This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (ET)
- 10:00 am: Crystal Palace vs. Newcastle United
- 10:00 am: Everton vs. Watford
- 10:00 am: Leeds United vs. Wolverhampton
- 10:00 am: Southampton vs. Burnley
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS
Raphinha, LEE vs. WOL ($9,700): Raphinha sat out last week after arriving late from international duty, so he should be well-rested and ready for 90 minutes. He's put up double-digit floor points in every match this season. He's averaging three shots per game and has three goals in seven to show for it. Leeds are a slight home favorite against Wolves. Andros Townsend ($10,500) has the better matchup at home against Watford, but he's only had a minority role on set pieces in the past two matches. Richarlison's return means that he probably doesn't have penalty-kick responsibility anymore, either. That plus the fact that he's $800 more expensive has me preferring Raphinha in the top range.
Nathan Redmond, SOU vs. BUR ($8,000): Redmond exploded for 20 floor points in last week's win over Leeds. He's received a hefty $3,300 salary increase, but he took eight of nine set pieces last game and took five shots while playing forward. Southampton have a favorable matchup at home against Burnley, who routinely give up a lot of fantasy points. Elsewhere in this range, Adama Traore's ($7,700) salary has dropped considerably and he gets a matchup against Leeds's leaky defense. He was unlucky not to score last week and it's only a matter of time before he bags his first of the season. Richarlison ($7,500) is back fit and ready to start after overcoming a knee injury that caused him to miss the last five matches. I'd expect him to be popular in GPPs based on the relatively cheap salary and Everton having the highest-implied goal total on the slate. Dwight McNeil ($7,000) is cheaper than we're used to seeing in this spot. He's topped nine floor points in seven of eight matches while continuing to split set pieces. Raul Jimenez ($7,300) and Salomon Rondon ($5,300) are tied for the best goalscoring odds at +130. Rondon has been a popular option in these spots this season, but he's busted every time as he's yet to score and has almost no floor. He might have a better chance to score with Richarlison on the pitch but that likely increases his sub risk as well. I understand the appeal for tournaments, but I'll continue to fade. I'd rather take a chance on a less popular and cheaper Chris Wood ($4,500). The matchup away to Southampton isn't overly concerning and Wood is too cheap relative to his goal odds of +190. If you'd rather target the favored side in that matchup, Armando Broja ($5,700) scored last week and has +200 odds to do it again Saturday.
MIDFIELDERS
Demarai Gray, EVE vs. WAT ($8,200): This slate is especially weak at midfield. Everton are the biggest favorite and have the highest-implied total. Gray took the majority of his team's set pieces last week and that's enough to make him a solid option for Saturday. If you don't see Luka Milivojevic in the lineup, Conor Gallagher ($7,900) would look good as the monopoly set-piece taker for a home favorite. Otherwise, he's purely a GPP option at his inflated salary. Mohamed Elyounoussi ($7,400) is another tournament option. He's averaging three shots per game in his five starts this season. Southampton are in a nice spot at home to Burnley and he won't be overly popular as most people look to Redmond.
Ashley Westwood, BUR at SOU ($5,600): It's hard for me to recommend Westwood here, but he's averaging just under 10 floor points and there isn't much else at midfield. Other defensive midfielders with set-piece duty include Joao Moutinho ($4,900) and Luka Milivojevic ($4,800). All three are strictly cash-game options, as they don't have much open-play upside. Tournament options in this range include Maxwel Cornet ($4,700) and Daniel James ($4,600). None of them stand out so I think it makes more sense to roster forwards in the midfield spots. If anything, I'd rather just pay all the way down for Moussa Djenepo ($3,300) as a home favorite with a little bit of upside.
DEFENDERS
Matt Ritchie, NEW at CRY ($6,000): There aren't many appealing options at defender, either, and that makes Ritchie and Lucas Digne ($6,200) stand out at the top. Ritchie would be the safer option as he's been taking a near monopoly of Newcastle's set pieces. Digne has the more favorable matchup with Everton being the biggest favorite on the slate. Other than last week, he'd still been taking a few corners but that can't be counted on if Townsend and Gray are in the lineup.
Marc Guehi, CRY vs. NEW ($2,500): After Ritchie there isn't much to like. Danny Rose ($4,200) has been taking corners but Watford are big underdogs. Jamie Shackleton ($3,900) would be viable as a full-back for under $4,000, but he isn't guaranteed to start. That's why I highlighted Guehi. He's a minimum price center-back playing for a home favorite and there isn't much opportunity cost in spending all the way down. Pascal Struijk ($2,600) would be an option, as well, if he started at defensive midfielder in place of Kalvin Phillips.
GOALKEEPERS
Jordan Pickford, EVE vs. WAT ($5,700): Pickford has the best clean-sheet odds on the slate. Watford have already been shutout five times this season and have an expected goal total under one. I'm more likely to spend up at goalkeeper on these smaller four-game slates as it's less likely that a cheap goalie keeps a clean sheet or scores well. Vicente Guaita ($5,200) has 35 percent clean-sheet odds in a home matchup against Newcastle, who just fired their manager. Nick Pope ($4,300) is an option if you want to pay down, but I plan on rostering Southampton players so I'd prefer going all the way down to Ben Foster ($3,900) instead.
