FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday EPL Targets

MATCHES (EST)

• 2:30 pm: Chelsea vs. Aston Villa
• 2:30 pm: Leicester City vs. Watford
• 2:30 pm: Manchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur
• 2:30 pm: Southampton vs. Norwich City
• 2:30 pm: Wolverhampton vs. West Ham United
• 3:15 pm: Liverpool vs. Everton

For detailed stats and odds, check out the FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday EPL Cheat Sheet.

FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS

Jamie Vardy, LEI v. WAT ($22): Vardy doesn't have the best floor, but it's hard to ignore his 10 goals and two assists in the last eight matches. You're playing with fire if you bet against him in this form because he always seems to have a brace in him. He has the best odds to score on the slate (behind injured Tammy Abraham) and Watford have given up five goals in their last two matches against Southampton and Burnley. A lot of people will turn to Liverpool and Sadio Mane ($22), which isn't a bad idea, but I'd rather look elsewhere. No matter how Everton are playing, the Merseyside derby is always a battle. There has been one goal scored in the last three derbies, with that goal coming in stoppage time by Divock Origi last December. And while I think Tottenham will give up a couple goals against Man United, that's not a match I want to focus on because production could come from anywhere. That was most evident when Marcus Rashford ($19) had 6.9 fantasy points in a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa over the weekend.

James Ward-Prowse, SOU v. NOR ($17): Ward-Prowse feels like an afterthought in the Premier League because he plays for a team battling relegation. However, most people in the fantasy world are familiar with him, having hit at least 14 fantasy points in each of his last six starts. While the goals will stop coming at some spot, he's getting a shot on target every match and has become the exclusive corner taker for the Saints. They may not win, but Norwich have allowed the most corners in the league in the last 10 matches, and that could lead to a floor of 15 points with defensive stats. You could stack him with Danny Ings ($17) or just go with Ings, but I'd rather back the cheaper player who has a better floor and more likely to go a full 90.

Willian, CHE v. AVL ($16): Willian is kind of in the same mold as Ward-Prowse in that he's good for a variety of stats, tackles included. He should return to the starting XI after coming off the bench last match and there's a good possibility he surpasses the two chances created he's averaging per 90 minutes. If Mason Mount ($17) returns to the bench, I'd like Willian even more because he should get more set pieces. Either way, Aston Villa have allowed the most chances and third-most corners in the last 10 gameweeks, and that plays into what Willian does best. Christian Pulisic ($15) is also in the conversation, though he's a candidate to be benched and his floor has been unreliable. In the same range, I'd be tentative about backing Raul Jimenez ($17) in a match with the lowest implied goal total. Jimenez has been great, but he's oddly averaging more production away from home, and I wouldn't take a chance on him in cash games, especially since West Ham once again have confidence after their win at Chelsea.

Kenny McLean, NOR at SOU ($12): If Norwich keep their same starting XI (meaning Emiliano Buendia is on the bench), McLean is my guy. He has eight chances created in his last three starts and, more importantly, has taken over set pieces (and Buendia's role). Buendia took three corners in seven minutes last match, so it's likely he's the top set-piece taker whenever on the pitch. In addition to Southampton allowing the fourth-most corners in the last 10 matches, Norwich have come around and looked like a regular team the last couple games. At this price and in a match that could be back and forth, McLean (and Buendia) is a steal. There are a lot of possibilities in this range, with Joao Moutinho ($14) and whoever starts up front for Chelsea. Wilfred Ndidi ($12) remains a top floor play along with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg ($12), both of whom are viable in cash games.

DEFENDERS

Yerry Mina, EVE at LIV ($11): It's unlikely Virgil van Dijk ($16) and Trent Alexander-Arnold ($15) repeat their recent performances, but if you want them, go ahead, I can't stop you. I'd rather spend on Ricardo Pereira ($16) in cash games because he's safer and always around 20 points due to a variety of defensive stats. I'd rather use any of the Everton center-backs no matter the formation used (3-4-3 last match). Mina has been more consistent than the others, but more importantly, Liverpool have forced the second-most clearances this season. If this match goes as expected, Liverpool will struggle to score early and, in turn, push forward in the second half, which should mean loads of clearances. I'd have Christoph Zimmermann ($11) here because he's a big part of Norwich's turnaround, though I'm not sure how much defensive action Southampton will force.

Ahmed Elmohamady, AVL at CHE ($9): This is mostly a, "well, he's starting, let's see what happens," situation. With Frederic Guilbert suspended, Elmohamady is set to start at right-back. He started the first two matches of the season and then was benched after creating five chances against Bournemouth. There are no guarantees to getting defensive stats from a full-back, but he's cheap and Chelsea usually force a lot of action, forcing the fourth-most clearances to defenders in the last 10 matches. Teammate Ezri Konsa is at the same price if you want a center-back. Otherwise, you're looking at players like Sam Byram ($9) and Craig Cathcart ($9) in this range.

GOALKEEPER

Tim Krul, NOR at SOU ($10): If you don't want to go against Ward-Prowse, Alex McCarthy ($9) is cheaper and favored. However, McCarthy feels like a trap for someone who has 10 saves in his last four starts. Krul has made 22 in his last five, and that includes zero he had against Watford in a 2-0 loss. As said earlier, the return of Zimmermann has revived the team and if Krul can make four saves while allowing one goal, that's all I'm looking for. If you want to spend, Kasper Schmeichel ($15) has at least 9.5 fantasy points in each of his last 10 starts and should hit that number against Watford. If you fade Wolves, David Martin ($9) is a viable route, though it'll be easier to trust Rui Patricio ($13). And while Tom Heaton ($10) could allow multiple goals, he's made at least four saves in his last six starts and there's always the chance Chelsea struggle again without Abraham up front.