This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.
Rolling into Week 2 of the Premier League season, just a reminder that there are no rule or roster structure changes this year. As mentioned last week, it will be tough to pull specific data points over the first few weeks because of preseason injuries, teams still waiting for key players to come back, ongoing transfer sagas and so on. We will base picks for Saturday on what teams tended to do in the preseason/tours and last week while focusing on a few potential value plays due to injuries/late starts for key players.
GOALKEEPER
Jack Butland, STK v. ARS ($5,000) or Wayne Hennessey, CRY at LIV ($4,000): Both of these goalkeepers are in good spots because of the volume of shots they will likely face. Both Stoke and Crystal Palace looked uninspired in their opening league matches, which should help increase the shot-on-goal potential for the keepers. Picking between the two, Hennessey does save $1,000 and will also face Liverpool after a midweek Champions League qualifier, but Arsenal forced the most saves in Gameweek 1. If you're going the clean sheet route, my first choice would likely be Petr Cech.
DEFENDER
Trent Alexander-Arnold, LIV v. CRY ($5,000): Scoring 25.5 fantasy points last week without a goal or assist and no significant price movement gives us a chance to roster Alexander-Arnold in a plus matchup against a weak Crystal Palace team. Some of the attacking points for Alexander-Arnold were a result of Liverpool being down to Watford, but manager Jurgen Klopp rarely takes his foot off the gas and Liverpool will look forward all season. If James Milner gets the start in midfield, he is an interesting play while being listed as a defender.
Sead Kolasinac, ARS at STK ($5,000): Another defender who provides an attacking option, Kolasinac had a fast start to his Premier League career, scoring 30.75 fantasy points. Arsenal should have no problem pressing up field against a weak Stoke team who are slightly worse on paper than last year.
Center-backs tend to be the safer options on FanDuel, especially ones against higher quality teams. However, this week the two teams that stick out, Arsenal and Liverpool, tend to not lump in crosses over and over which is most valuable for defensive points. With that in mind, center-backs to target include Harry Maguire, Scott Dann, Kurt Zouma and Younes Kaboul.
MIDFIELDER
Liverpool:Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are the keys here with Philippe Coutinho missing out again. Close in price, Mane already has a goal this year, and there should be plenty of opportunities against Crystal Palace, who just gave up three goals to Huddersfield Town. Check lineups to make sure they are in, as Liverpool had a mid-week match in Germany.
Arsenal: The two that stand out after solid performances in Gameweek 1 are Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Granit Xhaka, as they basically ran the match with no real help from Mesut Ozil. Both showed decent floors and arguably looked better in the league opener and Community Shield than any matches last year. Oxlade-Chamberlain is the subject of some transfer rumors, so check lineups for him this week.
Riyad Mahrez is a decent pivot off of the Arsenal and Liverpool players, and other cheaper options include Robbie Brady, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, James Ward-Prowse, Matt Phillips and Ryan Fraser.
FORWARD
Alexandre Lacazette, ARS at STK ($11,000) and Roberto Firmino, LIV v. CRY ($11,000): Both players are expensive after scoring goals in Gameweek 1, but they have plus matchups Saturday. With several solid midfield options, there is a way to roster both and hope for goals. Jamie Vardy ($10,000), who scored twice at Arsenal last week, is close in price and probably faces the weakest side of the three forwards. However, Vardy is more of a counter-attacking specialist and Leicester City will likely have more possession than normal.
Manolo Gabbiadini, SOU v. WHU, ($7,500): West Ham got torched away to Manchester United last week. Are Southampton that good? No, but they did create a significant number of chances against Swansea and were unlucky not to put a couple in goal. Gabbiadini should have chances against a weak West Ham back line.
Cheaper options include Chicharito, Jay Rodriguez and Christian Benteke.
