This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EST)
- 2:30 pm: AFC Bournemouth vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
- 2:30 pm: Aston Villa vs. Watford
- 2:30 pm: Crystal Palace vs. Southampton
- 2:30 pm: Everton vs. Newcastle United
- 2:30 pm: Sheffield United vs. Manchester City
- 3:15 pm: Chelsea vs. Arsenal
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS
Sergio Aguero, MCI at SHU ($10,900): Fresh off a brace this past weekend, which gave him six goals on 16 shots (nine on target) in his last three starts, Aguero is the most expensive forward on the slate as he leads the line for the biggest favorite. However, it's important to note that Manchester City are nearly as heavily favored Tuesday as they were last Saturday against Crystal Palace, and stacking their attack doesn't seem nearly as necessary. In fact, it's possible Aguero doesn't even start after playing 90 in each of his past two starts, but that doesn't mean you need to jam in Gabriel Jesus ($9,700) or Riyad Mahrez ($10,300) or Raheem Sterling ($9,200). They each have high goal-scoring odds (Mahrez less so), and their salaries are so high that you need to be completely committed to whoever you're rostering to score at least one goal to make value.
Callum Hudson-Odoi, CHE vs. ARS ($7,500): Hudson-Odoi has had a share of set pieces when he starts, which he's expected to again because Christian Pulisic (muscular strain) remains out. The salary difference between Hudson-Odoi and Willian ($9,300) is quite stark, enough so that it's tough to justify paying up for the latter. With a number of playable forwards in cash games, and that doesn't even count the Manchester City guys, spending so much salary on Willian leads to some tough roster constructions, while Hudson-Odoi's affordability while filling a forward spot is helpful, especially with Chelsea almost having the second-highest implied goal total on the slate. If you don't want to trust Hudson-Odoi and/or Chelsea, Gerard Deulofeu ($7,900) could be viable, though he's a bit expensive when you can get Leandro Trossard ($7,300) or Nicolas Pepe ($7,200) for less. And for those looking at GPP upside, Tammy Abraham ($8,300) can always provide that for Chelsea, with Danny Ings ($7,900), Troy Deeney ($7,800), Dominic Calvert-Lewin ($8,400), Neal Maupay ($7,000) and Alexandre Lacazette ($6,800) each reasonable considerations.
Wilfried Zaha, CRY vs. SOU ($5,600): Zaha was just $500 less this past weekend despite playing away to Manchester City, and while his 6.0 fantasy points weren't overly productive, it was helpful at his salary (he drew a penalty, though we get no credit beyond the foul drawn on DraftKings). He continues to be Crystal Palace's best attacking player, and while they are technically home underdogs against Southampton, that shouldn't be enough to look away from Zaha, who gets most of his fantasy production from shots, chance created, fouls drawn and crosses. Teammate Cenk Tosun ($6,000) scored against Manchester City in his first start for Crystal Palace, and he could make for a viable GPP play because of his price. Additionally, Everton's Moise Kean ($6,100) could be in the attacking pair and comes in significantly cheaper than his teammate Calvert-Lewin. If you're looking for additional cash-game forwards in this price range, I don't think Miguel Almiron ($5,400) is a total throwaway, even if he's playing for the second-biggest underdog on the slate.
MIDFIELDERS
Kevin De Bruyne, MCI at SHU ($11,100): De Bruyne showed once again why he's the best floor player in the Premier League, scoring 27.6 fantasy points against Crystal Palace despite zero goals and zero assists. Granted, Man City were playing from behind, which helped him eventually finish with six shots, six chances created and 18 crosses, but that is certainly what he's capable of when the team needs it. The difficulty for Tuesday's slate is that he's the most expensive player overall, including the most expensive midfield-only player by $2,100, a hefty price, especially for anyone who wants a Man City forward. Aston Villa's Jack Grealish ($9,000) is the next highest, and his role on set pieces for a home side (they are underdogs to Watford) certainly makes him viable. Grealish isn't the volume crosser that De Bruyne is, but he takes a similar number of shots and draws many more fouls, with a home match against Watford possibly one where you can justify playing him over De Bruyne because of the salary difference.
James Ward-Prowse, SOU at CRY ($6,900): Ward-Prowse is one of a number of high-floor midfielders who could be very helpful in cash games. Southampton are favored away to Crystal Palace, who have conceded the second-most crosses among teams on the slate, which fits well for Ward-Prowse because he's their primary set-piece taker, and he takes penalties. Joining Ward-Prowse in this group are Chelsea's Mason Mount ($7,200), Bournemouth's Ryan Fraser ($6,800), Brighton's Aaron Mooy ($6,700) and, to a lesser extent, Newcastle's Jonjo Shelvey ($6,200). Each has a role on set pieces and most are favored, and fantasy players who don't roster a Manchester City player or Grealish could theoretically roster three of these high-floor midfielders.
James McCarthy, CRY vs. SOU ($3,900): With Luka Milivojevic suspended for one more game, McCarthy could be on set pieces again for the Eagles. He was decent last week by scoring 4.9 fantasy points away to Manchester City while taking all......two......of their corners, but he should get more opportunities this time around against Southampton, even if Palace are home underdogs. McCarthy isn't the only potentially cheap set-piece taker, as Nathaniel Chalobah ($3,700) has been taking recently for Watford, who are away favorites against Aston Villa. Both players are holding midfielders with limited upside, but if cheap set pieces are what you're after, they can provide them.
DEFENDERS
Lucas Digne, EVE v. NEW ($7,000): Digne reclaimed his monopoly of set pieces this past weekend with Gylfi Sigurdsson ruled out with injury, and with the latter not playing Tuesday, Digne should be one of the most popular players in cash games despite being the most expensive defender. Everton are strongly favored at home against Newcastle, and while there's a $1,000 difference between Digne and teammate Djibril Sidibe, the set pieces make that well worth spending up. It also doesn't hurt that no team in the Premier League allows more crosses than Newcastle.
Diego Rico, BOU vs. BHA ($5,100): Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is not on the slate, and Digne are the only defenders in the Premier League who have sent in more crosses than Rico, who leads all defenders (and is second overall in the Premier League) in interceptions. He's certainly not cheap, but we also shouldn't look at Rico as a replacement for Digne; they are simply on different levels. However, Rico is arguably better than many midfielders in his price range, so it wouldn't be overly surprising to see Digne/Rico lineups, though those likely won't have any Manchester City players. If Rico is a little too much, Emerson Palmieri ($4,900), Cedric Soares ($4,700) and Ahmed Elmohamady ($4,600) could certainly work as well.
Matt Targett, AVL v. WAT ($4,200): Targett has scored at least 6.1 floor points in three consecutive starts, and while Watford have been very good defensively of late, Villa need to win points when they're at home. Otherwise, Kyle Walker ($4,000) could be looked at if he starts for Man City, though his floor is extremely low for a player on that team. Unfortunately, if you need to go any lower then you're considering the Sheffield United wingbacks George Baldock ($3,900) and Enda Stevens ($4,100), but they are playing against Manchester City and unlikely to have much possession.
GOALKEEPER
Dean Henderson, SHU v. MCI ($3,800): Henderson is the cheapest goalkeeper on the slate, and he happens to be playing at home. The matchup is hardly ideal against Manchester City, one of only two teams that scored multiple goals against Sheffield United in their past eight Premier League games (Liverpool at Anfield was the other). The save upside should certainly be there for Henderson, as no team has forced more saves than Man City this season. If you have the money to pay up, Jordan Pickford ($5,700) seems to be the most worthwhile option, as Ederson ($5,800) comes in as the biggest favorite (Pickford has the highest clean sheet odds), but he has just one clean sheet in his last 10 Premier League matches.
