This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
For detailed odds and stats, check out the Fantasy Premier League: Season Finale Cheat Sheet.
MATCHES (EDT)
10:00 a.m: Liverpool v. Middlesbrough
10:00 a.m: Watford v. Manchester City
10:00 a.m: Chelsea v. Sunderland
10:00 a.m: Southampton v. Stoke City
10:00 a.m: Arsenal v. Everton
10:00 a.m: Hull City v. Tottenham
10:00 a.m: Leicester City v. Bournemouth
10:00 a.m: Burnley v. West Ham
10:00 a.m: Manchester United v. Crystal Palace
10:00 a.m: Swansea City v. West Brom
PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
This is one of the more difficult slates to assess, as not only do we have all 20 teams in action, but only three of them really have something to play for in their final match of the season. Premier League sides earn more money for finishing higher up the table, but it's not enough of a bonus to think they'll all play full first-team squads.
Chelsea have already clinched the Premier League title and Spurs are locked into second place, which leaves Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal to compete for the last two Champions League spots. Manchester City need just one point at Watford to solidify their position in the top four; a win guarantees they finish third, therefore avoiding a Champions League qualifying tie in August. Liverpool will finish fourth with a win at home against Middlesbrough and would keep Arsenal in fifth. However, if Liverpool do not win and Arsenal take all three points at home against Everton, then the Gunners would move into the last Champions League spot.
Complicating it further, if Manchester City lose and Liverpool win then the latter would finish third while the former would still finish fourth as long as Arsenal don't make up a five goal differential. Arsenal cannot finish in the top four if they draw or lose to Everton.
Long story short: Man City need at least a draw while Liverpool and Arsenal have to win. Everyone else is playing for pride, as Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Hull City have already clinched relegation.
Because of the lack of importance for 17 of the 20 teams playing, there is likely to be significant squad rotation, including many names we haven't seen before as clubs give run-outs to players who have spent the season among the youth ranks. In addition, even if a top side decides to start their regular players, they could be pulled after 45 or 60 minutes, limiting their fantasy upsides.
As a result, it may be best to spend up on players from the three sides competing for the two Champions League spots while filling in the rest of your fantasy roster with younger players in good positions to produce.
TOP PLAYERS
Alexis Sanchez, ARS v. EVE ($10,000): Alexis comes in with four goals on 13 shots in his last three starts while also adding nine fouls drawn and six crosses. He has the highest upside for the team that needs to win and make up a big goal differential, and he is the only player in the league with at least 20 goals (23) and 10 assists (10).
Philippe Coutinho, LIV v. MID ($10,300): Coutinho is the most expensive player on the slate, and while he has the upside to match Alexis, he also has a much safer floor. He has three goals on 16 shots and one assist in three of his last four stats (he played only 13 minutes at Watford on May 1 due to injury), while adding 14 crosses over that span. Liverpool only need a win (and not a huge one like Arsenal), and Coutinho has a very good chance of being involved in whatever goals they score.
Kevin De Bruyne, MCI at WAT ($9,800): De Bruyne is also in great form of late, scoring two goals on eight shots and assisting three others in his last three games, and while he had just 12 crosses in his last two games combined, he had at least 10 in each of the previous four. Sergio Aguero ($10,100) has the best anytime goal scorer odds, while Gabriel Jesus ($8,900) has three goals and two assists in his last four starts, but De Bruyne is the safest of the group without a significant dip in upside. Additionally, David Silva ($6,700) has two goals and an assist in his last four games, though he doesn't have many explosive games like the other three.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS (in no particular order)
Demarai Gray, LEI v. BOU ($5,900): If Gray starts ahead of Marc Albrighton ($7,500) then he should get at least a share of corners with Riyad Mahrez ($8,400), who is no sure thing to start either. Gray provides a nice combination of shots and crosses, and his salary is low enough where you can fit him in with two or three of the higher-priced players above.
Bakary Sako, CRY at MUN ($3,500): Playing at Old Trafford is usually a deterrent, but with United manager Jose Mourinho making it clear that he is going to rest most of his regular players to save them for Wednesday's Europa League final against Ajax, there's little reason to shy away. Sako doesn't play regularly, but when he does he's a decent source of crosses because he takes corners. With Andros Townsend ($7,100) out with an Achilles injury and Yohan Cabaye ($4,100) doubtful because of a foot issue, Sako could have a monopoly of set pieces against a defense that could feature multiple untested teenagers.
Aaron Ramsey, ARS v. EVE ($4,400): Ramsey has been pretty awful this season, but he comes in with two assists and seven shots in his last three games, one of which was a 13-minute substitute appearance. He's questionable to play because of a thigh injury, but he provides access to the Arsenal attack without spending too much.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, CHE v. SUN ($3,200): Loftus-Cheek's upside is dependent on a number of regular starters not playing, but that could come to fruition in Chelsea's final match of the season. He's played in central midfield for points this season, and he could be on set pieces if Eden Hazard, Pedro, Cesc Fabregas and Willian don't start. Kenedy ($3,700) is another possibility to play, and both should be considered against a terrible Sunderland defense.
Sam McQueen, SOU v. STK ($3,100): McQueen is unfortunately listed as a midfielder despite all five of his starts this season coming at left-back. That being said, he's more of a placeholder than anything else, as he is not guaranteed a start but whoever does get that role, as well as the one at right-back, should be considered. Southampton like to use their full-backs in the attack, and specifically with crosses, and as long as Ryan Bertrand ($5,100) and Cedric Soares ($5,400) don't start, there will be value available.
Marc Pugh, BOU at LEI ($3,800): Pugh has been getting regular playing time of late, but his salary is still cheap enough to consider against a Leicester side that just got blasted by Spurs 6-1 at King Power Stadium. Pugh's floor is fairly high for a player in this price range, and if he's able to find the back of the net, he'll provide a huge per-dollar return.
Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, TOT at HUL ($3,800): Spurs played most of their regular starters, with the exception of Christian Eriksen ($9,700), on Thursday at Leicester City, so it seems reasonable to expect some significant rotation with second place in the Premier League locked up. Nkoudou is an attacking midfielder who averaged 1.6 shots and over 4.5 crosses per 90 minutes last season for Marseille. Like McQueen, Nkoudou is more of a placeholder for whoever starts in the Spurs attack if they decide to sit Harry Kane ($9,600), Dele Alli ($7,800) and/or Heung-Min Son ($7,400).
