This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.
For detailed stats and odds, check out the Fantasy Premier League: Saturday Cheat Sheet.
MATCHES (EST)
10:00 a.m: Brighton v. Watford
10:00 a.m: Burnley v. Southampton
10:00 a.m: Chelsea v. Huddersfield
10:00 a.m: Crystal Palace v. Fulham
10:00 a.m: Everton v. Wolverhampton
12:30 p.m: Cardiff v. Bournemouth
FORWARDS
Joshua King, BOU at CAR ($9,000): For those wanting to back Aleksandar Mitrovic ($11,500) as the most expensive forward, he has two goals in 12 away matches, both of them coming in the first month of the season. Of course, that also shows how frustrating the slate could be, not dissimilar to Wednesday when King had his best game of the season against Chelsea. That's not why I'm backing King, but it's part of it. Playing as the lead forward, King did a little of everything for the Cherries against Chelsea, finishing with five shots and five chances created. He has seven shots on goal in his last four starts, and that's partly because of the absence of Callum Wilson. Without Wilson, King takes over as the top striker and that's usually when he's had his best fantasy performances. Cardiff have also been bad on the road, taking just five points from 12 matches. King's far from easy to trust, but so is every other forward on the slate. Chelsea have the best odds to score, but Pedro ($11,000) is goal-or-bust and Gonzalo Higuain ($10,000) didn't even get a shot in his first Premier League start.
Ashley Barnes, BRN v. SOU ($8,000): This price is somewhat surprising given Barnes' recent production, scoring at least 16 fantasy points in four of his last five starts. Outside of the dud at Watford, he's had a solid floor with nine chances created, eight shots on goal and six tackles in that period. It also helps that Southampton always allow at least one goal and have given up the most chances (62) and third-most shots (76) in the last five matches. Playing at home with a decent floor puts Barnes a level above the likes of Raul Jimenez ($10,500) and Diogo Jota ($9,500), who have decent floors but are more expensive and on the road.
Jordan Ayew, CRY v. FUL ($7,500): Someone has to score against Fulham, right? It's unknown if Palace will continue their 4-3-3 formation without Wilfried Zaha or go to the previously used 4-4-2, but either way, Ayew will start. He's cheap for a starting forward against Fulham and has a decent six chances created and 14 tackles in his last four starts. He should be a little more involved without Zaha, and that opportunity is reason enough to consider him. The other bonus is that Fulham are still brutal at defending, allowing two early goals to Brighton last match, as well as losing nine of their last 10 away matches in all competitions.
MIDFIELDERS
Eden Hazard, CHE v. HUD ($11,500): I've already explained why not to spend up at forward, so it only makes sense that you'll have extra money. Willian ($9,000) is the better value play, but Hazard is more likely to play a full 90. Hazard's floor finally showed up last match with five chances created and two shots on goal, and while he's made the score sheet in just one of his last five league starts, he has the best odds to score on the slate other than Higuain. A lot of that is due to Chelsea's overwhelming win odds, but even while they're in a funk, Huddersfield have been worse, sitting at the bottom of the table with relegation all but guaranteed. They aren't allowing a ton of goals, but have lost 10 of their last 11 matches.
Gylfi Sigurdsson, EVE v. WOL ($9,500): Sigurdsson is the second-most expensive midfielder and he's only $9,500; what a slate. It's likely this range of midfielders will decide the big winners, with Willian, James Ward-Prowse ($9,000), Richarlison ($8,500) and Andros Townsend ($8,500) the other options. I'm not saying any of those guys are bad choices, only that Sigurdsson isn't that much more expensive and he may have the best floor. He has four shots on goal in the last two matches and has added to his floor with 11 tackles. He's hit double-digit fantasy points in his last six starts and has created 13 more chances at home than on the road in the same number of matches. With Lucas Digne suspended, more corners are possible, as well. Wolverhampton have been hard to predict, but they have given up at least one goal in their last eight away matches and just gave up two at Shrewsbury in the FA Cup last weekend.
Luka Milivojevic, CRY v. FUL ($7,500): This may not be an exciting play, but it may be the safest. Milivojevic rarely scores from open play, but he still has a consistent floor with the help of nine tackles, six interceptions and six clearances in the last four matches. Throw in seven chances created, five shots on goal and 24 corners taken and there are few reasons not to use him against Fulham. Townsend will undoubtedly get more love because he's more likely to score, but Milivojevic could again reach a floor of 15 fantasy points with upside possibility of converting another penalty. There are a lot of other viable plays in this range, with Ryan Fraser ($8,000) providing upside and Joao Moutinho ($8,000) providing a floor, but I'll take Palace's penalty taker as the second-biggest favorite on the slate.
DEFENDERS
Zanka, HUD at CHE ($6,000): Zanka should have a floor near 15 fantasy points with some upside if Huddersfield can capitalize on the counter and grab a few corners, similar to Bournemouth last match against Chelsea. Either way, the defensive stats will be there, as he's averaging 3.45 clearances, 2.92 interceptions and 2.20 tackles per 90 minutes. Chelsea have forced the most interceptions, second-most blocks and fifth-most tackles out of defenders this season, and that's a recipe for at least 15 points if Chelsea are on the attack for the majority of the match. Sol Bamba ($6,000) will probably be more popular at the same price, so why not pivot in GPPs?
Jan Bednarek, SOU at BRN ($5,500): If you need an extra $500, Jannik Vestergaard is also available for Southampton, but Bednarek has been a little safer. He's had at least 16.9 fantasy points in each of his last four starts with the help of 34 clearances, 12 interceptions, eight blocks and eight tackles. There are numerous ways for him to reach a floor of 15 points, and while Burnley don't force a ton of defensive action, Bednarek has been matchup proof. If you don't trust it, David Luiz and Michael Keane are the same price with similar floors and better clean sheet odds.
Jonny, WOL at EVE ($4,500): Jonny continues to be underrated despite hitting double-digit fantasy points in his last four starts. Similar to Bednarek, he does a little bit of everything, with 15 clearances, 12 interceptions and six tackles in that period. Throw in attacking potential as a wing-back and he's an easy play no matter how this match plays out. If you prefer safety over upside, Adrian Mariappa ($4,500) has been an easy 15 fantasy points almost every match, though that may be a little more difficult against Brighton.
GOALKEEPER
Vicente Guaita, CRY v. FUL ($4,500): This is a rare slate when you could have enough money to spend up on goalkeeper, but there isn't anyone to spend on. Guaita is back in the fold and has the second-best odds to win and secure a clean sheet. Going along with Mitrovic's road struggles, Fulham have just eight goals in 12 away matches while Palace have allowed one goal per home match and Guaita has allowed just four goals in seven starts. You could spend on Kepa Arrizabalaga ($5,500), but the Chelsea back line isn't the easiest to trust, while Ben Foster ($4,500) is the other cheap goalkeeper in a viable spot.
