FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday EPL Targets

For detailed odds and stats, check out the Fantasy Premier League: Tuesday Cheat Sheet.

MATCHES (EDT)

2:45 p.m: Brighton v. Crystal Palace
2:45 p.m: Bournemouth v. Huddersfield
2:45 p.m: West Ham v. Cardiff City
3:00 p.m: Watford v. Manchester City

FORWARDS

Marko Arnautovic, WHU v. CAR ($11,000): There's no doubt that whichever Man City forward starts will be the most popular on the slate. But no matter who it is, it wouldn't be surprising if Gabriel Jesus ($12,500) or Sergio Aguero ($12,500) only played 60 minutes given the fixture influx, not to mention Aguero's current knock. Arnautovic isn't exactly easy to trust, but he's still averaging 3.15 shots and 1.76 chances created per 90 minutes. Cardiff have allowed the third-most shots on target in the league, at a little more than five per match. Arnautovic doesn't have the same goal odds as Aguero or Jesus, but he provides a decent floor in a favorable situation and also allows you to grab multiple Man City midfielders.

Callum Wilson, BOU v. HUD ($9,500): Wilson might be easier to play since he's much cheaper and has the fifth-best odds to score on the slate. Bournemouth have just as good scoring odds as West Ham and Wilson is usually involved up front. He already has seven goals and four assists and is averaging 2.56 shots and 1.31 chances created per 90 minutes. Meanwhile, Huddersfield have allowed the second-most shots (70) and third-most goals (13) to forwards this season. He's had trouble keeping a consistent floor, which is the main worry, but it's hard to ignore the matchup. Wilfried Zaha ($9,500) has a better floor but is on the road, while Chicharito ($10,000) has had one good match in two seasons, and it came a few days ago.

Florin Andone, BHA v. CRY ($7,500): There will be plenty of people taking Andone after he scored last match, and while he's not my favorite play, he's the only forward I'd consider below $9,500 because Joshua King ($8,500) has a floor of about three points. Andone scored in his first start for Brighton and managed 19 goals in the last two campaigns with the relegated Deportivo La Coruna of Spain. Crystal Palace have been stout in the back this season, but they also only have one point from their last four away matches and Brighton surprisingly have seven points from their last three at home. Either way, Andone is at least worth a GPP play.

MIDFIELDERS

Riyad Mahrez, MCI at WAT ($8,000): Manchester City's starting XI will be a mystery until lineups are revealed, but I think Mahrez provides the best value of the bunch. For starters, he only played three minutes against Bournemouth so there's a good chance he starts this one. He's incredibly cheap because he doesn't get consistent playing time, but he's made the scoresheet in his last six starts in all competitions, averaging 3.72 shots and 1.70 chances created per 90 minutes. It's hard to see Raheem Sterling ($12,000) going another full 90, which he's done twice in the last week. David Silva ($10,500) is in the same boat as Mahrez in that he always makes the score sheet when starting, but his floor isn't as high and he costs more. I don't think Leroy Sane ($10,500) gets another start, while Ilkay Gundogan ($8,500) and Bernardo Silva ($8,500) will both be over-owned after scoring against Bournemouth.

Andros Townsend, CRY at BHA ($8,000): It was a fight between Felipe Anderson ($9,500) and Townsend, and I'm going with the guy with a higher floor. I backed both last weekend and they produced, but Townsend has fewer than 10 fantasy points in just one of his last seven starts. He may not hit 46 again, but he'll undoubtedly get chances against Brighton even if they are playing well, as they've allowed the second-most shots (16.9 per match) and chances created (11.7 per match) this season. Aaron Mooy ($8,500) has a slightly safer floor, but I'm avoiding Huddersfield after their recent performance, while Luka Milivojevic ($8,500) is never an easy player to back as seen in his 5.6 points against Burnley last weekend.

Ryan Fraser, BOU v. HUD ($7,500): Fraser continues to be underpriced even though he's hit double-digit fantasy points in 11 of 14 matches, and two of those bad performances came at Man City and Chelsea. He's averaging 2.65 chances created per 90 minutes, with a lot of those coming from set pieces. Huddersfield haven't allowed an overwhelming number of opportunities, but they've already given up three goals on the road to Leicester and Watford, and Bournemouth are aiming for their first points since Oct. 27 due to a difficult stretch of matches. There may be players with the same floor as Fraser like Pascal Gross ($7,000) or even Fernandinho ($7,000), but the upside isn't close. And if you want to go all in on the Cherries, stacking Fraser and Wilson could be a good route along with a few Man City players.

DEFENDERS

Fabian Balbuena, WHU v. CAR ($5,500): Balbuena has been all over the place, scoring just 6.5 points against Man City and then 32.3 at Newcastle last weekend. He should be somewhere between these numbers against a Cardiff team that has forced the second-most clearances (109) to defenders in the last five gameweeks. He's not entirely safe but I don't want to spend $7,500 for Shane Duffy or even $6,500 for Sol Bamba. Those guys are solid and have floors near 20 points, but I'd rather spend extra on a Man City midfielder who could just as easily score a brace. Balbuena is dealing with a knock, so teammates Issa Diop ($5,500) and Angelo Ogbonna ($4,000) would be possibilities, with Ogbonna a steal if he starts.

Bernardo, BHA v. CRY ($4,500): Instead of teammate Duffy, I'll go with the much cheaper Bernardo, who has done a little bit of everything in his three starts with nine clearances, nine interceptions and 12 tackles. His floor may only be around 13 fantasy points, but he has clean sheet potential and Crystal Palace are in the top half of the charts in tackles and clearances allowed to defenders. Of course, there are a few places to go in this spot, with Terence Kongolo and Tyrone Mings deserving recognition at the same price or Danilo ($5,000) for a few more dollars.

Florent Hadergjonaj, HUD at BOU ($4,000): There's only one expected starter at this price, so Hadergjonaj gets the call even though he's averaging fewer than eight fantasy points per match. It's worth noting that the average incorporates the four times he played fewer than 90 minutes (even the four minutes against Burnley). This isn't a great matchup for a defender, but reaching 10 fantasy point should be attainable for Hadergjonaj in a game that has the second-highest expected goal total. That means things should be a little more open and could lead to a similar performance like he had against Wolves and Fulham, surpassing 15 points.

GOALKEEPER

Lukasz Fabianski, WHU v. CAR ($5,000): With only four matches, there aren't a ton of places to go, especially with Ederson ($6,500) priced well above the rest. Fabianski at least costs a reasonable amount, and his odds to get a clean sheet aren't much different than that of Ederson or Wayne Hennessey ($5,500). Whether through saves or a couple clean sheets, Fabianski has been fairly consistent and Cardiff have scored just two away goals this season. To save some cash, Asmir Begovic ($4,500) is also in a decent spot against Huddersfield.