NWSL free agency is in full swing and the NWSL draft is complete – the perfect time to plan for the 2023 FNWSL season.
Today, we’ll count down the most “underrated” players of 2022 in FNWSL. These are the players who, among all NWSL players, had the biggest difference between their cost per fantasy point rank ($/Pt) and their Team Selected By rank in the final week of the season (TSB%).
As may be expected, many of these players came on strong during the final few weeks of the season. Keep an eye on each of them in 2023 as they could provide premium value for your fantasy team!
10. Amanda Kowalski (DF – Chicago): $75,000
- $/Pt Rank: 9
- TSB% Rank: 194
- Difference: 185
The Red Stars center back was a key cog in the strong Chicago defense (working alongside partner in crime and childhood friend Tatumn Milazzo). “Goose” also added three goals during the season to finish with 109 fantasy points, but was only selected by 1.54% of FNWSL teams! Don’t miss out on her in 2023.
9. Zoe Morse (DF – Chicago): $150,000
- $/Pt Rank: 40
- TSB% Rank: 228
- Difference: 188
Another Red Stars center back comes in at #9. Morse was a fixture in the Chicago XI and logged 136 fantasy points. She made a move across the pond to Brighton and Hove Albion after the NWSL season concluded, so keep her in mind for your FWSL team in 2023!
8. Taylor Porter (MF – Portland): $100,000
- $/Pt Rank: 77
- TSB% Rank: 270
- Difference: 193
Porter’s playing time was inconsistent in 2022 (as may be expected considering the abundance of midfield talent in Portland), but she made the most of the minutes she did get with three goals in 11 matches.
7. Sarah Griffith (FW – Chicago): $75,000
- $/Pt Rank: 33
- TSB% Rank: 227
- Difference: 194
The Red Stars’ winger joins the club of players who made the most of inconsistent minutes throughout 2022, frequently coming on as a 2nd half substitute for the Red Stars. With the departure of Vanessa DiBernardo, Morgan Gautrat, Danielle Colaprico, and Sarah Luebbert from Chicago’s attack, Griffith could be in for a big 2023.
6. Bayley Feist (FW – Washington): $125,000
- $/Pt Rank: 60
- TSB%: 262
- Difference: 202
Feist finished with several strong performances for the Spirit down the stretch to finish in the top 60 FNWSL players with 90 fantasy points. Though Washington boasts an embarrassment of riches on the front line, look for Feist to continue to be a strong fantasy asset in 2023.
5. Sarah Luebbert (FW – Chicago): $75,000
- $/Pt Rank: 46
- TSB%: 261
- Difference: 215
Luebbert racked up 64 fantasy points despite appearing in only 15 matches for Chicago in 2022. She’ll be playing south of the border for the Liga MX Femenil runner-up Club América in 2023.
4. Jill Aguilera (MF – Chicago): $75,000
- $/Pt Rank: 62
- TSB%: 285
- Difference: 223
The parade of Red Stars continues with outside midfielder Jill Aguilera, who finished the season on only 0.58% of FNWSL teams despite totalling 53 fantasy points. Like Griffith, Aguilera could see a big jump in playing time in 2023 after the mass free agency exodus from Chicago.
3. Natalie Jacobs (MF – Houston): $75,000
- $/Pt Rank: 59
- TSB%: 304
- Difference: 245
A crowded Dash midfield limited Jacobs’ minutes in 2022, but she still logged 54 fantasy points in her 15 regular season appearances. Look for her to create lots of chances for the newly-arrived Diana Ordoñez in 2023!
2. Kylie Strom (DF – Orlando): $100,000
- $/Pt Rank: 19
- TSB%: 276
- Difference: 257
Strom appeared in nearly every game for the Pride, and racked up 121 fantasy points (the highest of anyone on this list) despite Orlando conceding 45 times during the 2022 season.
- Tess Boade (MF – North Carolina): $75,000
- $/Pt Rank: 70
- TSB%: 330
- Difference: 260
After only playing in a few games during the first five months of the season, the North Carolina rookie striker concluded her 2023 season with a flourish. She logged two goals and one assist in September to finish with a fantasy point total of 48. With a cost of only $75k, she was a top 70 FNWSL player but only finished the season on 0.19% of FNWSL teams. With some significant roster turnover in North Carolina this off-season, look for Boade to continue to have opportunities to rack up fantasy points next season!
Who else is underrated in Fantasy NWSL? Tweet @MansersAnswers!