DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday EPL Picks

For detailed stats and odds, check out the Fantasy Premier League: Wednesday Cheat Sheet.

MATCHES (EST)
2:45 pm: AFC Bournemouth vs. Chelsea
2:45 pm: Southampton vs. Crystal Palace
3:00 pm: Liverpool vs. Leicester City
3:00 pm: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Watford

FORWARDS

Mohamed Salah, LIV v. LEI ($11,400): The case for Salah is pretty simple: Liverpool are big favorites at home against Leicester City, they have the highest implied goal total on the slate, no player has higher anytime goal scoring odds, and no one has taken more shots or scored more goals this season than Salah. Oh, and he could have a decent role on set pieces because of a number of injuries and suspensions. The problem? He's $1,900 more than the next-most expensive player. He has scored in seven of his last nine starts, bagging 10 goals, and he has three assists on 21 chances created in that span. One issue with Salah in cash games is that there are reasonably priced forwards who are decently cheaper; then again, people who roster those guys will be sweating a Salah brace all slate.

Willian, CHE at BOU ($8,600): While Eden Hazard ($9,500) is always a consideration when Chelsea are favorites, Willian has been the more consistent one of late, particularly in cash games, as he's taken three shots in four of his last five Premier League starts, sending in 24 crosses over that span. Then again, getting front-line Chelsea exposure may be best in the form of new striker Gonzalo Higuain ($7,400), who took three shots and drew one foul in his first start for the club, which came during last weekend's FA Cup win over Sheffield Wednesday. Higuain averaged 3.94 shots, including 1.27 on goal, per 90 minutes for AC Milan this season, and Salah is the only player on the slate expected to start who has better anytime goal scorer odds. If you don't want to figure out which Chelsea guy is the right one, there's definitely a case to be made for Crystal Palace's Andros Townsend ($8,100), who has scored at least 8.00 fantasy points in 15 of his last 16 games, with only four of those games requiring a goal or assist. And if you think Palace can do something away to Southampton, you have to at least consider Wilfried Zaha ($6,100) in GPPs.

Jamie Vardy, LEI at LIV ($4,400): Playing against the best defense in the Premier League, Vardy's viability is strictly for GPPs. That being said, his ability to score on the counter is exactly what Leicester will need against a Liverpool side that shockingly conceded three goals in their last Premier League home match, which came against...checks notes...Crystal Palace, who have scored 23 goals in 22 Premier League games this season. This is certainly a high-risk move, but Vardy comes in with multiple shots in six of his last seven starts, and he scored at Anfield last season (a worthless tidbit I felt like including).

MIDFIELDERS

Christian Eriksen, TOT v. WAT ($8,300): The loss of Harry Kane ($9,900) has been tough for Spurs, who bowed out of two domestic cup competitions last week. The return of Son Heung-Min ($8,800, midfielder/forward) will be a huge boost, though he's not guaranteed to start after just returning from the Asian Cup, but Eriksen continues to be the engine of the Spurs attack. He's still unlikely to have a monopoly of set pieces, though Kieran Trippier ($5,900) not starting would certainly help. Spurs are the second-biggest favorite on the slate, and while Watford are a decent opponent, other midfielders we usually consider in cash games have much tougher matchups, such as Ryan Fraser ($7,800) at home against Chelsea and James Maddison ($6,300) away to Liverpool. It also doesn't hurt that Watford have allowed the second-most shots, most shots on goal and second-most chances among teams on the slate over the past six games. With those stats in mind, people building GPP lineups should at least look at Harry Winks ($3,900), who had one goal on five shots, including two on target, and four tackles won in his last two games.

James Ward-Prowse, SOU v. CRY ($7,600): Southampton have played much better of late, and it's coincided with Ward-Prowse's addition to the starting XI. He's taken most set pieces in his four starts, helping him to 22 crosses and 10 chances created over that span. It also didn't hurt that he scored two goals on six shots, including one penalty, which has resulted in four straight games with at least 9.75 fantasy points. Up next is a Crystal Palace side that's allowed the third-most shots and most crosses among teams on the slate, and they conceded six goals in their last two in the Premier League.

Wilfred Ndidi, LEI at LIV ($3,400): Ndidi's upside is pretty limited, even if he scored a goal two matches ago, but the Premier League's third-leading tackler should have plenty of defensive opportunities against Liverpool, who have had the second-most tackles won against them among teams on the slate. It's not a ton to go on, but the cheap salary could be needed for those who want to pay up elsewhere. If you prefer a similar player but one at home, Jefferson Lerma ($3,600) could be that guy for Bournemouth, and while he doesn't tackle nearly as much as Ndidi, he has taken eight shots in his last three games.

DEFENDERS

Kieran Trippier, TOT v. WAT ($5,900): Trippier figures to be the highest-owned defender in cash games if he starts, as his role on set pieces for a big favorite should theoretically put him in strong positions to succeed. He missed a penalty in last weekend's FA Cup loss to Crystal Palace, put he's still scored at least 9.00 fantasy points in three of his last four Premier League games, including zero goals and assists. I don't like to put too much into previous matchups, but he did have 14 crosses and four tackles won in the first meeting between these sides this season.

Yan Valery, SOU v. CRY ($3,700): Valery seems to have a path to regular starts now that Cedric Soares plays for Inter Milan, and we can get some pretty cheap exposure to the Southampton wing-back against a Crystal Palace side that should allow him to move up in the attack. Valery has scored at least 5.00 floor points in each of his last three starts, including one when we was sent off after 45 minutes, and he's been getting those points thanks to a combination of crosses and tackles. He now gets to face a Crystal Palace side that's conceded the most crosses this season, as well as having the third-most tackles won against them.

Patrick van Aanholt, CRY at SOU ($4,100): I am always one who will consider Aaron Wan-Bissaka ($4,800) because he's usually a more consistent fantasy scorer than van Aanholt, but the latter has shown much more actual attacking upside of late, taking four shots in two of his last five games while creating eight chances over that span. It's resulted in 28.50 floor points (34.50 total because of an assist), while Wan-Bissaka has only managed 21.50 in those games. The salary savings certainly helps, not to mention that Southampton have conceded the most crosses, second-most shots and second-most chances over the past six Premier League games, which fits right into PvA's wheelhouse.

GOALKEEPER

Artur Boruc, BOU v. CHE ($4,000): Boruc had a one-save clean-sheet win in his last Premier League start, and he now faces a Chelsea attack that's scored just three goals in its last four Premier League games, including getting shut out by Southampton and Arsenal. It's not a ton to go on, especially since Bournemouth are the third-biggest underdog on the slate, but with questionable goalkeeping throughout, it's tough to rely on anyone at their prices.