This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (ET)
- 11:00 am: Brentford vs. Norwich City
- 11:00 am: Chelsea vs. Burnley
- 11:00 am: Crystal Palace vs. Wolverhampton
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS
Kai Havertz, CHE vs. BRN ($8,200): Saturday's slate is smaller than usual for this season and it includes a few teams that don't make for good targets. That leaves us with limited appealing options, especially at forward. Chelsea are big favorites at home against Burnley and have a 2.2 implied-goal total, per the odds. Havertz has been leading the line in the absence of Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner. He's played 90 minutes in consecutive games as Chelsea are without anyone else that plays the number nine role. He's averaging three shots per game over his last five starts and has the second-best goalscoring odds on the slate at +115. Ivan Toney ($8,800) is the most expensive forward and has the best odds to score at -110. Brentford are in a good spot at home to Norwich. Based on the facts that he plays 90 minutes, takes shots, draws fouls and creates chances, you could make the argument that he's viable in cash games due to the lack of options. He definitely makes sense for GPPs.
Milot Rashica, NOR at BRE ($8,000): Rashica had 17 floor points last week against Leicester City, as he took five shots and added seven crosses while splitting set pieces. The salary seems a bit inflated after he received a $3,400 increase, but there aren't many forwards with a floor on this slate. There are worse matchups than away to Brentford. Looking elsewhere, Dwight McNeil ($6,100) is cheap but Burnley have a difficult matchup away to Chelsea and he hasn't been taking as many set pieces recently, either. Saman Ghoddos ($5,100) came off the bench and scored last week and he could be in line for his second start of the season with Brentford in a great spot against Norwich. He won't play 90 minutes, but $5,100 is too cheap for an attacking player who might take a few set pieces.
MIDFIELDERS
Conor Gallagher, CRY vs. WOL ($9,100): Gallagher's cash-game viability comes with a caveat. He doesn't really have a role on set pieces if Luka Milivojevic is on the pitch. If Milivojevic starts, I wouldn't roster Gallagher in cash. Assuming Mason Mount ($10,000) is still out, Gallagher would be the most expensive player on the slate, but if he's taking corner kicks, $9,100 is worth it for a home matchup against Wolves. He's coming off a great performance against Manchester City last week when he scored and assisted while putting up 15 floor points. It's worth nothing that Palace played up a man in the second half, but nevertheless, Gallagher is very fantasy friendly when he's taking set pieces because he has plenty of open-play upside, as well.
Hakim Ziyech, CHE vs. BRN ($7,400): Ziyech has taken the majority of Chelsea's set pieces in consecutive games. Chelsea have a favorable matchup at home to Burnley. Ziyech has played longer than 75 minutes just once this season but that's why he's $7,400. If he was a 90-minute player he'd be $9,000 in this spot. He scored his first goal of the season in Champions League on Tuesday and he's averaging four shots per game over his last three. It's never fun rostering a player for 70 or so minutes, but the great matchup and lack of other options will likely lead to Ziyech being one of the first players in my lineup. Looking elsewhere, Ashley Westwood ($5,000) is a cheaper option if you're looking for 90 minutes and set pieces, but he's in a tough spot away to Chelsea. Michael Olise ($5,300) has more upside at home against Wolves and probably would take a set piece or two if he starts. Francisco Trincao ($5,600) has taken at least two shots in all seven of his appearances this season and makes a lot of sense for tournaments.
DEFENDERS
Ben Chilwell, CHE vs. BUR ($7,500): Chilwell seems to lose his role as the majority set-piece taker when Ziyech is in the lineup, but I'd still expect him to take about half of the corner kicks. Reece James ($7,800) hasn't taken a corner since September, but he's only made two starts since returning from injury. Both Chilwell and James have plenty of open-play value, though, and considerable upside playing as attacking wing-backs. They're expensive but Chelsea are in the best spot on the slate at home against Burnley and have an implied-goal total above two. James has three goals in his last two games after netting a brace against Newcastle last week. Chilwell has three goals in four Premier League games this season. You can make an argument for either being the better option and rostering both together makes sense too.
Rayan Ait-Nouri, WOL at CRY ($5,000): Ait-Nouri started his second-consecutive game on the left wing and split set pieces last time out. I'd expect that to continue being that he's left footed and was taking corners when he played last season. Looking a bit cheaper, Rico Henry ($4,000) has upside in a favorable matchup against Norwich. He gets forward down the left side quite often and has had two assists overturned by VAR this season. Sergi Canos ($5,500) is a viable option, as well, but it worries me that he's played 77 minutes or fewer in four of his last seven starts.
GOALKEEPERS
Edouard Mendy, CHE vs. BRN ($5,900): According to the odds, Chelsea have better than a 51-percent chance to keep a clean sheet at home against Burnley. Incredibly, Mendy has kept clean sheets in nine of 13 starts this season across all competitions. In general, it makes more sense to spend up at keeper on these smaller slates. There's a decent chance that Mendy is the only goalie that keeps a clean sheet Saturday and when that happens, the difference between his point total and the average for the field at the position is considerable and usually makes the difference in cash games and tournaments.
Tim Krul, NOR AT BRE ($3,800): Krul should have plenty of save opportunities with Norwich playing away to Brentford. It isn't like Brentford are world beaters and $3,800 for a keeper against a side that played in the Championship last season can't be too bad.
