This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (ET)
- 10:00 am: Brentford vs. Newcastle United
- 10:00 am: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Aston Villa
- 10:00 am: Crystal Palace vs. Burnley
- 10:00 am: Manchester United vs. Watford
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS
Dwight McNeil, BUR at CRY ($7,400): No forward priced above McNeil has a significant role on set pieces. Wilfried Zaha ($9,600), somewhat surprisingly, is the most expensive player at the position after he scored a brace midweek against Watford. Cristiano Ronaldo ($9,100) is the only player on the slate who's favored to score. His -165 odds are considerably better than anyone else's with Manchester United in a great spot at home against Watford. You could argue that makes him cash-game viable, as well, based on the lack of appealing options. It's been encouraging to see Philippe Coutinho ($8,100) play 90 minutes in back-to-back games. He took two of Aston Villa's 10 corners last time out but prior to that had never taken more than one in a game. That leaves McNeil, who's scored double-digit floor points in three-consecutive starts while splitting sets in his last two. He even scored what would've been his first goal of the season last week only for it to be ruled out by VAR. Burnley should come into Saturday's matchup against Crystal Palace high on confidence after successive wins. GPP options in this range include Anthony Elanga ($7,700) and Jadon Sancho ($7,600). Elanga came off the bench to rescue United in the Champions League on Wednesday and should be raring to go in front of a home crowd against weak opposition.
Bryan Mbeumo, BRE v. NEW ($6,300): Mbeumo has lasted the full 90 minutes in each of his last four starts and he's taken the majority of set pieces in three of those games. Brentford have a relatively favorable matchup at home against Newcastle meaning Mbeumo should take a few corners and have a couple chances to get on the score-sheet. Cheaper tournament options include Joelinton ($5,400) and Chris Wood ($5,200). Both of them usually play 90 minutes and Newcastle will fancy themselves to score against Brentford. Wout Weghorst ($6,100) will continue to lead the line for suddenly surging Burnley. He had a goal and an assist in last week's destruction of Brighton.
MIDFIELDERS
Bruno Fernandes, MUN v. WAT ($10,000): I don't think Bruno is a must based on his high salary and the fact that he's taking fewer corners than he used to. That said, he's still a very good option as Manchester United have a great matchup at home against Watford and he still has a decent floor apart from set pieces. He also has the second best goalscoring odds on the slate at +120. Looking a little cheaper, Conor Gallagher ($8,400) popped up with his eighth goal of the season Wednesday as he split corners with Michael Olise ($7,900). Palace are in a pretty good spot at home against Burnley and both Gallagher and Olise make for solid options in tournaments. If Olise doesn't start and it appears that Gallagher has a monopoly of corners, he'd become one of the better cash-game options.
Alexis Mac Allister, BHA v. AVL ($7,500): Mac Allister let many people down last week when he scored just nine fantasy points in the disappointing loss to Burnley. Saturday's matchup at home against struggling Aston Villa looks like a good spot to go back to him. Assuming Pascal Gross isn't in the lineup, Mac Allister should take most of Brighton's corners and he has considerable goal/assist equity operating in the No. 10 role.
Josh Brownhill, BUR at CRY ($3,600): If Ashley Westwood doesn't return to the starting XI, Brownhill would be the first player in my lineup. He's been splitting set pieces with McNeil over the past two games while showing plenty of open-play value as he's freed up when playing alongside Jack Cork. Brownhill put up a massive 16 floor points against Spurs in midweek as he took four shots and created five chances after scoring against Brighton the match before that.
DEFENDERS
Alex Telles, MUN v. WAT ($7,300): Telles replaced Shaw in the second half of Wednesday's Champions League game against Atletico Madrid and gave United a much needed boost. I'm expecting him to be rewarded with a start Saturday which would see him take the majority of corner kicks in a great spot at home against Watford. There are a lot of good options at defender this week which means Telles, also because of his salary, isn't a must. Tariq Lamptey ($5,800) would look good for tournaments if he lines up on the wing again. He sent in 11 crosses last week, as he put up 15 floor points and he's played 90 minutes in each of his last two starts.
Matt Targett, NEW at BRE ($5,700): Targett took most of Newcastle's corners last week and that should continue with Kieran Trippier sidelined. He's a similar option to Lucas Digne ($5,600), who's been taking most of Aston Villa's. I side with Targett because his matchup seems slightly better, but I don't mind rostering both, either. Marc Cucurella ($5,200) is another worthy option in this range. If Solomon March isn't on the pitch, Cucurella is Brighton's only left-footed player which saw him take two set pieces last week. Kiko Femenia ($5,100) continues to take most of Watford's corners but an away matchup against Manchester United is rather prohibitive for me considering we have other options.
GOALKEEPERS
David de Gea, MUN v. WAT ($5,800): Manchester United's win (73 percent) and clean-sheet odds (47 percent) are by far the best on the slate. It definitely makes sense to roster de Gea in lineups that don't include Ronaldo and Bruno. If we end up getting the Josh Brownhill value, it will be much easier to do it.
Nick Pope, BUR at CRY ($4,200): Pope has recorded back-to-back clean sheet wins as Burnley have really improved their form in a quest to avoid relegation. He's actually kept five clean sheets in his last seven games and a matchup with Crystal Palace is among the better spots that a $4,200 keeper could have.
