DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Saturday EPL Picks

This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.

As always, Step 1 in building a good lineup: make sure your players are starting. There is a bit of guesswork in projecting lineups until they are actually announced, and all recommendations and projections are subject to change based on this. All said, be sure to check the lineups page approximately one hour before kickoff.

Goalkeepers:

Wayne Hennessey, CRY v. NEW ($4,100): Newcastle's away form is abysmal, with a minus-11 goal differential and just two goals scored in six games.

Willy Caballero, MCI v. SOU ($2,800): Man City faces a much stronger Southampton side than what Palace will see, though they will be missing a few key components on offense and defense.

Other goalkeepers to consider:Costel Pantilimon, SUN v. STK ($2,900); Brad Guzan, AVL v. WAT ($3,700)

Defenders:

Simon Francis, BOU v. EVE ($2,900): A return to fullback means a return to fantasy value. Francis was among the most productive defenders prior to moving to centerback, and he should return to that productiveness now that he's back outside.

Christian Fuchs, LEI v. MUN ($3,400): The matchup with Man United is less than favorable, but Fuchs has shown great prowess accumulating important stats both offensively and defensively. Last weekend he accumulated eight crosses and eight interceptions.

Other defenders to consider:Pape Souare, CRY v. NEW ($3,000); Patrick van Aanholt, SUN v. STK ($2,400); DeAndre Yedlin, SUN v. STK ($2,300); Nathan Ake, WAT at AVL ($2,400); Charlie Daniels, BOU v. EVE ($2,600); Joel Ward, CRY v. NEW ($2,800); Sebastian Coates, SUN v. STK ($2,100)

Midfielders:

Yohan Cabaye, CRY v. NEW ($5,700): Automatic, that's all you really need to know. Cabaye is a jack-of-all-trades, do-it-all dominant midfielder. He's the penalty taker, corner taker, and team leader in interceptions, tackles, shots and goals. The home matchup against a Newcastle side that has been very poor away from home just furthers the necessity of having Cabaye.

Matt Ritchie, BOU v. EVE ($5,700): Ritchie plays a similar role for Bournemouth to what Cabaye does for Palace, he just does it from a wider position that leads to more crosses and fewer defensive stats. He accumulated 21 crosses to weeks ago.

N'Golo Kante, LEI v. MUN ($2,600): When desperate to reserve cap space, Kante is an interesting proposition. He isn't very offensively inclined, despite his goal two weeks ago, but he does lead the Premier League in both interceptions and tackles over the past two weeks. This is a matchup where Manchester United figures to be on the ball for a great percentage of the game, which could potentially bolster Kante's defensive stats.

Daley Blind, MUN at LEI ($2,800): He's listed as a midfielder yet plays centerback, so that makes him an automatic fade…or does it? Blind was taking corners at midweek against PSV in the Champions League. It's bizarre, I don't think I've ever seen a centerback in that role, but nonetheless there he was. He's hit double-digit fantasy points in consecutive outings, and while I wouldn't look his direction in cash games, but he could be a valuable salary-saver in tournaments.

Other midfielders to consider:Junior Stanislas, BOU v. EVE ($3,600); Yaya Toure, MCI v. SOU ($5,800); Jesse Lingard, MUN at LEI ($3,300); Yannick Bolasie, CRY v. NEW ($5,200); Ross Barkley, EVE at BOU ($6,700); Jason Puncheon, CRY v. NEW ($4,600); Juan Mata, MUN at LEI ($6,500); Kevin De Bruyne, MCI v. SOU ($7,500); Wilfried Zaha, CRY v. NEW ($4,200); Sadio Mane, SOU at MCI ($7,000); Dusan Tadic, SOU at MCI ($7,700)

Forwards:

Sergio Aguero, MCI v. SOU ($7,800): Step aside, Jamie Vardy, Aguero is back. He scored in his return last weekend, he'll look to do it again this weekend. WARNING: I've faded Vardy with great futility over the past month, and I'll be doing so again against Manchester United, who's allowed the least fantasy points this season, though Leicester has scored in every game they've played this term...every single game.

Gerard Deulofeu, EVE at BOU ($4,500): I still can't conceivably leave him out of my cash lineups because he has the highest floor of any forward, yet is still below average price.

Jordan Ayew, AVL vs, WAT ($3,900): Aston Villa is coming off their toughest five-game stretch of the year, facing Chelsea, Swansea, Tottenham, Manchester City and Everton, and yet Ayew still walked away with two goals, and all indications from the gaffer point toward Ayew holding the keys to the offense going forward.

Shane Long, SOU at MCI ($3,600):Graziano Pelle is suspended this weekend against Manchester City, and the Irish international is one of the most competent backups in the Premier League. He had eight crosses in his start last weekend versus Stoke.

Other forwards to consider:Romelu Lukaku, EVE at BOU ($7,600); Jermain Defoe, SUN v. STK ($4,400); Jeremain Lens, SUN v. STK ($4,900); Odion Igahlo, WAT at AVL ($5,300); Anthony Martial, MUN at LEI ($6,100); Troy Deeney, MUN at LEI ($4,700); Connor Wickham, CRY v. NEW ($3,600); Joshua King, BOU v. EVE ($3,200)