This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
Welcome to our Premier League coverage curtailed toward DraftKings contests. Your total available salary is $50,000 to build your best squad of eight players, which includes one goalkeeper, two defenders, two midfielders, two forwards and one FLEX. Points are awarded on DraftKings as follows:
Goal = +10 PTs
Assist = +6 PTs
Shot = +1 PTs
Shot on Goal = +1 PTs
Crosses = +1 PTs
Fouls Drawn = +0.75 PTs
Red Card = -1 PTs
Saves (GK) = +2 PTs
Goal Allowed (GK) = -2 PTs
Clean Sheet (GK, D) = +5 PTs
One Goal Allowed (GK, D) = +2 PTs
Win (GK) = +5 PTs
Penalty Kick Save (GK) = +3 PTs
With that out of the way, here are the available GPP contests for Premier League on Tuesday and Wednesday:
$15K Treble ($4,000 first prize), Entry Fee: $300
$10K Equalizer ($2,000 first prize), Entry Fee: $27
$10K Golden Boot ($2,000 first prize), Entry Fee: $200
$4.5K Nutmeg ($500 first prize), Entry Fee: $2
$3K Upper 90 ($1,000 first prize), Entry Fee: $100
$2K Corner Kick ($400 first prize), Entry Fee: $5
$2K Stoppage Time ($400 first prize), Entry Fee: $12
$300 Quarter Arcade ($43.50 first prize), Entry Fee: $0.25
and many more…
The following games are included:
Tuesday
Aston Villa at Hull City
Leicester City at Arsenal
Queen's Park Rangers at Sunderland
Tottenham Hotspur at Liverpool
Wednesday
Burnley at Manchester United
Everton at Chelsea
Manchester City at Stoke City
West Ham United at Southampton
Newcastle United at Crystal Palace
Swansea City at West Bromwich Albion
We have a slate of mid-week matches this week. With a litany of fitness questions, being sure to land on players finding themselves in the starting XI is essential. There is a bit of guesswork in projecting until the lineups are actually announced. Beyond just starting is the question of where a player actually plays on the pitch. Take Wayne Rooney, who since being shuffled back to the midfield has failed to reach even nine fantasy points, with an average closer to five, and his salary is still at $10,300. Maya Yoshida of Southampton shifted to the fullback position, while teammate Ryan Bertrand serves a suspension, and saw himself serve an assist on his way to a 14-fantasy-point performance this past Saturday. So, every recommendation comes with the same warning label of "check the EPL Lineups page upon their announcement approximately one hour prior to kickoff."
And before we jump into the recommendations, here's another check of the crosses leaders:
Goalkeepers:
Costel Pantilimon ($4,900)
Pantilimon's Black Cats host a QPR side that has lost all 11 games they have played away from home this season. QPR has scored six goals on the road and allowed 27, and on top of that will be without Charlie Austin who represents over half of the team's goals this season. Rare is it to favor a squad that has only two wins in 12 starts at home, but if Sunderland is ever going to add to that tally, this is the opportunity to do it. Pantilimon has been very solid of late with ten saves, one clean sheet, one goal-against and a win over his last two contests. He is a very good use in Tuesday's contests.
David Ospina ($5,300)
Ospina's Gunners host Premier League bottom-dwellers Leicester City on Tuesday. Honestly, the only reasons to not like Ospina are the facts that he may not even have the opportunity to make any saves and he'll be a very popular selection. His chances for a clean sheet are substantial, and his chances for a win are nearly guaranteed. He's a safe bet, but those looking to swing for the fences can feel free to look elsewhere.
Allan McGregor ($4,300)
If you're looking to save a dime on your goalkeeper, McGregor stands as your best opportunity to do so Tuesday. He hosts an Aston Villa side that has recorded a Premier League-worst four away goals this season. Hull's performance this past weekend against Manchester City was nearly one for the history books, but the one point they took at the Etihad could very well steamroll itself to three this week.
Thibaut Courtois ($5,400)
The home record Chelsea has amassed is impressive to say the least. They have scored 25 goals, allowed just four, while winning 10 games and drawing one in 11 matches. The reverse fixture with Everton saw a shocking nine-goal showing, with Chelsea scoring six to Everton's three. A repeat of that result is mightily unlikely, but nonetheless gives one some food for thought when considering Courtois's high asking-price – even if it is below David De Gea's. The $300 between the two is the reason I prefer Courtois.
Julian Speroni ($4,600)
If you're looking to avoid the big-dollar keepers Wednesday, Speroni stands as your best chance. His Crystal Palace squad has been playing better of late and certainly has an edge hosting a prone Newcastle side.
Defenders:
Arsenal has a set of four fullbacks that have been splitting time. Check the starting lineups, and whichever of Calum Chambers ($4,400), Hector Bellerin ($4,400), Kieran Gibbs ($4,000) and Nacho Monreal ($3,500) starts is a solid play. Some crosses and an excellent chance at a clean sheet make the starting fullbacks for Arsenal a safe play.
Patrick van Aanholt ($3,700)
Van Aanholt is the livelier of the two Sunderland fullbacks. Anthony Reveillere ($3,800) has assists in consecutive outings, but van Aanholt is the more potent attacker on most days and is my favorite of the two. If you use Pantilimon, taking the lot of them wouldn't be a bad idea at all.
Neither Aston Villa nor Hull are prolific scorers. Andrew Robertson ($4,200) is the logical choice to link with Allan McGregor if you so choose to go that way. Alan Hutton ($3,500) is honestly my more preferred fullback though. Hutton gets up field regularly for his stagnant Villa, and even if Hull is favored, it could very well end up a scoreless draw. Hutton is likely to produce more offensive stats than Robertson, and deserves merit on that alone.
Kieran Trippier ($4,600)
Let me clear, I do not like Burnley's chances visiting Old Trafford; but that only adds to Trippier's value. He readily gets over ten crosses a game, and against Manchester United you better bet he'll be getting up field readily in hopes of instigating something for his Burnley side.
Branislav Ivanovic ($4,900)
Chelsea will look to add another clean sheet to their home résumé Wednesday. Ivanovic is clearly active on the offensive side of the ball, as he now has three BPL goals to match his three assists. He's the second-most expensive defender Wednesday, and deservedly so.
Joel Ward ($3,000)/Martin Kelly ($3,500)
If you like Speroni, his fullback compatriots complement well at discount prices. I prefer the cheaper of the two, but both will likely need a clean sheet to reach the double-digit fantasy-point mark.
Midfielders:
Ahmed Elmohamady ($5,900)
Elmohamady has now hit a mark of 134 crosses (31 successful) this season. His lowly performance against Manchester City last time out can be forgiven and once Hull took the lead, Elmohamady sat back and simply tried to absorb the Manchester City attack. He has the third-most crosses of anyone in Premier League, and he will look to add to that number Tuesday in a match against an Aston Villa side Hull desperately needs to take three points from.
Mesut Ozil ($8,300)
Ozil looks to finally be healthy and in form following goals in each of his three games (two in Premier League play) upon returning from injury. His mouth should be watering as he looks at a good chance to add to that tally when his gunners host bottom-dwelling Leicester City on Tuesday.
Riyad Mahrez ($5,300)
Mahrez is best thing Leicester can claim this season, as he's scored double-digit fantasy points in each of his last four performances. Any production from the Leicester side will likely be going through Mahrez, and to take any points away from this match, Mahrez will have to put in a huge performance. His activity on the field makes his $5,300 price tag appealing, even if his side is strongly up against it traveling to face the Gunners.
Adam Johnson ($5,300)
Any active offensive threat looks to be a good chance to do big things against a QPR side that has let up 27 goals in 11 Premier League away matches. Johnson's fitness is a question, but the fact that he came on a sub this past weekend against Swansea gives indication that he may be ready to go Tuesday. When healthy, Johnson is Sunderland's most prolific midfield threat with a propensity to put in quality crosses and score the occasional goal. Sebastian Larsson ($5,600) is a Sunderland midfield threat to look at in the event Johnson doesn't get the start.
The Tottenham at Liverpool match provides a good potential for points. Raheem Sterling ($8,300) is ensured double-digit fantasy points most weeks by the quantity of his activity on the pitch. He was subbed off Saturday, and his fitness level for Tuesday is not entirely clear at the moment, but if he starts, he is a safe play. Christian Eriksen $8,000 has been a revelation for Tottenham this season. He creates chances, takes chances, is a premier free-kick taker and is simply liable to put up big points any and every week. If you want someone from this game as a money-saver, Adam Lallana ($5,400) is set to make his return to pitch following a groin injury. One only need to look back at his Swansea game to know how lethal he can be on his day.
Jesus Navas ($6,600)
Navas didn't get the start against Hull, but did come on as a second-half sub and tacked on five crosses in his shortened time on the pitch. If he starts, a likely chance being he had started City's previous seven league matches prior to Hull, Navas will be looking to airmail packages into the box all game – he just will need one of his more-than-competent teammates to get a boot on one of them.
Dusan Tadic ($8,400)
Playing only ten minutes Saturday against QPR, Tadic should be well rested to get the start at a price that's $2,600 cheaper than we saw him ten games ago. He is the Premier League's second-highest crosser of the ball, finds himself in position to score on his day, and is a dangerous player to look over when in the starting XI.
James Puncheon ($6,000)/Yannick Bolasie ($5,500)
Bolasie's availability is still a question after his absence for the Africa Cup of Nations, but whichever of these two midfielders gets the start on the wing is a threat. Bolasie, however, is one of the most fun players to watch, as his skill on the ball is bordering on amazing. I prefer Bolasie of the two, but of course find myself at the mercy of the starting XI in deciding whom to play in my lineup.
Chelsea will look to continue their home-unbeaten streak Wednesday and with Diego Costa still suspended, the majority of their production has been coming from places outside of their strikers. I wouldn't talk you off any of Eden Hazard ($9,000), Cesc Fabregas ($7,500 but returning from a hamstring injury) Oscar $7,400 or Juan Cuadrado ($6,200). My advice is to look at the starting lineups when announced and take your favorite of the lot. Cuadrado, being the cheapest, may offer the best value if he does indeed start. His price is only a starting point, and if he plays to his Serie A or World Cup form, it will be rising substantially in the near future.
Forwards:
Alexis Sanchez ($9,700)
Sanchez returns to the pitch from injury against a Leicester City side he should be licking his chops to face off against. With 16 goals and eight assists in all competitions, no player has been more important to their club's success this season than Sanchez. Two months ago you were dolling out over $12,000 to have this guy in your lineup, so capitalize while he's affordable. He's one of the few players that racks up points week-after-week in every single scoring category.
Jermain Defoe ($6,300)
Defoe has now scored in consecutive Premier League starts. I've already stated the propensity QPR has for letting in away goals, and Defoe is the most-likely candidate to further QPR's woes away from home.
Daniel Sturridge ($8,100)
His fitness is still in question, but if he starts, he's still one of the most lethal strikers in the league and should be treated as such.
Dwight Gayle ($5,000)
Getting $5,000 on a player in as good of form as Gayle is tough to pass up. Over his last four matches, he has three goals, averages 3.5 shots (1.5 on goal), 3.75 crosses and 1.5 fouls drawn. That's an average of 16.75 fantasy points per match. If he starts, he stands as a great value play Wednesday.
Sadio Mane ($5,800)
Mane is actually $200 cheaper than he was Saturday when he piled up an impressive 22 fantasy points. If he starts, up front or on a wing, he's an excellent use on any lineup.
There are three strikers over $10,000 Tuesday and Wednesday: Wayne Rooney ($10,300) of Manchester United has been starting in the midfield, and if this trend continues, you can feel safe avoiding him. If you want a Manchester United striker, you are much better off looking in the direction of Robin van Persie ($9,800) or Radamel Falcao ($8,600). Sergio Aguero ($10,400) of Manchester City still doesn't look to be in peak form, but the league's second-highest goal scorer could rebound, and in a big way, anytime. Spurs' Harry Kane ($10,100) is the hottest player in the Premier League at the moment, with two goals in each of his last two outings. He's on a goal-scoring tear and is to be overlooked by only the bravest souls.
Saido Berahino ($7,500)
His time left at West Brom may be in question, but he'll be there for the remainder of the season and is one of the best young strikers in today's game. He'll look to get back to his goal-scoring form (he has nine on the year) against Swansea.
