This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.
A quick heads up to FanDuel soccer players: we have late swap for the first time this season. In what should be a great change to an already interesting scoring format, FanDuel unfortunately included the two Sunday matches in the main slate, thus removing much of the benefit of late swap on a specific slate. Additionally, there are three other slates around the main one, so make sure you know which games are included when building your lineups. Hopefully next week we'll get solid one-day slates with late swap, which I think is the best outcome.
For detailed odds and stats, check out the Fantasy Premier League: Saturday Cheat Sheet.
PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
GOALKEEPER
Tom Heaton, BRN v. TOT ($7,300): In what is likely the first time, the most expensive goalie finds his way on the recommendation list. Heaton has the second-most saves this season and owns some of the best fantasy performances. Meanwhile, Tottenham have forced the second-most saves this season.
Ben Foster, WBA at MUN ($6,300): The Baggies come into Old Trafford to match up against the goalkeeper-stat-boosting team know as Manchester United, who have forced the most saves this season, including the most over the past six matches. GPPs have been won by playing 'keepers and defenders against Man United, and there is no reason to think this week will be different.
DEFENDER
Michael Keane, BRN v. TOT ($6,100): Looking at Andrew Laird's FanDuel defender article, playing defenders against Tottenham is one of the better matchups for fantasy floors. Keane and Burnley welcome in Spurs, who will continue to push for three points in an effort to try and catch Chelsea.
Gareth McAuley, WBA at MUN ($5,800): Manchester United away, as mentioned in the goalkeeper section, is one of the better matchups for defenders. McAuley is the most stable of the West Brom defenders and can be paired with Foster if you want to stack a certain match.
Jan Vertonghen, TOT at BRN ($5,700): One of the "discoveries" in the data mining Andrew Laird did in his defender article is finding out that playing defenders against Burnley at Turf Moor is one of the better matchups in the Premier League. The dollars-to-expected-points for Vertonghen is probably the best among Tottenham players, as he often strides forward in open play and for set pieces in addition to his defensive responsibilities.
MIDFIELDER
Christian Eriksen, TOT at BRN ($9,800): Of the higher priced players, Eriksen is in the best spot, and several others around him are injured, notably Paul Pobga, Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne, though the latter two may still play. Over the last six matches, Eriksen has the most chances created and always carries goal upside. Tottenham are solid favorites despite being on the road and have a solid team total. Gylfi Sigurdsson is also in play and against a team that Swansea can handle; it's really just a choice at what is essentially the same price.
Willian, CHE v. CRY ($7,400): With Hazard carrying a slight knock, Willian becomes a player that should be priced well above $8,000 in this home matchup against Crystal Palace. He is the main set piece taker (chances created) if Cesc Fabregas doesn't start, and he is also more involved in the attack. If Hazard starts and Willian is on the right, he is still in play.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan, MUN v. WBA ($8,200): With Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic out for this match, there should be more opportunities for Mkhitaryan to take the final shot or chance. Proven that he can post solid totals with them on the pitch, there is a good chance he can rack up a few more shots on goal and possibly find the back of the net. There is some worry that Manchester United won't be as good without arguably their best two players, but Tony Pulis almost always instructs his teams on the road to sit back and defend.
FORWARD
Forward this week is interesting because if Diego Costa (ankle) doesn't start, there are few clear plays among the top priced options. Whoever starts in the striker spot for Chelsea has far and away the best goal-scoring odds on the slate, and if you're going expensive then Sergio Aguero is probably the best of the rest.
Marcus Rashford, MUN v. WBA ($10,400): For likely starters, Rashford has the fifth-best goal-scoring odds and best on his team, who are the second biggest favorites with the second highest team total (after Chelsea). Likely to start as the main striker up top, his speed could pose a problem for the older and slower West Brom center-backs.
Shane Long, SOU v. BOU ($7,600): With Manolo Gabbiandini out, Long will look to fill in. Although his game logs won't impress anyone, for this week he has very solid goal scoring odds, and up against a Bournemouth team that can't stop giving up goals (14 in the past six matches). Multiple goals from the forwards slots are needed to win GPPs and Long has one of the best price-to-odds on the slate.
Oumar Niasse, HUL at WHU ($7,200): West Ham have given up 16 goals in their past six matches, tops in the league. They also have the second-worst goal differential at home thanks to 27 goals allowed. Niasse scored twice his last time out and should return to a starting role after sitting out against Everton, his parent club.
