This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (ET)
- 9:00 am: Burnley vs. Liverpool
- 9:00 am: Newcastle United vs. Aston Villa
- 9:00 am: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Wolverhampton
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS
Son Heung-Min, TOT v. WOL ($9,700): This is an incredibly difficult slate as most that include Liverpool tend to be. There are plenty of worthy spend-up options at both forward and defender but not much value to afford them. Mohamed Salah ($10,500) is expected to return to the starting lineup after coming off the bench midweek. He's the most expensive player on the slate and has the highest anytime goalscoring odds at -170. Diogo Jota ($10,200) will be considerably less popular in tournaments considering he's priced so closely, but he's coming off a brace midweek and would provide decent leverage. I've chosen to highlight Son instead because of his set-piece responsibility and favorable matchup at home to Wolves. It was encouraging to see him back on the scoresheet and play 90 minutes Wednesday. Harry Kane ($8,900) and Sadio Mane ($8,700) should be in consideration for tournaments. Both are betting favorites to score and can be rostered for significantly cheaper than the likes of Salah and Jota. If Mane isn't ready to start after returning from AFCON glory, Luis Diaz ($7,300) would offer a nice discount. Diaz took four shots and sent in four crosses in his Liverpool debut Thursday as he scored 11 floor points. Philippe Coutinho ($8,600) has been brilliant so far for Aston Villa, coming off a goal and two assists against Leeds on Wednesday and Sunday's matchup away to Newcastle is rather favorable. Keep an eye on the Wolves starting lineup. If we don't see Joao Moutinho again, Daniel Podence ($7,000) will take the sets again. He sent in a whopping 14 crosses on Thursday on his way to putting up a massive 23.4 floor points.
Chris Wood, NEW v. AVL ($4,600): It feels like I talk about Wood on every slate but that's because DraftKings refuses to raise his salary. He's played 90 minutes in all three of his matches for Newcastle and he's taken eight shots over that span. He had a goal ruled out for offsides last time out and it's only a matter of time before he scores his first for the club. The main reason for highlighting him is the cheap price. Rostering him makes it easier to spend up for some of the elite forwards and defenders.
MIDFIELDERS
Ryan Fraser, NEW v. AVL ($6,400): There isn't a lot to like at midfield and there isn't really anyone to spend up for above Fraser. I'll probably be rostering forward eligible players in one of the midfield spots. DraftKings finally changed Fraser from a defender to a midfielder. He scored his first Newcastle goal last time out, but it's a bit concerning that he didn't take set pieces. Keep an eye on the injury status of Kieran Trippier, who took the corners. Fraser would only be a priority for me if Trippier isn't in the starting lineup. Looking elsewhere Douglas Luiz ($4,800) continues to split set pieces for Aston Villa, but he doesn't have much upside beyond that playing in a defensive role. Tournament options in this range include Jacob Ramsey ($5,100), who scored two goals in midweek and looks to be a real talent.
Bruno Guimaraes, NEW v. AVL ($3,600): I'm highlighting Guimaraes in the cheap range mostly because of his price. Spending down at midfield makes it easier to afford the best forwards and defenders, and you aren't sacrificing much as the position is weak. Newcastle paid big money for Guimaraes, who was an all-action central midfielder for Lyon. Prior to his move, he'd put up double-digit floor points in five consecutive games, mostly on the back of tackles won, fouls drawn and chances created. Elsewhere, Ashley Westwood ($4,000) will split set pieces at home against Liverpool, but that's a tough matchup and Westwood has limited upside as it is.
DEFENDERS
Trent Alexander-Arnold, LIV at BUR ($9,200): There are plenty of defenders worth paying up for on this slate. Alexander-Arnold continues to be the best in the league, as he's scored at least 16 floor points in two of his last three games. He has two goals and 10 assists in 21 appearances this season and Liverpool are in a favorable spot away to struggling Burnley. Andrew Robertson ($8,000) has finally been priced up but the increase is warranted. He has four assists in his last four games and has whipped in 41 crosses in that span. Rostering both Liverpool full-backs is definitely viable, but there are other good options below them. Kieran Trippier ($7,000) is taking the majority of sets for Newcastle and is coming off his first goal for the club last match, though a late injury needs to be monitored. Lucas Digne ($6,000) is splitting corners for Aston Villa, while Sergio Reguilon ($5,800) has at least five crosses and two shots in three-consecutive games. He has more open-play upside than Trippier and Digne, and he was unlucky not to score in midweek as he consistently shows up in the box to support the attack.
Rayan Ait-Nouri, WOL at TOT, ($5,500): I highlighted Ait-Nouri here simply because he's the most affordable of the defenders who take corner kicks and salary is going to be tight on this slate. Reguilon is probably the better tournament option with Spurs being home favorites against Wolves.
GOALKEEPERS
Alisson Becker, LIV at BUR ($5,800): Alisson's win and clean sheet are tops on the slate as Liverpool are in a decent spot away to last-place Burnley. However, it'll be tough to spend up at goalkeeper if you're already doing that at forward and defender. He might be a better option in lineups that don't include Salah and/or Alexander-Arnold.
Nick Pope, BUR v. LIV ($3,600): Pope is cheap and he has considerable save upside in a difficult matchup with Liverpool. Burnley have been good defensively of late, only allowing two goals in the previous six games.
