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: Arsenal v. Huddersfield
10:00 a.m: Burnley v. Brighton
10:00 a.m: Cardiff City v. Southampton
10:00 a.m: Manchester United v. Fulham
10:00 a.m: West Ham v. Crystal Palace
12:30 p.m: Chelsea v. Manchester City
FORWARDS
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, ARS v. HUD ($9,300): Well, at least it's not a Manchester City stack slate, right? With Man City traveling to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea, it seems sub-optimal to try and figure out the scoring pieces in the match with the (tied for) second-highest implied goal total, especially since both sides are expected to score. Instead, we can focus on Arsenal, who are the biggest favorite on the slate with the highest implied goal total, and Manchester United, who have the second-highest win odds and implied goal total. Aubameyang, who has been leading the line for the Gunners, has three goals on 10 shots (five on goal) and one assist on four chances created in his last three starts, all of which have come with him playing as a center-forward. He has by far the highest anytime goal scorer odds on the slate, and while his salary is high, Arsenal are dominant favorites on a slate with no other reliable goal scorer in as good a matchup. Given the congested schedule that has every Premier League side playing three times in eight days, it's possible Aubameyang is rested in favor of Alexandre Lacazette ($8,900), who has the second-highest anytime goal scorer odds and actually averages more shots (2.80 v. 2.64), chances created (1.21 v. 1.12), crosses (1.30 v. 1.28) and fouls drawn (1.86 v. 1.04) per 90 minutes than Aubameyang.
Andros Townsend, CRY at WHU ($7,500): While his share of set pieces seems to be getting smaller, as both Luka Milivojevic ($6,800, midfielder) and Max Meyer ($4,100, midfielder) are taking corners with Townsend, he's still managed to accompany his crosses with shots, firing off at least two in six straight games while finishing with at least two tackles plus fouls drawn in all but one game in that span. His price is a bit high given Palace are away underdogs, but with reliable floors hard to come by in the forward spots Saturday, it may be worth paying up for Townsend's reliability. If the salary is too much, paying slightly less for Pascal Gross ($6,700) is an option for cash games as he faces a Burnley side that's conceded the most shots, second-most crosses and most corners among teams on the slate.
Lucas Perez, WHU v. CRY ($4,800): This certainly has the feel of chasing goals, as Lucas scored twice off the bench during West Ham's 3-1 win over Cardiff City on Tuesday, and while the matchup against Crystal Palace is a bit tougher, Lucas' price is pretty enticing in GPPs since West Ham are still favored at home. Speaking of chasing West Ham goals, Michail Antonio ($6,400) found the back of the net Tuesday despite starting at right-back, and I don't think you can rule him out of a cash lineup because of his penchant for taking shots and drawing fouls. At the very least, I easily consider both of those guys before Chicharito ($7,700).
MIDFIELDERS
Robert Snodgrass, WHU . CRY ($7,200): Imagine for a moment that there was a player on a minus-300 home favorite against a team that's allowed by far the most goals and assists in the Premier League this season, and this player not only led his team in shots, shots on goal and fouls drawn, but did so by having 74 percent more shots, 75 percent more shots on goal and 67 percent more fouls drawn than the second-highest player on the team in each category. And what if I told you this player is one of 10 players in the Premier League to never score fewer than 4.25 fantasy points when they start (minimum six starts) and that he's simply averaging 3.17 shots, including 1.66 on goal, 1.43 crosses, and 2.38 fouls drawn per 90 minutes this season, which equates to 8.28 fantasy points per 90 minutes. Oh, and what if I also pointed out that this player has been the primary penalty taker for his team? Would that convince you that his floor is strong enough while also providing good upside in a match his side should overwhelmingly win? Of course you'd strongly consider that player for cash games and GPPs. But because he plays for Manchester United, and his name is Paul Pogba ($7,800), everyone wants to crap on his cash game viability and say he's only suited for GPPs. Anyway, Snodgrass is also one of those players with at least 4.25 in every start -- in fact, he's reached 7.25 in eight of his nine starts -- and he's now facing a Palace side that's allowed the fourth-most crosses among teams on the slate.
Joe Ralls, CAR v. SOU ($4,100): The possibility of rostering Ralls will probably leave a sour taste in the mouths of those who had him earlier this week, only to see him have his penalty attempt saved, with a yellow card eventually pushing him to minus-one fantasy point in 64 minutes. However, Ralls allows us to get access to some set pieces for a home team against Southampton without paying a comically high $7,000 for Victor Camarasa. If you want to try to play the other side of that match -- Southampton are favorites, after all -- you could try James Ward-Prowse ($6,500) if he starts, as he took all of their set pieces earlier this week, and tends to do so whenever he starts.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, SOU at CAR ($5,900): You could also ignore the Southampton set-piece situation and focus on a player who had 12 shots, including five on goal, seven tackles won and eight fouls drawn in his last three games. Hojbjerg continues to play as a holding midfielder, but he's been much more attacking this season, increasing his per-90 shots average from 0.86 to 2.11, his tackles won from 1.56 to 2.03 and his fouls drawn from 1.56 to 2.45. His price is in a range where you'll probably also consider Arsenal's Lucas Torreira ($6,000), who likely won't have many (any?) of their set pieces because of the return of Granit Xhaka ($7,100), who could get all of Arsenal's set pieces and still be a questionable cash-game play at that salary.
DEFENDERS
Ashley Young, MUN v. FUL ($5,600): Finding reliable cash options in the Manchester United attack has been tough this season, but the same can't be said about the fullbacks, with Young the most consistent thanks to his crosses. He doesn't always take corners, but he's still a very active crosser overall, sending in 22 passes from the wing in his last two starts, which impressively had him start at left-back in one and right-back in the other. Given Manchester United's expected dominance of their match against Fulham, and the lack of high-end attacking defenders overall, Young could be the highest-owned player at the position in cash games.
Calum Chambers, FUL at MUN ($3,300): The matchup is obviously not going to be easy, but it's tough to ignore Chambers' recent success while starting in the defensive midfield for new manager Claudio Ranieri. Scoring 6.00, 11.50 and 9.50 in his last three games, respectively, Chambers has reached those totals without a single goal, assist or clean sheet. None of those should be expected against Manchester United, but after putting all three of his shots on goal and winning three tackles against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, surely making value at this salary is doable against Man United.
Matthew Lowton, BUR v. BHA ($4,300): Burnley have been the best side to target for floor points this season, but Brighton have been almost as bad, as they've allowed the second-most crosses and have committed the most fouls among teams on the slate. Lowton was rested for Burnley's midweek match, but he sent in 11 crosses in his last two starts, with the matchup against Brighton really what we're targeting. Charlie Taylor ($4,500) is a bit more expensive for really no reason, and if you're thinking about going up that slight difference, it might be worth just skipping Burnley altogether and rostering Southampton's Matt Targett ($4,800) if his path to corners -- namely no Ward-Prowse or Mohamed Elyounoussi ($6,400, midfielder) -- is clear.
GOALKEEPER
Kepa Arrizabalaga, CHE v. MCI ($4,200): Kepa has been very strong at Stamford Bridge this season, posting three clean sheets, conceding seven goals and making 17 saves in eight starts. Up next is a team that has forced the most saves in the Premier League this season, which is a good thing! The bad is that they've also scored the most goals. Looking at Manchester City on the road, they've scored 30 goals while forcing 40 saves, but their opponents aren't close to Chelsea: Huddersfield, Newcastle, Fulham, Brighton, Burnley, Southampton, Manchester United and Bournemouth. Man City are still favored away, but the save upside makes Kepa an interesting play at his price.
