DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Monday EPL Targets

This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.

As a reminder, always check the lineups page to ensure your picks are starting. Due to the condensed holiday schedule, we could see significant roster turnover, which could lead to more values.

Goalkeeper:

Boaz Myhill, WBA v. NEW ($3,300): I consider Myhill the top option regardless of game-type. He is the 13th-most expensive keeper despite his team having the fourth-best chance of winning according to the odds makers. Newcastle has just five goals in eight away games this season, the fewest of any team. These are the two most infrequent shot taking teams in the league, so the save upside may be low, but something has to give.

Heurelho Gomes, WAT v. TOT ($3,300): Gomes stands as possibly the highest upside play. Tottenham is a talented offensive team coming off consecutive wins, scoring five goals. Watford finds itself in the top half of the table by taking 13 points from their last five games. Watford also has an impressive home defensive record, allowing just six goals in nine games, the second-best home defensive record in the Premier League. That stellar record is largely due to Gomes, who is the only realistic contender besides Jack Butland for the Premier League's top goalkeeper prize. Add in that Tottenham has the second-highest shots on target per game, but rank a lesser fourth in terms of actual goals, and you have yourself the high upside play of the day.

Other goalkeepers to consider: Wayne Hennessey, CRY v. SWA ($3,800); Petr Cech, ARS v. BOU ($4,400); Declan Rudd, NOR v. AVL ($3,900); David de Gea, MUN v. CHE ($3,700)

Defenders:

Leighton Baines, EVE v. STK ($4,600): Baines has finally risen to his much-deserved perch as the top priced defender on the back of his 18 fantasy points on Boxing Day. From my assessment, this price is still on the low side.

Craig Dawson, WBA v. NEW ($3,200): Dawson exploded for 12 open-play crosses against Swansea on Boxing Day after having just 20 total in the nine previous games. The last game could have just been an anomaly, but the absence of James McClean may have also had something to do with it. McClean is still serving his suspension, and Dawson's price is nice.

Kieran Gibbs, ARS v. BOU ($2,600): Gibbs is a good contender to come back into the starting XI. Even if he does, it's unlikely he'd see the full 90 minutes, but playing in an offensive position, with decent goal-scoring and assist upside, he should be strongly considered at this delectable price tag.

Cuco Martina, SOU at WHU ($2,000): That opening goal against Arsenal was pretty awesome, wasn't it? At the minimum price, why not?

Other defenders to consider: Martin Olsson, NOR v. AVL ($2,600); Nathan Ake, WAT v. TOT ($3,000); Leandro Bacuna, AVL at NOR (3,000); Alan Hutton, AVL at NOR ($3,700); Erik Pieters, STK at EVE ($3,900); Pape Souare, CRY v. SWA ($3,100)

Midfielders:

Robbie Brady, NOR v. AVL ($5,800): After an extremely tough run facing teams in the top half of the table five weeks in a row, Norwich gets bottom-of-the-table Aston Villa at home. Brady is Norwich's most active player, as he has free kick and corner duties. He leads the team in shots per game and crosses. His recent stats have been down, but with the onslaught of tough competitors, it is likely he'll return to the form that saw him put in seven consecutive double-digit fantasy point performances.

Jordan Veretout, AVL at NOR ($4,000): After racking up 17 fantasy points on peripheral stats alone Saturday, I see no reason not to go back to the well. He crosses the ball prevalently from open play while also being on corner duty. He also has an assist in three of his last five games.

James Morrison, WBA v. NEW ($3,500): West Brom's offense is not very good, and without Salomon Rondon and McClean, they're even worse. However, Newcastle's defense is worse than West Brom's offense – something has to give. Morrison leads active West Brom's players in both shots and key passes. If they get that goal, he's the most likely contender to be a part of it. His lack of peripheral stats reserves his role to GPPs only, nonetheless. Look to Chris Brunt ($3,700) as the safest floor for a West Brom player with his wide position and shared corner-taking duty.

Manuel Lanzini, WHU v. SOU ($4,000): Lanzini has been injured, but stands a good chance to return to the starting lineup Monday. He scored 25, 22 and 11 fantasy points. including two goals, in the three games prior to being injured. Lanzini has scored in a third of the games he's appeared in this season.

Other midfielders to consider: Delle Alli, TOT at WAT ($4,700); Chris Brunt, WBA v. NEW ($3,700); Son Heung-Min, TOT at WAT ($3,900); Craig Gardner, WBA v. NEW ($3,000); James Puncheon, CRY v. SWA ($4,800); Dusan Tadic, SOU at WHU ($7,300); Daley Blind, MUN v. CHE ($3,900); Mesut Ozil, ARS v. BOU ($8,200); Aaron Ramsey, ARS v. BOU (5,900); Eden Hazard ($6,500), CHE at MUN

*Willian, CHE at MUN ($7,200): It's the first time in months, but traveling to Old Trafford, I'll be fading Willian. Old Trafford simply does not give up many peripheral stats, and Willian's price is finally close to where it should be. Still, he hasn't scored fewer than 14 fantasy points in his last 10 matches.

Forwards:

Olivier Giroud, ARS v. BOU ($7,000): Arsenal was embarrassed in the Boxing Day nightcap against Southampton. Returning home to the Emirates against the much lesser Bournemouth, expect them to come back with a vengeance. Prior to being blanked by Southampton, Giroud had six goals in four matches across all competitions.

Cameron Jerome, NOR v. AVL ($3,500): It doesn't get much better than facing Aston Villa at home. Jerome gets to play against a weak backline and showcase his underrated striking abilities. He is one of the few players with a goal at Old Trafford on the season.

Mauro Zarate, WHU v. SOU ($4,800): As long as Zarate gets the start on the wing and remains on corner duty, he will be a fixture in cash games every week. At home against Southampton is no different.

Loic Remy, CHE at MUN ($4,000): Even in a tough away matchup against Manchester United, with Diego Costa suspended and Falcao unlikely to be available, Remy stands a good chance to play the whole 90 minutes.

Other forwards to consider: Jordan Ayew, AVL at NOR ($4,500); Rickie Lambert, WBA v. NEW ($3,200); Romelu Lukaku, EVE v. STK ($8,100); Bojan, STK at EVE ($4,200); Rudy Gestede, AVL at NOR (3,300); Harry Kane, TOT at WAT ($7,600); Odion Ighalo, WAT v. TOT ($7,000); Troy Deeney, WAT v. TOT (5,300); Shane Long, SOU at WHU ($3,800)