This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EST)
- 10:00 am: Manchester City vs. Fulham
- 12:30 pm: West Ham United vs. Manchester United
- 3:00 pm: Chelsea vs. Leeds United
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS
Riyad Mahrez, MCI v. FUL ($10,200): Manchester City are huge favorites at home against Fulham, and Mahrez was rested for their midweek Champions League match against FC Porto, which should mean he makes his way back in after scoring a hat trick last weekend against Burnley. There are likely to be plenty of Manchester City stacks given their high implied goal total, so Gabriel Jesus will also be popular in GPPs, and even cash games, because he has the highest anytime goal scorer odds. And while he has been pretty awful this season, Raheem Sterling ($7,000) seems pretty cheap for being an attacking player on the biggest favorite who has the second-highest anytime goal scorer odds among expected starters.
Ivan Cavaleiro, FUL at MCI ($3,500): Cavaleiro is literally the cheapest forward after scoring from the penalty spot last week against Leicester, which was preceded by a missed penalty against Everton the week prior, though he slipped on the wet field during his attempt, which is why he got another one. He still managed 6.6 fantasy points despite that miss, and while he is unlikely to get much going against Manchester City, who have over a 50 percent chance at a clean sheet, he's literally minimum priced. There are certainly other ways to punt, but if you don't want to do that with a midfielder or defender, the opportunity is there if Cavaleiro starts, which luckily we'll know because they play in the first game.
Timo Werner, CHE v. LEE ($7,800): With Manchester City stacks likely to dominate, Werner could be less popular than he should be as a strong favorite and with the fourth-highest anytime goal scorer odds on the slate. With multiple ways to get Manchester City exposure, there should be overwhelming popularity there, which only leaves fewer people to play Werner or Tammy Abraham ($6,900) in GPPs. The same could be said about the Manchester United attackers, though they don't have the implied goal total of Chelsea. Even so, Marcus Rashford ($7,500), Anthony Martial ($6,300), Edinson Cavani ($7,400) and Mason Greenwood ($5,300), depending on who starts, will be on far fewer teams even though they each have plenty of upside.
MIDFIELDERS
Kevin De Bruyne, MCI at FUL ($10,200): De Bruyne figures to be the most popular player on the slate because he takes set pieces for the biggest favorite with the highest implied goal total. There could be some consideration for Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes ($10,500), who not only takes a good number of their set pieces but also their penalties, but given his high price and lower implied goal total among the favorites, he makes more sense as a pivot away from the Manchester City attackers in GPPs.
Mason Mount, CHE v. LEE ($6,900): Mount has been sharing set pieces with Hakim Ziyech ($8,500), who still seems to be priced as if his Ajax stats are being included in the salary algorithm. Either way, Mount has a decent floor and is playing for a solid favorite in a game with a high implied goal total (just not as high as Manchester City), and he makes for a reasonable play if you don't want to rely on Man City goals. If you'd rather rely on those, Ferran Torres ($6,200) is in the salary range and we'll know if he's starting because they play in the first game. We also can't rule out people paying down for Ilkay Gundogan ($4,400), but his role on set pieces is pretty small if De Bruyne and Mahrez start, and he's been playing much deeper of late.
Michail Antonio, WHU v. MU ($5,500): Antonio is recently back from injury, which is why he only played 45 minutes last week against Aston Villa, but he should be more fit for a home match against Manchester United, who he scored against last season and who have given up five goals in their last two games. He shouldn't sniff a cash lineup, but Antonio surely has goal upside and is at a price that makes it possible to still get a few Manchester City and/or Chelsea pieces. If you really don't believe in Man City or Chelsea, Leeds' Jack Harrison ($6,500) has had one of the most stable floors in the Premier League, while Mateusz Klich ($5,200) has lately been responsible for their set pieces.
DEFENDERS
Alex Telles, MU at WHU ($6,000): Telles has taken on more set pieces for Manchester United, enough so that he makes for a perfectly good play while worrying less about fading Fernandes. While he's one of the most expensive defenders, he puts up solid stats and should be fairly popular as a set-piece-taking defender for a favorite. Reece James ($5,700) is another very solid attacking fullback, though he has no set pieces and probably isn't a priority over Telles. Playing both could be a path in cash games, though you start to price yourself out of a larger Man City stack.
Benjamin Mendy, MCI v. FUL ($4,600): Mendy actually doesn't have a great floor despite his past as a prolific crosser, but he's an attacking fullback for a heavy favorite, which should make him somewhat popular, especially since Kyle Walker is $800 more. Mendy may be a little too expensive for those trying to get three higher-priced Man City attackers, which could make some people target their center-backs, Aymeric Laporte ($3,600) and Ruben Dias ($3,500). Center-backs aren't usually popular in cash games, but if you're trying to fit in Man City's upside plays, you may as well take a chance on their center-backs being involved at some point (plus, they have solid clean-sheet odds).
GOALKEEPER
Illan Meslier, LEE at CHE ($4,100): With many people likely stacking Manchester City, Meslier provides a cheap goalkeeper who isn't facing them. That doesn't mean Alphonse Areola ($3,600) is going to be ignored, especially because he provides the most salary savings, but Meslier is only a bit more and seems less likely to get lit up. That being said, if you have a little more salary, Lukasz Fabianski ($4,400) is probably the safer play at home in the game with the lowest implied goal total.
