This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.
For detailed odds and stats, check out the Fantasy Premier League: Saturday Cheat Sheet.
MATCHES (EDT)
10:00 a.m: Watford v. Huddersfield
10:00 a.m: Fulham v. Bournemouth
10:00 a.m: Brighton v. Wolverhampton
10:00 a.m: Southampton v. Newcastle
10:00 a.m: Liverpool v. Cardiff
12:30 p.m: Leicester v. West Ham
FORWARDS
Marko Arnautovic, WHU at LEI ($11,500): Most of the money will be on Roberto Firmino ($12,000), with Liverpool expected to win big, but I'm not willing to do that for a player with a low floor. Firmino could score a brace, but he cold also flub and produce no more than 23 points, something he's already done at home against Southampton, Brighton and West Ham. Arnautovic is somewhat safer, with a shot on goal in all but one start. In his last two, he's managed 10 shots (five on target) and four chances created. The odds favor Leicester, though they just lost at home to Everton and are far from easy to trust. The Hammers are also all over the place, but if Arnautovic continues his recent production, his floor is better than Firmino's, and the same goes for goal-dependent Jamie Vardy ($11,000).
Aleksandar Mitrovic, FUL v. BOU ($9,500): Funny enough, I'm probably more comfortable with Mitrovic than any of the high-end forwards, and while he struggled at Cardiff last week, he still managed an assist. There is worry because he's slowed down after a hot start, but some of that can be attributed to the schedule as three of their last five have come on the road, including matches against Everton and Man City, and another home match against Arsenal. Those are excuses, but they are good ones. Danny Ings ($10,000) is too expensive while Callum Wilson ($9,500) hasn't shown much of a floor, and while Raul Jimenez ($9,000) would've received my backing, he just racked up 1.3 fantasy points at home against Watford.
Joshua King, BOU at FUL ($8,500): I wanted to write about someone cheaper, but after Fulham gave up four goals to Cardiff, it's smarter to get at least one Bournemouth player in the lineup. The most frustrating thing is that King has no floor, and that's the main reason he's cheaper than Wilson. But when Bournemouth score, King is usually involved, and he's already had a couple big outings. He's better for GPP, but there's a chance that changes in this matchup because Fulham have allowed 16 goals and 13 assists from 33 shots on goal and 68 chances created in the last five matches. Unsurprisingly, those are all near the bottom of the charts. If you want to go cheaper, Alireza Jahanbakhsh (6,500) is getting acclimated to the starting XI, while the best thing going for Isaac Success ($6,000) is that he could be the starting forward against Huddersfield.
MIDFIELDERS
Mohamed Salah, LIV v. CAR ($11,500): Salah will probably be on every roster, as there's almost no reason to spend more on Firmino or the same amount on Arnautovic at forward. Salah is still Salah, and he's averaging more shots on goal (1.77) and chances created (2.00) per 90 minutes than both Firmino and Sadio Mane ($9,500). As the biggest favorite on the slate with the best odds to score, Salah should be in every cash lineup. Mane is more of a GPP play, but he still has a good price and is worth considering in all formats. In the midweek match, the only difference between Mane and Salah was that Salah converted a penalty, as Mane managed two shots on goal and three chances created. The next player I'd consider in the high-end range is Andre Schurrle ($8,500), who has been producing more than Mitrovic.
Jonjo Shelvey, NEW at SOU ($7,500): Shelvey is another guy who could be fairly popular given recent results, but it's hard to ignore them. In the last three matches, he's had nine chances created, five shots on goal and 14 tackles, which amounts to a floor around 20 fantasy points, an excellent return in this price range. There's a good chance he hits those numbers again because Southampton have allowed the fifth-most shots (68) in the past five gameweeks. Others like Xherdan Shaqiri ($8,000) and Ryan Fraser ($7,500) have more upside, but Shelvey's floor is great for cash games.
Will Hughes, WAT v. HUD ($6,000): I think too many people will back Abdoulaye Doucoure ($6,000) after his two-assist outing, and that makes Hughes the differential play. The two have extremely similar numbers, but even in a more attacking role, Hughes averages more tackles (3.67) and interceptions (1.22) per 90 minutes. Hughes is also getting more shots on goal (0.49) and that should lead to good things at some point (right?). This is more of a play against Doucoure because he'll be higher owned against a Huddersfield side allowing almost three goals per match on the road. Other viable options in this range include Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg ($7,000) and Beram Kayal ($5,000).
DEFENDERS
Shane Duffy, BHA v. WOL ($7,000): I'm not sure any of the top defenders are worth paying up for, but if you have some to spend, Duffy has one of the better floors and is coming off an incredible 19 clearances against Newcastle. His floor has been around 15 fantasy points, but whether through an overload of clearances or because he gets forward on corners, he has some upside, already with two goals and an assist. He probably won't make the score sheet against Wolves, but if he made 19 clearances against Newcastle, he could be near double digits again. Harry Maguire ($7,500) has the same production as Duffy but is more expensive, while Andrew Robertson ($6,000) will probably be highly owned because of his matchup against Cardiff City.
Sol Bamba, CAR at LIV ($5,000): For some reason, Bamba is still cheaper than some of his teammates despite averaging 7.50 clearances, 2.88 interceptions and 1.75 tackles per 90 minutes. This has all the makings of another 20-point performance with Liverpool expected to dominate most of the way. In the same range I'd consider Dejan Lovren ($5,000) if he starts, Wesley Hoedt ($5,000) or Matt Doherty ($5,500) for a few more bucks.
Kiko Femenia, WAT v. HUD ($4,500): I had Kiko in this spot last week for the same price and he put up 21.9 fantasy points. Outside of corners, he's producing as much as teammate Jose Holebas ($6,000) and probably even getting a few more defensive stats. Expecting another 20 points may be a stretch, but Huddersfield have oddly forced the most clearances (169) in the last five matches, and it's another decent spot for a clean sheet. I'd also consider Denis Odoi ($4,500) if he starts or DeAndre Yedlin ($4,500), but Kiko may have the best floor.
GOALKEEPER
Alex McCarthy, SOU v. NEW ($4,500): Southampton are favored in the match that has the lowest expected goal total, and that's why McCarthy is here. After a few difficult matchups, McCarthy held Bournemouth scoreless last weekend and now faces a Newcastle side that has just six goals from 32 shots on target this season. Ben Foster ($4,500) is in the same boat, but he isn't getting as many saves, while Rui Patricio ($5,500) costs a little too much for a road match. Alisson ($6,000) is the best option, but only if you want to spend up on your goalkeeper.
