This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
For detailed odds and stats, check out the Fantasy Premier League: Saturday Cheat Sheet.
MATCHES (EDT)
10:00 a.m: Huddersfield v. Tottenham
10:00 a.m: Arsenal v. Watford
10:00 a.m: Newcastle v. Leicester City
10:00 a.m: Wolverhampton v. Southampton
10:00 a.m: Manchester City v. Brighton
10:00 a.m: Everton v. Fulham
12:30 p.m: Chelsea v. Liverpool
FORWARDS
Sergio Aguero, MCI v. BHA ($10,300): How much would you pay for a forward with 75 percent odds to score who plays for the team with the highest implied goal total and is up against a side that's allowed the third-most goals, fourth-most shots and third-most shots on goal among teams on the slate? Oh, and they've allowed multiple goals in all but one match, including each of their last three. If the answer is anything below $15,000, boy do I have a deal for you! The Manchester City lineup is always a mystery, but if they use the same lineup as last week, Aguero and Leroy Sane ($8,700) figure to be highly owned in cash games and GPPs. While there are other big teams on the slate, two of them play each other (Chelsea and Liverpool) while Tottenham are away to Huddersfield and Arsenal, who have won six in a row in all competitions, host Watford. However, none of them have the expected goal total of Man City, who dropped a five-spot at Cardiff last weekend. Sane is theoretically the safer cash play because he's been taking corners recently, though midfielder Ilkay Gundogan ($6,500) takes enough that I don't see Sane's floor as high as Aguero's, who gets most of his from shots and shots on goal. In fact, over his last two Premier League starts, Sane has scored 10.25 and 6.75 fantasy points, respectively, while Aguero has 6.00 and 8.50. Both got on the scoresheet in their matches, but Aguero's increase in price is made up for the fact his upside is so much higher despite having a similar floor.
Richarlison, EVE v. FUL ($8,100): There's no question that Gylfi Sigurdsson ($7,800) will be a popular selection in cash games because of his role on set pieces and with Everton expected to win a (relatively) high-scoring game. It's also worth recognizing that no team has allowed more fantasy points this season than Fulham, including the most without counting goals and assists. He's scored at least 6.00 fantasy points not including goals or assists in each start this season, so we've seen a very consistent floor. However, defender Lucas Digne ($5,600) nabbed a few corners and a free kick in last weekend's match at Arsenal, giving the indication that Sigurdsson does not have a monopoly of set pieces. That slight hesitation is making me consider Richarlison for cash games and GPPs, even if his floor isn't predicated on set pieces. Instead, he's taken multiple shots in every start other than Aug. 25 against Bournemouth when he was sent off after 41 minutes, he's put five of his nine shots on target, he's drawn three fouls, sent in six crosses and won four tackles over four appearances. From a per-game perspective, he had 8.50, 7.50 and 12.50 floor points (fantasy points without goals and assists), but he also comes in with three goals scored. Again, his production isn't dependent on crosses so people don't feel as comfortable with his floor, but we've seen time and again that what Richarlison can do in open play is usually enough, especially with his specific matchup Saturday. If you want slightly less production for a lower price, Theo Walcott ($6,900) is worth consideration, and I'd even throw a look toward Dominic Calvert-Lewin ($4,600), though not in cash games.
Adama Traore, WOL v. SOU ($6,200): Fair warning, I will probably keep writing about Traore until he starts because he is a fantasy-point magnet when he's on the pitch. His fantasy-point totals don't scream for attention, but it's pretty impressive to score 5.00, 3.00, 6.75, 5.50 and 5.50 points when you've only played more than 30 minutes once in that span. His per-90-minute stats are ridiculous, averaging 4.15 shots, including 3.46 shots on goal, 6.23 crosses and 4.15 fouls drawn, equating to an absurd 16.43 points per 90. Also ridiculous is expecting that level of production if he does start, but I'll have little hesitation throwing him into a lineup -- even a cash lineup -- because of how electric he is on the field. If you're looking for someone in this range with the potential for set pieces (Traore will have none), Tottenham's Erik Lamela ($6,400) could be an option if he starts for the injured Christian Eriksen.
MIDFIELDERS
Jean Michael Seri, FUL at EVE ($5,200): Seri has lost a few set pieces recently to Ryan Sessegnon ($4,900, midfield/forward), but it's not enough to make me hesitate playing him away to Everton. While the set pieces certainly help his crossing numbers, Seri is still able to contribute with tackles won and fouls drawn, giving him a moderately safer floor than Sessegnon. Seri's floor isn't as high as the Everton guys, but that's why he comes at a discount.
Mohammed Elyounoussi, SOU at WOL ($6,300): Elyounoussi's price is a bit high for an away underdog, but he's shown in other matchups that he's willing to cross and shoot, two attributes that give him a decent fantasy floor. His role on set pieces looks pretty secure based on his previous starts, though he does come in after missing last week's game with a minor knock, and he hasn't played more than 79 minutes in any start this season. Wolves haven't allowed a plethora of fantasy points this season, but Elyounoussi has such a strong share of those opportunities that he's worth serious consideration in cash games. If trusting a Southampton attacker playing away is too much for you (and I understand that), you can always pivot to the other side of this game for Joao Moutinho ($6,300), who is averaging 6.17 crosses, 1.03 shots and 1.54 tackles won per 90 minutes this season.
Granit Xhaka, ARS v. WAT ($4,500): In all honesty, the idea of rostering Xhaka leads to some unease, but if we simply strip it down to the fact that he's been taking most set pieces lately for Arsenal, who are the second-biggest favorite on the slate with the second-highest implied goal total, then of course we have to consider him for this price. On the flip side, if you think Arsenal aren't going to dominate Watford, you could always use the Xhaka money on Roberto Pereyra ($4,700), who is pretty goal dependent but also second on the team in shots and fouls drawn.
DEFENDERS
Kieran Trippier, TOT at HUD ($6,600): Trippier comes in as the second-most expensive defender on the slate, but that shouldn't suppress his ownership in cash games much, especially with Eriksen ruled out. His role on set pieces has made him a reliable fantasy option this season, though I have some hesitation that he'll automatically have a monopoly if Lamela starts; in fact, I think it's very possible they split corners, which only takes away from Trippier's floor. Then again, Trippier is a very good open-play crosser who's also created nine chances in five starts, but just know that Eriksen's absence doesn't automatically make Trippier a significantly better play. He has a safe floor, but you're paying for it.
Lucas Digne, EVE v. FUL ($5,600): Digne comes much cheaper than Trippier, but that certainly doesn't make him cheap, with only two players separating them in terms of salary and neither of those players are expected to start. As mentioned before, Fulham give up loads of fantasy points, and with Digne apparently ending Sigurdsson's monopoly of set pieces, there's a decent possibility that he ends up with the same number of dead-ball opportunities as Trippier but for $1,000 less. Playing Digne and Sigurdsson together seems like too much Everton (or at least too much similar Everton), but pairing the defender with someone like Richarlison, Walcott or Cenk Tosun ($6,000, forward) makes a nice correlation for GPPs.
Florent Hadergjonaj, HUD v. TOT ($3,700): Huddersfield are the second-highest crossing team on the slate, and they get a good amount of that production from Hadergjonaj and Chris Lowe ($3,900). Admittedly, the matchup against Tottenham isn't ideal, but they are at home and this is how they attack, regardless of opponent. The upside is pretty minimal with Tottenham heavily favored, but we get a fairly low price to make up for it.
GOALKEEPER
Ederson, MCI v. BHA ($6,000): After allowing one goal and making one save in back-to-back games, Ederson has been more productive, making multiple saves in back-to-back clean-sheet wins. Manchester City are overwhelming favorites over Brighton on Saturday, making Ederson a near lock for the five-point win bonus, not to mention a great shot at the clean sheet as well. Among the higher-priced keepers, he's by far the safest. Then again, this is goalkeeper we're talking about, so nothing is really safe. If you're looking to pay down, it makes sense (as usual) to not roster the keeper against your attackers, so if you're fading Arsenal or Tottenham then Ben Foster ($3,800) or Jonas Lossl ($3,900) would work.
