This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EST)
- 10:00 am: Chelsea vs. Burnley
- 10:00 am: Everton vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
- 10:00 am: Leicester City vs. Southampton
- 10:00 am: Manchester United vs. Norwich City
- 10:00 am: Wolverhampton vs. Newcastle United
- 12:30 pm: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Liverpool
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS
Marcus Rashford, MUN v. NOR ($22): Manchester United have failed to score in their last two league matches, but I think they're easier to trust than Chelsea, who have recently gone scoreless at home against Bournemouth and Southampton. Instead of getting screwed by Tammy Abraham ($20) again, it's time for Rashford to disappoint. At the least, he gets chances when he doesn't make the score-sheet, reaching at least 10 fantasy points in each of his last seven starts. Of course, his upside rarely surpasses 25 points, but I'll take a chance of him getting opportunities against Norwich, who sit bottom of the table. Jamie Vardy ($21) is viable if he returns from a calf injury, but I'm not sure he'll play a full 90 and I'd rather write about a cheaper Leicester City player instead. And while I'm not highlighting Liverpool or Tottenham, there are few reasons not to use Sadio Mane ($22) or Mohamed Salah ($21). That said, I prefer to stick with a forward playing at home against what has been the worst team in the league.
James Maddison, LEI v. SOU ($18): Maddison doesn't have the same goal odds as a lot forwards (including teammate Ayoze Perez), but he has one of the highest floors on the slate; if you throw out the Liverpool and Man City matches, he's hit at least 23 fantasy points in his last four starts. Meanwhile, Southampton have allowed the fifth-most corners in the last 10 gameweeks and that's where a lot of Maddison's created chances come from. The reason not to use Maddison is that Anthony Martial ($19) is a similar price and has the fourth-best odds to score. Ideally, you could stack Rashford and Martial or Maddison with Vardy, and you should get at least one goal from those duos. As for Chelsea, Abraham and Willian ($17) can be awesome, but if they put in another dud, your entire lineup is ruined. At least with Maddison, you have a solid floor to fall back onto.
Emiliano Buendia, NOR at MUN ($14): Buendia put in one of the best floor performances of the season last match, but his price dropped because he's playing at Man United. That'd be reasonable if he didn't already assist and create multiple chances in away games against Leicester and Liverpool. Buendia has been matchup-proof whenever in the starting XI and has created 31 chances in his last six starts. Even better for his floor is that he's active defensively, accruing six interceptions and 15 tackles in the last two matches. Even without those defensive stats, he's worth taking at this price, and while I think Man United will win, they've given up at least one goal in each of their last seven home league matches, so Buendia will definitely get chances. Similar to last gameweek, Buendia is a reasonable cash play, with Joao Moutinho ($15), who similarly racks up chances because of set pieces and corners. Newcastle have allowed the most corners and second-most chances in the last 10 gameweeks, so Moutinho is another reasonable stack option with Raul Jimenez ($16). James Ward-Prowse ($17) and Gylfi Sigurdsson ($15) are in the same mold and will be far less popular if you want GPP options.
Adama Traore, WOL v. NEW ($13): I already mentioned Traore's teammates, but I prefer his price and that he doesn't lift weights despite being one of the most jacked players in the league. While a lot of what Traore does on a pitch doesn't show up in his FanDuel stats, he's been the standout player in recent home matches against Man City and Tottenham, producing eight shots (five on target) and four chances created. Newcastle are happy to get Matt Ritchie back from injury, but if he starts, he'll go from not playing in three months to having to dealing with Traore on the wing. I'll give the advantage to Traore, who usually overpowers opposing defenders. Given that Wolves are the third-biggest favorite on the slate, you can't find anyone else at this price with the same upside. Wilfred Ndidi ($12) and Jorginho ($11) are worth looks because of defensive stats, but you're not expecting production like Traore.
DEFENDERS
Toby Alderweireld, TOT v. LIV ($11): There will be people who spend up for Trent Alexander-Arnold ($16), and I can't argue with that decision because you never know when he's going to assist a couple times and surpass 30 points. However, getting him often requires you to use a risky defensive midfielder in your squad, and if Alexander-Arnold fails to hit 14 fantasy points, like he's done in three of the last five matches, you're not going to win anything. I'll go to the other side of the field and bank on Alderweireld to rack up clearances because that's what Liverpool do best. Despite playing in one fewer match than most teams, they've forced 33 more clearances than the next-highest team. Davinson Sanchez ($11) and Jan Vertonghen ($10) are also in play, but Alderweireld consistently makes clearances. Joe Gomez ($10) isn't a terrible choice for the Reds, as he has at least 10 fantasy points in his last five starts.
Charlie Taylor, BRN at CHE ($9): Taylor is the cheapest of the Burnley defenders and worth it as a value option, as Chelsea have forced the most clearances and interceptions, as well as the second-most tackles, in the last 10 gameweeks. Taylor isn't the most consistent full-back, but he's had at least 15 fantasy points in three of his last four starts. I'd also consider Grant Hanley ($9) at Man United because he's a cheap center-back who is a massive underdog. If you prefer to stack players on the same team, Phil Bardsley ($10) and Max Aarons ($10) fit that role with Taylor and Hanley, respectively.
GOALKEEPER
Jordan Pickford, EVE v. BHA ($10): Even with some difficult matchups, Pickford has been one of the better goalkeepers in the last month, reaching at least 10 fantasy points in his last six starts. The issue is that he's the lowest favorite on the slate, so you have to worry about getting the extra seven points for a win. Otherwise, Brighton have been far from consistent and were held scoreless at home in their last FA Cup match despite playing most of their regulars, top forward Neal Maupay included. If you have money because you went Buendia and Traore, I think Kasper Schmeichel ($15) is much easier to trust than David de Gea ($14) and Kepa Arrizabalaga ($12). The other move is Rui Patricio ($12) because Newcastle have failed to score more than one goal in their last six matches in all competitions.
