This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (ET)
- 1:00 pm: Manchester United vs. Fulham
- 1:00 pm: Southampton vs. Leeds United
- 2:00 pm: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Manchester City
- 3:15 pm: Chelsea vs. Leicester City
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS
Bruno Fernandes, MUN v. FUL ($23): I believe Manchester United will play their regulars in front of their fans and then rest a few guys over the weekend with an eye toward the Europa League final. That makes Fernandes an easy pick no matter the format. He's scored at least 26 fantasy points in each of his last four starts and had a floor of 16 points in the first meeting against Fulham. The bonus in this game is that Fulham aren't playing as well as that prior matchup, as they've given up multiple goals in six of their last eight matches and Scott Parker started giving minutes to teenagers last game. With fans, I think United will be pumped to rack up goals and Fernandes makes the most sense on that front, as he continually shoots from distance and takes most set pieces. The question is if you should stack him with any of his teammates because if they end up scoring three or four goals, that could decide a GPP. I'd probably consider Mason Greenwood ($17) ahead of Marcus Rashford ($20), mainly because he's in form and doesn't have a nagging ankle issue, while Edinson Cavani ($17) is goal or bust. Paul Pogba ($13) is at a discount despite playing on the wing in recent matches, leading to potential upside. On the other side, Ademola Lookman ($13) is a value play and Ivan Cavaleiro ($16) may be too expensive for this matchup.
Phil Foden, MCI at BHA ($17): While I like Riyad Mahrez ($21), it'll be hard not to consider Foden if he starts, though it doesn't help this is one of the later matches. Foden has as much potential as anyone in the side and has missed recent league matches because he's featured in the Champions League. He's made the score-sheet in each of his last seven starts, which makes him a great play for me in cash games. If Kevin De Bruyne ($22) starts, I'd be wary of playing time because of recent fatigue issues. Everything else depends on who Pep Guardiola starts, but after plenty of rest for the regulars, I think guys like Mahrez and Foden will be back in the starting XI, with Gabriel Jesus ($19) another option to get the call if De Bruyne isn't ready. The lone downside to this match is that Brighton will have home fans and they've allowed one goal in their last four at home. The upside is that Lewis Dunk is suspended and Joel Veltman is injured, and they don't have their preferred squad available, meaning City could find an advantage, something West Ham didn't do over the weekend.
James Ward-Prowse, SOU v. LEE ($15): I think this matchup has the potential to blow up the slate, as it has the highest-implied goal total by a decent margin. Leeds are arguably playing their best of the season, but Marcelo Bielsa is expected to rotate a few guys, while Southampton are playing much better than the last meeting, which Leeds won 3-0. Still, the teams combined for 12 shots on target and 18 chances created, and I think there could be more in this game, as neither has anything to play for. Patrick Bamford ($19) and Danny Ings ($19) would be a nice stack if both forwards have a battle for goals, as they're most likely to brace in this game. The problem is that Bamford has a low floor and Ings probably won't be pushed a full 90 because of recent injury issues. That's why I'm leaning Ward-Prowse since he rarely misses a minute when healthy. He's scored double-digit fantasy points in each of his last seven starts because he supplies defensive stats to go with tons of action from set pieces. He's easier to trust in cash games than someone like Raphinha ($16) or Jack Harrison ($18), as Leeds' set pieces have been a mixed bag, including Stuart Dallas ($13) leading the team last match. Che Adams ($18) and Rodrigo ($17) are also GPP options and shouldn't be widely popular even though both have had recent success. Then again, with an ailed Ings, I think Adams may be the safer Southampton forward. For value, Theo Walcott ($10) and Nathan Tella ($9) could return to the starting XI; neither is reliable, but if this match finishes with five or six goals, they could easily make the score-sheet.
Youri Tielemans, LEI at CHE ($13): The Chelsea-Leicester City match is the easiest to fade after they played to a 1-0 result in the FA Cup final over the weekend. They combined for four shots on target and, while Chelsea had 10 corners, all of them aren't going to one player. Unless you think either side will score multiple goals and rack up tons of opportunities, it'll be hard to spend on the likes of Mason Mount ($18) and Kelechi Iheanacho ($18). Both are viable for tournaments, but I'd rather spend that money on higher upside players. That's why, if anything, I'd use Tielemans in this spot because he remains under-priced. Even when he loses set pieces to James Maddison ($15) or Marc Albrighton ($11), his floor usually surpasses 10 fantasy points because of defensive stats. That said, I'd rather look for value in the matches that are expected to have more goals, especially considering a player like Pogba is the same price, and a number of projected starters are cheaper in the Southampton-Leeds match.
DEFENDERS
Adam Webster, BHA v. MCI ($7): If you're taking the value defender route, Webster is the easiest play. He's a center-back who usually has around 10 fantasy points and had a floor of 14.3 points in the last meeting against Man City. He'll have plenty of work no matter who City put on the pitch, and that's more than you can say of Eric Bailly ($7), Kyle Walker ($7) or anyone else who starts in this range.
There isn't a reason to spend at defender on this slate because of the numerous high-end forwards, as well as there being no one like Trent Alexander-Arnold to use. Joao Cancelo ($15) and Reece James ($14) can have huge games, but they're far from consistent and only worth risking in GPPs. For value, I'd look at any Brighton or Fulham defender, while banking on clean sheets from the Manchester center-backs is probably the wrong strategy.
GOALKEEPER
Edouard Mendy, CHE v. LEI ($11): Chelsea are at home with fans and looking for revenge in a game that means something. Outside of a Tielemans laser in the FA Cup, Leicester didn't get a ton of good looks, and Mendy is on the same level as Ederson ($14) and Dean Henderson ($13) in terms of getting a clean sheet. Sure, Chelsea are less likely to win, but if you need to save a few bucks, Mendy allows you to do that. For value, Kasper Schmeichel ($8) is the obvious play, while Robert Sanchez ($7) and Alphonse Areola ($7) are punts, though the former is more reasonable at home.
