FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Saturday EPL Targets

MATCHES (EDT)

• 10:00 am: Leicester City vs. Crystal Palace
• 10:00 am: Manchester United vs. AFC Bournemouth
• 12:30 pm: Wolverhampton vs. Arsenal
• 3:00 pm: Chelsea vs. Watford

For detailed stats and odds, check out the

FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Saturday EPL Cheat Sheet

FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS

Bruno Fernandes, MUN v. BOU ($21): Fernandes has worse odds to score than Mason Greenwood ($15), but this isn't the match to fade him. He's the most-expensive player on the slate for good reason, hitting at least 20 fantasy points in seven of eight league starts, and he has multiple shots on goal and multiple chances created in four of those games. Given Bournemouth's most recent outing, a 4-1 loss to Newcastle, you'd be crazy not to use Man United players in cash games. As the biggest favorite on the slate, they'll be the most popular, with Anthony Martial ($20) possibly being the GPP route. There's a chance everyone flocks to Fernandes and then to save money, grab Marcus Rashford ($18) and Greenwood for a three-man stack. It's possible to fit Martial into the squad too, but without much of a floor, he's not a cash option. Even when he bagged a hat trick a couple matches ago, he had just 4.3 floor points.

Willian, CHE v. WAT ($20): Willian has been awesome since the restart, scoring goals from set pieces like it's nothing, totaling 10 chances created and five shots on goal in three league starts. Combining Willian and Fernandes is the most logical cash play because both have a floor of 20 points but also upside, as both have put in recent braces. Oddly, Willian has worse odds to score than Callum Hudson-Odoi ($5), but that won't stop me from using him. While this matchup isn't as good as Man United's, this is a perfect bounce-back situation for Chelsea, and Watford gave up seven shots on goal to Southampton in their last match. Similar to Martial, Tammy Abraham ($18) is the GPP play because he's kind of in no-man's land. He finally started Wednesday, but he did little against West Ham and not many will be keen on him since Christian Pulisic ($16) is cheaper and has been more productive. 

Jamie Vardy, LEI v. CRY ($17): Leicester City aren't playing well, and I wouldn't consider Vardy in cash games. However, he's cheaper than usual and still leads the league in goals scored. Sure, most of those came earlier in the season, but he's the guy up front and has created seven chances in the last three matches, giving him a bit of a floor. If you think Chelsea or Man United bust, Vardy is your guy for tournaments because of the upside. After Crystal Palace lost to undermanned Burnley last match, it'd be disappointing if Leicester didn't score at least once in this spot. The only reason to consider James Maddison ($15) is if you also use Vardy and hope the two connect on a goal or two. Maddison isn't fully healthy and hasn't made the score-sheet in his last 11 league appearances. Otherwise, there's not much to like about this match with the lowest implied goal total on the slate.

Adama Traore, WOL v. ARS ($12): Similar to the Leicester-Palace match, it won't be easy using Wolverhampton or Arsenal guys in cash games. Arsenal took down Norwich last match, but that's not saying much, and even then none of their guys had much of a floor. Wolves haven't allowed a goal in their last four league matches, and their back line is a step up in competition for Arsenal compared to recent opponents. Throwing $20 at Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be tough since he's not going to get the same opportunities and even if he scores, his upside is unlikely to surpass that of Fernandes or Willian. I'm backing Wolves because I think they're going to win in a possible 1-0 or 2-1 result. Similar to Aubameyang, Raul Jimenez ($19) is only good for goals, with a floor often below 10 points. That said, I'd rather take Jimenez to score over Aubameyang even though he has slightly worse odds to hit the back of the net. As for my pick, Traore is a pure tourney play without much of a floor. After coming off the bench earlier in the week, I think he's ready to start and play the majority of the match Saturday. He'll be a menace for Kieran Tierney and has already shown he can beat up better back lines, racking up two goals and two assists in three matches against Liverpool, Man City and Tottenham. At a cheaper price, he's someone you can throw in the squad and hope he goes off, similar to Allan Saint-Maximin on Wednesday.

DEFENDERS

Rob Holding, ARS at WOL ($8): Unless some teams change their back lines, there may not be a ton of value defenders available. The bigger problem is that these matches are stretched out, so picking Holding, who may not start in one of the later matches, is a bit risky. However, David Luiz ($13) isn't completely healthy and Shkodran Mustafi ($10) subbed off early last match. Also, Conor Coady ($7) should start for Wolverhampton, so you won't be completely screwed out of a spot. As for Holding, he's had a floor above 10 fantasy points in both of his recent starts, and Wolverhampton provide a tougher matchup than either of those games. If Lloyd Kelly ($7) starts again for Bournemouth, I'd probably get him in the squad, especially in one of the early matches. That could be it in terms of value plays because it seems FanDuel has changed their defensive pricing for this slate.

Craig Cathcart, WAT at CHE ($10): Cathcart plays in the late match, so make sure to keep an eye on lineups. If he doesn't start, Kiko Femenia ($9) is cheaper and Andreas Christensen ($11) is a dollar more if you have the cash. If this weren't the late match, I'd probably stack Watford center-backs because Chelsea force the second-most clearances and most blocks in the league. Cathcart started over Christian Kabasele ($14) last match and had a floor of 9.1 points, including just one clearance. If Watford use the same back line as earlier in the week, Craig Dawson ($12) is also in play. Similar to Wednesday, Marcos Alonso ($14) is a decent option with more upside than most defenders. A lot of these guys have floors above 10 points, but Cathcart and Dawson are cheaper than most and would be a nice duo to have in case Chelsea force a ton of clearances.

GOALKEEPER

Kasper Schmeichel, LEI v. CRY ($11): If you have money, I'd go after David de Gea ($14) or Kepa Arrizabalaga ($13) because both are likely to win, if not secure clean sheets. If not, I think this is a good bounce-back spot for Leicester mainly because Crystal Palace are the lowest-scoring team in the league and haven't scored in their last two. Schmeichel kept them scoreless in the first meeting and has a clean sheet in two of his last four league starts. Elsewhere, Rui Patricio ($10) has been the most consistent goalkeeper and is worth a look if you aren't backing Aubameyang.