This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (ET)
- 2:45 pm: Newcastle United vs. Everton
- 2:45 pm: West Ham United vs. Watford
- 3:00 pm: Burnley vs. Manchester United
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS
Jarrod Bowen, WHU v. WAT ($10,400): Bowen is the most expensive player on the slate by a considerable margin. The five-figure salary is a steep price to pay, but West Ham are in a great spot at home against Watford. Bowen clearly has the highest floor of any forward as he continues to split set pieces and pretty much always plays 90 minutes. He's shown plenty of upside, as well, with six goals and seven assists on the season. He's taken at least five shots in two of his last three games and has three goals in that span. He's not a must for $10,400, but the elite matchup makes him a worthy spend-up option. Michail Antonio ($8,800) and Said Benrahma ($8,300) make for good tournament options considering that West Ham have the highest-implied goal total. So does Cristiano Ronaldo ($8,600), whose -125 goal odds are tops on the slate. It might be worth noting that he missed a penalty last week (he didn't even hit the target), so it's at least possible Bruno Fernandes takes the next one.
Richarlison, EVE at NEW ($6,800): From a cash-game perspective, there isn't a clear-cut target at forward. I've highlighted Richarlison based on his combination of floor and goal upside. Some might favor Dwight McNeil ($6,700) for his role on set pieces at the same salary, but Burnley's matchup against Manchester United is off-putting. I'd rather just pay all the way down for Dele Alli ($3,900). Alli is expected to make his Everton debut for Frank Lampard's new-look side, who put four goals past Brentford over the weekend in the FA Cup. He makes sense if you want to spend up at both midfield positions, where there are worthy options. Another cheap GPP option is Chris Wood ($5,000), who has the third-highest goalscoring odds with Newcastle home to Everton. Wood has played 90 minutes and taken three shots in each of his two starts for his new club.
MIDFIELDERS
Bruno Fernandes, MUN at BUR ($9,100): Fernandes has put up double-digit floor points in four-consecutive league games and has two goals and two assists in that span. That combination of floor and upside looks good for $9,100 with Manchester United in a favorable spot away to Burnley.
Demarai Gray, EVE at NEW ($8,500): As crazy as it may sound, you could argue that Gray is just as good of an option as Fernandes. He's been taking the majority of set pieces, which has helped him record double-digit crosses in two of his last three games. He's also taken multiple shots in six-consecutive games. Everton have a nice matchup away to Newcastle and they appear to be a club on the rise with the hiring of attack-minded manager Frank Lampard. If Anthony Gordon ($7,000) starts, he'd likely split set pieces with Gray. Tournament options in this range include Pablo Fornals ($7,100), who's never overly popular. He's likely to start in a central attacking role in place of the injured Manuel Lanzini. Looking cheaper, Donny van de Beek ($4,200) could make his Everton debut and will be eager to impress after failing to break into the Manchester United squad. Juraj Kucka ($3,600) put up 11 floor points against Burnley on Saturday and scored 12 in Watford's previous matchup against West Ham back in December. Otherise, there isn't much to like in this range. Ashley Westwood ($4,500) will split set pieces, but that doesn't mean much against Manchester United. I'd rather target a goal from Tomas Soucek ($4,300), considering West Ham are the biggest favorite on the slate.
DEFENDERS
Ryan Fraser, NEW v. EVE ($5,300): For whatever reason, Fraser is still listed as a defender even though he continues to line up in the front three. He's been splitting set pieces and even played 90 minutes last time out. His floor probably isn't as safe as some of the other expensive defenders, but I can't pass up the upside with Newcastle home against Everton, who've been leaking goals of late.
Kieran Trippier, NEW v. EVE ($5,900): Trippier has taken more corners than Fraser in consecutive matches and has scored at least 8.6 floor points in both of his starts for Newcastle. And again, the home matchup against Everton is a rather appealing spot. I'll be making lineups that contain both him and Fraser.
Luke Shaw, MUN at BUR ($5,400): Shaw's performances have been inconsistent this season, but Manchester United have a favorable matchup against Burnley in which he will split corner-kick duties. His clean sheet equity and assist upside are decent enough for $5,400, the lowest he's been priced in some time. If you have the extra salary, Aaron Cresswell ($6,100) might be a better option at home against Watford. He's taken the majority of West Ham's sets over the past three matches. Looking cheaper, Kiko Femenia ($4,700) took the right-sided corners on Saturday against Burnley, as he put up 11 floor points. I'd expect him to do so again if Tom Cleverley isn't in the starting lineup.
GOALKEEPERS
David de Gea, MUN at BUR ($5,600): De Gea is the reigning Premier League Player of the Month. It's the first time in six years that a keeper has won that award and it wasn't because of clean sheets. De Gea has made 22 saves over the past four games as Manchester United have been allowing an alarming number of shots on goal. I'm not sure that happens against Burnley, but either way, he has 40-percent clean sheet odds.
Nick Pope, BUR v. MUN. ($3,900): Pope is the cheapest-priced home goalkeeper and Burnley have kept four clean sheets in their last five matches. I wouldn't bet on a clean sheet against Manchester United, but Pope has considerable save upside against the likes of Ronaldo, Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, who all love to shoot from distance.
