This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (ET)
- 10:00 am: AFC Bournemouth vs. Everton
- 10:00 am: Liverpool vs. Southampton
- 10:00 am: Nottingham Forest vs. Crystal Palace
- 10:00 am: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Leeds United
- 10:00 am: West Ham United vs. Leicester City
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS
Saturday's five-game slate features Liverpool with a 2.48 implied goal total at home against Southampton, who've just parted ways with longtime manager Ralph Hasenhuttl. The next team most people will look to is Tottenham, who have a 2.00 implied goal total for their home matchup against a Leeds team that's looked pretty shaky in recent weeks. Not that Spurs have looked much better without Son Heung-Min. Mohamed Salah ($10,500) is the most expensive player by a pretty wide margin. He always seems to be relatively popular in cash games, but that doesn't make him a good option, especially on this slate where there are plenty of other choices at every position. Harry Kane ($9,400) at -135 has better goal odds than Salah (-125), but I wouldn't roster him in cash games, either. If you're set on the route of a goal-dependent forward, Darwin Nunez ($8,800) would probably be a better option. He has -110 scoring odds and has actually shown a pretty high floor based on the amount of shots and chances that he creates.
Jarrod Bowen, WHU vs. LEI ($8,000): Bowen's salary continues to drop based on a string of underwhelming performances over the past month. West Ham have the third-highest implied total at 1.6 for the home match against Leicester. Bowen continues to split corner kicks and almost always plays 90 minutes. He's also a very good player so the goals and assists will come. Eberechi Eze ($7,900) is a similar option to Bowen, as he continues to split corners and usually plays 90 minutes while offering goal/assist upside. Palace are slight favorites away to Nottingham Forest and have the fourth-highest total at 1.35.
Morgan Gibbs-White, NFO vs. CRY ($7,200): Gibbs-White exploded for 28.7 fantasy points last time out when he scored his first league goal for Forest against Brentford. It was trademark Gibbs-White as he beat a couple of defenders with a sole roll and then curled one into the bottom corner. He would've added an assist if Brennan Johnson ($4,400) was a better finisher. He's still taking most of the corners and almost always plays 90 minutes. Forest are slight underdogs at home against Crystal Palace and maybe that keeps some people off considering there are other decent options. Thiago Alcantara ($6,100) has shown a solid floor recently and the matchup for Liverpool is quite favorable which adds some appeal. He's probably the cheapest I'd consider for cash games unless we see a surprise start from Sam Greenwood ($4,400). He came off the bench last week and put up 30 fantasy points in 36 minutes as he took most of the corners while adding a goal and assist.
MIDFIELDERS
There are plenty of decent options at midfield which is why I didn't highlight James Maddison ($9,000), who might be a bit underpriced now, even with Leicester as underdogs away to West Ham. If we get some surprise cheap value, such as Greenwood, then I'd consider Maddison for cash games. If not, I don't think he's necessary.
Marcus Tavernier, BOU vs. EVE ($7,700): Tavernier is coming off his best game for Bournemouth last weekend when he scored and added two assists on his way to 38 fantasy points. This is a pretty good spot at home against Everton, who they just dispatched 4-1 in the EFL Cup on Tuesday. Tavernier splits corners, usually plays 90 minutes and clearly has upside. Michael Olise ($7,600) and Demarai Gray ($7,400) are similar options but better suited for GPPs as they're playing away from home in neutral matchups and have a higher likelihood of being subbed early than Tavernier does.
Ivan Perisic, TOT vs. LEE ($7,000): Perisic had 20 floor points last match against Liverpool and he's had a near monopoly on set pieces in the absence of Son Heung-Min. The cheaper salary and prime matchup at home against Leeds make him a near-lock for cash games. He's been playing in the front three (and sometimes front two), but if he reverts to wing-back, he'd be a good candidate to fade in GPPs.
Looking at the cheap range, only one player stands out as a possible option for cash games. Believe it or not, Lewis Cook ($3,900) has scored at least six floor points in five of the last six games. I mentioned that Bournemouth are in a pretty nice spot at home against Everton and Cook is a bit too cheap considering he continues to take a couple of corners every match.
DEFENDERS
Trent Alexander-Arnold, LIV vs. SOU ($6,700): It was pretty surprising to see Alexander-Arnold finish with only two crosses and 3.5 fantasy points last weekend against Tottenham. Nevertheless, he's underpriced in this spot with Liverpool as big favorites home against Southampton. I couldn't imagine fading him in cash games.
Andrew Robertson, LIV vs. SOU ($6,300): Robertson has outperformed Alexander-Arnold of late and he's also a bit underpriced. I'd still rank him behind Alexander-Arnold in terms of consistency and upside though it would be nice to roster both in cash games. Aaron Cresswell ($5,500) would be a fine option if you need the $800, or even in the flex if you favor a three-defender construction. Prior to his dud last weekend against Crystal Palace, he'd delivered at least eight crosses in four consecutive matches as he continues to split corners. I don't see anyone priced below that stands out. Ibrahima Konate ($3,200) and his 43-percent clean sheet odds wouldn't be the worst option.
GOALKEEPERS
Alisson, LIV vs. BOU ($5,900): Liverpool's clean sheet odds are more than 10 percent better than the rest which makes Alisson a good option for cash games. I wouldn't spend up for anyone else in that format.
Illan Meslier, LEE at TOT ($3,800): Either Meslier or Gavin Bazunu ($3,600) would be fine if you'd rather save the money and hope for a few more saves than goals allowed. I highlighted Meslier because he has better than double the win odds of Bazunu and seems less likely to get battered.
