DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday World Cup Picks

MATCHES (EDT)

10:00 a.m: Sweden v. Switzerland
2:00 p.m: England v. Colombia

FORWARDS

Harry Kane, ENG v. COL ($11,600): The decision to roster Kane or not will have ramifications throughout the rest of any fantasy lineup. Working in his favor is that he leads the line for the team with the highest win odds and implied goal total, and no one has better anytime goal scorer odds on the slate. On the flip side, England aren't big favorites against Colombia, their implied goal total isn't that high, and Kane's odds to score are under 50 percent. Oh, and his salary is $2,600 more than the next-highest player, and possibly $2,900 more than the next-highest starter. You could make the argument that he has the highest upside on the slate, one that isn't expected to have many goals (it's a two-game slate, after all), but you're paying a hefty price to get it, especially since England Kane doesn't shoot like Tottenham Kane.

Juan Cuadrado, COL v. ENG ($7,600): Cuadrado makes for a reasonable cash play even though he has no part of Colombia's set pieces, even with James Rodriguez ($9,000) possibly missing out with an injury. James could be a possibility if he starts, even if he's only played 90 minutes once this tournament because of his calf injury, though he doesn't have a monopoly of set pieces and Cuadrado is much more active in open play, at least in terms of DraftKings-friendly peripheral stats. Cuadrado sends in a decent number of crosses and isn't afraid to shoot, while his ability to draw fouls also contributes to his solid floor. His goal upside isn't high, but neither is his salary compared to Kane's, so if neither finds the back of the net then Cuadrado is much more likely to make value. If you do think Colombia score against England, center-forward Radamel Falcao ($7,200) is the most likely to do so.

Emil Forsberg, SWE v. SUI ($6,300): There were many expectations that Forsberg could be on set pieces when the World Cup started, only for those opportunities to be split between Sebastian Larsson ($3,400, midfielder) and Ludwig Augustinsson ($5,600, defender). However, with Larsson suspended for Tuesday's match, Forsberg may be able to move in on that shared role. He's been a fairly good fantasy contributor even without set pieces, taking four shots, sending in 10 crosses and drawing 10 fouls in three games. Sweden will probably be defending for more of this match, but that's how they've played in each of their games and Forsberg has scored at least 8.50 in two of three, coming up short with 4.50 against Germany.

MIDFIELDERS

Xherdan Shaqiri, SUI v. SWE ($8,700): Switzerland are favored over Sweden and likely to have more possession, which only gives Shaqiri more time on the ball to take shots, send in crosses and draw fouls. His eight shots against Serbia in their second group stage game is much more than we should expect against Sweden, but the zero against Costa Rica is probably out of whack too. He's likely to be very popular in cash games, even with those who roster Kane, and while you could theoretically get some value out of Blerim Dzemaili ($5,400), his floor isn't nearly as secure as Shaqiri's.

Juan Quintero, COL v. ENG ($6,800): Quintero's value certainly rises if James is unable to play because he could have a monopoly of set pieces. Colombia are the biggest underdogs on the slate, but it's not like England are overwhelming favorites, and Quintero's role helps his floor tremendously. He's not a high-volume shooter or crosser, and Cuadrado is definitely the more active in open play, but he's still very active in the attack, helping him to one goal (off a free kick) and two assists in three games.

Wilmar Barrios, COL v. ENG ($3,200): First things first: I don't think Barrios is a great play. Paying down this much for a midfielder brings up some really questionable punts, especially with Larsson suspended. Pick your poison with Granit Xhaka ($3,700), Jordan Henderson ($3,600), Albin Ekdal ($3,500), Valon Behrami ($3,200), Gustav Svensson ($3,200) or Barrios, who should have his opportunities for tackles and interceptions against the England midfield. If anything, Barrios and the players around him only show that you should probably just pay down for a centerback if you need a sub-$4K player because they're more likely to get those defensive peripheral stats and could benefit from a clean sheet, if it happens.

DEFENDERS

Kieran Trippier, ENG v. COL ($6,000): Trippier could be the most prolific crosser on the slate thanks to his open-play ability and shared role on corners. He will split set pieces with Ashley Young ($4,700), and while the clean sheet upside isn't overly high, we're really targeting Trippier for what he can do on the attacking end. In fact, playing both English fullbacks is a viable strategy, more so than depending on another goal or two from centerback John Stones ($4,100). Paying up for Kane likely takes you out of rostering two high-priced defenders, which is why I think for cash games he's fadeable.

Ricardo Rodriguez, SUI v. SWE ($5,200): Similar to Trippier, Rodriguez is a defender with a share of set pieces for a favored team. As an added bonus, Rodriguez should be on penalties for Switzerland, though there's no reason to roster him for that reason. Shaqiri will be responsible for moving the ball forward on the right side, but Rodriguez gets that role on the left, something that has helped him to to 9.00 and 9.50 fantasy points in the past two games, respectively. Unlike Trippier, I don't think there's any reason to roster Rodriguez and teammate Michael Lang ($4,800), who could start for the suspended Stephan Lichtsteiner ($4,900), because they aren't the crossing duo of Trippier and Young, and while I think you can get some value from Young if you decide to fade Trippier, I think the difference between those two is smaller than Rodriguez to Lang. If you're thinking of centerbacks, Manuel Akanji ($3,200) has been decent at winning tackles and drawing fouls, enough so to pay off his fairly paltry salary.

Andreas Granqvist, SWE v. SUI ($4,400): Penalty lock alert! Just kidding, Granqvist is a terrible play at this price and the only way he makes value is if he scores a goal. Yes, he scored one in two of the first three games, and if you want to depend on that then at least know that he's scored 5.0, 2.5 and 1.5 fantasy points in the three group stage games, respectively, without the penalties and clean sheets. If there's a Swedish defender worth targeting it's Augustinsson, who has a shared role on set pieces (this is kind of a theme) and is probably better than most midfielders in his price range. Playing all three of Trippier, Rodriguez and Augustinsson is a very viable cash build, though you'll likely have to sacrifice slightly at another position because we don't have any really cheap goalkeepers.

GOALKEEPER

David Ospina, COL v. ENG ($4,200): I don't think you can make a strong argument for any keeper on this slate, so paying up for Jordan Pickford ($5,200) makes sense if you have the cash but I don't think he's necessary. Getting big points from expensive keepers is far from a consistent outcome in the World Cup -- and fantasy soccer as a whole -- and paying up for Pickford will likely take you out of a decent defender or midfielder. Unfortunately, you don't get a huge break with Ospina, who has made 10 saves in his three games, including two clean sheets in arguably the toughest group. England are better than the teams Ospina faced, and while he has the lowest win and clean sheet odds, the save opportunities should be there.