This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EDT)
- 1:00 pm: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Newcastle United
- 1:00 pm: Sheffield United vs. Everton
- 3:15 pm: Wolverhampton vs. Crystal Palace
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS
Raul Jimenez, WOL v. CRY ($22): This is an ugly slate for goals, but Jimenez has the best odds to score and should be the most popular cash play. Similar to most players on the slate, he doesn't have much of a floor, so if he manages one shot on goal and nothing else, just shrug your shoulders. At the least, he's scored four goals since the restart and is always a threat in front of net. He has the best odds to score because Crystal Palace have lost their last six matches, allowing multiple goals in five. That's the lone reason to consider a Wolverhampton stack, as they haven't been the most consistent team, averaging one goal scored over their last six matches, including scoring one against both Bournemouth and Aston Villa. The problem is picking the correct players. Diogo Jota ($17) and Adama Traore ($12) are most likely to be involved in the attack, but a lot of what they do doesn't show up in the fantasy column. For example, Traore hasn't surpassed 12.3 fantasy points in his last six starts and has one shot on goal since play restarted. While Jimenez is expensive, price is unlikely to matter if you plan on stacking Wolves because all of their other relevant players are cheap, namely Traore.
Neal Maupay, BHA v. NEW ($19): Slightly behind Jimenez in terms of odds to score is Maupay. Again, he doesn't have a floor, but he's Brighton's best option to score against a back line that has given up multiple goals in their last four contests. That correlates with Newcastle's list of injuries at center-back, which continues to grow. Maupay hasn't done much since the restart outside of a couple goals, but Brighton have had one of the more difficult schedules. Now in a favorable matchup and against an injured back line, his floor could surpass 10 points. Similar to Wolves, Brighton aren't easy to stack, with Leandro Trossard ($16) and Glenn Murray ($14) the other projected starters. If anything, I'd take a flier on Alexis Mac Allister ($6) if he starts ahead of Trossard and Murray. Mac Allister hasn't made a mark in FanDuel scoring, but he's shown some sparks and is an option to take set pieces, possibly leading to chances created.
Oliver McBurnie, SHU v. EVE ($18): The Sheffield United-Everton match is probably the hardest to project, so I'd avoid them in cash games if possible. Everton have two points from their last four matches and almost lost to Aston Villa, while Sheffield United were dominated for a full 90 by Leicester City in their last match. I think the Blades will rebound from that poor performance and capitalize against a back line that could feature 18-year-old Jarrad Branthwaite in his first start of the season (third appearance). Sheffield United don't have a go-to scorer, though McBurnie has started each of the last five matches and has a shot on goal in four of them. He's not going to rack up shots, but he's the best chance to score for Sheffield United, while David McGoldrick ($16) isn't far behind. McGoldrick averages almost the same number of shots as McBurnie, but he's averaging twice as many chances created per 90 minutes. The problem for McGoldrick is that while he bagged a brace against Chelsea two matches ago, those were his first goals of the season. As for a Sheffield United stack, the return of John Fleck ($8) makes things tricky because he takes away a few set pieces from Oliver Norwood ($14).
Jonjo Shelvey, NEW at BHA ($13): There is a viable lineup in which you pass on the goal scorers with no floors and bank on a bunch of floor plays. Funny enough, Shelvey may have the best floor of any player on Monday's slate. He had a floor of 20.3 points last match from three chances created and two shots on goal, and this matchup has the highest implied total on the slate. I'd be all over Allan Saint-Maximin ($16), but there's a good chance he doesn't start. Dwight Gayle ($17) and Miguel Almiron ($15) are Newcastle's other top attacking players, and you're banking on an appearance on the score-sheet for them to hit value. Maybe the best reason to back Newcastle is that at least three goals have been scored in each of their last five matches. If you don't trust the other teams, maybe bank on the injured Newcastle back line and stack both sides of this matchup. In that case, it may be best to stick with the top forwards in Maupay and Gayle, and maybe adding in a set-piece taker or two. The best GPP method may be to go full Everton with Richarlison ($21) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin ($17) and hope they turn things around. They're unlikely to be popular given their prices and recent form.
DEFENDERS
Jarrad Branthwaite, EVE at SHU ($7): Branthwaite's fellow center-back Michael Keane is $13 and has at least 8.2 fantasy points in his last 10 starts. Maybe Branthwaite won't reach those same numbers, but he had 7.8 points in 74 minutes last match, and Sheffield United have forced the fourth-most clearances in the league this season. While you don't have to save a ton of money given the lack of attacking options, Branthwaite allows you to spend up on your second defender or at goalkeeper. In a different matchup, I'd be all over Tyrick Mitchell ($6), but I'm not sure his exact role for Crystal Palace, or if he's ready to go a full 90 having played 13 minutes with the senior team this season. According to the numbers, the best move is to stack Crystal Palace center-backs Scott Dann ($11) and Mamadou Sakho ($9), though their floors are rarely above 10 points.
Matt Ritchie, NEW at BHA ($10): If you don't need to dip into the barrel for Branthwaite, Ritchie is oddly cheap despite taking set pieces and often playing as a midfielder. If you don't want to squeeze Shelvey into your lineup, Ritchie is cheaper and more likely to rack up 10 fantasy points from only defensive stats. I'm not as confident in Lucas Digne ($15) because of the matchup, while the Wolves defenders may not see much action. John Egan ($15) has had one of the better floors since the restart, but he's also in a situation that may not produce much defensive action.
GOALKEEPER
Rui Patricio, WOL v. CRY ($14): Given the projected low scores, you can pick any of these goalkeepers and be fine. Patricio is my pick mainly because Wolves have the best odds to win and Palace haven't scored in five of their last six matches. This is a good spot for the Wolves back line to secure another clean sheet after doing so in four of their last seven. If you want to save money, Dean Henderson ($12) always finishes in the positive and, as mentioned previously, I like Sheffield United in this matchup. Unlike other slates, you shouldn't have trouble finding money to get Patricio or Henderson.
