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MATCHES (EDT)
10:00 a.m: Bournemouth v. Crystal Palace
10:00 a.m: Brighton v. Huddersfield
10:00 a.m: Leicester City v. Newcastle
10:00 a.m: Stoke City v. Tottenham
10:00 a.m: Watford v. Burnley
10:00 a.m: West Brom v. Swansea City
12:30 p.m: Manchester City v. Manchester United
FORWARDS
Harry Kane, TOT at STK ($11,600): Kane is the most expensive player on the slate by $1,300 over second-highest Kevin De Bruyne ($10,300), but there is a very reasonable path to rostering the Spurs attacker without giving up too much elsewhere. De Bruyne's matchup against Manchester United is a tricky one, as Manchester City were beaten 3-0 at Anfield on Wednesday in the Champions League and have the return leg next Tuesday. However, Manchester City can win the Premier League with a victory Saturday over their hated crosstown rivals. With Jose Mourinho involved, I see that game as a total grind, one that doesn't produce a ton of fantasy points. If you willingly fade that game then you're removing a number of expensive players from the player pool; all of a sudden, Kane's price isn't so prohibitive. Despite playing away, Spurs are by far the biggest favorites on the slate, and they have the highest implied goal total. Oh, and Kane has the best anytime goal scorer odds. His 5.93 shots per 90 minutes this season are the fantasy-point equivalent of nearly eight crosses, a level only three players in the Premier League who have played more than 1,000 minutes average. And if you add in Kane's 2.45 shots on goal per 90 minutes, that's the equivalent to 3.5 more crosses. Christian Eriksen ($9,200, midfielder) is usually the cash-game consideration when Spurs are big favorites, but I'm siding with Kane despite the elevated price.
Jordon Ibe, BOU v. CRY ($7,500): With Junior Stanislas ($7,600) out because of a knee injury, Ibe figures to handle a decent share of set pieces, and possibly all if Ryan Fraser ($7,400, midfielder) doesn't start. Ibe is a solid crosser and has been a more active shooter this season, which only helps his floor. Brighton's Pascal Gross ($8,000) is hovering in this price range as well, but I want to side slightly to the team that has scored multiple goals in each of their past two games instead of the one who was shut out in theirs.
Salomon Rondon, WBA v. SWA ($5,900): Rondon comes in with at least two shots in seven consecutive games, taking 21 over that span while putting 10 on target and three in the back of the net. Not only that, he drew 13 fouls and even sent in 12 crosses during that run, making him a decent cash-game option at this price. West Brom have been horrific this season, and Saturday's match is their first after Alan Pardew was fired as manager, but Rondon has been a consistent value option for nearly four months and the matchup against Swansea City isn't one I'd avoid.
MIDFIELDERS
Christian Eriksen, TOT at STK ($9,200): Siding with Kane above doesn't necessarily mean I'm in favor of fading Eriksen. In fact, it's definitely viable to play the two together. Known more for his crossing, Eriksen has taken at least two shots in seven consecutive games, firing off 27 over that span, including 10 on goal. It also hasn't slowed his crosses down, as he's sent in 50, helping him create 19 chances. With Tottenham such heavy favorites, Eriksen is absolutely in play. The only negative to pairing Kane and Eriksen together is that it likely rules you out from rostering Riyad Mahrez ($9,500), who has a very solid matchup at home against Newcastle. Mahrez disappointed with only 7.75 fantasy points last weekend against Brighton, but he makes for a very viable pivot from Kane or Eriksen for those looking at lower ownership. And speaking of pivots, if you want to stick with Spurs, Son Heung-Min ($8,900), who has five goals on 19 shots (11 on target) in his last four games, and Dele Alli ($7,900), who has three goals and two assists in his last four, are solid GPP options.
Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, BUR at WAT ($5,300): Starting in place of the injured Johann Berg Gudmundsson ($8,400, forward/midfielder) last weekend against West Brom, Nkoudou took five of six corners and finished with 11.75 fantasy points thanks to two shots, nine crosses, two tackles won, one foul drawn, one interception and one foul committed in 69 minutes. With Gudmundsson likely out again, Nkoudou provides access to a set piece taker at a fairly low price compared to many of the other players with that role. It also doesn't hurt that Watford have allowed 10 goals in their last three games.
Marc Pugh, BOU v. CRY ($3,200): I'm admittedly higher on the Bournemouth attack than many others, but Pugh's low salary could let me get away with it. With Stanislas ruled out for the rest of the season, we could see Pugh get a start after coming on just before halftime last week against Watford. He didn't make a huge impact in that one, but he's had a few games this season where his impact would greatly pay off his near-minimum midfielder salary. In fact, he's had at least three shots or five crosses in six of nine starts this season. His minutes are a concern because Ryan Fraser ($7,400) could be lurking on the bench, but again, for $3,200 we don't need a ton out of Pugh.
DEFENDERS
Jose Holebas, WAT v. BUR ($6,600): Holebas is getting very expensive, but I'll go back to the thought that if Watford's main set-piece taker was a midfielder at this price, I'd probably pay it. He picked up an assist last weekend at home against Bournemouth while sending in 10 crosses, the second time in the last three games he's reached double-digit crosses. Teammate Kiko Femenia ($5,000) is likely to get plenty of attention after scoring last weekend while lining up as an attacking midfielder for the third consecutive game, but that price makes it awful hard to make value without a goal or an assist.
Martin Olsson, SWA at WBA ($4,300): The mid-tier defender options don't entice me, so I'll probably be paying up for one (likely Holebas) and then complementing him with a guy like Olsson, who continues to be a decent crosser and will be lining up against the worst team in the Premier League who will be playing with a new manager (I don't believe in new manager bumps for terrible teams). Olsson has lined up as a wingback in the past three games, and while he doesn't rack up as many defensive stats as teammate Kyle Naughton ($4,200), I'll take the higher attacking upside since their floors are fairly similar.
Matthew Lowton BUR at WAT ($3,800): Lowton is one of the cheapest expected starting fullbacks, and he comes in with decent returns lately, sending in 16 crosses and picking up an assist on six chances created in his last three starts. The upside is fairly minimal -- we're talking about a Burnley defender playing away, of course -- but the clean sheet wouldn't be a ridiculous outcome and the salary savings helps fit in some higher-priced options.
GOALKEEPER
David de Gea, MUN at MCI ($4,100): de Gea's price is comically low even in a matchup against the highest-scoring team in the Premier League. Man City can win the title with a victory over their in-town rivals, but they could also heavily rotate their side to prepare for next week's Champions League match. Either way, de Gea comes in with a league-leading 16 clean sheets, and his 99 saves are the fourth-most. A clean sheet win would be a surprising result, even with a Man City B squad, but at this price is certainly worth trying for the save upside alone.
