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: Fulham v. Bournemouth
10:00 a.m: Liverpool v. Cardiff City
10:00 a.m: Watford v. Huddersfield
10:00 a.m: Southampton v. Newcastle
10:00 a.m: Brighton v. Wolverhampton
12:30 p.M: Leicester City v. West Ham
FORWARDS
Mohamed Salah, LIV v. CAR ($11,400): Liverpool are huge favorites at home to Cardiff with a high implied goal total, so it's only natural for many fantasy players to turn to Salah, who has the highest anytime goal scorer odds on the slate and has scored three goals on eight shots (five on target) in his last two games. His salary is $1,600 more than the next highest player, teammate Sadio Mane ($9,800), and while saving through Mane is a possibility, it's worth noting he hasn't scored a Premier League goal since Aug. 20 and he still doesn't have an assist. Roberto Firmino ($8,500) is probably a better target thanks to his salary savings, plus he has four goals and one assist since Mane's last goal. Oh, and we can't forget about Xherdan Shaqiri ($9,400), who could have a role on set pieces if James Milner ($8,200, midfielder) doesn't start. Shaqiri has been a cash-game target in each of the past two slates, but he's taken jus two shots, sent in five crosses and won three fouls over that span, with fantasy players getting bailed out with two assists. Liverpool's status as the only overwhelming favorite on the slate will surely make people consider stacking them, even in cash games, but you absolutely need at least one goal or assist from whoever you take because none of them have great floors for their salaries.
Andre Schurrle, FUL v. BOU ($7,400): If you consider Salah a serious cash-game option even without a goal, consider this:
Name these EPL players:Player A: 4.24 shots, 1.77 shots on goal, 1.88 crosses, 1.18 fouls drawnPlayer B: 4.18 S, 1.44 SOG, 1.70 CR, 1.57 FD
— Andrew M. Laird (@RotoWireAndrew) October 25, 2018
Player A is Salah while Player B is Schurrle, who costs $4,000 less. I don't think Salah is really a cash play without a goal, but the odds makers are giving him a more-than-70 percent chance to score while Schurrle is just below 30 percent. But in a game that could have plenty of fantasy points, Schurrle and teammate Aleksandar Mitrovic ($7,500), who is averaging 3.78 shots, including 1.44 on goal, and 1.33 fouls drawn per 90 minutes, should get some serious looks. The other side of this game could be targeted as well, with Callum Wilson ($7,200) and Joshua King ($7,100) certainly in play against a Fulham defense that has allowed the most goals, most assists, third-most shots, most shots on goal and most crosses in the Premier League this season. In fact, their 588.00 total floor points (fantasy points minus goals, assists and clean sheets) allowed are more than the total fantasy points allowed by Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham and are within 10.00 of Watford, Everton and Wolverhampton's totals.
Nathan Redmond, SOU v. NEW ($5,400): Redmond has taken nearly all of Southampton's set pieces over the past two games, including last week against Bournemouth when presumed regular set-piece taker Mohamed Elyounossi ($7,200, midfielder) played 90 minutes. It's been countless times that we think we know the Southampton set-piece situation, only to have it change completely with no warning, but Redmond's low(ish) price and forward eligibility could make him a popular option for those with Salah or paying down at both forward spots. Another low-range possibility is Brighton's Alireza Jahanbakhsh ($5,900) because he seems to have control over their set pieces lately while Pascal Gross ($7,000) has been out with an ankle injury.
Adama Traore, WOL at BHA ($5,900): You can find out why here, here or here and consider that Brighton have allowed the most shots, third-most shots on goal and fourth-most crosses while committing the most fouls among teams on the slate.
MIDFIELDERS
James Maddison, LEI v. WHU ($9,100): Maddison has failed to reach 8.50 fantasy points in two of nine starts this season, and his dominant role on Leicester's set pieces, supplemented by his shots (2.25, including 0.87 on goal, per 90 minutes) and fouls drawn (3.37 per 90) have given him a solid floor. In fact, no player has drawn more fouls than Maddison this season (Eden Hazard is second, though he's played 54 fewer minutes), and he's taken as many or more shots than players like Raheem Sterling, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Christian Eriksen and Wilfried Zaha. Leicester City are the third-biggest favorites on the slate, and while that doesn't really say a whole lot because many matches should be close, Maddison should be on the ball more than enough to give us a strong floor despite the high price.
Junior Stanislas, BOU at FUL ($6,900): Stanislas still hasn't started a match this season, but he's been Bournemouth dominant set-piece taker when he does get on the pitch. His lack of starts have come after he returned from a long-term knee injury, and his recent play should certainly have manager Eddie Howe thinking about starting him. Even at his high price, it seems a bit crazy to fade Ryan Fraser ($8,100) in such a prime matchup, but he's gone three straight games (home against Crystal Palace, away to Watford and home against Southampton) without attempting a shot, while he won just two fouls and sent in 16 crosses. That kind of production is pretty light for a player at his price, especially if we can get solid production from Stanislas if he starts.
Aaron Mooy, HUD at WAT ($5,300): There probably haven't been a ton of GPPs won with Mooy in the lineup, but he's been a steady cash-game option since joining Huddersfield. His reliability has produced seven of eight games with at least 6.50 fantasy points, including five with at least 8.25. A majority of his value comes from crosses thanks to his role on set pieces, but he also chips in on the defensive side by winning tackles. A crossing game plan figures to fit Huddersfield perfectly Saturday, as their 23.20 crosses per game are 4.60 more than the next-highest team, while Watford allow the second-most crosses per game (22.00) among teams on the slate.
DEFENDERS
Jose Holebas, WAT v. HUD ($7,100): The most expensive defender on the slate, Holebas comes in with the most crosses in the Premier League, averaging 10.08 per 90 minutes, and no player in Saturday's games has more assists. He missed last weekend's match due to a yellow card accumulation ban, but he sent in a ridiculous 33 crosses in his last two starts. Watford are the second-biggest favorites on the slate, and given the floor he's shown, Holebas will surely be popular in cash games. Paying up for Holebas will make it very tough to also pay up for Trent Alexander-Arnold ($6,900) and/or Andrew Robertson ($6,700) unless you fade Liverpool's attackers, but if you want Liverpool exposure, why focus on the defenders?
Ben Chilwell, LEI v. WHU ($5,700): If you do want to pay up for both defender spots in cash games, Chilwell makes more sense with a salary at least $1,000 cheaper than the Liverpool guys. While you could argue he's trending in the wrong direction with decreasing fantasy points in two straight games, we can at least point out that he's scored at least 5.25 in all nine starts this season, including five games with at least 8.00. Teammate Ricardo Pereira ($6,100) has been very solid as well, though the extra $400 doesn't seem worth chasing.
Florent Hadergjonaj, HUD at WAT ($4,000): Huddersfield may be the second-biggest underdog on the slate, but so much of their attack involves crossing that there have been plenty of instances this season where multiple Huddersfield players in cash lineups has paid off. It also helps that they're generally cheap, and Hadergjonaj or Erik Durm ($3,900) figures to be the cheapest starting fullback on the slate.
GOALKEEPERS
Alisson, LIV v. CAR ($6,000): If you want Liverpool exposure but like other outfield options, paying up for Alisson as a hedge against one Salah, Firmino, Shaqiri or Mane goal makes sense. Sure, it could be a total bust if Alisson concedes a goal, but how happy will you be if Salah gets you 6.50 points on his $11,400 salary? If spending up just isn't in the cards, Jonas Lossl ($4,000) has been playing well of late and it's possible you're not playing many, if any, Watford attackers.
