This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EST)
- 10:00 am: Crystal Palace vs. West Bromwich Albion
- 12:30 pm: Everton vs. Burnley
- 3:00 pm: Fulham vs. Manchester City
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS
Kevin De Bruyne, MCI at FUL ($23): This slate will likely come down to Manchester City players, and that is usually a mystery before lineup release. Picking De Bruyne seems most reasonable, as he has the highest floor, averaging well over three chances created per 90 minutes to go with 1.18 shots on target. There's a chance he doesn't start, which would make Phil Foden ($17) an easier play because he's cheaper and will be on set pieces. De Bruyne, Foden and Riyad Mahrez ($22) all started together for just the second time this season in the win against Southampton , so I wouldn't bet on that happening again. It makes more sense for Raheem Sterling ($20) and Gabriel Jesus ($18) to enter the XI, since neither played midweek. Unlike the others listed above, they don't have much of a floor and rely mostly on goals. Sterling hasn't made the score-sheet in his last three starts, while Jesus is simply a goal poacher in front of net, limiting his floor. Ilkay Gundogan ($15) took a price cut for an unknown reason, as he had three shots on goal and six chances created in the last two matches. Even if Man City don't romp and score five goals again, they're expected to control possession and rack up set pieces against Fulham, helping the floors of guys like De Bruyne and Foden.
Gylfi Sigurdsson, EVE v. BRN ($15): Everton aren't that far behind Man City in terms of implied goals, but it'll be hard to back Richarlison ($21) over De Bruyne and Mahrez. Even with four goals in his last five matches, Richarlison hasn't surpassed a floor of six points. That's why I'd rather back Sigurdsson, assuming he starts for the injured James Rodriguez ($17) again. He has a split role on set pieces and has made the score-sheet in three of his last four. Otherwise, Dominic Calvert-Lewin ($19) is in the same boat as Richarlison and probably not worth it in cash games. Sigurdsson at least allows for some price relief to go with a hopefully decent floor in a match Everton should get plenty of opportunities in. If you want to get all of the top Man City guys, Andre Gomes ($7) and Tom Davies ($6) are both near minimum price.
Wilfried Zaha, CRY v. WBA ($18): I don't like the price, but Zaha is a perfect GPP option. He managed 45 minutes in a return from injury last weekend and should be back in the starting XI on Saturday. His presence changes everything for Crystal Palace because of what he does on the ball and the threat he provides. Already with nine goals this season, he has slightly better odds to hit the back of the net than De Bruyne. The other part to this is his opponent, as he scored a brace in the prior meeting against West Brom this season, a surprising 5-1 win. Christian Benteke ($15) also bagged two in that game and could be worth a stack if you think Palace score five again. Assuming that won't happen, Andros Townsend ($14) may be the only other Palace player worth considering, but even with Zaha in the team, he wasn't doing much in terms of fantasy this season.
Matheus Pereira, WBA at CRY ($15): If someone is to be involved on goals for West Brom, it'd be Pereira, who has five shots on goal and seven chances created over the last three matches. He's another player who doesn't have an overwhelming floor, but if you're fading Man City or Everton, you'll need points from somewhere. The thought is that West Brom need to push for points before the season ends and it makes sense to do that against weaker clubs. Stacking Mbaye Diagne ($15) with Pereira would be the ultimate GPP stack because it's at least in the realm of possibility that those two connect on a couple goals. Of course, with the way matches have been played of late, this one may also result in a scoreless draw.
Elsewhere, this probably isn't the matchup to back Fulham players, though Ademola Lookman ($16) is fairly cheap and James Ward-Prowse had a solid game against Man City midweek. It's a similar case for Burnley because your only route to fantasy production would likely be one of the forwards between Chris Wood ($17) or Matej Vydra ($9), and it's a guessing game as to which one will get Burnley's lone goal.
DEFENDERS
Erik Pieters, BRN at EVE ($7): Pieters is the cheapest projected starting defender, and he allows you to use multiple Man City pieces. His floor usually floats between five and 10 fantasy points, but that's kind of all you need at the price. You could spend an extra dollar on Patrick van Aanholt ($8) and hope he gets a few more attacking stats in a favorable matchup, but that's all it is: hope.
Lucas Digne, EVE v. BRN ($14): Paying up for Digne is kind of risky because he may not have a ton of defensive opportunities against Burnley, but if Sigurdsson doesn't start, he could have an exclusive role on set pieces. Prior to the Chelsea match, he hit 18 fantasy points in three straight starts and could be set for a similar output with another clean sheet. If you don't want to spend so much for unpredictable points, the Fulham center-backs are a nice stack if you can find the money. Joachim Andersen ($13) is more consistent, but Tosin Adarabioyo ($11) had 18 clearances last match and is close to a guarantee for double-digit fantasy points.
GOALKEEPER
Ederson, MCI at FUL ($14): If you don't spend up at defender, Ederson is an easy play with the best odds to win and secure a clean sheet. His run of clean sheets is long gone, but Fulham have scored five goals in their last eight. A lot of people will be inclined to save money with Jordan Pickford ($12), but I still don't trust Everton in what looks like a good spot for a clean sheet. I'd rather go with Vicente Guaita ($10) and hope those teams continue the style of play seen in recent weeks, which would lead to a scoreless draw. Palace have one goal in their last three matches and there have been two goals total in West Brom's last four.
