This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
For detailed odds and stats, check out the Fantasy Premier League: Saturday Cheat Sheet.
MATCHES (EDT)
10:00 a.m: Southampton v. Hull City
10:00 a.m: Stoke City v. West Ham
10:00 a.m: Sunderland v. Bournemouth
10:00 a.m: West Brom v. Leicester City
12:30 p.m: Crystal Palace v. Burnley
PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
GOALKEEPER
Eldin Jakupovic, HUL at SOU ($3,800): Only Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool have forced more saves per match than Southampton this season, while Hull's 125 saves rank third-most in the Premier League. He's highly unlikely to get the clean sheet and/or the win, but Jakupovic certainly has the save upside. Opposing goalkeeper Fraser Forster is the most expensive option on the slate at $5,500, and while the clean sheet and win are certainly in play, Hull have forced the fourth-fewest saves this season.
DEFENDER
Cedric Soares, SOU v. HUL ($5,600): Cedric is the most expensive defender on the slate, but it's one that doesn't require paying up for many players, so his salary won't cripple a lineup. He has the most crossing upside among defenders, especially since he's at home facing a team that's allowed over 23 crosses per game this season. Additionally, he has two assists in his last four games as striker Manolo Gabbiadini, who has the second-best anytime goal-scoring odds on the slate, continues to work his way back from injury.
Charlie Daniels, BOU at SUN ($4,800): Daniels has taken at least one shot in four consecutive games, and while his 12 crosses over that span aren't that many, he'll now get to send them in against a Sunderland side that has allowed the most crosses per game this season.
Javier Manquillo, SUN v. BOU ($3,300): Manquillo's best quality is that he's the cheapest expected starting fullback on the slate. He's not a great crosser, Sunderland likely won't post a clean sheet and he has taken only two shots in 986 Premier League minutes this season. Nevertheless, he has 14 combined crosses, tackles and interceptions in the last two games, and it won't take much for him to make value against a Bournemouth side that's struggled away from home. (Seriously, just pay up for defenders).
MIDFIELDER
Andros Townsend, CRY v. BUR ($9,000): Townsend is the most expensive player on Saturday's slate, which perfectly explains the level of teams to choose from. He struggled in his last two games, but they came at Liverpool and home against Spurs, so it's somewhat understandable that he didn't have a big performance. However, he was excellent in the three prior matches, scoring one goal on seven goals, assisting two others and sending in 37 crosses. He figures to be on the higher side Saturday, as he'll face off against a Burnley side that's allowed the second-most crosses per game among teams on the slate, and they've given up the fifth-most away goals this season.
Wahbi Khazri, SUN v. BOU ($5,100): Sunderland continue be awful, but that doesn't mean Khazri is a poor play. He's scored 24 and 10 fantasy points in the last two games, respectively, and he has a solid opportunity to keep his double-digit streak going against a Bournemouth side that's allowed nine goals in their last five away matches. Bournemouth don't allow a ton of crosses, but Khazri's role on set pieces and attractive price mean he'll likely be heavily owned in cash games, even with a lack of elite options on the slate.
Ryan Fraser, BOU at SUN ($7,300):Xherdan Shaqiri has been excellent since returning from injury, but he's the third-most expensive player on the slate with minimal goal upside and only seven crosses in his last two games combined. His matchup at home against West Ham isn't terrible, but they have allowed the second-fewest crosses per game among teams on the slate. Meanwhile, Fraser is on the road, but it's against Sunderland, who have allowed the second-most shots, most shots on goal and most crosses per game this season, and you can get him for $1,200 less than the Stoke midfielder.
James Ward-Prowse, SOU v. HUL ($6,500): Ward-Prowse continues to split set pieces with Dusan Tadic ($8,200), and it's really tough to justify paying so much more for the latter when they have fairly equal fantasy prospects. Tadic has taken a few more shots of late, which is why he has better anytime goal-scoring odds, but Ward-Prowse certainly does enough on the pitch to make value, while Tadic will have to score to pay off an $8,200 salary on this slate.
FORWARD
Wilfried Zaha, CRY v. BUR ($8,400): Zaha had one goal on 11 shots and three assists in four games before Palace's tough Liverpool-Spurs back-to-back matches, and he figures to have a much easier time against Burnley given their struggles described earlier. Christian Benteke ($8,800) has five goals in his last six games, but his floor is definitely lower than Zaha's.
Nacer Chadli, WBA v. LEI ($5,700): Chadli struggled in West Brom's last Premier League match, but he was solid before that, finishing with 15 crosses and seven shots in two games. With Matt Phillips ($6,300) ruled out, Chadli should have less competition for set pieces -- he shares them with Chris Brunt ($5,800) too -- but he still provides a higher floor than most other forwards.
Demarai Gray, LEI at WBA ($5,600): Gray has gone two straight Premier League games without a start, but he could get the call after Leicester played Wednesday against Arsenal. Whether he starts for Marc Albrighton ($8,000) or Riyad Mahrez ($8,300), Gray should get a share of corners and he'll face a West Brom side that's allowed more than 22 crosses per game this season. Additionally, like Chadli, he provides a nice floor for a position packed with low-floor players.
Victor Anichebe, SUN v. BOU ($4,400):Jermain Defoe ($6,500) has the best anytime goal-scoring odds on the slate, but he's failed to score in 11 of his last 12 matches. Anichebe surprised many with five crosses Wednesday, and if he can keep that up while taking a few shots, he'll easily outperform Defoe if they both fail to score.
