This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EST)
- 7:30 am: Everton vs. Crystal Palace
- 12:30 pm: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Watford
For detailed stats and odds, as well as expected lineups check out the
FORWARDS
Richarlison, EVE v. CRY ($9,000): Richarlison is the most expensive player on the slate, which doesn't really tell us a whole lot since we only have two games. Everton are the biggest favorite against a struggling Crystal Palace side, and while some people may consider Gylfi Sigurdsson ($8,700) because of his shared role of set pieces, his floor really isn't much different than Richarlison's while the latter has significantly higher anytime goal scorer odds. If goals are what you're after, teammate Dominic Calvert-Lewin ($8,100) is the only player on the slate with better than 50 percent odds to score, and while his floor isn't that helpful for cash games, he surely should be a GPP target over Sigurdsson, who can only justify his salary if Lucas Digne doesn't start.
Neal Maupay, BHA v. WAT ($7,900): The Brighton forward group is really tough, especially because Pascal Gross ($8,300) and Leandro Trossard ($8,000) have taken set pieces this season, though Gross has had a much bigger share recently. Meanwhile, Maupay is their best goal threat, as long as he gets back into the starting XI ahead of Glenn Murray ($5,800), with Calvert-Lewin the only player on the slate with higher anytime goal scorer odds. It's certainly worth mentioning that the totals in both games are really low, and Calvert-Lewin and Maupay's goal odds aren't that high, so it's not like we have to jam them in with the expectation they will score. Gross will probably be the most popular forward in cash games if Trossard and Mooy sit (that's unlikely), and he's still likely to be popular if only Mooy is on the bench (there's no indication he will be), but Maupay's shot floor at least gives him something with upside. If you want to go after the other side of this game, Gerard Deulofeu ($7,800) has been taking a few set pieces recently and could get more if Nathaniel Chalobah doesn't start after suffering back spasms last week. Otherwise, Wilfried Zaha ($7,000) will always tempt some even though Palace are big underdogs.
It's difficult to pay down at forward on this slate, at least in cash games, because there really aren't any high(ish) floor plays as you go down the salary scale. Sure, we could get a start from Steven Alzate ($5,200) or Alireza Jahanbakhsh ($6,100) for Brighton or maybe Alex Iwobi ($5,600) or Theo Walcott ($6,800) for Everton, but even their salaries aren't that low. Otherwise, we might get a cheap start from Christian Benteke ($5,000) or Jordan Ayew ($5,700), with the latter having a slightly higher floor, though it's mostly because of the fouls he draws, actions that don't provide any upside. Maybe we'll get lucky on Andros Townsend ($4,800) starting, and while he isn't likely to have any set pieces, there will be people who play him because he's cheap, plays outside and fills a forward spot.
MIDFIELDERS
Aaron Mooy, BHA v. WAT ($7,700): While Mooy didn't take any set pieces in last weekend's match, he's probably still going to be somewhat popular among fantasy players who don't want to pay more for Gross or Trossard in a forward spot. Unfortunately, Mooy is the most expensive midfield-only player on the slate, and while his salary isn't prohibitively high, it will definitely have an effect elsewhere in your lineup. Brighton are at least favored in this match, and Mooy's potential access to set pieces makes him attractive, even more so if Gross doesn't start.
Luka Milivojevic, CRY at EVE ($6,200): Yes, Crystal Palace are the biggest underdog on the slate, but that doesn't mean they won't win any set pieces, which is where Milivojevic has his value. A holding midfielder who doesn't shoot much, Milivojevic's upside is at least tied to his role on penalties, and his assist upside is very set-piece dependent. Nevertheless, he sent in at least six crosses in each of his last four starts, taking at least one shot in each, and his salary is certainly friendly given the potential (though unlikely) upside. It also helps his case that there really aren't any good floor midfielders under his price, making it a slate where you may not have three midfielders even though the forward pool is kind of light, as is the defender list.
Nathaniel Chalobah, WAT at BHA ($4,000): Chalobah's recent share of set pieces will surely put him in the cash-game conversation for this slate even though it's only resulted in 11 crosses and three chances created in the past four games. The potential for an assist off a corner will be enough for people to consider him, though again, he left last match early because of back spasms. In the event he doesn't start, we could get an even cheaper path to set pieces with Will Hughes ($3,800), who is a consistent cash-game option when he starts and appears to have a path to corners. At the very least, there is just no way you can convince me Tom Cleverley ($4,500) is a viable play at his price if he starts, and GPP players should be much more interested in Roberto Pereyra ($5,000) even if he has no set pieces.
DEFENDERS
Lucas Digne, EVE v. CRY ($7,200): Digne is the most expensive defender on the slate, but that isn't likely to stop him from being one of the highest-owned players. With a solid role on set pieces for the biggest favorite with the highest clean sheet odds, Digne does so much more than Sigurdsson in terms of floor that there's really no discussion about choosing the latter over the former. Given the sketchy set-piece situations on the other teams, other than Milivojevic (who is mostly a defensively player), Digne is an easy play in cash games and will probably be popular in GPPs because he correlates well with the potential Everton goal scorers like Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison. Defensive teammate Djibril Sidibe ($6,300) isn't a bad play either, though he shouldn't be viewed as a viable pivot away from Digne.
Patrick van Aanholt, CRY at EVE ($4,500): Filling the second defender spot isn't that easy, as the Everton fullbacks are expensive and the other three teams on the slate don't really use their defenders much in their attacks. van Aanholt comes in with faux upside because he scores three to five goals per season (he has two in 18 starts this term), but his floor is awfully low for his price. Then again, there aren't really any defenders worth their salaries outside of Digne and Sidibe, so if you're going to pay something then I guess it makes sense to acknowledge van Aanholt's goal potential; just don't forget that he's the biggest underdog on the slate, which could have people simply pivoting to Watford's Adam Masina ($4,600) if they're in this price range.
Gary Cahill, CRY at EVE ($2,800): If all the defenders on the slate other than the Everton fullbacks are projected to finish within three floor points of each other, why not pay all the way down for Cahill, who could be the cheapest starter. His floor is minimal, relying on tackles won and interceptions, though he has taken three shots in his last three games. Salary relief may not be all that necessary, but for those who need it, Cahill isn't the worst play in the world.
GOALKEEPER
Ben Foster, WAT at BHA ($4,400): Given the low totals in both games on the slate, you can make a justifiable argument for any goalkeeper. While there aren't any players over $9,000, I still don't think this ends up being a time when you need to pay up for a goalkeeper, even though Jordan Pickford ($5,600) has decent win and clean sheet odds. If you don't want to take Vicente Guaita ($3,900), the biggest underdog, your next-cheapest option is Foster, who faces a Brighton team that scored multiple goals just twice in their past nine games, including once in the past five. At the very least, his save upside should be higher than Pickford's, and he's $700 cheaper than opposing Mathew Ryan.
