This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EDT)
- 10:00 am: Liverpool vs. Burnley
- 12:30 pm: Sheffield United vs. Chelsea
- 3:00 pm: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Manchester City
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS
Mohamed Salah, LIV v. BRN ($22): The good thing about Saturday's slate is that Liverpool play first, which means you don't have to worry about Sadio Mane ($21) getting benched like in midweek. There's a chance Salah gets rested this time, but you'll at least get an early notice. If both are starting, Salah is still my guy producing three goals and three assists in his last four starts. He's had a higher floor and, as seen last match, has shown more upside since the restart. While Burnley are playing well and not allowing goals, they're giving up chances and shots on target, which should lead to a performance close to 20 fantasy points for Salah if all goes well. On one end, Burnley have allowed one goal in their last four matches. On the other, a lot of that has to do with competition, and they gave up five goals to Man City back on June 22. Because of that, it's fine to stack Salah and Mane in cash games, while Roberto Firmino ($15) is a GPP option and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ($11) is simply there as a value play.
Gabriel Jesus, MCI at BHA ($18): Unlike Liverpool, Man City are the third match on the slate and there's a chance Kevin De Bruyne ($22) doesn't start. If that's the case, make sure to have a back-up plan and don't leave money on the table if you can help it. Salah and De Bruyne should get fairly even interest, but I'm sticking with Jesus, who manager Pep Guardiola said had his best game in the recent loss to Southampton. Unlike De Bruyne, Jesus has started each of the last three matches and in addition to scoring last time out, he created four chances. If he's your lone Man City player, it'd be wise to either have a couple extra bucks for Riyad Mahrez ($20) and Raheem Sterling ($19) or prepare to go with cheaper options. If you plan on using two or three Man City players, it's the perfect time to use Phil Foden ($15), who blew two goal-scoring opportunities last match. After putting in a dud and David Silva ($16) having one of his better matches, it's a decent spot to use Foden in GPP. While Silva remains a value play, I think he'll be a little more owned than usual after his one-goal, two-assist performance. Bernardo Silva ($14) is only in play if De Bruyne doesn't start.
Willian, CHE at SHU ($21): Willian is putting in one of the better stretches of the season since the restart, racking up four goals, two assists, 16 chances and 10 shots on target in five matches. Even against a defensive Sheffield United side in what is projected to be a lower-scoring match, Willian still may have the best floor on the slate. While Sheffield United are playing well, they haven't faced a team of the scoring prowess of Chelsea, who have scored multiple goals in each match since the restart. Given the lowest implied goal total of the three favorites, a Chelsea stack is probably the way to go in GPP in case they score three goals, while Liverpool and Man City finish with one or two. In that situation, a viable stack would be Olivier Giroud ($18) or Tammy Abraham ($17) along with Christian Pulisic ($17). Pulisic is also an option in cash games, but I'd only take Giroud or Abraham if you stack them with one of the attacking wingers.
Chris Wood, BRN at LIV ($11): If you really want to get wild or need a value player who has the best odds to score of any underdog, Wood may be the route. Burnley aren't a high-scoring side, but Liverpool have shown some holes following their league title. After the loss to Man City, they were out shot by Aston Villa and gave up a goal and 10 chances to Brighton last match. If Wood starts, he's a cheaper play who should get opportunities up front next to Jay Rodriguez ($16). While Rodriguez has been great, Wood is cheaper and when in the lineup, is usually the guy who gets things done for Burnley with 11 goals in 25 starts. Otherwise, Sheffield United don't have any consistent fantasy performers and, similar to Man City in the late match, there's no guarantee as to who will start up front for Brighton. A bigger shot in the dark would be Alexis Mac Allister ($6) because of price, but unfortunately in the later match, there's no guarantee he starts.
DEFENDERS
Kevin Long, BRN at LIV ($8): Long has a floor of at least 15 fantasy points in his last two starts as a center-back and now faces a Liverpool side that forces the most clearances in the league. At a minimum, he'll hit 10 points and, as seen last match, could reach close to 10 clearances which could push his floor to around 20 points. Fellow center-back James Tarkowski ($15) is one of the most expensive defenders on the slate if that says anything. If you want to stack a cheaper Burnley duo, Charlie Taylor ($10) comes at a decent rate, though he's less predictable as a full-back and can't be relied on for assists like he had against West Ham last match.
Jack O'Connell, SHU v. CHE ($8): While the high-end guys like Trent Alexander-Arnold ($15) and Cesar Azpilicueta ($15) have more upside, I'd rather spend money on the top forwards. Even then, some of the value defenders have floors that are just as good as the top guys. O'Connell stands out because he comes at a discount having just returned from injury. Assuming he starts, he should be set for at least another 10 fantasy points after a 10-point floor last match. Elsewhere, you could go with a duo like Aymeric Laporte ($9) and Eric Garcia ($8), while Tariq Lamptey ($9) isn't as good of a play now that his price went up. The problem with backing the Man City defenders is that they're in the late match and Guardiola has changed the back line the last couple matches.
GOALKEEPER
Dean Henderson, SHU v. CHE ($8): Given the three large favorites, it's more of a guessing game for which top goalkeeper to select. Liverpool and Man City may win, but both Alisson Becker ($14) and Ederson ($13) have been prone to allowing goals to inferior teams. That's why I think saving money on Henderson could be the way to go now that Sheffield United are playing better of late and held Wolves scoreless last match. Even then, he's hit at least 6.5 fantasy points in each of his last six starts because saves keep him relevant even when he allows a goal or two. Chelsea may get opportunities, but if Henderson can make three or four saves in a 2-0 loss, he'll still finish in the positive, which could be enough if the top guys allow a goal.
