This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EST)
- 10:00 am: AFC Bournemouth vs. Liverpool
- 10:00 am: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Burnley
- 10:00 am: Watford vs. Crystal Palace
- 12:30 pm: Manchester City vs. Manchester United
For detailed stats and odds, check out the FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Saturday EPL Cheat Sheet.
FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS
Sadio Mane, LIV at BOU ($24): I'm not confident in any of the top players Saturday, but Mane's form is hard to pass up and you have to pay for it. He has four goals and three assists in his last five league starts and isn't dealing with an ankle injury like Mohamed Salah ($18). I wouldn't be surprised if Mane was benched given that Liverpool can't slip up in their midweek trip to Salzburg, so keep that in mind. As for Bournemouth, they have numerous defensive injuries and gave up two goals last home match to Wolverhampton. If you want to bet on goals, Gabriel Jesus ($22) and Harry Kane ($21) have the best odds to score. Unfortunately, both had a floor of zero points last match, and I wouldn't put all of my chips into them. On the other side of that, City have scored multiple goals in the last four Manchester derbies and Burnley are struggling against almost everyone.
Kevin De Bruyne, MCI v. MUN ($20): On a small slate like this, you usually only have a few routes to take for roster construction. You can go with the best floors or stack one of the big clubs and hope for three goals or more. I'm suggesting players from each team, but there's no reason not to stack any of the Liverpool forwards, or De Bruyne and Jesus, or Kane and Son Heung-Min. De Bruyne makes the floor list because he has at least three chances created in each of his last six league starts. He's as close to a guarantee as it gets for double-digit points from an attacking player. I expect both Manchester sides to run at each other in hopes of getting that first goal, and United's away form can't be ignored, losing 2-1 at Astana and getting outplayed by Sheffield United in the first half of a 3-3 draw. Raheem Sterling ($19) is always up for a brace, though he has a similar floor to Jesus and worse odds to score. The tournament route is to back Marcus Rashford ($20), who is United's most likely goal scorer.
Son Heung-Min, TOT v. BUR ($18): Son's worst two matches in terms of floor have been away from home. His numbers are almost doubled at home with six goals and four assists from 16 shots on goal and 16 chances created in eight home starts (Champions League included). Kane has better odds to score and will probably be more popular, but Son is the better floor option. Either way, if Spurs score, Son should be involved in at least one goal. Burnley have given up six goals in their last two home matches, and prior to winning at Watford, they gave up multiple goals in three straight away games. Some will be keen on Dele Alli ($18) because of recent performances and that's fine, but I'm not sure he can keep that up. Salah is also the same price, though I'd rather back a healthy player at home.
Troy Deeney, WAT v. CRY ($12): Any time you can get a starting forward as a home favorite, you have to do it, right? Deeney is off the radar of pretty much everyone because in his full return from injury Wednesday, he was forced to sit back and play defensively against Leicester. He's yet to score in three starts, but he averaged 1.06 shots on goal and 1.52 chances created per 90 minutes last season, and he's worth the gamble at this price. If you have more money, Callum Wilson ($14), Chris Wood ($14) and David Silva ($14) are all viable. Wood is a perfect GPP play if you plan on stacking two or three Tottenham players, while Wilson could rebound against an unknown Liverpool lineup. Ismaila Sarr ($11) is intriguing if you want more Watford, while Fred ($11) may be the best defensive midfielder, with at least 9.1 fantasy points in his last six starts.
DEFENDERS
Harry Maguire, MUN at MCI ($14): This feels like a match in which Maguire racks up close to 10 clearances and then heads in a goal when United are down three in the second half. He hasn't had the highest floor, but against Chelsea, Leicester and Liverpool he averaged 20 fantasy points, and I think he could be near that total in this matchup. Trent Alexander-Arnold ($15) is always in play for an assist, but Serge Aurier ($15) has had a similar floor, if not better, over the last month because he's also accruing consistent clearances and tackles. James Tarkowski ($14) and Ben Mee ($13) could be an interesting defensive stack against Tottenham, who have given up the most tackles in the last 10 gameweeks.
Chris Mepham, BOU v. LIV ($8): With Steve Cook out because of a broken wrist, Mepham should get another start after hitting 16.7 fantasy points last match. Even better is that he has at least 13 fantasy points in all four starts this season, and the matchup should help him produce similar numbers. Liverpool have forced the second-most clearances in the last 10 matches. You could stack Mepham with teammate Jack Stacey ($8) if he starts, though a center-back like Craig Cathcart ($9) is a better bet for double-digit points.
GOALKEEPER
Alisson Becker, LIV at BOU ($10): This kind of feels like a trap, but the prices haven't been updated for the Liverpool goalkeepers as Adrian is at $14. Alisson will be chalk in all formats and that's fine because you're almost guaranteed to get positive points, assuming the Reds don't lose their first match in forever. The schedule has eased up for Crystal Palace, and that's led to back-to-back clean sheets for Vicente Guaita ($12), but I'm not sure he's worth paying up for when Ben Foster ($9) is favored in that match. There's little reason to spend up because Paulo Gazzaniga ($15) and Ederson ($14) are allowing goals every match no matter the opponent.
