This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EST)
- 10:00 am: Crystal Palace vs. Wolverhampton
- 10:00 am: Manchester City vs. Sheffield United
- 10:00 am: West Bromwich Albion vs. Fulham
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
THE CHALK
Phil Foden, MCI v. SHU ($10,100): Foden only played 52 minutes against West Brom earlier this week, a 5-0 Manchester City victory where he was kept off the score-sheet. More importantly, he took most set pieces when he was in, and the expectation is that he'll get that role again in another plus matchup. We'd easily lock Kevin De Bruyne, who is out injured, into cash and GPP lineups on this slate, and Foden is a slightly lesser version at a lesser price.
FORWARDS
Riyad Mahrez, MCI v. SHU ($9,500): Even though the Manchester City prices are so much higher than earlier this week (in fairness, they are probably still under-priced), we're still likely to see plenty of stacks. Whoever starts in the attack with Foden will be popular, with Mahrez and Raheem Sterling ($9,800) the expensive options, while some fantasy players will quickly turn to Ferran Torres ($7,300) if he's starting because he's so much cheaper. Mahrez has the highest floor of the group but the lowest anytime goal scorer odds, but they are still high enough where he is very useful in cash games and GPPs. And if he's starting as the center forward, Gabriel Jesus ($6,800) will also be popular, even in cash games despite a fairly modest floor because he has the highest anytime goal scorer odds on the slate.
Eberechi Eze, CRY v. WOL ($7,500): Eze and Andros Townsend ($7,900) continue to split set pieces for Crystal Palace, and while either one makes sense in a vacuum, neither should realistically be prioritized over Ferran Torres if he starts. Wolverhampton have allowed the second-most crosses among teams on the slate, which probably benefits Townsend more because he crosses more in open play, but Eze is still a solid attacker who creates chances and draws fouls, giving him a solid floor. If you prefer to focus on the favored side of this game, Adama Traore ($7,800) has no role on set pieces but still maintains a solid floor from crosses, shots and fouls drawn, and he's much more affordable than Pedro Neto ($10,400), who will mostly go ignored because fantasy players will be looking at the Manchester City guys in his price range.
Ivan Cavaleiro, FUL at WBA ($6,600): The Fulham attack has been pretty weak lately, but they're now facing the West Brom side that was dominated by Manchester City earlier this week. Even before that match, West Brom had allowed the most shots, most shots on goal, most chances created and most crosses in the Premier League this season, and they obviously have kept those places heading into the weekend. Fulham's set-piece situation is pretty fluid, though it's been unnecessary lately, as they took only three corners in their last three games. Nevertheless, Cavaleiro is a solid option given his price, especially since Ademola Lookman ($8,100) is in the tier with the Crystal Palace guys who will probably be priorities over him. If you don't want to spend this much for a cheap forward, West Brom's Karlan Grant could start up front and is only $3,900, though his floor is close enough to zero that Kamil Grosicki ($5,100) might be a more worthwhile target.
MIDFIELDERS
Robert Snodgrass, WBA v. FUL ($5,200): Matheus Pereira ($7,600) is definitely the West Brom attacker worth targeting, but he might be tough to roster for those who want to pay up for multiple Manchester City pieces. Snodgrass hasn't taken a free kick since joining the Baggies, mostly because Pereira takes them, but the former West Ham midfielder is worth consideration because of his open-play crossing ability. He will chip in with a few defensive stats, but Snodgrass is an OG Cross Donkey in DraftKings Soccer, which means he'll surely get some attention in cash games if he starts. And speaking of OG CDs, Matthew Phillips ($3,200) will probably get some long looks if he's starting because of his low price.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, FUL at WBA ($3,500): There's nothing special about Loftus-Cheek for DFS purposes, but he's a consistent floor player who can score fantasy points in a variety of ways, which is attractive for a player with such a low salary. He's been playing in a very attacking role recently, and the matchup against West Brom is one we should be targeting not avoiding. He wouldn't be a thought at $5,400 or even $4,400, but $3,400 is just the right range for those looking to load up on Manchester City.
DEFENDERS
Tyrick Mitchell, CRY v. WOL ($4,000): Mitchell is fine. The defender pricing on this slate is pretty outrageous in terms of how many fullbacks are expensive, so Mitchell kind of sticks out because he has a decent floor and is playing for a home team (albeit a slight underdog). If Joe Bryan ($4,400) starts for Fulham then he will be popular because he usually has a role on set pieces when he's on, and the good news is that we'll know before lock because all the games start at the same time! Another possibility in this range is Ki-Jana Hoever ($3,900), who could be playing as a fullback or wing-back for Wolves.
Dara O'Shea, WBA v. FUL ($3,400): O'Shea could be a center-back playing as a full-back against Fulham, and while that doesn't turn him into any kind of volume crosser, he does enough defensive work to be a consideration because of his price, especially since you have to pay $4,100 for Ruben Dias or $4,600 for John Stones, the center-backs on the biggest favorite with by far the highest implied goal total. However, if Man City rotate their central defenders, Eric Garcia ($2,700) or Aymeric Laporte ($2,500) would certainly be options because of the considerable salary savings.
Joao Cancelo, MCI v. SHU ($6,400): Cancelo is the most expensive defender on the slate, but he makes for a very viable play because of how involved he is in the attack, and he's much cheaper than the Manchester City midfielders. Additionally, Cancelo has clean sheet equity, which guys like Ilkay Gundogan ($8,600), Rodri ($5,300) and Bernardo Silva ($7,200, midfielder/forward) don't. He's pricey enough that he's unlikely to be very popular, but don't discount Cancelo's ability to join the attack, as we saw earlier this week when he had a goal and an assist.
GOALKEEPER
Ederson, MCI v. SHU ($5,900): Given the context of the slate, Ederson should probably be $8,000 if the next-highest goalkeeper is Alphonse Areola at $5,000. Manchester City have a roughly 85 percent chance to win, according to the betting odds, with 58 percent clean sheet odds, while Fulham are around 41 percent and 32 percent, respectively. Ederson makes total sense in a Manchester City stack or as a slight hedge against one of their goal scorers because he should at least get the win bonus if they can put the ball in the back of the net. On the cheaper side, Sam Johnstone ($4,400) seems like he could be the popular pay-down option even though Aaron Ramsdale is $800 less because facing Fulham is a whole lot easier than facing Manchester City.
