This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EDT)
- 10:00 am: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Everton
- 10:00 am: Watford vs. AFC Bournemouth
- 10:00 am: West Ham United vs. Sheffield United
- 12:30 pm: Burnley vs. Chelsea
For additional stats and odds, check out the FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Saturday EPL Cheat Sheet.
FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS
Due to midweek European competition, Saturday's slate is down to four ho-hum matches. Tammy Abraham ($23) has the best odds to score, but he's not an easy selection for the price, especially away from home. After an early-season scoring binge, Abraham has two goals in his last seven starts in all competitions and Burnley have allowed three goals in four home matches, all of those to Liverpool. Unfortunately, there aren't many more ways to go (if you want to spend) because the best way for others, like Mason Mount ($21), to live up to their prices is to make the score-sheet. I'd rather roll with the cheaper Willian ($16), who has had a higher floor despite not taking as many set pieces, and he has multiple chances created in his last four starts in all competitions. The same goes for Callum Hudson-Odoi ($14), and while he isn't getting many shots, he has 11 chances created in his last three starts. The other option is to ride Burnley if you think Chris Wood ($16) and Jay Rodriguez ($13) are worth a GPP stack. If anything, Jorginho ($12) might have the best value since his floor can reach 15 fantasy points.
The better match to focus on is Watford v. Bournemouth because it has the highest total. Unfortunately, both have been a little more defensive in recent matches, but hopefully that changes against faulty back lines. The problem is that Watford have one goal in their last four matches and it came from Abdoulaye Doucoure ($11), so predicting their goals is the biggest task. Gerard Deulofeu ($13) has one good match, and it oddly came against Arsenal when he had four shots on goal and eight chances created. That may not happen again, but with Danny Welbeck out, he may be the best chance to make the score-sheet, though Andre Gray ($12) has the best odds. Tom Cleverley ($11) is in the same mold as Jorginho in that you're hoping for a floor of 15 points. As for the Cherries, you can't stack them without Callum Wilson ($17), who is most likely to be involved. If you think they can score a couple, Wilson stacked with Joshua King ($15) and Ryan Fraser ($10) is reasonable, but the lack of floors above 10 points is a problem.
The other matches are equally as troubling. You'd think it'd be a good idea to go against Brighton, but they held Tottenham scoreless last home match and Everton have one away goal this season and it came at Bournemouth. It hasn't been working for Richarlison ($17), yet Gylfi Sigurdsson ($17) will be one of the more popular players on the slate because he at least creates chances every match. I'm more intrigued by Brighton because a lot of people will overlook them. Neal Maupay ($16) has gone under the radar and is averaging 1.34 shots on goal and 0.89 chances created per 90 minutes. There's also a chance Leandro Trossard ($16) returns to the XI, and he had a legendary seven chances created last home start. If not, Pascal Gross ($10) will remain on set pieces and has at least 12 fantasy points in his last four starts in which he's gone a full 90.
There have been two goals scored in Sheffield United's last three matches and they are tied with Liverpool for fewest goals allowed (seven). West Ham are home, but spending $20 on Sebastien Haller is a bit extreme when teammate Andriy Yarmolenko ($16) is averaging equal shots on goal and more chances created per 90 minutes. Manuel Lanzini ($12) had a good floor at one point, but the Hammers haven't had as many set pieces as earlier in the season. There isn't much to go after for Sheffield United except for Oliver Norwood ($14) and John Fleck ($12), who split set pieces.
DEFENDERS
In a strange turn of events, the defending options may be more exciting than the attackers. Marcos Alonso ($15) has upside and has hit 16 fantasy points in all five starts. Lucas Digne ($16) and Nathan Ake ($16) are more expensive but haven't been as consistent in terms of floors. James Tarkowski ($14) has 16 clearances and five interceptions in his last two starts and Chelsea have forced the fourth-most clearances and third-most interceptions. Similarly, if Steve Cook ($14) can have a floor of 18 points at home against Norwich City, he can hit that number at Watford. Diego Rico ($14) is the Bournemouth upside play with 10 chances created in his last three starts.
For those spending up at forward, there aren't a ton of players to trust on the cheap end. Craig Cathcart ($9) has 14 clearances in the last two matches, but Bournemouth are near the bottom of the charts in terms of clearances forced. I'd rather spend a couple extra bucks on Arthur Masuaku ($10) or Enda Stevens ($10), who both provide a variety of stats to help their floors hit 10 points in most matches. Otherwise, Ben Mee ($12) is the cheapest Burnley defender, and they have the best matchup against Chelsea.
GOALKEEPER
Prices oddly haven't been updated, so Roberto Jimenez ($8) could be in more than 50 percent of cash lineups. His numbers have been all over and he doesn't have a clean sheet, but Sheffield United are averaging fewer than one goal per match. Normally, I wouldn't fall into that trap because he could easily make one save and allow a couple goals. However, without any clear-cut choices for a clean sheet, he makes the most sense for cheap. Mathew Ryan ($10) may have the best floor with 21 saves in his last four starts and Everton have been the opposite of efficient, scoring eight goals from 121 shots. Kepa Arrizabalaga ($14) has the best odds to win, but he has three saves in his last four starts, and that's not going to help when he allows a goal, similar to the recent trip to Southampton.
