This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EST)
- 10:00 am: Crystal Palace vs. Sheffield United
- 12:30 pm: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Wolverhampton
- 3:00 pm: West Bromwich Albion vs. Arsenal
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, ARS at WBA ($22): I wrote about Alexandre Lacazette ($21) last match and he scored… off the bench. This time it's Aubameyang, who returned from injury against Brighton and didn't score in 90 minutes. While I hate backing Arsenal, there aren't a ton of other options on Saturday's slate. They play West Brom and are the biggest favorite with the highest implied goal total. Aubameyang is averaging close to one shot on goal and one chance created per start, which is the only reason to consider him. His floor is often below 10 points, but he has the best odds to hit the back of the net. The other move is to go Lacazette and fade Aubameyang, but it doesn't really matter. The worst strategy may be to stack Arsenal because that's rarely worked this season. Even when they bagged three against Chelsea, production was spread throughout the side and one of the goals came from Granit Xhaka ($8). Gabriel Martinelli ($13) and Bukayo Saka ($13) are options if in the XI, but similar to everyone else on the team, neither have much of a floor. If you want to fade Arsenal, it's a similar situation for West Brom because none of their players have good floors and Arsenal are usually solid at limiting opportunities. If anything, Matheus Pereira ($17) is a possibility, but he's yet to start under Sam Allardyce.
Pedro Neto, WOL at BHA ($19): Neto has one of the better floors on the slate even if his floor isn't good and often sits around 10 fantasy points. He splits set pieces for Wolves and usually gets a shot on target, which leads to a reliable 10-point floor and a touch of upside. This is also a play against Brighton, who have some injuries and have struggled to get positive results all season. None of Saturday's matches are expected to have many goals, but if you can get 10 points with the chance of making the score-sheet, that's good enough on this slate. Fabio Silva ($16) is a pure GPP play if he starts, and the same goes for everyone on the team, as Adama Traore ($8) is in a similar mold, though he's less likely to make the score-sheet. If you like Wolves and want to take down a GPP, Neto and Daniel Podence ($17) are a reasonable stack, as they probably have the best floor and upside on the team.
Christian Benteke, CRY v. SHU ($18): I don't like Crystal Palace and I project them incorrectly almost every match and that's mainly why I'm writing about them. They also have the second-highest implied goal total on the slate. Wilfried Zaha ($20) will be more popular because of name and his eight goals, but I'm not falling into that trap (I'll definitely complain when he scores). Benteke is the perfect tournament play, assuming he starts. He won't be popular with just 9.5 fantasy points in his last two starts, but as the front man against Sheffield United, he has a decent amount of upside, especially after surpassing 20 fantasy points in his first three starts this season. If you want more of a floor, Andros Townsend ($13) is the best bet, as he's creating close to two chances per 90 minutes, in addition to tackles and a possible shot on target. Despite being a favorite, I'd temper expectations because while Sheffield United are losing every match, they're at least competitive. They gave up a combined six shots on goal and 10 chances created in their last two matches against Burnley and Everton. Even if Palace total those numbers in this match, it won't be enough to give guys like Zaha or Eberechi Eze ($12) a floor above 10 points.
Pascal Gross, BHA v. WOL ($14): While I think this match will be low scoring, Wolverhampton have allowed at least one goal in each of their last nine matches, so the odds are in Brighton's favor to hit the back of the net. Similar to about every other team on the slate, there's not much to like about Brighton. Danny Welbeck ($16) and Neal Maupay ($17) are most likely to score, but they have no floor and won't be easy to use in cash games. If all three matches are scoreless Saturday, Gross may be all you need for cash games, as he has at least 12 fantasy points in all seven starts this season. When in the lineup, he usually takes the majority of set pieces, including penalties. If Gross doesn't start, Leandro Trossard ($11) can slot into your squad as a straight replacement.
DEFENDERS
Max Kilman, WOL at BHA ($6): Despite there being a lack of high-end forwards, there are five expected starting defenders less than $8. Because of injuries, three play for Wolves, with Kilman the cheapest of the trio. He doesn't have much of a floor in a three-man back line, but he's cheap and has been more reliable than Dan Burn, who is also $6. For the other cheap options, Cheikhou Kouyate ($7) has the best odds for a clean sheet, while Nelson Semedo is the best bet of the $8 defenders, though there isn't much of a difference between the low-level guys.
Rob Holding, ARS at WBA ($9): Similar to the lack of forwards, there's a lack of defenders with upside unless you think Patrick van Aanholt ($13) is going to revert to his form of prior seasons when he was Palace's main set-piece taker. Holding makes the most sense if Arsenal stick with him and Pablo Mari ($13) at center-back. He's had similar fantasy value to Mari the last couple matches and is four dollars cheaper. In addition to being favored, he's hit double-digit fantasy points in four of his last five starts, and that's good enough on this slate.
GOALKEEPER
Bernd Leno, ARS at WBA ($14): Every goalkeeper is an option on this slate, so it only makes sense to use Sam Johnstone ($7), the cheapest option. However, the other two matches have lower implied goal totals and those goalkeepers make a little more sense. Wolves are averaging more shots on goal than any other team on this slate, which means Robert Sanchez ($11) has the best chance to rack up saves. I think Vicente Guaita ($12) is viable, but if you have money, which you should, Leno is coming off a clean sheet and has allowed five goals over the last five matches. It's more of a play against West Brom, who have been held scoreless in two of their last three.
