DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday EPL Picks

MATCHES (EST)

• 1:00 pm: Arsenal vs. Southampton
• 1:00 pm: Leeds United vs. Newcastle United
• 1:00 pm: Leicester City vs. Everton

For detailed stats and odds, check out the

DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday EPL Cheat Sheet

FORWARDS

Willian, ARS v. SOU ($6,800): Arsenal have been playing terribly recently, including losses in each of their last four Premier League home games, and while they are still favored against Southampton, most of their players are priced as if they are the biggest underdog on the slate. Willian comes in with 20 crosses, five chances created and five fouls drawn in his last two games, and he has to be a consideration as the primary set-piece taker for the Gunners. That being said, teammate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ($6,200) could be more popular, even in cash games, as he has the third-highest anytime goal scorer odds on the slate, scoring at least 6.3 floor points in four of his last five starts. There is also a possibility we see some squad rotation due to the congested schedule and horrific results, which could allow us to consider Edward Nketiah, who could lead the line at only $3,800 (Nketiah has the seventh-highest anytime goal scorer odds of potential starters).

Raphinha, LEE v. NEW ($7,100): The sample is small, but Raphinha took all of Leeds' set pieces last Friday against West Ham, helping him to 17.0 fantasy points without a goal or assist. The role didn't completely come out of no where, as he took set pieces for Rennes before transferring to Leeds. If he maintains that role against Newcastle then he figures to be very popular in cash games, particularly because Leeds are the biggest favorite and Newcastle have allowed the most crosses per match among teams on the slate. Those looking for goals are likely to move to Patrick Bamford ($7,700), who has the second-highest anytime goal scorer odds on the slate and co-leads the Premier Leagues in shots this season with 46, including 23 in his last six games. 

Jamie Vardy, LEI v. EVE ($9,200): Vardy is the most expensive player on the slate, but that'll happen when Leicester are decent favorites and he has the highest anytime goal scorer odds. He's been excellent this season, making the score-sheet in eight of 11 Premier League appearances, and while he isn't going to be targeted in cash games, you better believe he'll be popular in GPPs on a slate that may not have a ton of goals. Everton have the name recognition of a team that may not be one you automatically target, but they allowed multiple goals away to Southampton, Newcastle and Fulham, so Vardy should surely be able to take advantage.

MIDFIELDERS

James Maddison, LEI v. EVE ($8,800): Leicester City are the second-biggest favorite on the slate, and no player averages more floor points per 90 minutes than Maddison, who takes a vast majority of their set pieces. He is a cash-game staple and figures to be extremely popular, and it certainly doesn't hurt that he's coming off a monster game Sunday against Brighton when he scored two goals on six shots (three on target). There is a possibility that Maddison is rested, though he didn't play in last week's Europa League match at all, and if that's the case then we could get Youri Tielemans ($5,900) taking over on set pieces, and he will be very popular because of his low price.

James Ward-Prowse, SOU at ARS ($8,100): Ward-Prowse has a basic monopoly of set pieces for Southampton, who are slight away underdogs against Arsenal, and he has one of the highest floors in the Premier League. Arsenal don't concede many shots or crosses, but that is still unlikely to push many fantasy players away from Ward-Prowse after he scored double-digit fantasy points in nine of 12 games this season, failing to get there away to Burnley, away to Chelsea and away to Wolverhampton. Given the overall pricing on the slate, we're likely to see plenty of Maddison/Ward-Prowse lineups if they both start.

Gylfi Sigurdsson, EVE at LEI ($6,400): We got a vintage Sigurdsson performance this past weekend, as he had a monopoly of set pieces due to the injury absence of James Rodriguez, which contributed to his six chances created and five crosses. Additionally, he scored from the penalty spot in Everton's big 1-0 victory over Chelsea, and with James potentially sitting again, Sigurdsson could keep his role against Leicester. The matchup isn't the easiest, but Sigurdsson's reduced price could have some people, particularly in cash games, rolling with him. Then again, if Tielemans is likely to have all of Leicester's set pieces, Sigurdsson's viability takes a hit. Newcastle's Jonjo Shelvey ($5,500) could also get a few looks because of his role on set pieces, though fantasy players may actually be better off targeting Marc Albrighton ($5,600) if he starts because of his propensity to cross. And if you're looking for more GPP upside, Leeds' Rodrigo ($5,700) is an active shot-taker and playing for the biggest favorite with the highest implied goal total.

DEFENDERS

Luke Ayling, LEE v. NEW ($4,900): Leeds are the second-highest crossing team in the Premier League and now face a Newcastle side that's allowed more crosses than any other team on the slate. Ayling leads the team's defenders in crosses by a decent margin, and his price is low enough to make him a very viable target. Depending on how they line up, we could get Stuart Dallas ($4,800) playing in the midfield, which would put Ezgjan Alioski ($4,500) on the other side of Ayling. They are all find options, but Ayling has been the better fantasy scorer.

Kieran Tierney, ARS v. SOU ($4,600): Arsenal are the highest crossing team in the league, and part of that comes from Tierney's recent play, as he sent in 17 crosses in the past two games. We have to remember that Tierney has played as a center-back at various points this season, usually in a three-man back line, so it's important to check the full Arsenal lineup to make sure he's playing left-back if you want him. Otherwise, we could get a cheap option with Ainsley Maitland-Niles ($3,400) at right-back even though he doesn't cross like Tierney, though Cedric Soares ($4,700) is also a possibility.

Wilfred Ndidi, LEI v. EVE ($3,400): Ndidi played as a center-back for the first two games of the season and then missed two months due to injury. He's made four appearances since returning to his normal central (mostly defensive) midfield spot, but we still get him as a defender. His floor is mostly based on defensive stats, but that can work when you're one of the league leaders in tackles won every year. The clean sheet seems a bit unlikely, but Ndidi playing in a midfield role at this price as a defender should be a fairly easy play.

GOALKEEPER

Karl Darlow, NEW at LEE ($4,200): Darlow is tied for second in the Premier League in saves, and he now faces a Leeds attack that's forced the second-most saves. We can't ignore that Newcastle are the biggest underdog on the slate, though they are playing in the game with the lowest implied total, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Darlow as a popular option because he's the cheapest on a slate that doesn't have much separation in pricing.