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MATCHES (EST)
10:00 a.m: Swansea City v. Burnley
10:00 a.m: West Ham v. Watford
10:00 a.m: Everton v. Crystal Palace
10:00 a.m: Stoke City v. Brighton
12:30 p.m: Manchester City v. Leicester City
FORWARDS
Kevin De Bruyne, MCI v. LEI ($12,100): De Bruyne is the most expensive player on the slate, but he also happens to play for the highest-scoring team in the Premier League, one that has the highest win odds and implied goal total by a fairly significant margin over the other Saturday matches. He has one of the most reliable floors, and while Manchester City have other weapons who can put up big scores, De Bruyne is still widely viewed as the safest for cash games. Speaking of big scores, Sergio Aguero ($11,700) is also very expensive but has arguably the highest ceiling, coming in odds that give him a nearly 70 percent chance to score at least one goal. For reference, Man City's Raheem Sterling ($10,500) is second at 50 percent, while De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva ($7,700) are tied for third at 40 percent. West Ham's Chicharito ($6,800) has the highest anytime goal scorer odds after the Man City group, and his odds are the same as Aguero's to score at least two. Needless to say, Aguero could make or break the slate.
Gerard Deulofeu, WAT at WHU ($5,800): Deulofeu took four of Watford's six corners Monday against Chelsea, and he also scored one goal on four shots while creating four chances. The West Ham-Watford match is the closest from an odds perspective, and it has the second-highest implied goal total. Meanwhile, West Ham have allowed the fourth-most crosses and second-most shots over the past six gameweeks, which Deulofeu should be able to take advantage of given his regular activity.
Johann Berg Gudmundsson, BUR at SWA ($7,100): Gudmundsson has been one of the safer cash-game forwards this season, and while he'll line up against a very improved Swansea side, his monopoly of set pieces should give him a solid floor. His goal upside is very low despite finding the back of the net against Liverpool and Manchester City this season, but his combination of crosses, tackles and a few shots should get him to a decent level against a team that is only out of the relegation zone due to goal differential.
Jordan Ayew, SWA v. BUR ($5,900): Ayew is in a bit of a weird zone, as his upside isn't that great for GPPs but he also doesn't take any set pieces, which makes him a tough cash-game play. I'd consider him more for the latter, though, as his salary is cheap and he's drawn 11 fouls, won eight tackles and put four of six shots on goal in his past four games. Oh, and he's scored two goals. Deulofeu makes more sense in this price range, but I wouldn't shy away from Ayew in a utility spot if the salary works.
MIDFIELDERS
Xherdan Shaqiri, STK v. BHA ($9,200): Shaqiri is unplayable for those who want to roster both De Bruyne and Aguero because he has the fourth-highest salary among active players, but his attacking contributions and matchup against a terrible Brighton side (at home, no less) certainly puts him in play. Brighton have allow multiple goals in four of their past six away matches, and they've allowed the third-most crosses and fourth-most shots over the last six gameweeks. Shaqiri hasn't been crossing a ton recently (five in three straight league matches), but he's supplemented them with at least two shots in four straight, including at least two shots on goal in three of his last four. And don't think his only upside is from goals, as he's created 11 chances in his last four league games.
Joao Mario, WHU v. WAT ($7,500): The days of getting Joao Mario for less than $6,000 are over. With a significant role on set pieces and the ability to draw fouls, win tackles and take shots, Joao Mario has scored more than 12 fantasy points in both of his league matches since joining West Ham last month (admittedly, his 15.5 at Brighton last week was helped by an assist). Watford are coming off a huge 4-1 win over Chelsea on Monday, but let's not confuse them for a strong team, as they had allowed multiple goals in four consecutive matches before shutting out Stoke and allowing that single goal to Chelsea.
James McArthur, CRY at EVE ($3,300): Those stacking Man City are likely going to need to find at least one (and probably two or three) cheap players at other positions. McArthur fits the bill of being cheap, and while his goal upside is minimal, he could be playing in an attacking role given the plethora of Crystal Palace's injuries. He's able to chip in with shots, tackles, interceptions and fouls drawn, and because he's not dependent on a single statistical category, it's okay if he doesn't happen to rack up 14 crosses. Let's consider him a poor man's Yohan Cabaye ($6,700), who has scored at least 12.50 fantasy points in both of his last two starts and could be a solid play if not for his salary being a bit high considering the other options you can get in that range. If you're okay stomaching a midfielder who is more dependent on defensive stats, Leicester's Wilfried Ndidi ($3,300) has been a decent scorer of late, though his match at Man City is suboptimal.
DEFENDERS
Sam Byram, WHU v. WAT ($4,500): I usually at least consider Aaron Cresswell ($5,500) whenever West Ham are on a slate, but the arrival of Joao Mario has taken away enough set pieces that paying up for Cresswell becomes less enticing. Thankfully, we have Byram, who doesn't cross as much but chips in more with his tackles and interceptions; oh, and we get him for $1,000 less. Overall, this seems like a slate to pay down at defender, with Byram probably the most expensive option I'll consider if he starts.
Kyle Naughton, SWA v. BUR ($4,400): Playing at home against Burnley puts Naughton and Martin Olsson ($4,300) in play. Both are decent crossers (Olsson more so than Naughton) while being able to chip in a few tackles and interceptions (Naughton more than Olsson). With Burnley allowing more shots, crosses and chances created than any other team in the league, don't sleep on Swansea, who are unbeaten in four straight, including wins over Arsenal and Liverpool.
Shane Duffy, BHA at STK ($2,800): Burnley's Charlie Taylor ($3,300) could get some attention because he's likely to be the cheapest starting fullback, but it's worth noting that he's started nine matches this season and still hasn't taken a shot and he's sent in more than two crosses twice. You get what you pay for in this price range, so why not play a little centerback roulette with Duffy, who has taken the second-most shots this season among defenders on the slate? It's not that many shots (20), but at $2,800 there's little you need for him to pay off and allow to spend up elsewhere.
GOALKEEPERS
Jack Butland, STK v. BHA ($5,200): Butland has posted a clean sheet or made at least five saves in eight straight games, and he now faces a Brighton side that had been held scoreless in four of six matches before scoring thrice against West Ham last weekend. The Stoke defense isn't good enough to completely shut down the Gulls, which should allow Butland to make a few saves and not get beaten much by an inconsistent Brighton attack.
