This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EDT)
- 10:00 am: Leeds United vs. Sheffield United
- 12:30 pm: Leicester City vs. Manchester City
- 3:00 pm: Arsenal vs. Liverpool
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS
Raphinha, LEE v. SHU ($10,000): Raphinha has a dominant role on set pieces for the biggest favorite on the slate, and he's facing the team that's allowed the most crosses, second-most shots and second-most chances created among Saturday's six teams. His floor is one of the most reliable in the Premier League, and he figures to be very popular in cash games because of it. Raphinha makes for a solid tournament play too even though many fantasy players will pivot to Patrick Bamford ($8,000), who has the highest anytime goal scorer odds. Bamford has been dealing with a calf injury recently and has a fairly pedestrian floor, which is why some could still be comfortable with Raphina in GPPs.
Sergio Aguero, MCI at LEI ($6,400): Manchester City are only slightly lower favorites than Leeds, with an ever-so-slightly lower implied goal total, and Aguero trails only Bamford in terms of anytime goal scorer odds. His playing time has been sporadic this season due to injuries, but he's fully fit and could lead the line following the international break. We should probably ignore the narrative that it was announced earlier this week that this season will be Aguero's last with Manchester City, but we all know that's something people will think about even though Aguero's price is reason enough to give him a run out in GPPs and maybe even cash games. This doesn't seem like a slate where stacking Manchester City forwards seems necessarily, so guys like Riyad Mahrez ($9,500), Raheem Sterling ($7,600) and Gabriel Jesus ($7,100) probably won't be popular in cash games, even with a decent price discount from Raphinha.
MIDFIELDERS
Kevin De Bruyne, MCI at LEI ($10,500): The big reason why many people won't be paying up for Manchester City forwards is because they'll be paying up for De Bruyne, who takes a vast majority of set pieces for the team. There are enough decent values on the slate that we're likely to see plenty of people with both De Bruyne and Raphinha, who account for 41 percent of the salary cap. There are players you could pivot to on Manchester City, but none have De Bruyne's floor because of the set pieces. Ilkay Gundogan ($7,100) continues to burn me as I fade him, but he's always a reasonable GPP option when Man City are favored. Then again, my stubborn self would probably just play Sterling for $500 more.
John Fleck, SHU at LEE ($4,900): Sheffield United are the biggest underdog on the slate, coming in with one goal in their last six Premier League games. Not much more is expected Saturday, but Fleck's role on set pieces for a desperate side should make him a cash-game target because of his lower price. Oliver Norwood ($4,000) and John Lundstram ($3,700) occasionally poach some opportunities, but Fleck is the best open-play fantasy scorer of the group for not that much more salary. We can't expect a ton, but the Leeds defense has plenty of holes, so Fleck getting on the score-sheet off a set piece shouldn't be ignored.
Martin Odegaard, ARS v. LIV ($6,700): Taking anyone against Liverpool isn't usually a great idea, even if they've been pretty poor by their standards, but it might be worth making the exception for Odegaard, who has taken over all of Arsenal's set pieces. These teams seem to always play exciting games, and the match actually has the highest implied goal total of the three despite it also expected to be the closest. Odegaard fits lineups better for those who don't play Raphinha and De Bruyne, but he also seems like a more reasonable underdog set-piece taker than James Maddison ($8,600) against Manchester City.
DEFENDERS
Trent Alexander-Arnold, LIV at ARS ($6,600): Given the cost of the set-piece takers on the two other favorites on the slate, Alexander-Arnold looks like a steal. Granted, his match is supposed to be the closest, but he remains an elite floor option and likely to be very popular in cash games. Andrew Robertson ($5,800) shares corners with Alexander-Arnold, but his attacking points continue to trail, which is why he's a bit cheaper. Given the need to spend up at other positions, we're unlikely to see fantasy players rostering both Liverpool fullbacks, so Robertson could go over-looked in tournaments.
George Baldock, SHU at LEE ($3,500): Baldock is not a great fantasy option, but he's a cheap wing-back for a team desperate for points. Enda Stevens ($3,700) could also be considered, but I can't emphasize enough that they're options because they're playing out wide and are cheap; there isn't a track record of good fantasy scores and the matchup isn't even that good. That being said, Baldock could be popular if only because we know he's starting before lock and people just love taking chances on cheaper outside players.
Aymeric Laporte, MCI at LEI ($2,600): If you're really looking for salary savings, Laporte's floor really isn't that much lower than Baldock's or Stevens', and he comes in with higher clean sheet chances. His spot in the starting XI isn't guaranteed, but if you're looking for a cheap option then the bottom-salary-level center-backs probably offer as much as Baldock and Stevens on a median basis.
GOALKEEPERS
Aaron Ramsdale, SHU at LEE ($3,900): Ramsdale is the cheapest goalkeeper on the slate and isn't facing Manchester City, which always feels like a plus. He made seven saves in a 1-0 loss in the reverse fixture, but he's been pretty awful recently, allowing multiple goals in three of his last four Premier League starts. On the other side, Leeds scored twice in their last league game but were blanked in their three matches before, giving some optimism that Ramsdale won't get blown up.
