This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
It's a bit of a letdown to only have two matches on a Saturday with start times 150 minutes apart. Given the state of COVID-19 throughout the league, there was little reason for us to have our usual coverage since there's a 50-percent chance every match will end up postponed. But as long as Saturday's slate happens, I'll try my best to break it down while avoiding any of the numerous players injured or out with COVID-19.
MATCHES (ET)
- 10:00 am: Aston Villa vs. Burnley
- 12:30 pm: Leeds United vs. Arsenal
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS
Chris Wood ($3,600) will surely entice people because of his goalscoring odds, but he's at a season low in price having just three shots in the last five matches. Given Villa's defensive performances under Steven Gerrard, rostering Wood will either result in one point or 12 points and there's no in between. Joe Gelhardt ($3,800) is probably the better option if he starts, mainly because he plays for Leeds and they seem to fight no matter who is in the squad.
Tyler Roberts ($5,600) has gone at least 89 minutes in each of the last four, but you may have to decide between him and Danny Ings ($6,200), who has the best odds to hit the back of the net. Ings isn't completely fit so a full 90 is unlikely, but he's home and should get opportunities. Alexandre Lacazette ($7,100) will get plenty of attention for his goal odds, but Dwight McNeil ($7,800) remains a better cash play.
The questions on the slate may come down to Bukayo Saka ($9,000) and Raphinha ($8,700). Ollie Watkins ($9,500) is coming off a huge performance, yet he's unusable in cash games at this price. I'd rather side with Raphinha, who is more likely to get set pieces and he's also at home. Arsenal are favored, but they were favored against Everton and that blew up in their face after going up a goal. While Saka and Raphinha are expensive, there is a reasonable cash build that includes both of them, mainly because of the midfield options.
MIDFIELDERS
Aston Villa and Leeds have the most absences of the two teams with the latter in a bit more trouble. There is a chance for some Villa rotation, but they don't have a ton of options and as it is, it looks like Carney Chukwuemeka ($3,600) could be set for his second start of the season. He's cheap and while a full 90 is unlikely, he's home against Burnley. The difference between him and Jacob Ramsey ($5,200) is price and playing time. Otherwise, I'm not sure Ramsey has much more upside than Chukwuemeka.
Martin Odegaard ($8,000) seems like the best cash route for Arsenal, mainly because he's cheapest of the trio. With Gabriel Martinelli unlikely to start, Saka, Emile Smith Rowe ($9,200) and Odegaard could all split set pieces, something that happened before Martinelli entered the XI. Odegaard always comes with risk, but he's held a decent floor even without set pieces in recent matches.
John McGinn ($7,500) is the most expensive he's been this season and will be hard to roster at that price. He should get plenty forward given the matchup, but paying for him is tough, even with a split of set pieces. Douglas Luiz ($5,500) has seemingly turned into Ashley Westwood in terms of fantasy and I'm fine using him in cash games at this price. Westwood is cheaper at $4,700, but he also has a tougher matchup. Given the options in this range, you don't have to spend on Smith Rowe or Odegaard because even Jack Harrison ($4,600) is viable. He's gone a full 90 each of the last two matches since Leeds don't really have anyone useful off the bench.
DEFENDERS
Kieran Tierney ($6,100) almost bagged a goal last match, but paying up for him away to Leeds isn't what I want to do. Stuart Dallas ($5,200) is the better play in my eyes because of a split on set pieces and a possibility he plays higher up the pitch, depending on the formation. He's coming off down performances, but they were at Man City and Chelsea. It's not the worst idea to use both Matt Targett ($5,700) and Matty Cash ($5,300) if they can repeat their performances against Norwich, which is possible.
Ezri Konsa ($4,000) has the best odds to hit the back of the net for the center-backs and you have to pay for it. He's the reasonable stacking piece if you don't have money for Cash or Targett. Otherwise, Robin Koch ($2,500) may make an immediate return to the XI and he's minimum price at home.
GOALKEEPER
I like Aston Villa to win in a shutout in this match and that leads me to Emiliano Martinez ($5,400). If you don't want to spend, Illan Meslier ($4,300) is the other route I'd take because it's not like Arsenal are guaranteed to score.
