint) and did so efficiently last year, converting a career-best 61.7 percent of her attempts from the field. Russell also seemed to find her shooting stroke from the free-throw line, posting another career-best mark of 76.6 percent. Many of those opportunities come via her efficiency on the offensive glass, where she ranked 16th in the league, averaging 1.7 offensive boards per contest.