This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EST)
- 10:00 a.m: Newcastle United vs. West Bromwich Albion
- 12:30 p.m: Manchester United vs. Manchester City
- 3:00 p.m: Everton vs. Chelsea
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS
Olivier Giroud, CHE at EVE ($12): There isn't one team that stands out on this slate, which is why Giroud has similar odds to Sergio Aguero ($20) and Callum Wilson ($18) to hit the back of the net. I'm opening with Giroud because he's the main piece you need in your squad to do whatever else you want to do. He's expected to start again after coming off the bench midweek, and it comes on a slate in which Chelsea have the highest-implied goal total. That's mainly because Everton haven't figured out their back line following recent injuries and have given up at least one goal in 10 straight matches, including seven with at least two. Giroud is full of risk, but he has five goals in his last two starts and had a floor of nearly 20 points against Leeds last match in addition to a goal. If he continues to get back on defense and help teammates in the attack, his price could be near $20 on future slates. Timo Werner ($21) may be the only other played I'd consider in the Chelsea attack because he's the only other playing getting consistent looks on net. He had a ridiculous floor of 30 fantasy points last match and is averaging 1.34 shots on goal per 90 minutes. Otherwise, Christian Pulisic ($14) and Kai Havertz ($15) are unlikely to go a full 90, while Mason Mount's ($15) fantasy value is tied exclusively to set pieces, and he's unlikely to match the seven chances he created last week.
Bruno Fernandes, MUN v. MCI ($20): The odds point to backing City over United, but I wouldn't go all in on those. City have been overrated the majority of the season and shouldn't be massive favorites because they beat Burnley and Fulham, as well as some second-tier UCL clubs. In their last two matches against high-end competition, they lost to Tottenham and drew Liverpool. Going further, United won both derbies last season by a combined 4-1 score line. Fernandes is the underdog, but he's cheaper and has been a more consistent fantasy player than Kevin De Bruyne ($22) this season, compiling seven goals and four assists in 10 league appearances. While De Bruyne is the king of creating chances, Fernandes is actually averaging more shots on goal (1.58) and chances created (3.96) than De Bruyne. Even if you don't want to back any other United player, Fernandes is fine by himself because of his floor. Marcus Rashford ($18) is their second most reliable option, but he hasn't surpassed 30 fantasy points in any of his last nine starts. Anthony Martial ($17) and Edinson Cavani ($16) are as boom-or-bust as it gets and should probably be avoided in cash games.
Kevin De Bruyne, MCI at MUN ($22): While I just bashed De Bruyne, you can still get him and Fernandes into the squad because of Giroud's price. De Bruyne may also be more popular as the biggest favorite. However, I probably wouldn't pay up for him in GPPs given his varied production this season. He'll reach a floor around 10 or 15 points because of chances created and maybe a shot on goal, but he's surpassed 21 fantasy points in just three of eight league starts. That's a good number for most, but De Bruyne is the most-expensive player on the slate and has struggled to produce against better competition. The other side to this is that Man United have shown a propensity to collapse in big spots, and it wouldn't be surprising if City scored a few goals. If that happens, everyone will be in play, whether it's Gabriel Jesus ($19) in a central role or Raheem Sterling ($17) and Riyad Mahrez ($18) on the wings. Unlike prior slates, I'm probably staying away from Jesus because the recent return of Aguero means those two will begin to split time. In addition to recent struggles, Jesus could be headed for only 60 or 70 minutes Saturday.
Callum Wilson, NEW v. WBA ($18): Wilson is more of a GPP option, but despite playing in the match with the lowest-implied goal total, he has the best odds to score of the projected starters. He has seven goals and two assists in nine starts, which almost matches what he did at Bournemouth last season (eight goals and one assist in 35 appearances). He's usually involved whenever Newcastle score, and they should be able to hit the back of the net at least once. My main worry is that prior to last week's debacle, West Brom had allowed two goals in three matches, including two against Man United and Tottenham. That's the main reason I wouldn't use more than one player from this match because it could end in a scoreless draw. Jonjo Shelvey ($9) is cheap as a floor play for cash games, while West Brom are as inconsistent as it gets because their forwards (Karlan Grant, $10, Callum Robinson, $16) have a combined for three goals this season. Robinson is more expensive because he braced against Chelsea in September; otherwise, he came off the bench in five of the last seven.
The other move is to back Everton and hope for a few goals in that match. While that's always possible with Everton, they aren't in the same form as earlier in the season and Chelsea have been almost unbeatable with Edouard Mendy in net. The best comparison for this match may be the 3-1 loss against Man United last month when Everton's lone shot on goal came in the 19th minute from Bernard. Their attackers, Dominic Calvert-Lewin ($19), Richarlison ($17) and James Rodriguez ($16), are always viable, but I'm not sure they're worth a look in cash games in this matchup.
DEFENDERS
Javier Manquillo, NEW v. WBA ($7): Fortunately, we'll know who the cheap starting defenders will be early because Newcastle and West Brom open the slate. Kieran Gibbs ($6) is the cheapest expected starter, but he hasn't played since September and managed 2.6 fantasy points in the lone match in which he went a full 90 (he was sent off in his other start). I'm leaning Manquillo slightly ahead of Semi Ajayi ($7) mainly because of the better odds for a clean sheet. Manquillo's floor has been all over this season, but he has more than 17 fantasy points in two clean sheets and West Brom have the lowest implied goal total on the slate.
Reece James, CHE at EVE ($10): I did a double-take when I saw the price difference between James and Ben Chilwell ($15). Don't question it, just accept it even if this means Chilwell will score and assist. While neither of them take corners consistently anymore, James is more likely to steal a couple because he's on the opposite side of Chilwell and Mount. In addition to hitting double-digit fantasy points in all but one start this season, James has finished with more fantasy points in the last three matches in which he and Chilwell both started. It's unclear why James has dropped in price, but that doesn't matter. While Alex Telles ($13) is always in play, it's a little harder to spend up on him in this matchup, especially with James a few bucks cheaper.
GOALKEEPER
Sam Johnstone, WBA at NEW ($8): Given the firepower in the other two matches, I think it's fine to spend down and pick a keeper from the match with the lowest-implied goal total. Johnstone has made multiple saves in every start this season, and the only time he finished in the negative were the two matches in which West Brom had a player sent off in the first 45 minutes. Newcastle are favored, but it's unlikely they score more than two goals, which should mean Johnstone stays above zero. Karl Darlow ($10) is fairly safe as the favorite in that match, while Edouard Mendy ($14) is probably a tad expensive against Everton, though if you have the money, he's worth the extra seven points for a possible win.
