This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (ET)
- 10:00 am: Everton vs. Norwich City
- 10:00 am: Leeds United vs. West Ham United
- 10:00 am: Leicester City vs. Burnley
- 10:00 am: Watford vs. Newcastle United
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS
Raphinha, LEE vs. WHU ($9,100): If you want to spend all the way up for Andros Townsend ($10,700) that's fine; he's been taking set pieces recently and has been popping up in the goals as well. Everton are in a nice spot at home to Norwich, and he should be good for a double-digit floor. He's not normally a player I look to roster when he's the most expensive on the slate, but it's possible that the salary is warranted for his new role. I prefer Raphinha for his cheaper salary and higher upside. The matchup against West Ham has the highest total and should be back and forth for 90 minutes. More encouraging for cash games is the fact that he's topped 10 floor points in all five matches this season. For tournaments, people will look to Jamie Vardy ($9,600) and his highest anytime goal-scoring odds of -120. If Vardy is going to be more popular, I'd prefer the red hot Michail Antonio ($9,300), who has four goals and three assists in four Premier League games and scored last week in the Europa League too.
Jarrod Bowen, WHU at LEE ($7,900): You could argue that Dwight McNeil ($7,500) is safer for cash games given that he's scored at least 12 floor points in four consecutive games while playing the full 90 minutes in each. I lean towards Bowen for the edge in matchup and higher likelihood of being involved in a goal. As mentioned above with Raphinha and Antonio, the West Ham-Leeds game should be a good one to target. Bowen is still sharing set pieces and has put up 10+ floor points in four of five games. Elsewhere in this range, and Salomon Rondon ($7,300) is priced favorably for his goal-scoring odds.
Milot Rashica, NOR at EVE ($5,100): Rashica's salary has been a bit too cheap every week and that's the case again. If you discount the game against Manchester City, he's had at least six crosses and eight floor points in every start. I'm not as concerned as others might be about an away match against Everton. Tournament options in the range include Teemu Pukki ($5,600) and Joshua King ($5,300); Pukki normally plays 90 minutes and takes penalties, but I give the slight edge to King based on Watford's matchup at home against Newcastle.
MIDFIELDERS
Demarai Gray, EVE vs. NOR ($8,400): I never expected to be highlighting Gray at his peak salary but that's what happens after three goals in five games and two corners last week. I'd expect him to keep a role on set pieces too, being that Townsend and Digne are left-footed. Everton have a very favorable matchup at home to Norwich, and if you like Townsend in this spot, you have to like Gray for $2,300 cheaper. He's shown plenty of upside and has lasted at least 80 minutes in every game this season. Moving down, keep an eye out for Leicester's formation and where Youri Tielemans ($7,400) lines up. His open value varies significantly based on the lineup and formation. Also, if Marc Albrighton ($7,700) doesn't start, Tielemans will share set pieces. Pablo Fornals ($7,100) will be forgotten about and therefore makes for a good option in the big GPPs.
Tom Cleverley, WAT vs. NEW ($5,300): I didn't want to put Cleverley here, but he took all seven corners last week and it's not often that Watford are the third-highest favorite on a slate. Ashley Westwood ($5,100) is taking the majority of sets for Burnley, and he's averaging a 10-point floor, but the respective matchups have me favoring Cleverley. For tournaments, I wouldn't roster either over Harvey Barnes ($5,600). It's been encouraging to see him play 90 minutes in his two most recent starts. He had a goal and assist last week against Napoli in the Europa League, and it's only a matter of time before he gets off the mark in the Premier League. I have less confidence in his teammate James Maddison ($4,900) but the price and matchup are appealing. Daniel James (4,700) is another option in this range. If you're looking for a cheaper punt, Billy Gilmour ($3,700) put up a whopping 13 floor points last week. He's still taking a few corners, but the lack of upside and tough matchup are deterrents for me.
DEFENDERS
Matt Ritchie, NEW at WAT ($5,400): Lucas Digne ($6,400) will be the other popular expensive option. Comparing the two: Ritchie takes more sets, plays further forward and is $1,000 cheaper. It's a pretty easy decision for me. I'd have some interest in Digne if Everton play with a back five but its mostly been a back four under Rafa Benitez, and he hasn't shown as much upside there this season. Not to mention that he only had a minority role on set pieces last week.
Junior Firpo, LEE vs. WHU ($4,300): This is more about not recommending Ryan Bertrand ($4,400) in the same range. His role on set pieces makes him a tempting option but if you take them away, he's been abysmal from an open-play standpoint. Even with set pieces included, he has a grand total of 8.7 fantasy points in three games. When Leicester use a back four, the left back doesn't get forward much, and attacking isn't Bertrand's strength as it is. It's also worrying that he was subbed after 68 minutes last week because Leicester have plenty of options at fullback that are always liable to come off the bench. I'll take Firpo for the same salary in the match with the highest total on the slate. Matchups aside, I'm confident that Leeds' left-backs will be involved in more goals than Leicester's left-backs this season, assuming a back four for both. All that being said, if Leicester revert to a back five and we see Bertrand on the wing, he'd be much more appealing. There isn't much else to like in this range; Brandon Williams ($3,200) is a cheap fullback. It might be better to just go all the way down and pair Ritchie with one of Newcastle's minimum salary center backs.
GOALKEEPERS
Karl Darlow, NEW at WAT ($4,500): You can always just play whoever you want at keeper but that seems especially true Saturday. Kasper Schmeichel ($5,800) and Asmir Begovic ($5,600) are both 40 percent to keep a clean sheet, but its more difficult to justify paying top dollar at the position when there are no elite teams on the slate. I highlighted Darlow because his odds to keep a clean sheet are better than the two players priced directly above him. Nick Pope ($3,700) has the same salary than he would if Burnley were playing against Manchester City or Liverpool ,and that doesn't seem right either. The most important thing for me is just making sure not to roster a keeper that's playing against any of my forwards or midfielders.
