This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EDT)
- 10 a.m.: Burnley vs. Brentford
- 10 a.m.: Liverpool vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
- 10 a.m.: Manchester City vs. Crystal Palace
- 10 a.m.: Newcastle United vs. Chelsea
- 10 a.m.: Watford vs. Southampton
FORWARDS
Phil Foden, MCI vs. CRY ($10,500): The last few slates have been made up of middling teams but this Saturday's features the top three teams in the Premier League. Manchester City are the biggest favorites at home against Crystal Palace and they have the highest implied team team at just over 2.5. Not only did Foden take the majority of set pieces last time out but he scored two goals and added an assist as he put up 44.5 DK points. I don't see Riyad Mahrez ($9,800) in expected lineups, which makes sense after he started in the cup Wednesday, so Foden's role would be even more secure. Mohamed Salah ($12,300) is priced higher than we've seen anyone all season. It makes sense, though, when you consider his numbers. He's scored in eight of nine games and has 10 goals and five assists in that span. He's never been subbed either. His anytime goalscoring odds of -190 are far and away tops on the slate. Assuming Romelu Lukaku ($8,700) is still out, the only other player favored to score Saturday is Gabriel Jesus ($8,300) (-115). He makes sense in GPPs as he'll be less popular than he should be. So does Kai Havertz ($7,800), who's expected to lead the line in place of Lukaku.
Dwight McNeil, BUR vs. BRE ($6,600): McNeil's salary continues to fall, probably because he has no goals nor assists through the first nine matches of the season. Nevertheless he's still topped nine floor points in eight of nine games despite taking fewer set pieces than Ashley Westwood. Burnley are in a decent spot at home to Brentford. Chris Wood ($4,300) continues to disappoint but his salary is too cheap for goalscoring odds of +160.
Cucho Hernandez, WAT vs. SOU ($6,400): If you'd rather target Watford than Burnley, Hernandez took most of the corner kicks last week. He also had three shots and an assist while playing 90 minutes as he scored 20.5 fantasy points. His goal odds of +410 are better than McNeil's (+600). Both are good options but I'll side with Hernandez in a decision between the two.
MIDFIELDERS
Ilkay Gundogan, MCI vs. CRY ($7,700): Either Gundogan or Kevin De Bruyne ($10,000) will share set pieces with Foden. It's likely that only one of them starts after both did on Wednesday. James Ward-Prowse ($9,100) is an option in this range too as he'll be returning from a three-match ban for an away match with Watford. His price tag seems a bit hefty, but he's still a decent option in cash-games. I highlighted the Manchester City players because they have considerably more open play upside and this slate is likely to be filled with goals. Mason Mount ($9,500) and Jack Grealish ($8,900) are tournament options in this range. Mount is coming off a hat trick and 49 fantasy points last time out while Grealish will probably be the least popular of the Manchester City options.
Mathias Jensen, BRE at BUR ($5,400): Jensen has been taking the majority of set pieces for Brentford. He has 19 crosses in his last two matches, which were against tougher opponents in Leicester and Chelsea. It's also encouraging that he played 90 minutes in both. Ashley Westwood ($5,900) is a similar option for the home side in that matchup. He's had at least five crosses in every match if you exclude the Manchester City game. I slightly prefer Jensen based on the $500 savings the fact that Brentford have been better than Burnley this season.
Solomon March, BHA at LIV ($3,400): There are plenty of options to spend up for at forward and defense, but to do so you probably need to spend down at midfield. March took most of the corners against Man City last time out and finished with 7.8 floor points in a tough matchup. Brighton are in another tough spot away to Liverpool, but $3,400 is still too cheap for a wide player with set piece responsibility.
DEFENDERS
Trent Alexander-Arnold, LIV vs. BHA ($7,500): We're spoiled for choice at defender this week. Alexander-Arnold has yet to score fewer than 12 DK points this season and has topped 20 in four of seven games. From a fantasy perspective, the gap seems to be widening between him and Andrew Robertson ($5,600), but for $2,000 less, Robertson is a good option too.
Ben Chilwell, CHE at NEW ($7,700): Chilwell continues to take the majority of set pieces for Chelsea and has scored a goal in all three of his Premier League starts this season. You could argue that both he and Alexander-Arnold should be at least $8,000 on this slate. Liverpool are playing at home and are slightly bigger favorites with a higher implied goal total than Chelsea but Chilwell plays further forward and can't stop scoring lately. Take your pick, and rostering both makes sense as well.
Sergi Canos, BRE at BUR ($4,600): This is the cheapest we've seen Canos all season, and he's still taking a few corners here and there. He's also still attacking and just scored another goal in the cup Wednesday. Brentford are in a decent spot too, away to Burnley. Paying all the way down can make sense too. Aymeric Laporte ($2,900) and John Stones ($2,500) are too cheap when you consider that Manchester City are better than 53 percent to keep a clean sheet.
GOALKEEPERS
Ederson, MCI vs. CRY ($5,800): I just mentioned that Manchester City have the best clean sheet odds, but Liverpool and Chelsea are in good spots too. At least one of the respective keepers is likely to score double-digit fantasy points. It's tough to spend up at goalie ,though, and there are three keepers priced at $3,700 or less. That's three chances for someone to end up with a lot of saves. There's an argument for both sides but I'll probably spend down.
Ben Foster, WAT vs. SOU ($4,400): Foster is the cheapest home goalie who isn't playing against Chelsea on Saturday. Watford played better under Claudio Ranieri last time out and their matchup against Southampton has the second-lowest total on the slate. Nick Pope ($4,800) has slightly better clean sheet odds with Burnley's matchup against Brentford having the lowest total.
