This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EDT)
11:00 a.m: Uruguay v. Saudi Arabia
2:00 p.m: Iran v. Spain
FORWARDS
Edinson Cavani, URU v. KSA ($12,000):Luis Suarez ($12,000) has slightly better scoring odds than Cavani but costs $500 more, which in a slate consisting of such heavy favorites could make a difference as you're trying to pack in as many players from Uruguay and Spain as you can. I'm not going to claim I have the DFS crystal ball here, but you should try to get one of Cavani or Suarez in your lineup, or both if you can somehow fill them in.
Diego Costa, ESP v. IRN ($11,000): Costa comes into Wednesday's mismatch against Iran with the third-best scoring odds, right behind Suarez and Cavani. He's bagged two goals in Friday's 3-3 thriller with Portugal and is expected to lead the attacking line once again. Spain are nearly as heavy favorites as Uruguay, while Costa is at least $1,000 cheaper than Cavani and Suarez. Iago Aspas ($8,000) has a slight chance at making the starting XI after subbing on against Portugal and would be the alternative to Costa.
Karim Ansarifard, IRN v. ESP ($6,000):Alireza Jahanbakhsh ($7,500) is dealing with an injury suffered in Friday's win over Morocco, leaving some uncertainty as to who will start in the Iran attack, though Ansarifard should keep his starting role on the left wing. In order to fit the studs into your lineup, budget savings will need
MATCHES (EDT)
11:00 a.m: Uruguay v. Saudi Arabia
2:00 p.m: Iran v. Spain
FORWARDS
Edinson Cavani, URU v. KSA ($12,000):Luis Suarez ($12,000) has slightly better scoring odds than Cavani but costs $500 more, which in a slate consisting of such heavy favorites could make a difference as you're trying to pack in as many players from Uruguay and Spain as you can. I'm not going to claim I have the DFS crystal ball here, but you should try to get one of Cavani or Suarez in your lineup, or both if you can somehow fill them in.
Diego Costa, ESP v. IRN ($11,000): Costa comes into Wednesday's mismatch against Iran with the third-best scoring odds, right behind Suarez and Cavani. He's bagged two goals in Friday's 3-3 thriller with Portugal and is expected to lead the attacking line once again. Spain are nearly as heavy favorites as Uruguay, while Costa is at least $1,000 cheaper than Cavani and Suarez. Iago Aspas ($8,000) has a slight chance at making the starting XI after subbing on against Portugal and would be the alternative to Costa.
Karim Ansarifard, IRN v. ESP ($6,000):Alireza Jahanbakhsh ($7,500) is dealing with an injury suffered in Friday's win over Morocco, leaving some uncertainty as to who will start in the Iran attack, though Ansarifard should keep his starting role on the left wing. In order to fit the studs into your lineup, budget savings will need to be found elsewhere, which is where Ansarifard comes into play.
MIDFIELDERS
Isco, ESP v. IRN ($8,500): Of the five corner kicks Spain won in Friday's draw with Portugal, Isco took three of them, while David Silva ($10,000) and Koke ($6,000) each took one. Isco was inches away from scoring a superb volley but couldn't get the bounce necessary late in the first half. Silva is the most expensive midfielder on the slate, while Koke offers a fair amount of savings but won't play as high up the pitch.
Rodrigo Betancur, URU v. KSA ($7,500): Uruguay's midfield engine room consists of Betancur and Matias Vecino ($6,000), who were both quality during Friday's win over Egypt. Betancur led Uruguay in passes completed and should see a ton of the ball again when facing Saudi Arabia, as he acts as one of the supply lines to Suarez and Cavani.
Salman Al Faraj, KSA v. URU ($6,500): During Russia's demolition of Saudi Arabia, Al Faraj stood out as one of Saudi's most viable fantasy options due to his five clearances, three crosses and two scoring chances created. He won't blow the doors off of the opposition, but he is the most likely offensive source of any player on Saudi Arabia.
DEFENDERS
Jose Gimenez, URU v. KSA ($6,500): Friday's winning result over Egypt was in doubt until Gimenez's 90th-minute match-winning goal from a Carlos Sanchez corner kick. It's unlikely Gimenez scores in consecutive matches, but there is a good chance he matches his stalwart defensive performance. On top of the goal, he made nine interceptions, eight clearances and four tackles, with those numbers enough for me to consider him ahead of Diego Godin ($7,000), who is slightly more expensive.
Nacho, ESP v. IRN ($5,500):Nacho's wonder strike against Portugal is an early contender for goal of the tournament, but it's unlikely he can match that feat again. In addition to the goal, he added five tackles, two clearances and two fouls drawn, and he is considerably cheaper than Sergio Ramos ($7,000) and slightly cheaper than Jordi Alba ($6,000). Meanwhile, Dani Carvajal ($6,000) is still dealing with a foot injury, which should keep Nacho in the starting XI.
Omar Hasawi, KSA v. URU ($4,000): Due to the overwhelming favorites in the slate, finding value in the underdog teams will be important. Saudi Arabia will need to pack it in defensively as they attempt to do everything to stop the tournament's best strike partnership, and Hasawi could rack up the defensive statistics even if Uruguay beat them handily.
GOALKEEPER
David de Gea, ESP v. IRN ($5,500): It's not often de Gea isn't the most expensive goalkeeper on a slate, especially with the highest clean sheet odds. He is coming off a match where he allowed three goals, with one being a poor mistake that allowed a Ronaldo shot to trickle in off his hands, but I'm willing to write that performance off to Ronaldo's brilliance. Spain's clean sheet odds and de Gea's goalkeeping quality made him the first player in my lineup, especially since he's cheaper than Uruguay's Fernando Muslera ($6,000). Alireza Beiranvand ($4,500) is coming off an excellent performance against Morocco, while Abdullah Al-Mayoof ($4,000) is the cheapest keeper on the slate but also allowed five goals to an average Russian team in their opening match.
