This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
Welcome to Gamweek 3 of the 2015-2016 Premier League season. This article is a guide to an optimal squad for your $50,000 DraftKings salary.
The following games are included:
Norwich City at Sunderland
Newcastle at Swansea City
Stoke City at Tottenham
West Bromwich at Watford
Leicester City at West Ham
Step 1 in building a good lineup: make sure your players are in the starting 11. There is a bit of guesswork in projecting lineups until they are actually announced, and all recommendations and projections are subject to change based on this. This Saturday is a little easier than usual because all included games kick off at 10 a.m. EDT. All said, be sure to check the starting lineups upon their announcement approximately one hour prior to kickoff.
Goalkeepers
Lukasz Fabianski ($4,900)
Swansea has looked like a team fit to fight for a spot in Europe this season, while Sunderland has looked very poor. Fabianski comes into this spot off a decisive clean sheet and has a very good chance to repeat.
Darren Randolph ($3,000) or Raphael Spiegel ($3,000)
Adrian is suspended for three matches following his red card for unintentionally kicking an opponent square in the chest (it was bad, he deserved the red) last weekend. This leaves a backup in goal for West Ham, and as of the time of this article it's still unclear whether it'll be Randolph or Spiegel. This is a good choice for a GPP, as one would figure that whoever starts should be fairly low owned and Bournemouth has still failed to find the net through two starts. Then again, one could also argue having a backup keeper may be advantageous to Bournemouth.
Defenders
Charlie Daniels ($2,800) or Simon Francis ($3,200)
Seven crosses from open play last week for Daniels, 11 for Francis over the past two, this fullback duo leads the Premier League in crosses from a defensive position. A defensive bonus against West Ham, though not incredibly likely, is still well within the realm of possibility.
Aaron Cresswell ($5,600) or Carl Jenksinson ($5,300)
This defensive duo will be owned in large quantity, so for those looking to differentiate themselves from the field, go elsewhere. This fullback duo attacks with confidence, drawing fouls and sending in crosses, and on a week when the prices are almost irrelevant, they are hard to look past.
Midfielders
Gylfi Sigurdsson ($7,800)
The Sunderland defense has been abysmal, allowing seven goals through two games, and did so against Leicester City and Norwich City sides that were fancied by many to be relegation candidates. Four of the seven goals have come from the midfield (two from the defense, oddly enough) and Sigurdsson's shot-taking ability makes him the obvious choice from the Swansea midfield to score.
Jefferson Montero ($5,200)
We have another Swansea midfielder but for pretty different reasons. I wouldn't put much money on Montero scoring a goal, though it certainly could happen, but he does have a very large assist possibility, leading the Premier League in crosses through the first two weekends. Montero is a great cash game play, but just an okay GPP one.
Dimitri Payet ($7,500)
Through two games Payet has a goal, an assist, four shots (one on goal), eight crosses and a foul drawn. He has quickly become an offensive leader for West Ham and will likely to continue his great production numbers going forward.
Christian Eriksen ($8,900)
Until Harry Kane proves he can score while being marked heavily by opposing defenses, Eriksen (who had an assist last weekend) will continue to be the play in my book. Leicester (despite taking all six points available thus far) doesn't have a great defense. In fact, Leicester's free-wheeling style promotes goals for both sides, with nine scored in their two games.
Forwards
Mame Diouf ($6,000)
Diouf had five shots last weekend, all five shots found the target, and one made it to the back of the net. He was visually and statistically impressive last weekend and his opponent, Norwich City, has allowed four goals in just two games.
Callum Wilson ($5,500)
Bournemouth hasn't yet scored, but trust me it's coming and this is the guy most likely to do it. He's touched the ball in the penalty box 22 times already this season. Quality touches like that will turn into goals, and a backup goalkeeper for West Ham may benefit Wilson's cause.
Other forwards:Harry Kane ($10,500), Diafra Sakho ($7,500), Bafetimbi Gomis ($6,900)
