This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (ET)
- 10:00 am: Aston Villa vs. Wolverhampton
- 10:00 am: Leicester City vs. Manchester United
- 10:00 am: Manchester City vs. Burnley
- 10:00 am: Norwich City vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
- 10:00 am: Southampton vs. Leeds United
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS
Phil Foden, MCI v. BUR ($9,700): Manchester City are massive favorites at home against Burnley, with odds currently hovering around -800. They have an implied goal total of 2.6, significantly higher than any other team on the slate. Foden has been splitting set pieces with Kevin De Bruyne and has anytime goalscoring odds of +130. He's coming off a man-of-the-match performance against Liverpool last time out when he notched his first league goal of the season and played the full 90 minutes. Assuming that City start with a front three of Foden, Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez ($8,800), it would be Mahrez that has the best goalscoring odds on the slate. That distinction would go to Gabriel Jesus ($8,500) should he get the starting nod after the break. Any of them would make for good tournament options. Raheem Sterling ($7,500) would be the most appealing being that he's considerably cheaper.
Pascal Gross, BHA at NOR ($9,200): I would've chosen Raphinha ($9,500) here, but he will be a major doubt after taking part in Brazil's qualifier Thursday. Assuming he's out, Gross probably has the highest floor on the slate. He's sent in at least eight crosses in all five of his starts and makes for a solid option in cash games. The fact that he's attempted only five shots this season will have me looking elsewhere in tournaments. I'd prefer taking a chance on Cristiano Ronaldo ($8,900), who's likely to go somewhat overlooked with the City forwards expected to be popular and Manchester United in a tough spot away to Leicester City.
Nathan Redmond, SOU v. LEE ($4,700): I didn't expect to be highlighting Redmond here but there are a few reasons why he stands out. James Ward-Prowse (suspension) is out for Southampton and that means a monopoly of set pieces are up for grabs. There isn't much recent data to go by, but Redmond took five corners when Ward-Prowse was on the bench in the League Cup last month. Another factor in Redmond's favor is that Southampton have the third-highest implied goal total on the slate. Lastly, his salary is under $5,000, so even without set pieces he can't be that bad of an option at home against Leeds. Adam Armstrong ($5,800) and Rodrigo ($5,600) are affordable, goal-dependent options in the same game that make for good GPP targets. Besides Manchester City and Ronaldo, Danny Ings ($6,100) has the top goalscoring odds on the slate at +130.
MIDFIELDERS
Kevin De Bruyne, MCI v. BUR ($10,200): De Bruyne would be the first player in my lineup for cash games. He's been splitting set pieces with Phil Foden and getting forward a bit more than last season. He has nine shots in two starts this season and those came in tough matchups away to both Liverpool and Chelsea. Jack Grealish ($9,100) starting in the front three would be a good tournament option. He'll likely be the least popular of the City attackers given that he's only midfield eligible and people will look to De Bruyne and the forwards. Bruno Fernandes ($9,300) may have lost his role on penalty kicks, but he's back to taking corners again. He's actually taken the majority of them over the past two matches. He'll be less popular than usual in tournaments and that makes him an appealing option. If Raphinha isn't in the lineup, Jack Harrison ($7,800) could find himself with some set-piece responsibility. Looking a bit cheaper, Youri Tielemans ($6,900) took corners over Ryan Bertrand last time out. If he starts in a more attacking role, I'd have interest, even against Manchester United. I mentioned that Nathan Redmond might take set pieces in the absence of James Ward-Prowse. There's also a chance that it's Mohamed Elyounoussi ($6,700) who takes them. He's averaging three shots in his four starts this season and lasted 90 minutes in all of them.
Mathias Normann, NOR v. BHA ($5,200): Normann took five of six corners and both of the direct free kicks last match. His salary is affordable and Norwich are in a decent spot at home against Brighton. Stuart Dallas ($5,700) has taken five corners and eight shots across his last two matches. He'd likely take the majority of set pieces if Raphinha ends up missing out. Douglas Luiz ($5,500) has taken most of the set pieces for Aston Villa over the past three matches. Keep an eye out for their lineup because his role on them might depend on whether or not Emiliano Buendia ($6,500) or Leon Bailey ($6,800) are in the side. Looking cheaper, Daniel James ($4,500) had nine floor points and played 90 minutes last time out. If you're stacking Manchester City in tournaments, pairing some of the expensive players with Rodri ($4,000) would make sense.
DEFENDERS
Luke Shaw, MU at LEI, ($5,500): Shaw seems like the safest of the expensive defender options based on his set-piece floor. Joao Cancelo ($5,700) has more goal/assist equity in a great matchup at home against Burnley. Marc Cucurella ($5,100) is a good option, as well, playing on the wing and taking the odd set piece in a favorable spot against Norwich. I'd lean towards Shaw in cash games and the other two in tournaments.
Aymeric Laporte, MCI v. BUR ($3,300): Normally, I wouldn't recommend a center-back here but both Laporte and Ruben Dias ($3,500) seem a few hundred dollars too cheap based on Manchester City's 55 percent chance of keeping a clean sheet. If you'd rather roster a full-back, Dimitris Giannoulis ($3,900), Nelson Semedo ($3,800) and Junior Firpo ($3,700) are cheap options. You could go even cheaper to Jamie Shackleton ($3,200), who's expected to start at right-back in place of the injured Luke Ayling unless Marcelo Bielsa opts for his three-man back line.
GOALKEEPERS
Ederson ($5,900): I don't usually spend up for a keeper on a five-game slate, especially when salary is needed at the other positions but Ederson has significantly higher win and clean sheet odds than any of the other options. If you're going to fade the City forwards, it would make sense to try and get a goal's worth of fantasy points at the goalkeeper position. Of note, Zack Steffen could start in place of Ederson because of international duties and he's $100 cheaper.
Tim Krul ($4,300): Krul is the cheapest home keeper on the slate and Norwich aren't even in that bad of a spot against Brighton, who continue to struggle scoring. Kasper Schmeichel ($4,400) has more save upside with the likes of Ronaldo and Fernandes taking shots from everywhere on the pitch. Jose Sa ($4,500) has slightly better clean sheet odds than both of them.
