This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (ET)
- 10:00 am: Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa
- 10:00 am: Liverpool vs. Southampton
- 10:00 am: Norwich City vs. Wolverhampton
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS
Mohamed Salah, LIV vs. SOU ($11,700): This is a hefty price to pay for Salah, but his salary is understandable when you consider that he has 11 goals and seven assists in 12 games, and penalty-kick responsibility adds to that valuation. His -175 goalscoring odds (64 percent) are by far tops on the slate. I probably wouldn't roster him in cash games, but there's a credible argument for doing so being that it's a smaller three-game slate. He will be a popular option in GPPs, as will the other two strikers for Liverpool, who have a favorable matchup at home to Southampton. Sadio Mane ($9,500) and Diogo Jota ($8,600) have 50-percent odds to score and based on the salary savings, I prefer them to Salah. Looking elsewhere for tournaments, Raul Jimenez ($7,700) is +130 to score with Wolves in a nice spot against Norwich.
Milot Rashica, NOR vs. WOL ($6,800): Rashica split set pieces in Dean Smith's first match in charge of Norwich. He's played at least 89 minutes in three consecutive games and his salary has dropped considerably. A home matchup against Wolves is anything but prohibitive. The forward position is weak for cash games and there are expensive defenders worth rostering. That makes Thiago Alcantara ($5,200) an appealing option. It's a mystery as to why he's still forward eligible, but he fills a need on this slate. He has a small floor that comes mostly from shots and shots assisted, while offering a bit of goal/assist equity as Liverpool are big favorites and have a 2.4-implied goal total. He comes into the match with some momentum after scoring one of the goals of the season midweek in Champions League. A better GPP option for the same salary would be Danny Ings ($5,300), who's +175 to score with Aston Villa away to Crystal Palace.
MIDFIELDERS
Emiliano Buendia, AVL at CRY ($6,500): Buendia has taken half of Aston Villa's set pieces in consecutive matches. He's made five-straight starts but hasn't played more than 74 minutes in any of them. That's likely why his salary has fallen to its lowest point of the season. If he was a 90-minute player, his salary would be $8,000 away to Crystal Palace. There aren't many appealing options at midfield. James Ward-Prowse ($8,000) isn't a priority as he has the second-toughest matchup in the league, away to Liverpool. Conor Gallagher ($9,000) can only be considered if Luka Milivojevic isn't in the lineup but that's unlikely. I can understand not wanting to roster Buendia because he gets subbed, but he's priced rather affordably and the other options aren't appealing.
Luka Milivojevic, CRY vs. AVL ($3,900): Milivojevic continues to take the majority of set pieces and that's helped him put up at least 5.9 floor points in four of the last five matches. Crystal Palace have a decent matchup at home against Aston Villa. It's never fun rostering him, but now that he's under $4,000, it's acceptable. The bottom range of midfield is filled with similar options. Billy Gilmour ($4,700) split corners and picked up an assist last time out. Joao Moutinho ($4,300) continues to split set pieces, as well. All three players are defensive midfielders who lack open-play upside. I highlighted Milivojevic simply because he's cheapest.
DEFENDERS
Trent Alexander-Arnold, LIV vs. SOU ($9,200): Alexander-Arnold has seen his salary rise to its highest point of the season but the increase is overdue. Incredibly, he's topped 20 fantasy points in six of his last nine starts and he's scored at least 12 floor points in all but one match this season. He's probably a must for cash games, but with a salary over $9,000, the decision in tournaments is tougher as there are other appealing options at defender.
Rayan Ait-Nouri, WOL at NOR ($6,000): Ait-Nouri exploded for 22.5 fantasy points without a goal or assist last time out against West Ham when he sent in 14 crosses and took the majority of set pieces. He's had at least nine floor points in three consecutive starts and Wolves have a favorable matchup away to Norwich. Andrew Robertson ($5,500) came off the bench Wednesday and should return to the starting lineup following a hamstring injury. He's scored less than eight fantasy points in five consecutive games but has considerable assist equity in a favorable spot at home to Southampton. Matt Targett ($4,700) split set pieces in Steven Gerrard's first match as Aston Villa manager. He's slightly too cheap for that role in a matchup away to Crystal Palace.
GOALKEEPERS
Alisson Becker, LIV vs. SOU ($5,900): Liverpool have 40-percent clean sheet odds at home against Southampton. Spending up at keeper makes more sense on smaller slates. If you're fading Salah, consider using that salary on a potential win and clean sheet.
Alex McCarthy, SOU at LIV ($3,600): McCarthy should have plenty of saves to make against Liverpool's potent attack. On a three-game slate, he can even be rostered opposite Liverpool players. If you'd rather target a cheap clean sheet, Tim Krul ($4,400) has 26.5-percent odds at home against Wolves.
