This article is part of our Mondogoal Fantasy Soccer series.
After last weekend's FA Cup semifinals left just seven Premier League matches to be played over the course of three days, England's top-flight returns with a full weekend slate starting Saturday.
That's when fantasy owners can once again partake in Mondogoal's Perfect Million contest, opening the chance for huge cash rewards while costing nothing to enter.
In hopes of maximum fantasy points while staying under MondoGoal's £100M player budget, here's a lineup that could potentially pay dividends this weekend.
GOALKEEPER
Adrian, WHU at WBA (£6.4M): Among goalkeepers slated to play Saturday, only three have accumulated more fantasy points on Mondogoal this season than Adrian's 161.28. Still, the Spaniard's £6.4M evaluation trails 13 of his peers. While that contrast makes Adrian an intriguing value most weeks, his matchup at West Brom this time around is particularly enticing. Only last-place Aston Villa has scored fewer goals than the Baggies this term, and they've gone without a goal in four of their past six matches overall.
DEFENDER
Per Mertesacker, ARS v. NOR (£8.0M): Recently dropped from Arsenal's starting lineup after a couple of lapses against Barcelona and Chelsea, Mertesacker was restored to the Gunners' defense two games ago, resulting in a pair of clean sheets. A calmer, more assuring presence compared to his teammate Gabriel, Mertesacker figures to keep his place this weekend versus Norwich City. The Canaries have failed to score in back-to-back games ahead of Saturday's trip to the Emirates Stadium, where Mertesacker will aim to put together a third straight outing of at least 7.50 fantasy points.
Jan Kirchhoff, SUN at STK (£7.5M): A fantasy darling that's emerged from an otherwise suspect Sunderland side, Kirchhoff's average of 6.01 fantasy points per match places him within the top 15 Perfect Million defenders, and nobody ahead of him costs less. As someone who actually plays in a central midfield position, Kirchhoff racks up pass completions, interceptions and tackles, and he should continue to do so Saturday against Stoke City. Additionally, the Potters' two-game scoring drought bodes in Kirchhoff's favor for a fourth clean sheet in his last five tries.
Craig Cathcart, WAT v. AVL (£6.6M): Although Watford comfortably sits mid-table, the Hornets' early season heights seem a distant memory, as they've won just three league games since Boxing Day. While an unlikely FA Cup run was shot down last weekend, Saturday's home date with last-place Aston Villa provides a splendid rebound opportunity for Cathcart and company. The Villains have been shutout in six of their past eight road Premiership matches, and eight of Cathcart's impressive 10 clean sheets this season have come at Vicarage Road.
MIDFIELDER
Mesut Ozil, ARS v. NOR (£12.6M): Despite having recorded only one goal and zero assists in Arsenal's last eight league outings, Ozil's whopping 344.33 total fantasy points on Mondogoal still lead all Perfect Million players entering Saturday. The German genius has also already set a Premier League record by creating 137 scoring chances for his teammates this season. Although Arsenal's abysmal finishing has hampered Ozil's assist total lately, his 18 helpers remain far in front of anyone else league-wide, and this weekend he'll face a Norwich City side that he scored against earlier this season.
Dimitri Payet, WHU at WBA (£12.6M): Checking in at the same salary as Ozil, Payet has driven West Ham's wildly successful campaign, picking up nine goals and nine assists along the way. That production has earned Payet 9.88 fantasy points per game, leaving Ozil as the only better Perfect Million midfielder. This weekend, the Frenchman will face West Brom for the first time in his career, and though Saturday's game comes on the road, Payet's two goals and three assists from West Ham's last four road trips puts him in good standing to continue his playmaking exploits.
Georginio Wijnaldum, NEW v. CRY (£8.3M): A player who started his career in England like a house on fire, Wijnaldum has cooled considerably since his six goals through Newcastle's first nine matches. Admittedly, that span included his four-goal outburst versus Norwich City, but if Wijnaldum has showed something, it's that he prefers to play at St. James' Park. To that point, all nine of his goals have come at home, where Newcastle welcomes Crystal Palace this weekend. Fresh off a Week 35 assist against Liverpool, Wijnaldum should earn a start at his favorite stomping ground.
Yohan Cabaye, CRY at NEW (£6.9M): Someone that used to call Newcastle home, Cabaye returns to face the Magpies on Saturday after registering 8.65 fantasy points in last weekend's FA Cup semifinal win over Watford. That performance gave the Frenchman at least 7.05 fantasy points in three of his last five appearances, and on the whole of this season, Cabaye ranks as a top 15 Perfect Million midfielder. Better yet, none of his superiors come at a cheaper price. Furthermore, Cabaye could be in store for another strong showing Saturday, as Crystal Palace walloped Newcastle 5-1 earlier this term.
FORWARD
Alexis Sanchez, ARS v. NOR (£12.8M): Thanks to a recent revitalization, Alexis now leads all Perfect Million forwards with 9.56 fantasy points per game, justifying a £12.8M salary that also tops his position. In the Chilean's last eight league appearances, he's supplied six goals and three assists, including at least one goal in his past three matches at home. That's where Arsenal is slated to play Norwich City on Saturday, when Alexis will aim to add to his 1,032 passes completed and 59 fouls won, which both lead all forwards by some cushion. The electric attacker was also injured after providing an assist against Norwich earlier this season, so he'll be licking his chops at a revenge opportunity.
Jermain Defoe, SUN at STK (£9.0M): An ageless wonder, Defoe has put together yet another double-digit scoring campaign, as his 13 goals lead the team. More importantly, the veteran's form lately has fueled Sunderland's surge toward safety. In the Black Cats' past six matches, Defoe has accounted for three of his team's five goals, and Sunderland has lost just once over that span. This weekend, he'll travel to play a mid-table Stoke City side that's appeared to have already checked-out on this season, evidenced by its four goals conceded in three straight matches.
Romelu Lukaku, EVE v. BOU (£8.9M): After painstakingly making a meal of a plethora of scoring chances in last weekend's FA Cup semifinal falter versus Manchester United, Lukaku should be keen to correct his account Saturday against Bournemouth. Fortunately for him, the Cherries have leaked the third-most goals this season, including four last weekend at home versus Chelsea. Lukaku also netted one against them back in November, and as the Premiership's fourth-leading scorer, his £8.9M price tag represents one of the better value plays going into this weekend.
