TheSix Fantasy Soccer: Saturday Premier League Value Plays

TheSix Fantasy Soccer: Saturday Premier League Value Plays

This article is part of our TheSix Fantasy Soccer series.

MATCHES (EST)

7:30 a.m: Leicester City v. Crystal Palace
10:00 a.m: Arsenal v. Newcastle
10:00 a.m: Brighton v. Burnley
10:00 a.m: Chelsea v. Southampton
10:00 a.m: Stoke City v. West Ham
10:00 a.m: Watford v. Huddersfield
12:30 p.m: Manchester City v. Tottenham

STRIKERS

Gabriel Jesus, MCI v. TOT (€9M): Jesus is very goal dependent to make value, but he also comes in with solid anytime goal-scorer odds despite the matchup against Tottenham. His price is reduced a bit because he hasn't scored in nearly a month, but with Sergio Aguero starting earlier this week it seems logical that Jesus comes back in. And while Spurs present themselves as a tough opponent, City are still the third-biggest favorites on the slate.

Andy Carroll, WHU at STK (€5M): Carroll hasn't started the past two games, but he has a solid opportunity to get back in the first XI away to Stoke, who have decent size in central defense. Carroll actually has a pretty safe floor with enough minutes, as his 11.27 duels won per 90 minutes this season are the third-most in the Premier League, trailing only Peter Crouch (€12M) among players on the slate. Both make sense if they start given their solid floors, especially since their height and position opens up their goal upside.

MIDFIELDERS

Cesc Fabregas, CHE v. SOU (€10M): Fabregas may have the highest floor as anyone on the slate, as he routinely completes more than 50 passes on at least 90 touches. He doesn't shoot that much, which limits his upside a bit, but it's tough to argue against an almost guaranteed 12.00 fantasy points every time he takes the pitch.

Leroy Sane, MCI v. TOT (€9M): Sane hasn't scored a goal since Oct. 28, and his last assist came nearly a month ago, but he continues to get starts and should be in the first XI after being rested for Wednesday's game at Swansea. The matchup against Spurs isn't the easiest, but Man City are still solid favorites and Sane comes in with more than 14.00 fantasy points in each of his last two starts. If he can find his way onto the scoresheet, he will pay off quite well.

Rajiv van La Parra, HUD at WAT (€4M): van La Parra was unused in Huddersfield's match against Chelsea earlier this week, which was preceded by a three-match red-card ban, all helping his price drop dramatically. However, van La Parra had scored more than 10.00 fantasy points in back-to-back matches before the red card, and a return to the starting XI could pay great dividends Saturday against a Watford side that won't dominate possession.

DEFENDERS

Shkodran Mustafi, ARS v. NEW (&euro8M): Mustafi has missed time recently due to injury, but his return to the lineup will allow us to get cheaper exposure to the defense with the top clean sheet odds on the slate. The Arsenal defense has been significantly better with Mustafi on the pitch, and his 59.39 passes on 84.86 touches per 90 minutes give him an excellent fantasy floor.

Christian Fuchs, LEI v. CRY (€7M): After failing to get a start in back-to-back matches, Fuchs returned to his regular left-back position Wednesday against Southampton, pouring in 11.3 fantasy points thanks to 36 accurate passes on 79 touches, adding three duels won and two interceptions. Palace have been better in the attack of late, but Leicester seem to be putting it together again, giving Fuchs some decent upside in a match where we'll know he's starting before lineup lock.

Jose Holebas, WAT v. HUD (€6M): Holebas got his left wingback spot back after Marvin Zeegelaar was sent off last week against Burnley, and his price is still low enough where we can take advantage. He scored 9.05 fantasy points in a loss to Crystal Palace on Tuesday thanks to 28 completed passes on 75 touches, and his role on set pieces at least increases his assist upside.

Charlie Taylor, BUR at BHA (€5M): Taylor came on for the injured Stephan Ward in Tuesday's match against Stoke City, and he could provide a great salary savings against a Brighton side that's scored just once in their last five matches.

GOALKEEPER

Mat Ryan, BHA v. BUR (€9M: Ryan has made at least four saves in five of his last six starts and now faces a Burnley side that has scored one or zero goals in all but three matches this season. The goalkeeper pricing is pretty tight, so if you have the money it makes sense to pay up for Petr Cech (€12M), who has the best clean sheet odds on the slate.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Andrew M. Laird plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: kingmorland, DraftKings: andrewmlaird, Yahoo: Lairdinho.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrew M. Laird
Andrew is a former RotoWire contributor. He was the 2017 and 2018 FSWA Soccer Writer of the Year. He is a nine-time FSWA award finalist, including twice for Football Writer of the Year.
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