This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EDT)
- 10:00 a.m: Crystal Palace vs. Everton
- 12:30 p.m: West Bromwich Albion vs. Chelsea
- 3:00 p.m: Burnley vs. Southampton
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS
Timo Werner, CHE at WBA ($22): The lone reason Werner won't be on more than 50 percent of rosters in all formats is that he has 18.8 fantasy points through two matches. Some will be turned off by those results, but Chelsea are projected to score almost a full goal more than anyone else on the slate, and Werner is at the top of the anytime goal-scorer odds list. While he didn't do much against Liverpool last weekend, he took five shots against Brighton in the opener, and he should get similar chances against a West Brom back line that's allowed eight goals through two matches. There's a chance Kai Havertz ($18) gets more attention at a better rate and after a midweek hat-trick, but I prefer the player who didn't start Wednesday. Other than those two, Mason Mount ($16) hasn't done much early on, and even if Christian Pulisic ($17) or Hakim Ziyech ($16) return, neither are ready for more than 60 minutes. Jorginho ($14) will probably be over-rostered with an average of 26 points through two matches, but I'm not counting on a Chelsea penalty every match.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, EVE at CRY ($20): If you want to ride the hot foot, Calvert-Lewin is your guy. Through two matches, he has four goals from eight shots (five shots on target). That conversion rate may not hold the entire season, but he's getting better opportunities because of the new additions to the squad. Of course, because of that success, he may be the most popular forward on the slate, more so than Werner, making him only desirable in cash games. If you don't want to fade Everton completely, Richarlison ($19) has probably been a better overall player than Calvert-Lewin with 12 shots (two on target), three chances created and seven tackles in two league matches. Plus, he bagged a brace in midweek and the goals will come at some point in league play. The only thing going against Everton is that Crystal Palace opened the season in form, winning their first two after holding Man United to one goal last weekend. It doesn't help that this match has the lowest implied goal total of the three, though it's not much behind Burnley-Southampton. Otherwise, James Rodriguez ($16) is fairly safe for a cash play with decent upside. He's creating chances with regularity and has been a decent goal scorer throughout his career, averaging nearly 0.50 goals per 90 minutes the last three seasons at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Chris Wood, BRN v. SOU ($15): Someone in the Southampton-Burnley match is going to win a few GPPs and Wood is my guess. For some reason, Southampton are favored away, which could help this bet on Wood. He has worse odds to score than Danny Ings ($20) and is one of the cheapest starting forwards on the slate despite scoring against Leicester City in the opener, producing four shots (two on target). He's scored double-digit goals each of the past three seasons and will likely do so again if he can stay healthy. The absence of Jay Rodriguez ($16) likely gives more attention to Wood in GPPs, but I don't think it'll be enough. Throw in a struggling Southampton side that has lost their first three matches of the season in all competitions and Wood could hit a double-digit floor even if he doesn't find the back of the net. While I'm passing on Matej Vydra ($11), a Wood stack with Dwight McNeil ($14) and Ashley Westwood ($12) could be useful. It wouldn't be surprising if Burnley bagged three goals in this match and then Chelsea struggled to surpass one against West Brom. In that case, a Burnley stack beats everyone.
Andros Townsend, CRY v. EVE ($12): Townsend has already matched last season's total of one goal and one assist, and he seems a bit underrated at $12. In addition to taking some set pieces, he has four shots and four chances created in two matches to go with a variety of defensive stats to help his floor, making him viable as a cheap option for cash games. I also don't have faith in the Everton back line after allowing four goals the last two matches against West Brom and Fleetwood Town. I'd consider Eberechi Eze ($11) in this spot if he starts, but I'm not sure he's ready for a full 90 like Townsend. Wilfried Zaha ($19) and Jordan Ayew ($16) will get more attention as forwards, but I'm not sold on them being elite options just yet. Zaha's early success seems most unlikely to continue since he already has three goals in two matches after scoring just four in 38 appearances last season. You could say the same about Townsend, but you're also not taking him over players like Richarlison, Havertz or Wood, like you would with Zaha.
DEFENDERS
Tyrick Mitchell, CRY v. EVE ($8): Similar to the first two weeks, I'm recommending Mitchell as the cheapest expected starting defender. He's racked up 10 tackles through the first two matches and should again have a floor close to 10 fantasy points from defensive stats. If you have an extra dollar, Cheikhou Kouyate probably has a slightly higher floor as a center-back, with 15 fantasy points each of the first two matches. Elsewhere in this range, I'm staying away from the West Brom back five because their stats are more spread out than a back four. If you don't want to stack Palace defenders, Burnley are the next choice, with Charlie Taylor and Jimmy Dunne both $9. Last season, Southampton were fifth in clearances forced, sixth in shots blocked and in the top half of the league in interceptions allowed. Both Taylor and Dunne had double-digit floors last match and that could be the case again.
Lucas Digne, EVE at CRY ($14): I don't like spending up at defender, but with a forward like Wood at $15, there is an opportunity to go after Digne or Reece James ($15). Digne is usually unpredictable because while he has upside as a set-piece taker, his defensive numbers are inconsistent. However, I don't think that'll be a problem against Crystal Palace, who are almost always near the top of the charts in terms of tackles forced. Digne had a floor of 28.1 points in the last meeting against Palace, and only nine of those points came from chances created. If you have money, I think he's most likely of the defenders to hit at least 20 points, whereas you're counting on a score-sheet appearance from almost everyone else in this range.
GOALKEEPER
Nick Pope, BRN v. SOU ($10): Again, the odds between Burnley and Southampton are flipped, so for me, Pope comes at a discount. He gave up one goal in two matches against Southampton last season, and even if he allows a goal, he's in play for at least three saves because of how Burnley play. I'm not sure Kepa Arrizabalaga ($13) is worth the price, but if Wilfredo Caballero ($11) starts, he'd likely be in the majority of lineups. The full Chelsea fade would be Sam Johnstone ($6), and even if he allows a couple goals, he could make enough saves to come out close to even.
