This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (ET)
- 10:00 am: West Ham United vs. Southampton
- 10:00 am: Wolverhampton vs. Fulham
- 12:30 pm: Cardiff City vs. Crystal Palace
For detailed stats and odds, check out the DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Saturday EPL Cheat Sheet.
FORWARDS
Junior Hoilett, CAR v. CRY ($6,800): Cardiff need three points if they want to stave off relegation for another week, and Hoilett has been their best fantasy producer over the past few games. He has picked up a share of set pieces, though even without them he's a solid contributor thanks to shots, crosses, tackles won and fouls drawn. Cardiff are actually favored in the match, mostly because they have a ton of play for and Crystal Palace basically don't, and while they're playing in the late game, Hoilett's spot in the starting XI seems very secure. Given his recent production and price, he could be the highest-owned forward in cash games, which says more about the slate than it does Hoilett.
Wilfried Zaha, CRY at CAR ($7,800): If I told you earlier this season that Zaha was available against Cardiff City at $7,800, you'd probably jump at that in GPPs and strongly consider him in cash games regardless of who else was on the slate. But on this slate, where the only forwards more expensive than Zaha are Andros Townsend ($8,000), who didn't start the last two games, Shane Long ($8,100!), Michail Antonio ($8,500), Raul Jimenez ($9,000) and Diogo Jota ($9,400!!), you can understand why Zaha could be really popular. The only thing holding him back is that there are a number of midfielders worth paying up for, and while Hoilett is probably safer for cash games, his floor isn't dramatically better than Zaha's. Given how expensive they are, Jimenez and Jota really shouldn't be owned much in cash games, though they obviously make sense in GPPs because Wolves are huge favorites at home against Fulham.
Marko Arnautovic, WHU v. SOU ($5,600): Arnautovic has been pretty awful lately despite an assist last week against Tottenham, as he's scored fewer than 5.50 fantasy points in six of his last seven starts. However, he could lead the line for the favored team in the match with the highest implied goal total, and there are 20 forwards who cost more (not all will start or play). If you don't want to trust a guy who has been incredibly disappointing, you can go to the other side of the match for Danny Ings ($5,300), who has only been moderately disappointing. Teammate Nathan Redmond ($7,300) is definitely safer for cash, but he's not $2,000 safer, which is why people could consider Ings, who trails only Jimenez and Arnautovic for the best anytime goal scorer odds.
MIDFIELDERS
Luka Milivojevic, CRY at CAR ($7,700): Cardiff City may be favored at home, but they're a side that's conceded multiple goals in seven of their last 10 Premier League games and is one non-win away from being relegated. Meanwhile, Milivojevic has a monopoly of set pieces as well as being the designated penalty taker for a side that's won the second-most penalties this season (11, one behind Manchester United) and faces the team that's committed the third-most (seven). His attacking upside isn't overly high other than the free kicks, but Milivojevic also earns fantasy points from winning tackles and intercepting passes, giving him one of the safest floors on the slate.
Felipe Anderson, WHU v. SOU ($6,600): Teammate Robert Snodgrass ($7,900) will surely get more attention in cash games because he has a big piece of West Ham's set pieces and has scored at least 6.00 fantasy points in nine consecutive starts, and while most of his value comes from crosses, he does take shots, win tackles and draw fouls. Meanwhile, Felipe has a lower floor, though not significantly, and he provides much more upside because his floor has included multiple shots in four of his last five starts. He's a significantly more attacking player in open play while still having a small role on set pieces, and his $1,300 salary savings can actually be used to upgrade a second forward or defender. Milivojevic and Snodgrass will be popular cash-game options, as will Wolverhampton's Joao Moutinho ($7,100), who has a set-piece monopoly for the biggest favorite on the slate, and Southampton's James Ward-Prowse ($8,300), who seems a bit overpriced given how much he needs set pieces to make value (only 22 percent of his 136 crosses this season came in open play) and he's an underdog. So while all of those guys seem "safer," Felipe is a fine pivot for GPPs or those who like to play cash with flair (thanks to Luis Pacheco for that awesome term).
Tom Cairney, FUL at WOL ($4,100): Cairney has had some pretty decent returns lately, scoring at least 4.75 in three straight starts, including twice over 6.00 without goals or assists. The matchup away to Wolves isn't ideal -- in fact, Fulham are the biggest underdog on the slate -- but they have nothing to lose and making value on Cairney's salary shouldn't be too hard. The real issue is whether you want to spend the midfield or utility spot on him, as there are definitely midfielders worth paying up for plus a few defenders who make value more often than Cairney. That being said, if you're intent on paying up at both forward spots and for two midfielders, Cairney's salary can be very helpful.
DEFENDERS
Joe Bryan, FUL at WOL ($5,400): Bryan has been Fulham's best fantasy producer since he started taking some set pieces, scoring at least 9.25 points in four of his last five starts, a span that included zero goals or assists. It's worth noting he's playing for the biggest underdog on the slate, but with Fulham already relegated, it's not like they have any reason to bunker down and not try to attack. Paying up at both defender spots is certainly viable, with the Wolves fullbacks -- Matt Doherty ($4,900), Jonny ($4,800) or Ruben Vinagre ($5,300) -- worthy of consideration, as well as Southampton's Ryan Bertrand ($4,700) because he has a role on set pieces.
Patrick van Aanholt, CRY at CAR ($4,000): I wish we had a theme song for players who are so obviously traps because then I'd have something stuck in my head every time I consider van Aanholt. A matchup against Cardiff City should be one where he could move up in the attack, even if Cardiff are actually the ones who absolutely need three points, but van Aanholt's attacking upside, which we don't even see that often, is sometimes too good to pass up when his salary is this attractive. His floor is definitely lower than teammate Aaron Wan-Bissaka ($5,100), but Wan-Bissaka also hasn't taken a single shot in his last eight games, creating just three chances over that span. There's definitely some temptation for van Aanholt if you're in need of salary, but don't say I didn't warn you.
Sean Morrison, CAR v. CRY ($3,900): If you're sitting there thinking "why on Earth would I ever consider paying almost $4,000 for a Cardiff City center-back?" I get it. If it seems crazy at first, trust me, it seems crazy at second, too. But let's not ignore a player who has been a legitimate attacking piece over the past few games, with multiple shots in four of the last five games, including multiple shots on goal in two of his last three. Additionally, Morrison won five tackles in his last two games, though I guess I can also acknowledge that total matched his previous six games combined. He shouldn't sniff a cash-game lineup, but if Cardiff City start getting desperate for a goal in a game they absolutely have to win, they'll be looking for Morrison in the box.
GOALKEEPER
Sergio Rico, FUL at WOL ($3,800): Rico plays for the biggest underdog on the slate and is on a team that has already been relegated. Sounds great, right? Fulham have actually been great defensively since clinching relegation, and Rico has benefitted with clean-sheet wins in three straight games, scoring 13.00, 19.50 and 26.00 fantasy points, respectively. He will probably get a decent number of save opportunities, and with Wolves having little to play for, maybe Rico stops more shots than he doesn't. And let's not forget that his salary will be very helpful in paying up elsewhere.
