DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Boxing Day EPL Picks

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

MATCHES (EST)

10:00 a.m: Tottenham v. Bournemouth
10:00 a.m: Crystal Palace v. Cardiff City
10:00 a.m: Manchester United v. Huddersfield
10:00 a.m: Liverpool v. Newcastle
10:00 a.m: Leicester City v. Manchester City
10:00 a.m: Burnley v. Everton
12:15 p.m: Brighton v. Arsenal

FORWARDS

Marcus Rashford, MUN v. HUD ($8,800): Manchester United looked like a brand new team under Ole Gunnar Solskjær last weekend against Cardiff City, and there's every reason to expect them to be just as attacking at home against Huddersfield. They are the second-biggest favorite on the slate with the third-highest implied goal total, and Rashford has to be a consideration for cash games because of his role on set pieces, which helped him score a free-kick goal this past weekend. It was actually his only free-kick of the match, as defender Ashley Young ($5,700) took all of their corners, but Rashford could take some of those if Young sits. Antony Martial ($9,800) is a tough cash-game play for his salary and total lack of set pieces, but there's no denying his GPP viability because of United's expected goals.

Andros Townsend, CRY v. CAR ($7,600): Townsend scored the goal of the season Saturday against Manchester City, but he's much more of a floor play at home against Cardiff, who have allowed the most goals, most assists and second-most corners among teams on the slate. Townsend's crossing hasn't been nearly as prolific as earlier in the season, but he still contributes with shots, tackles won and fouls drawn to help his floor. And while he hasn't scored a goal in 11 consecutive Premier League matches, Wilfried Zaha ($6,700) always makes for an interesting GPP option.

Mohamed Salah, LIV v. NEW ($10,400): The most expensive player on the slate, Salah comes in with five goals on 15 shots (eight on goal) and one assist on 12 chances created in his last four starts in all competitions. Meanwhile, Liverpool come in with the highest win odds and implied goal total, and only Tottenham's Harry Kane ($10,200) has higher anytime goal scorer odds. Salah's floor points primarily come from shots, but at this price you absolutely need him to score, even in a cash lineup, because there are likely to be goals scored by players from Manchester United, Tottenham and Manchester City. Speaking of City, all of their attackers are relatively cheap given their high implied goal total, though it feels like they have a tougher matchup because they're playing away. If you really want to play the goal upside game and don't want to trust City or Tottenham or Manchester United, don't sleep on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ($8,500), who has five goals on 20 shots (nine on target) and two assists on eight chances created in his last six games, including a brace this past weekend against Burnley.

MIDFIELDERS

Kevin De Bruyne, MCI at LEI ($7,400): We are generally used to seeing De Bruyne $1,500 to $2,000 more than this, and while that alone isn't a reason to roster him, he potentially provides the cheapest access to the Manchester City attack. He has missed a good chunk of the season due to injury, but he's fully fit now and has scored in each of his past two appearances (one was a Carabao Cup match against this same Leicester team). He usually takes set pieces when he's on the pitch, and while he may not have a monopoly, his path to one is much clearer than any other player on the team. Those who consider De Bruyne will also likely give a look to Christian Eriksen ($9,000), who appears to be fully fit again and scored an excellent goal this past Sunday against Everton. However, his floor has been incredibly low for what we're used to, as he has sent in more than six crosses just twice this season, and Sept. 22 was the last time he took more than two shots. If you think about rostering Eriksen, who is averaging 2.30 shots, including 0.92 on target, 3.40 crosses and 0.74 fouls drawn (equating to 6.51 fantasy points) per 90 minutes this season, why not consider a guy who averages 3.16 shots, including 1.62 on target, 1.32 crosses and 2.42 fouls drawn (8.19 fantasy points) per 90 minutes, costs $200 less and is playing for a bigger favorite? If more fantasy points for a bigger favorite at a cheaper price is something you'd be interested in, please say hello to Paul Pogba.

Juan Mata, MUN v. HUD ($7,100): James Milner, LIV v. NEW ($7,600): Milner's viability is always dependent on what lineup Liverpool use, but a potential for plenty of set pieces as the biggest favorite on the slate certainly puts him in play. A role on penalties only helps his upside, which has seen him score one goal on seven shots (two on target) and grab one assist on 10 chances created in his last four games; oh, and he sent in 26 crosses in that span. It also doesn't hurt that he's facing a Newcastle side that's conceded the most crosses and second-most corners among teams on the slate, as lots of Milner's value comes from his role on set pieces. If Milner's salary is a little high, you could give a look to Granit Xhaka ($6,100), though he has no role on penalties, he might not have set pieces, he commits almost as many fouls as he draws, he already has six yellow cards, and he plays in the late game and is not guaranteed to start. Oh, and even if he does start, it's possible he lines up as a center-back or left-back.

Juninho Bacuna, HUD at MUN ($3,100): Bacuna was a bit of a disappointment last weekend against Southampton, though he still managed five crosses and a foul drawn in 65 minutes. His Boxing Day matchup against Manchester United at Old Trafford is significantly tougher than what he faced this past weekend, but he's also just $100 more than the minimum price. Huddersfield have been one of the worst teams in the Premier League this season, coming in 19th in the table, but they've generally been effective fantasy producers, even against much better opponents because they fall behind early and try to send in as many crosses to try and get back in the match. Does falling behind early against Manchester United seem like something that could happen? It sure does to me, and if that's the case then we could get plenty of value out of Bacuna, who is $2,000 less than Philip Billing.

DEFENDERS

Lucas Digne, EVE at BUR ($6,000): Despite taking zero set pieces in Sunday's 6-2 loss to Tottenham, Digne is still the Premier League leader in crosses this season, which is kind of impressive since he didn't get into the starting XI until September. He shares set pieces with Gylfi Sigurdsson ($7,900, midfielder/forward), and while Sigurdsson would normally be a solid cash-game consideration, especially at that price, he's not as easy to roster given the other options available. The two players have actually scored more floor points (fantasy points minus goals and assists) than anyone else in the Premier League, but Digne allows us to have cheaper exposure to a side facing Burnley, who have conceded the second-most goals, second-most assists, most shots, most shots on goal, most corners and third-most crosses in the league.

Ashley Young, MUN v. HUD ($5,700): I think there's a reasonable case to pay up at both defender spots, with a lot of that coming from the fact there are plenty to play. Digne, Young and Kieran Trippier ($5,800) all generally take set pieces for their sides when they start, and you could even get corners from players like Danny Rose ($5,600) or Ben Davies ($5,000), Luke Shaw ($4,900), Chris Lowe ($4,400) and Charlie Taylor ($4,200). The cheaper guys aren't as reliable, either because of matchup or their actual roles, but we have set-piece taking defenders to consider. Young hasn't taken a shot in his last three appearances (two starts), but he does chip in some defensive work to help his floor. Then again, he may not need to do much defensive work, with United likely having plenty of possession against Huddersfield.

Greg Cunningham, CAR at CRY ($3,100): If you're looking to pay down -- like, really far down -- Cunningham could be a good salary saver playing away to Crystal Palace, who are coming off an emotional away win over Manchester City and could be ripe for a let-down. Cunningham isn't Cardiff's regular starting left-back, but he was a solid contributor in place of Bernardo ($3,700) last weekend, who could have finished with a solid 7.25 fantasy points thanks to one cross, three fouls drawn, two tackles won and four interceptions, but a yellow card pushed him down to 5.75. You don't have to expect much for $3,100, and while he isn't much of an attacker, you really don't need much to pay off this kind of salary against a Crystal Palace side that's had the most tackles won against them this season.

GOALKEEPER

Joe Hart, BUR v. EVE ($4,200): With a deep slate and lots of attackers worth paying up for, there doesn't seem to be an optimal path to paying up at goalkeeper. Sure, Liverpool and Manchester United are big favorites and have better than 50 percent odds for a clean sheet, while Man City and Tottenham are also in very favorable positions, but one goal allowed and they can't come close to paying off their salaries. Meanwhile, Burnley are the best underdog on the slate (in terms of odds) and face an Everton side that can be pretty inconsistent in the attack. If you think Arsenal can't hang while playing away to Brighton, then Mathew Ryan's salary isn't bad at $4,100, and he certainly feels safer than the guys who are below him on the salary scale, even if they theoretically have higher save upside.