This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.
For detailed stats and odds, check out the Fantasy Premier League: Wednesday Cheat Sheet.
MATCHES (EST)
2:45 p.m: Wolverhampton v. Crystal Palace
2:45 p.m: Chelsea v. Southampton
2:45 p.m: Bournemouth v. Watford
2:45 p.m: West Ham v. Brighton
2:45 p.m: Huddersfield v. Burnley
3:00 p.m: Newcastle v. Manchester United
FORWARDS
Romelu Lukaku, MUN at NEW ($10,500): Lukaku is set to return to the starting XI and is the cheapest of the Man United forwards. While he hasn't fully taken part in the new Red Devils system that scored 12 goals in the last three matches, that is likely to change against a Newcastle side that has allowed more goals at home than on the road. Lukaku doesn't have overly great numbers this season, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should change that, and even then he still has a decent seven goals. Otherwise, Marcus Rashford ($11,000) is dealing with fatigue issues and Anthony Martial ($11,500) costs a bit too much for having a lower floor. Alvaro Morata ($10,500) and Marko Arnautovic ($10,000) are in the same category as Lukaku, but without the same goal odds.
Callum Wilson, BOU v. WAT ($9,000): This is the perfect spot for Wilson to find some form again, though he's still hard to trust in cash games. He doesn't have a shot on goal in his last four appearances, but the matchup is hard to pass up since Bournemouth scored four in the first meeting. He doesn't have much of a floor, but there aren't many forwards with a great floor, as the other options in this range include Raul Jimenez ($9,500) and Danny Ings ($9,500). Wilson has better odds to score than those two, and at one point this season he had a decent floor. If you really like the Cherries, Joshua King ($7,500) had a brace in the first meeting against Watford.
Steve Mounie, HUD v. BRN ($8,000): You're mostly guessing as to which of the forwards will score because none of their floors are relevant. Mounie has the matchup edge against Burnley, who have allowed the most shots (381), shots on goal (126) and chances created (298) this season. He still hasn't scored, but he's been viable with 1.41 shots on goal and 1.32 chances created per 90 minutes. Even if he only plays 70 minutes, he could have a better floor than the likes of Wilfried Zaha ($8,500), Gerard Deulofeu ($9,000) and Glenn Murray ($8,000), among others. His low price would also allow you to go big at midfield, which is helpful on this slate.
MIDFIELDERS
Paul Pogba, MUN at NEW ($11,000): This is a rare slate in which you could go cheap at forward and focus on two high-end midfielders instead. Pogba is slightly cheaper than Eden Hazard ($12,000) and has had a better floor under Solskjaer. Pogba may not make the score sheet two times again, but he still has nine shots on goal and eight chances created in the last three matches. Those numbers match what Hazard has done most of the season, but Pogba also gets more defensive stats while the fouls drawn by Hazard don't mean anything at FanDuel. There is some worry that this is the most difficult matchup since Solskjaer took over, but Newcastle are still near the bottom of the table and have struggled against top teams, most recently giving up four goals to Liverpool. Plus, Pogba's easier to back than the equally expensive United forwards or Willian ($10,000), who hasn't scored since October.
Robert Snodgrass, WHU v. BHA ($8,500): Snodgrass is still surprisingly cheap even though he has the same floor as teammate Felipe Anderson ($9,500). He's coming off a poor outing at Burnley (and only played 45 minutes), but so is the rest of West Ham. He hit double-digit fantasy points in his prior 10 starts with the help of 2.36 chances created per 90 minutes, mostly from free kicks. The Hammers are expected to rebound with decent odds to win, and Snodgrass should play close to 90 after last match's mishap. You could go more expensive with Anderson or Abdoulaye Doucoure ($9,000), but Snodgrass is just as likely to make the score sheet. It's the same situation with others at the same price, as Ryan Fraser doesn't have the same floor and you're betting on a penalty from Luka Milivojevic.
Alex Pritchard, HUD v. BRN ($6,500): I went with Pritchard last gameweek and he didn't do much, but he still picked up some stats in 65 minutes and has at least eight fantasy points in his last four starts. He's getting at least one shot on goal and a couple chances created against weaker teams, and Burnley fit that role. If Huddersfield want to stay in the Premier League, they'll need to beat Burnley at home, so they're expected to push more than normal. If you want to go elsewhere, you could hope someone like Juan Mata ($7,000) makes the starting XI or even that Nemanja Matic ($6,500) makes the score sheet again. Pritchard is far from easy to trust, but that's why he's a third midfielder.
DEFENDERS
Lewis Dunk, BHA at WHU ($6,000): It makes a little more sense for guys like Jose Holebas ($6,500) and Matt Doherty ($6,500) in GPPs, but Dunk has a slightly higher floor and often gets forward on corners. He's also averaging more than six clearances per 90 minutes to go with more than one tackle, interception and block, adding to a floor above 10 fantasy points. The matchup is also favorable since West Ham have allowed the fourth-most clearances (142) and tackles (106) in the last five gameweeks.
Phil Bardsley, BRN at HUD ($5,000): I usually try and get one defender against Huddersfield because they've allowed the most clearances this season (604) and second-most (161) in the last five matches. Bardsley isn't a center-back, but he's still averaging more than three clearances per match and has a floor above 10 fantasy points due to various other defensive stats. If you want a little more safety from a center-back, Ben Mee ($6,000) and James Tarkowski ($7,000) should be set for big clearance numbers.
Diego Rico, BOU v. WAT ($4,000): I've been burned by cheaper defenders in recent weeks, but that doesn't mean I'll stop using the strategy. Rico may not start, but he's played at least 45 minutes in three of the last four matches, so it appears likely. In a match that's expected to produce goals, Rico should get up the field plenty, and he's averaging a respectable 1.07 shots and 1.92 chances created per 90 minutes. He may not have a high floor, but the potential for a big outing is there if the Cherries throttle Watford again. If you don't like him, Jonny ($4,500) and Maya Yoshida ($4,500) are the best choices in the next price level.
GOALKEEPER
Rui Patricio, WOL v. CRY ($4,500): Wolverhampton don't have the same odds to win as Chelsea, but Patricio is expected to allow the second-fewest goals. He has allowed one or zero goals in five of his last six starts and more often than not, he makes multiple saves. Crystal Palace also haven't scored in their last two matches, so a clean sheet is possible. Kepa Arrizabalaga ($6,000) costs a little too much for me while Jonas Lossl ($4,500) is in the same mold as Patricio with slightly worse odds to win.
