This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
For detailed odds and stats, check out the Fantasy Premier League: Saturday Cheat Sheet.
MATCHES (EST)
10:00 a.m: Huddersfield v. West Ham
10:00 a.m: Leicester City v. Burnley
10:00 a.m: Newcastle v. Bournemouth
10:00 a.m: Southampton v. Watford
12:30 p.m: Crystal Palace v. Tottenham
FORWARDS
Harry Kane, TOT at CRY ($10,800): The Crystal Palace v. Tottenham match is the only one on the slate with odds favoring more than 2.5 goals, while Kane comes in with the highest anytime goal scorer odds and no one playing Saturday has taken more shots or put more on goal this season. With all of that comes the highest price on the slate, and while he is likely to be very popular in cash games and GPPs because of his situation, I don't think he's absolutely necessary because of how much you have to sacrifice to fit him in. Coming in $1,500 less is West Ham's Marko Arnautovic, who is actually averaging more goals, shots and shots on goal per 90 minutes than Kane, and he's facing a Huddersfield side that has allowed the second-most goals on the slate (and fourth-most in the Premier League overall).
Danny Ings, SOU v. WAT ($6,600): Ings has scored at least 5.25 fantasy points in every start this season, and he's coming off an excellent match away to Manchester City when he had one (penalty) goal on five shots, including three on target, and two fouls drawn in a 6-1 loss. His matchup against Watford probably keeps him as a GPP play, but he adds a decent floor if he can find the back of the net. Southampton's set pieces are always a big question, but it's possible Nathan Redmond ($5,300) gets them back, which would certainly put him in play for cash games at this price.
Andros Townsend, CRY v. TOT ($6,100): Townsend is another forward with a fairly consistent floor, as his shared role of set pieces and active open play crossing and shooting has helped him score at least 6.25 fantasy points in all but one start this season, excluding goals (he scored his first this past weekend away to Chelsea) and assists (he has none this season anyway). The matchup against Tottenham is tough on paper, but Townsend, who used to play for Spurs, is still active enough that he's worth a look for cash games. Speaking of cash-game plays, Johann Berg Gudmundsson ($7,500) will certainly get plenty of attention if Robbie Brady ($5,400, midfielder) doesn't start again.
MIDFIELDERS
Marc Albrighton, LEI v. BUR ($7,100): Albrighton is likely to be highly owned in cash games as many expect him to take over Leicester's set pieces in place of the injured James Maddison ($9,500). His 24 crosses against West Ham two weeks ago certainly sticks out on the game log, but it's worth pointing out that Leicester fell behind early and then were a man up for an hour, which was a perfect storm for Albrighton. Nevertheless, he followed that up with 11 last week, including two corners, and he now faces a Burnley side that has allowed the fourth-most crosses, including the most corners, among teams on the slate. Albrighton is no lock for set pieces, as Demarai Gray ($6,500, midfielder/forward) and Ben Chilwell ($6,000, defender) have taken some in the past, but he's certainly the front runner in a match where Leicester could have opportunities. Also in this price range is Bournemouth's Junior Stanislas ($7,000), who got his first start of the season last weekend and finished with a strong 14.25 fantasy points, including an assist, though most importantly he took eight of Bournemouth's 12 set pieces -- Ryan Fraser ($8,200) took the others -- and his matchup away to Newcastle, who have allowed the most crosses on the slate, is certainly worth targeting.
Aaron Mooy, HUD v. WHU ($5,900): Huddersfield are the highest crossing team on the slate, and Mooy plays a decent part in that because of his shared role on set pieces. He has scored at least 6.50 fantasy points in all but one start this season, including six times with at least 8.25, as his crosses are supplemented with shots and tackles won to keep it consistent. Any hesitation on Mooy is likely because you're considering defender Chris Lowe ($5,400), who has also been a very consistent fantasy scorer without goals and assists. Lowe's highs have been higher than Mooy's, thrice scoring at least 11.00 fantasy points, but his lows have been lower, scoring fewer than 5.00 fantasy points three times; then again, those came against Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool. And if you're sitting there thinking you could never play both, consider they have each scored at least 6.00 fantasy points in the same game six times this season, including four of the past five.
Ki Sung-yueng, NEW v. BOU ($3,400): A muscular injury for Jonjo Shelvey ($6,000) could get Ki his first start since Sept. 1, especially after he picked up an assist off a free kick in last weekend's 1-0 win over Watford. The open-play upside will always favor Matt Ritchie ($6,400) or Kenedy ($5,800) in the Newcastle midfield, but if Ki, who took two corners after coming on for Shelvey last weekend, is in a similar role, he provides a nice value play against a Bournemouth side that looks good defensively but has also only played one team in the top five in the table (Chelsea) and six of the bottom eight.
DEFENDERS
Jose Holebas, WAT at SOU ($6,400): The league leader in crosses by a margin of 15 over Kieran Trippier ($7,700), Holebas has sent in at least 10 in five consecutive starts thanks to his monopoly of set pieces. Southampton haven't conceded a ton of corners or crosses this season, but Holebas' role will always make him a strong cash-game option. Paying up $1,300 more for Trippier is also a possibility, as is paying up for both of them (though it's hard if you're playing Kane, salary-wise).
Chris Lowe, HUD v. WHU ($5,400): As mentioned earlier, Lowe has had some very strong performances against non-top-six teams, as his shared role of Huddersfield's corners and activity in open play make him a strong cash game option. That's particularly helpful Saturday against West Ham, who have allowed the second-most crosses among teams on the slate, a situation that also benefits whoever starts at right-back or right wing-back, which is likely to be either Florent Hadergjonaj ($4,300) or Erik Durm ($4,500), who both provide salary relief from Lowe, though neither will have set pieces.
Charlie Daniels, BOU at NEW ($4,300): The Bournemouth left-back position has been a revolving door this season, but Daniels has a nice opportunity if he can get the start. As mentioned before, no team has allowed more crosses than Newcastle, and Daniels' preference to move forward in the attack could be used to exploit the Newcastle defense. He may not be the easiest cash-play (in fact, I'd prefer the cheaper Huddersfield fullbacks), but Daniels presents as an interesting pivot for those looking for an underowned attacking fullback.
GOALKEEPER
Ben Foster, WAT at SOU ($4,600): Southampton have surprisingly forced the third-most saves this season, trailing only the Manchester clubs (who aren't on Saturday's slate), but their seven goals scored tie them for the second-fewest in the league (Newcastle also have seven while forcing 27 saves and Huddersfield have five while forcing 26 saves). In fact, Southampton have scored just one goal in their last six Premier League matches. While they had tough matchups during that span, it's still a pretty poor run, especially since their only goal came from the penalty spot. Meanwhile, Foster has two clean sheets in his past three games, while making nine saves over that span.
