DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday EPL Picks

MATCHES (EST)

• 1:00 pm: Burnley vs. Aston Villa
• 1:00 pm: Chelsea vs. Wolverhampton
• 2:30 pm: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Fulham
• 3:15 pm: Everton vs. Leicester City
• 3:15 pm: Manchester United vs. Sheffield United

For detailed stats and odds, check out the

DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Wednesday EPL Cheat Sheet

MIDFIELDERS

Bruno Fernandes, MUN v. SHU ($10,200): We have some of the very best fantasy players in the Premier League on this slate, with a vast majority only midfield eligible, which means we're likely to see plenty of lineups that include two or three of these elite options. Fernandes has scored the most floor points in the Premier League this season, but we also have James Maddison ($9,500), Jack Grealish ($9,100) and Mason Mount ($8,500), each of whom are playing for favored sides. Manchester United are the biggest favorite with the highest implied goal total, and while Fernandes doesn't have a monopoly of set pieces, he does have the highest anytime goal scorer odds on the slate. Maddison and Mount have a bigger share of their team's free kicks, while Grealish's floor comes from shots assisted, crosses and fouls drawn. Given that they're all fairly close in price, it seems likely that Mount will be the least popular, with some people potentially siding with Grealish over Maddison because he has an easier matchup. You could also try to get by with fading Fernandes, but the fairly minimal price difference doesn't seem worth the risk in floor or ceiling.

Fred, MUN v. SHU ($3,300): Paying up for midfielders likely means you'll need to find some values, which is where Fred fits in, especially in a match United are so heavily favored in. He isn't the best fantasy scorer, but he's usually good for around five or six points, which is solid at his price. Add in the fact that he might be able to move up in the attack more because Manchester United will likely have a ton of possession, and he surely makes sense over defenders in his price range, even with potential clean sheet equity. The issue with Fred is that you're using a midfield or utility spot, which means you taking yourself out of rostering three of the guys above (which won't be easy anyway but some people will surely try).

FORWARDS

James Rodriguez, EVE v. LEI ($8,600): Rodriguez is the most expensive forward, and his matchup is hardly the easiest on the slate, but he's the best Everton attacker and takes set pieces, making him a viable option if you want someone a little cheaper than the elite midfielders. The negative with Rodriguez is that filling forward spots isn't all that difficult on this slate, either for cash or GPP, and all of the other options are cheaper. GPP players will surely be looking at Rodriguez's teammates, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin ($6,800) likely to be more popular than Richarlison ($8,200) because his ceiling is higher, though the latter has the higher floor. Ultimately, I'd guess most people stay away from the forwards in this game because the matchup is a tight one and there's upside elsewhere for less.

Pascal Gross, BHA v. FUL ($6,900): There are a few set-piece takers in Gross' price range, including Burnley's Dwight McNeil ($6,500) and Ivan Cavaleiro ($5,600), but you need to look at them for their floors because they're unlikely to reach their ceilings. However, floors are important in cash games, and given that this group is so much cheaper than the elite midfielders, we'll probably see them in double ups to fill forward spots. GPP players should correspondingly ignore them, with Neal Maupay ($6,300), Ashley Barnes ($5,500) and Chris Wood ($4,000) more desirable options because they're more likely goal scorers. Then again, you can't fault anyone for looking at Mason Greenwood ($6,000) if he starts because he's considerably cheaper than Marcus Rashford ($8,400), Anthony Martial ($7,000) and Edinson Cavani ($7,300) while playing for the team with the highest implied goal total.

Johann Berg Gudmundsson, BUR v. AVL ($3,700): Gudmundsson's days as Burnley's set-piece taker seem to be gone, but that doesn't mean he should be ignored at his price while lining up against the team that's allowed the third-most crosses among teams on the slate. His spot in the starting XI isn't guaranteed, but this match is one of two early ones, so we'll at least know if he's in the first XI before lock.

DEFENDERS

Reece James, CHE v. WOL ($5,800): Luke Shaw ($5,600) has actually taken a good chunk of Manchester United's corners recently, helping him to 13 crosses in last week's match against Fulham, and he'll probably be a popular play because people love set pieces. You know what's better than set pieces? Actual fantasy points, which is why we should target James, who averages more floor points per 90 minutes than any expected starting defender and is facing a Wolves defense that's allowed the second-most crosses among teams on the slate.

There are a number of good defender options in addition to James and Shaw (or Alex Telles if he starts in Shaw's place), but they seem like the paths to take if you can afford them. Matty Cash ($5,400) and Ben Chilwell ($6,300) are also possibilities, though they shouldn't be prioritized over the others.

Joe Bryan, FUL at BHA ($4,200): Bryan isn't guaranteed a start, but he should certainly be considered because he usually has some kind of role on set pieces when he starts (I know I just spoke down on set pieces, but that was more in comparing Shaw to an actual good defender). His low salary is certainly a plus, and even though Fulham are underdogs and Brighton haven't allowed many crosses this season, he could be a solid contributor.

Matthew Lowton, BUR v. AVL ($3,500): Lowton is hardly a high-impact defender, but you're not going to get that at his price anyway. He is a decent crosser and playing the team that's allowed the second-most crosses on the slate, so that's a plus, but really he's likely to be the cheapest starting fullback and is at least a little more exciting than center-backs in this range, even over someone like Victor Lindelof ($3,100) or Eric Bailly ($3,200) and their high clean sheet odds.

GOALKEEPER

Alphonse Areola, FUL at BHA ($4,200): Paying down at goalkeeper seems viable on this slate because there are so many expensive outfield options worth targeting. There could be some who pay all the way down for Aaron Ramsdale ($3,700) or slightly more for Rui Patricio ($4,000) depending on which attacking players they roster, but Areola is only slightly cheaper and playing in the game with the lowest implied goal total. Brighton have scored multiple goals just once in the past four games, while Areola has conceded one or zero goals in six of his last seven, with multiple saves in all but one start this season. If you're on the other end of the salary spectrum , David de Gea ($5,900) seems like the one worth prioritizing given the odds.