This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EDT)
8:00 a.m: Colombia v. Japan
11:00 a.m: Poland v. Senegal
2:00 p.m: Russia v. Egypt
James Rodriguez, COL v. JPN ($11,100): James is reportedly dealing with some muscle fatigue that has made him questionable to play, but there is no question that he's the first guy in my lineup if he starts. The primary set-piece taker on the biggest favorite with the highest implied goal total, James directs the attack and isn't hesitant to shoot, as we saw four years ago when he won the World Cup Golden Boot despite only playing into the quarters. Colombia didn't have Radamel Falcao ($8,900) for that one because of a serious knee injury, but he's fully fit and expected to lead the line while coming in with the second-highest anytime goal scorer odds on the slate.
Keita, SEN v. POL ($5,800): Senegal may be the underdog against Poland, but they are expected to do more than Egypt and Japan, and they have better peripheral-point scorers than Russia. One of them is Keita, who has an opportunity to be on set pieces if the lineup dominoes fall his way. Sadio Mane ($7,900) is obviously the big name on the Senegal roster, and he is also a possibility for corners, which could limit Keita a bit, though he's still a solid attacker who can draw fouls well at a significant cost savings. It's also possible that Keita doesn't start and we get M'Baye
MATCHES (EDT)
8:00 a.m: Colombia v. Japan
11:00 a.m: Poland v. Senegal
2:00 p.m: Russia v. Egypt
James Rodriguez, COL v. JPN ($11,100): James is reportedly dealing with some muscle fatigue that has made him questionable to play, but there is no question that he's the first guy in my lineup if he starts. The primary set-piece taker on the biggest favorite with the highest implied goal total, James directs the attack and isn't hesitant to shoot, as we saw four years ago when he won the World Cup Golden Boot despite only playing into the quarters. Colombia didn't have Radamel Falcao ($8,900) for that one because of a serious knee injury, but he's fully fit and expected to lead the line while coming in with the second-highest anytime goal scorer odds on the slate.
Keita, SEN v. POL ($5,800): Senegal may be the underdog against Poland, but they are expected to do more than Egypt and Japan, and they have better peripheral-point scorers than Russia. One of them is Keita, who has an opportunity to be on set pieces if the lineup dominoes fall his way. Sadio Mane ($7,900) is obviously the big name on the Senegal roster, and he is also a possibility for corners, which could limit Keita a bit, though he's still a solid attacker who can draw fouls well at a significant cost savings. It's also possible that Keita doesn't start and we get M'Baye Niang ($5,300), who also took corners during qualifying and has a decent open-play floor.
Mohamed Salah, EGY v. RUS ($9,600): Salah's health is the biggest question mark, and it doesn't make it any better that Egypt head coach Hector Cuper said Salah would most likely play in the opener against Uruguay and then he remained on the bench for all 90 minutes. Paying up for James and Salah is a possibility, but it all but rules you out from rostering Robert Lewandowski ($10,900), who comes in on a favored side and with the best anytime goal scorer odds. James and a healthy Salah are much more cash-game friendly than Lewandowski, but the Polish striker has arguably the highest upside on the slate. If you like Poland but don't want someone so goal dependent, Kamil Grosicki ($8,800) is an option because he could be on some set pieces; unfortunately, he could be splitting them with midfielders Piotr Zielinski ($7,700) and/or Jakub Blaszczykowski ($6,400), and paying that much for partial set pieces is likely out of my range. So, if you end up deciding Lewandowski is too goal dependent and the other guys' floors are too low because they'll be sharing set pieces, Salah moves back into play even though he's playing in the late game with no other forwards expected to start within $2,000 of his salary.
MIDFIELDERS
Keisuke Honda, JPN v. COL ($6,700): Japan come in as the biggest underdog on the slate, though it's not like Colombia have outstanding odds and expected to dominate them. Honda comes in with a strong floor thanks to his willingness to take shots while also sending in crosses, partially because he's on set pieces, and his price is really attractive if we get something like we do when he's playing for Pachuca in Liga MX, where he averaged 2.81 shots, including 1.24 on goal, 6.53 crosses and 1.78 fouls drawn per 90 minutes. Teammate Shinji Kagawa ($5,400) shouldn't be ignored either because he could also be on set pieces, though I think Honda is the safer of the two.
Badou Ndiaye, SEN v. POL ($3,800): It seems like there are a number of Senegal players who are underpriced, at least in relation to their Polish counterparts, and Ndiaye could be a really helpful lineup piece because of his price. While he'll be playing more as a holding midfielder, he did take a few corners during World Cup qualifying that opens up the possibility it happens again Tuesday. However, his floor is really from winning tackles and drawing fouls, so don't plug him in there expecting double-digit crosses because of the potential role on corners.
Aleksandr Golovin, RUS v. EGY ($8,200): This price is a little high to me, especially because I think Egypt would be favored in this match, or it would at least be a pick 'em, if it was played anywhere but Russia. However, it is in Russia! Golovin was magnificent in the opening match of the tournament, finishing with one goal on his only shot, two assists on five chances created and five crosses, some of which came from his shared role on set pieces. They attacked primarily on his side, and he could certainly be headed for a solid peripheral game against an Egypt team expected to play defensively, even if Salah returns. If you're looking for exposure to the Russian midfield but don't want to pay as much, Roman Zobnin ($5,900) put in a solid effort against Saudi Arabia, finishing with four tackles and three fouls drawn in addition to his assist and two shots (one on goal). He plays as a holding midfielder, so the attacking upside won't be high, though he could get his chances to move up if Egypt bunker down and wait to counter.
DEFENDERS
Ahmed Fathy, EGY v. RUS ($4,400): Fathy was a solid contributor in Egypt's opener against Uruguay, finishing with five crosses, three interceptions and a shot on goal in 90 minutes. If there was one thing lacking it was the fact he won just one of seven tackle attempts, so I like to believe there is a little tackle upside if he's more successful against a Russia team that should be an easier opponent.
Youssouf Sabaly, SEN v. POL ($4,000): Continuing the trend of thinking Senegal players are a bit underpriced, Sabaly is the more attacking player of Senegal's two expected starting fullbacks, with Lamine Gassama ($4,000) slightly cheaper. Gassama actually has more defensive floor, so if you want to focus more on tackles and fouls, he's your guy. Meanwhile, Sabaly averaged more than four crosses per 90 minutes for Bordeaux in Ligue 1 and should still have his own opportunities for defensive peripherals against a strong Poland attack.
Johan Mojica, COL v. JPN ($5,600): I'm not sure this is necessarily the slate to pay up for defender, but Mojica is the higher-priced one who caught my eye because of his decent attacking averages while playing for Girona in La Liga: 0.93 shots, 6.21 crosses, 1.98 fouls drawn and 1.14 tackles won per 90 minutes. Colombia are the biggest favorites on the slate with the best chances at a clean sheet, so the attacking upside and potential clean sheet are certainly attracive
GOALKEEPER
Mohamed El Shenawy, EGY v. RUS ($4,400): As I mentioned before, I think this game would be pretty close if it wasn't being played in Russia, and even though it will be there I still think it'll be tight. Egypt are a very solid defensive team, and the fact that Russia blasted Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the opener doesn't make me hesitate to play their opposing keeper Tuesday.
