This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EST)
- 10:00 am: Crystal Palace vs. Sheffield United
- 12:30 pm: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Wolverhampton
- 3:00 pm: West Bromwich Albion vs. Arsenal
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS
Leandro Trossard, BHA v. WOL ($9,500): Trossard is likely to take set pieces if he moves back into the starting XI in place of Pascal Gross ($11,300), who started Tuesday against Arsenal while the former only played 15 minutes off the bench. He is a very good chance creator and facing the side that's allowed the second-most crosses among teams on the slate. Brighton are only slightly favored at home against Wolves, and while Trossard could share set pieces with Solomon March ($8,800, midfielder), he does plenty in open play to justify consideration in cash games and GPPs.
Willian, ARS at WBA ($8,100): Willian has missed the past few games due to illness, but he could make his way back in because Bukayo Saka ($10,700) is questionable with an ankle injury suffered during Tuesday's match against Brighton. Given he usually has a sizable role on set pieces, Willian figures to be popular because Arsenal are the biggest favorite on the slate and West Brom have allowed the most crosses, most corners, most chances created, most shots and most shots on goal in the Premier League this season. GPP players could also reasonably target Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ($9,000) or Alexandre Lacazette ($8,500), who have the two highest anytime goal scorer odds on the slate, or they could pivot to Nicolas Pepe ($7,300) if he gets a start and has a path to set pieces.
Fabio Silva, WOL at BHA ($5,300): Silva has the best anytime goal scorer odds among Wolves players, just ahead of Pedro Neto ($9,500), who is more of a cash-game option because of his significant role on set pieces. Silva's goal odds aren't even that good, but as a viable cheap play for a random goal, he certainly has to be in the discussion because he's fairly cheaper than most guys in his range for goals. Otherwise, you can focus on the Sheffield United attackers, though they are in the game with the lowest implied total, so you may not even be getting that much for someone like Rhian Brewster ($4,400) at a low salary.
MIDFIELDERS
Matheus Pereira, WBA v. ARS ($8,300): Pereira usually does it all for West Brom when he starts, though getting those opportunities has been tough recently under new manager Sam Allardyce. Normally he'd be a worthy consideration, even at this price, because West Brom are at home and desperate for points. However, it might be better for fantasy players if he didn't start, giving us cheaper access to their set pieces with either Matthew Phillips ($3,800), Grady Diangana ($3,600) or Conor Gallagher ($4,900), though the latter is less of one because he's plays a more defensive role.
Ben Osborn, SHU at CRY ($3,000): Osborn is a cheap play and potentially on set pieces for Sheffield United. He has been splitting with Ethan Ampadu ($3,000), who is also cheap but primarily plays in the middle, which limits his open-play crossing potential. Oliver Norwood ($4,100) could be on those dead-ball opportunities if he starts, but one of the Sheffield United set-piece takers is likely going to be a target for many in cash games because of their low prices, which helps pay up for the more valuable players on the slate. If you'd rather target a bigger favorite in this price range, Granit Xhaka ($3,400) has actually been joining the attack more recently, including taking a few free-kick shots, though he's always a yellow card risk.
Joao Moutinho, WOL at BHA ($5,200): The midfield pool on this slate is pretty gross, so it shouldn't be surprising if some people play a forward-eligible player in one of their midfield spots. However, Moutinho could be popular, at least in cash games, if Neto doesn't start because that would give him a bigger share of set pieces. Moutinho's floor is relatively modest when he splits those set pieces, and being a slight underdog will likely make people look elsewhere, perhaps at someone like Dani Ceballos ($5,500), depending on the Arsenal lineup, or even Jeffrey Schlupp ($4,800), though he makes for more of a correlation play with one of the Crystal Palace forwards in GPPs than a cash-game option.
DEFENDERS
Rayan Ait-Nouri, WOL at BHA ($4,700): Both Ait-Nouri and Nelson Semedo ($4,600) are solid wing-back options because of their ability to move up in the attack while also contributing some defensive stats. Wolves are away underdogs, but it's certainly not by a significant margin, with the real issue simply being whether most fantasy players have the salary for them. Considering how much cheaper they are than Kieran Tierney ($6,000) and Darnell Furlong ($5,500), Ait-Nouri and Semedi are viable options while providing some salary relief.
Hector Bellerin, ARS at WBA ($4,000): Bellerin isn't a great attacking fullback, but playing a West Brom defense that allows loads of peripheral stats has to make him a consideration. Tierney's price is fairly absurd for a defender with no set pieces, but Bellerin is a fine option on the other side because he may be able to create a few chances while moving up. Ainsley Maitland-Niles ($4,500) would have been a thought too, though as a midfielder he's not as attractive.
Pablo Mari, ARS at WBA ($2,500): The fullbacks on this slate really aren't that good, so there's a path to just paying down at both spots and hoping the minimum-priced defenders can either get a clean sheet or maybe a shot on target to help make value. Mari is expected to continue starting for Arsenal and is cheaper than fellow center-back Rob Holding ($2,900), who took six shots in his last five games. Other guys in this range who might be able to do something worthwhile are Ben White ($2,500) at home against Wolves and Max Lowe ($2,600) if he starts as a wing-back for Sheffield United. Some fantasy players may be tempted by Lee Peltier ($2,700) if he starts again in place of the injured Kieran Gibbs ($2,700), but he's just as much of a trap as the guy he's replacing.
GOALKEEPER
Aaron Ramsdale, SHU at CRY ($4,300): Given how expensive most of the Crystal Palace attackers are, it seems most people (at least in cash games) won't have to worry about rostering a forward against their goalkeeper if they use Ramsdale, the second-cheapest goalkeeper on the slate and only slightly more than Sam Johnstone ($4,000). Using Johnstone isn't a bad idea if you have a short memory and need the salary savings, though Arsenal have forced the fifth-fewest saves in the league this season.
