DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Monday UEFA Euro 2020 Picks

MATCHES (ET)

• 12:00 pm: Croatia vs. Spain
• 3:00 pm: France vs. Switzerland

For detailed stats and odds, check out the

Monday DraftKings UEFA Euro 2020 Cheat Sheet

FORWARDS

Antoine Griezmann, FRA v. SUI ($9,800): After being $8,500 in France's first game, Griezmann is suddenly the most expensive player on Monday's two-game slate. The price is high, and he doesn't have the same kind of hat-trick upside as Kylian Mbappe ($9,300), but he's taken eight of France's nine set pieces and has shown a higher floor because of what he does outside of the attack. In addition to five shots and eight chances created, he's won six tackles and two interceptions, adding a couple points to what is already a solid floor. Because of that, Griezmann should be the most popular player in cash games, while Mbappe and Karim Benzema ($8,500) may be left for tournaments. That said, with the best odds to score on the slate, Benzema will draw looks in cash games after bagging both of France's goals last match. Considering he doesn't have much of a floor, I can't recommend using Benzema in cash games. I'd still prioritize the France forwards over the Spanish ones despite what the odds say. I think Croatia are a level above Switzerland, especially defensively, and it's not like Gerard Moreno ($8,700) and Alvaro Morata ($7,600) are cheap for what they provide. I prefer Moreno over Morata in cash games since he's playing more on the wing, but he's yet to play 80 minutes in a match, something Benzema shouldn't be worried about.

Nikola Vlasic, CRO v. ESP ($6,100): It wouldn't be crazy to use both Griezmann and Mbappe, but if you want a cheaper forward, there are options, most from Croatia. Without Ivan Perisic to play 90 minutes, others are expected to fill in and see more time than they had in group stages. Vlasic is one of those guys and it wouldn't be surprising if he went closer to 90 after scoring and going 76 minutes last match. He doesn't have much of a floor, especially in this matchup, but if you want a cheap forward, he fits the bill. The same goes for Josip Brekalo ($6,300) and minimally priced Bruno Petkovic ($5,000). If you aren't into France's back line, Breel Embolo ($6,800) has been Switzerland's most exciting forward. He's a tad expensive for the matchup, but his floor surpassed 10 points in two of three group matches. Of course, he finished in the negative against Italy, and that's in play against France. Dani Olmo ($7,200) is in a decent range, but I think Pablo Sarabia starts over him again.

MIDFIELDERS

Pablo Sarabia, ESP v. CRO ($6,700): There are other midfielders with bigger roles on set pieces, but Sarabia is at an odd discount after scoring and assisting last match, likely leading to him being one of the more popular plays on the slate. In addition to splitting sets with Koke ($5,700), he's playing forward and even went the full 90 in his only start. Koke has a solid floor because of sets, but he also doesn't have any upside compared to Sarabia, who is the cheaper version of Gerard Moreno with set pieces. It helps that Spain are the early match, but it'd be surprising if Sarabia was dropped to the bench in favor of Dani Olmo. Xherdan Shaqiri ($8,200) and Luka Modric ($7,800) are worth consideration in cash games, but you're paying a premium for set pieces on underdogs. Koke has a similar floor to both, and he costs a couple thousand bucks less.

Paul Pogba, FRA v. SUI ($6,000): Pogba's price is slowly creeping up, and while he doesn't take sets, his floor has been similar Koke's. He does a little bit of everything in France's midfield, including sending ridiculous balls forward from the halfway line that led to an assist last match. In three matches, he has five shots, four chances created, eight fouls drawn, three tackles won and four interceptions. He's probably too expensive without a guaranteed floor, but I prefer France in this spot and Pogba will likely go a full 90, if not 120. You could spend on Shaqiri or Modric and hope for a floor of 10 points with set pieces, or you could use Pogba and hope he repeats what he did in the prior three matches. The other choices in this range are Koke, who doesn't have upside, and if he starts, Steven Zuber ($5,200), who will likely fall back to earth after assisting thrice last game.

Granit Xhaka, SUI v. FRA ($3,200): If you use a couple France forwards, you'll probably have to punt at one position. Xhaka allows you to do that, and all he has to do is hit five points. He has a smidge of upside, but more importantly, he's always in play for around five points because of defensive stats, something he did against Italy with four tackles won. There's a chance he's sent off and commits five fouls, but there's also a chance he repeats what he's done the last couple matches, and that's enough for the price. There isn't much else to do in this range, as none of the defensive midfielders provide better numbers than Xhaka. Why spend a few hundred bucks more on N'Golo Kante ($3,500) when you can get Xhaka to do the same?

DEFENDERS

Benjamin Pavard, FRA v. SUI ($5,400): Similar to Sunday's slate, none of the defenders stand out. You could spend on a defender, but it probably won't be needed. That's why I'm passing on Jordi Alba ($5,800) for a cheaper Pavard, who similarly doesn't have a guaranteed floor. Pavard was fine in his two starts, sending in five crosses to go with some defensive stats and a yellow card. It's nothing exciting, but I think France are the play on this slate more so than Spain. Pavard's also more likely than Lucas Hernandez ($4,400) to go a full 90, mainly because Hernandez isn't fully fit. If you like Spain more than France, go with Alba and Marcos Llorente ($5,500) since there isn't one thing that separates any of these guys from each other. The best strategy is to complement your defenders to the rest of your lineup and, given my prior plays, Pavard is the choice.

Josip Juranovic, CRO v. ESP ($3,700): If you're taking that France strategy, Raphael Varane ($2,900) is strangely cheap compared to center-back partner Presnel Kimpembe ($3,400) and the Spain center-backs. Varane will likely be popular because of his price and with good odds to secure a clean sheet. If you want a less popular player, Juranovic is in line to start again for Sime Vrsaljko ($4,300) after playing well against Scotland. He won't get forward a ton in this spot, but he was up the field a decent amount against Scotland and that could lead to some upside even in a tougher matchup. There aren't any hands-down value defenders, so it's kind of take your pick and hope your guy doesn't finish in the negative.

GOALKEEPER

Dominik Livakovic, CRO v. ESP ($4,400): I had the great strategy to write up Tomas Vaclik last slate and then not play him myself, so let's hope I can repeat that Monday. Livakovic doesn't have a clean sheet through three matches, but he may be the least popular goalkeeper, as a lot of people will look at Spain's five goals last match and expect that to happen again. Either way, if you're not using Morata or Moreno, Livakovic is a reasonable option. I doubt he'll allow three or more goals, and he should be set for a few saves. If you have money, I trust Hugo Lloris ($5,400) slightly more than Unai Simon ($5,100), but they have almost exact odds to win and get a clean sheet, meaning the latter is the better play.