This article is part of our Mondogoal Fantasy Soccer series.
Kicked-off last week, RotoWire has joined forces with daily fantasy soccer host MondoGoal.com to offer weekly recommendations that could lead to fantastic prize money for contestants.
The best kept secret in daily fantasy soccer, MondoGoal provides daily games covering the English Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and Major League Soccer. Furthermore, users can enter cross-league competitions, as well as Champions League and Europa League contests, to satisfy their constant craving for fantasy soccer. Using Opta Stats, MondoGoal stimulates the excitement of large cash competitions with real-time scoring that can also be monitored from their mobile application.
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MondoGoal's Week 10 Premier League game allows owners to spend a $100M salary cap on 11 players to fill out their roster. From there, MondoGoal's squad confirmations let contestants adjust their line-ups leading up to kickoff to ensure maximum participation from all selected players. To capitalize on the upcoming Premier League fixtures, here are some candidates that could bank palatable cash payouts from MondoGoal:
Goalkeepers
Adrian, WHU (at STK), $5.6M
MondoGoal's seventh-highest scoring goalkeeper with 40.20 points thus far, Adrian's $5.6M price tag is significantly cheaper than most starting players at his position. That offers great value for potential owners, since Adrian anchors one of the Premier League's hottest sides, as West Ham has won four of their past five matches. Over that span, Adrian has mustered 15 total saves, including four massive stops versus Manchester City last weekend. In fact, he's now tied for the Premiership lead with 30 saves on the campaign. Although he'll take to the road this weekend, Adrian faces a Stoke City side whose three home goals are tied for the second-fewest in the league.
Alternative Options:Thibaut Courtois, CHE (vs. QPR), $8.6M; Hugo Lloris, TOT (at AVL), $8.3M; Wojciech Szczesny, ARS (vs. BUR), $6.9M
Notes: Courtois, though expensive, has allowed two goals at home this season, while opponents Queens Park Rangers have scored just once on the road. MondoGoal's third-ranked goalkeeper, Lloris faces an Aston Villa side that not only has a league-low four goals, but also hasn't scored for five games. Szczesny is coming off a clean sheet and Arsenal will be determined to dominate Burnley in a very winnable home match
Defenders
Gary Cahill, CHE (vs. QPR), $7.3M
The least expensive of Chelsea's starting defense, Cahill still boasts three clean sheets through nine matches this season. On the whole, the Blues have conceded nine goals, the second fewest in England's top-flight. Moreover, only two of those goals have come at Stamford Bridge, where Cahill and his mates host 19th-place Queens Park Rangers on Saturday. The R's have been held scoreless in six of their last seven away league matches, while Chelsea have kept a home clean sheet in 10 of their past 12 Premiership outings. That matchup makes Cahill a stellar defender to pick in Gameweek 10.
Dejan Lovren, LIV (at. NEW), $6.8M
Sure, Liverpool's defense won't be confused for being water-tight, but the Reds did post a clean sheet last weekend against a Hull City side that had scored at least two goals in five straight league matches. Surprisingly, Lovren's three shot attempts were the second-most from a Liverpool player in that contest. Off that momentum, Lovren opened his Liverpool scoring account in midweek Capital One Cup play. While he's no Kenny Dalglish in front of goal, Lovren has ventured forward well of late and tops Liverpool defenders with 54.85 points on MondoGoal. Riding good form, Lovren's affordability makes him an interesting selection at a Newcastle team that was in dead-last two weeks ago.
Calum Chambers, ARS (vs. BUR) $6.7M
In wake of countless injuries, Chambers has seen more playing time this season than even the 19-year-old probably would have expected. So much so, Chambers' 37.94 points on MondoGoal rank second among Arsenal defenders, a unit he paces with 19 tackles and 10 fouls won. While it's unclear whether Chambers will feature at right-back or center-half Saturday against Burnley, it's a virtual lock that he'll start somewhere. Coming off a clean sheet last weekend, a home tie versus the Premiership's second-lowest scoring side certainly bodes well for the young Englishman.
Alternative Options:Leighton Baines, EVE (vs. SWA), $12.6M; Branislav Ivanovic, CHE (vs. QPR), $8.6M; Aaron Cresswell, WHU (at STK), $5.6M
Notes: Chelsea's best defender, Ivanovic has a mouth-watering matchup at home versus Queens Park Rangers. Only Cesc Fabregas and Gylfi Sigurdsson have more assists than Baines' six from his defensive position. Cresswell has an assist in back-to-back matches, doesn't cost much at all, and goes against an average Stoke attack.
Midfielders
Cesc Fabregas, CHE (vs. QPR), $12.0M
In setting up Chelsea's lone goal versus Manchester United last weekend, Fabregas re-claimed the league-lead for assists, with eight helpers to this point in the season. That individual total ties the amount of goals this weekend's opponents Queens Park Rangers have scored as a team this season. Not to mention, the fellow London side has leaked more goals (18) than any other club through the campaign's first nine matches. Chelsea's midfield conductor, Fabregas could very well help the Blues improve their streak of at least two goals in 23 of their last 28 home league matches.
Dusan Tadic, SOU (at. HUL), $8.4M
Of Premier League midfielders that have played in all nine games this season, Tadic ranks fifth on MondoGoal, but his price of $8.4M is at least $2.0M less than any of his closest competitors. He also leads that group with 11 shots on target and 14 tackles won. This weekend, the Serbian will be relied upon to fuel Southampton's attack on the road at Hull City. Even though Hull is coming off a clean sheet, Tadic's team still boasts more goals this season than any team not called Chelsea. Knowing that, the Saints are bound to produce chances and Tadic leads Ronald Koeman's men in that category, making him a dependable deal at his relatively cheap cost.
James Milner, MCI (vs. MUN), $7.0M
The energetic Englishman only featured as a late substitute last weekend, but with Manchester City losing that match, it's likely manager Manuel Pellegrini re-inserts Milner for Sunday's match against hated rivals Manchester United. In his most recent Premier League start, Milner hit the post with one of his three shots, while also tallying five successful dribbles and three tackles. The all-action midfielder actually averages three tackles per game on the season and is the Citizens' third-highest scoring midfielder on MondoGoal. As a result, his $7.0M price is quite intriguing, especially when considering Man City's potency at home and the questions still surrounding Manchester United's defense.
Moussa Sissoko, NEW (vs. LIV), $6.9M
Don't look now, but Alan Pardew and Newcastle may be turning things around. In reality, it couldn't have gotten much worse, but Sissoko has still played a key part in the Toon revival. The Frenchman has started in a more advanced central position, where he not only provides a physical presence to press opposing sides, but also is involved in the final-third. Still looking for his first goal and assist of the campaign, Saturday's early match versus Liverpool actually presents a decent opportunity for Sissoko. That's because the Reds are allowing two goals per game on the road. Admittedly the final piece of this squad, Sissoko is worth a punt as a mid-priced midfield option.
Alternative Options:Eden Hazard, CHE (vs. QPR), $12.3M; Samuel Eto'o, EVE (vs. SWA), $10.5; Wilfried Zaha, CRY (vs. SUN), $5.4
Notes: While Fabregas is MondoGoal's top-ranked midfielder, Hazard is No. 2 and could feast on Queens Park Rangers' defense. Categorized as a midfielder, Eto'o has scored three times in two starts for Everton, whose offense has been terrific lately. Zaha is an exciting talent that could find room to run against Sunderland's spotty defense.
Forwards
Diego Costa, CHE (vs. QPR), $14.5M
A hamstring injury has kept Costa sidelined for Chelsea's past four games across all competitions, but with nine goals in only seven Premiership efforts, he's still provided healthy returns for fantasy owners. The Spaniard is expected to pass fit for Saturday's match against Queens Park Rangers, who have already shipped 12 away goals this season – the most of any Premier League side. Couple that with the fact that Chelsea is presently the league's highest-scoring squad, and a rout could ensue Saturday. So while Costa's $14.5M price will require budgeting elsewhere and his status will have to be confirmed prior to kickoff, his multi-goal potential makes him well worth the investment.
Alexis Sanchez, ARS (vs. BUR), $12.9M
Along with Costa, Alexis has been absolutely outstanding in his early transition from La Liga to the Premier League. Compared to his Barcelona days, Sanchez enjoys far more freedom in Arsenal's setup and he even featured as the Gunners' No. 10 last weekend at Sunderland. In doing so, Sanchez took advantage of ripe opportunities to bag a brace, bringing his season total to five goals in seven Premiership starts. The crazy competitive Chilean doesn't just cherry-pick goals, though, as his uncanny work rate has resulted in 14 tackles won and nine passes intercepted, which both rank second in MondoGoal among forwards. This Saturday, he'll be at the Emirates Stadium to attack a Burnley defense that has allowed 12 goals over its past four outings.
Sergio Aguero, MCI (vs. MUN), $11.8M
Following a triumphant four-goal display in Gameweek 8, Aguero couldn't find the scoresheet last weekend, but it certainly wasn't due to a lack of effort. To that point, Aguero attempted seven shots, with one striking the crossbar to keep him from scoring. Nonetheless, Aguero's 126.64 MondoGoal points still exceed the next closest forward (Diego Costa) by over 20. Also, his nine goals are tied with Costa for the most in the league. Entering a Manchester derby at home, Aguero sports the confidence of having scored twice in the corresponding fixture last season. Additionally, the Manchester United defense has allowed two goals per game on the road this season.
Alternative Options:Danny Welbeck, ARS (vs. BUR), $11.6M; Saido Berahino, WBA (at. LEI), $9.1M; Graziano Pelle, SOU (at HUL), $8.9M
Notes: Other than Sanchez, Welbeck is Arsenal's best bet to score, especially at home against Burnley. Berahino has scored in four straight Premier League games and is pitted versus promoted side Leicester City. Pelle peppered nine shots last weekend, hitting woodwork twice and still has six goals through nine games.
