DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Boxing Day EPL Picks

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Updated on December 22, 2016 9:44PM EST

For detailed odds and stats, check out our Boxing Day Cheat Sheet

MATCHES (EST)

10:00 a.m: Arsenal v. West Brom
10:00 a.m: Burnley v. Middlesbrough
10:00 a.m: Swansea City v. West Ham
10:00 a.m: Manchester United v. Sunderland
10:00 a.m: Chelsea v. Bournemouth
10:00 a.m: Leicester City v. Everton
12:15 p.m: Hull City v. Manchester City

PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS

GOALKEEPER

David de Gea, MUN v. SUN ($6,000): United has won three consecutive matches, including two clean sheets. Four away goals this season ranks Sunderland in the bottom two, ahead of only Burnley, so De Gea buys you the most probable win and clean sheet candidate.

David Marshall, HUL v. MCI ($3,600): With Sergio Aguero out, City is without their true striker. In their last two matches it has mattered little, but on the road – even against Hull – it could be a bigger issue. City's last away match was their 4-2 loss to Leicester. Marshall has picked up 16 saves already this month, including 10 in his last two.

DEFENDER

Antonio Valencia, MUN v. SUN ($5,100): After a prolific start to the season with lots of crosses, Valencia hasn't been so hot lately. However, the aforementioned desirable matchup against Sunderland sets the stage for a recovery, and the high potential for a clean sheet helps as well.

Jon Flanagan, BUR v. MID ($4,200):Matthew Lowton is suspended, which should allow Flanagan to pick up his second start of the month at right back. While not explosive in the attacking end, in his two starts this season he did rack up six tackles and six interceptions.

Ben Chilwell, LEI v. EVE ($3,000): A suspended Christian Fuchs leads to the possibility of Chilwell getting his first Premier League start of the season. There's not a lot of precedent to go on here, but seeing him take over what was a productive spot under Fuchs is encouraging.

MIDFIELDER

Gylfi Sigurdsson, SWA v. WHU ($9,300): Despite not contributing directly to any goals in the last two games, the peripheral stats have continued to roll in. In the two-game span, Sigurdsson has six shots (two on goal) and 26 crosses. West Ham picked up clean sheets against what were possibly the worst two teams in the league (Burnley and Hull), but heading back on the road, the defensive struggles they've had for much of the season could return.

Wayne Rooney, MUN v. SUN ($7,300): In his last three Premier League starts, Rooney has averaged 15 fantasy points per match. With the addition of corners to his repertoire, he's become a solid all-around contributor, including eight assists between Premier League and Europa League play. Rooney has been sitting one goal shy of tying Sir Bobby Charlton for the all-time lead in goals for Manchester United, and Boxing Day would be a fitting time to hit that historic mark.

Scott Arfield, BUR v. MID ($5,200): After being irrelevant for most of the season fantasy-wise, Arfied has scored at least nine fantasy points in three of four games after taking over on corners. He's done so with contributions across a great number of stat categories, though if Johann Berg Gudmundsson starts, downgrade Arfield.

FORWARD

Dimitri Payet, WHU at SWA ($9,300): As the Swansea defense continues to struggle, continue to target opposing attacks. While it's naive to expect Payet to duplicate the 24 fantasy points he scored solely from peripherals last time out against Hull, five shots on goal in the last three weeks showcase his ability to score. His assist numbers are down from last season, but as the rest of the complementary attackers have come back to health, it should begin to rise.

Michy Batshuayi, CHE v. BOU ($7,300): With Diego Costa suspended, Batshuayi may get an opportunity to start. The Belgian international has played just 78 Premier League minutes, but he has managed a goal and an assist. Last season in France playing for Marseille, he scored 17 goals and assisted nine others in Ligue 1.

Andy Carroll, WHU at SWA ($6,400): Carroll follows the forecast from Payet in targeting the Swansea defense. He hasn't been able to turn his opportunities into goals, but he has taken nine shots in his last two games, a level that that indicates the goals should be coming soon.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Alex Spalding plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: ajump08, DraftKings: ajump08.