FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Saturday EPL Targets

FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Saturday EPL Targets

This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.

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

MATCHES (EDT)

10:00 a.m: Bournemouth v. Burnley
10:00 a.m: Middlesbrough v. Southampton
10:00 a.m: Sunderland v. Swansea City
12:30 p.m: Stoke City v. Arsenal

PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS

GOALKEEPER

Jack Butland, STK v. ARS ($6,400): Arsenal are one of the few teams on this slate that are still playing for something (a top-four spot to qualify for next season's Champions League). The Gunners will have to press to win, which should create plenty of save opportunities for the Stoke keeper.

Brad Guzan, MID v. SOU ($6,500): Middlesbrough laid down and played dead against Chelsea in a match they needed to win. Will we see more of the same against Southampton? It's certainly possible, but Guzan still scored almost 11 fantasy points, and up against a team that doesn't finish as well as Chelsea and also gets more shots on goal, we could see a good save total. Just don't expect a clean sheet.

DEFENDER

Ryan Bertrand, SOU at MID ($5,900): If Middlesbrough are emotionally done, Southampton could see plenty of time in attack. Bertrand is one of the better attacking options available this week (he scored over 22 fantasy points against Arsenal on mostly attacking stats). There is only one match with a decent sized favorite, so going offensive is certainly an option. Cedric Soares is slightly more expensive and a fine option. Nacho Monreal is an option, though he's been playing center-back, so Hector Bellerin could be a better (and cheaper) possibility if he moves back into the starting XI in place of the injured Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at wing-back.

Michael Keane, BRN at BOU ($6,300): Likely back from injury, Keane will be back in the middle of the Burnley defense away to Bournemouth. Burnley are likely safe from relegation but still struggle on the road. Meanwhile, Bournemouth have been active in attack while giving up an above average number of tackles and interceptions over the last six matches.

MIDFIELDER

Aaron Ramsey, ARS at STK ($7,200): Since Arsenal switched to a four-man midfield and they continue to hunt for a top four spot, Ramsey has produced decent fantasy outputs for his price. He averaged just over 18 fantasy points per game in his last three, with only one assist, so any goal or assist carries significant upside.

Gylfi Sigurdsson, SWA at SUN ($10,300): I'm not sure who decided to tell Sunderland a week late about their fight for relegation, but they finally showed up last week. Swansea are in a similar situation to Hull last week, fighting for every point, and they should press Sunderland all match. Sigurdsson is the most consistent midfield option this week.

Other midfield options: Although inconsistent, Mesut Ozil is a main playmaker on the largest favorite with highest expected goals. Junior Stanislas scored last week, but without that goal he did little to impress; maybe he needed a match to get his boots back after being injured for a while. If Robbie Brady ever gets a start he is an option as well.

FORWARD

Alexis Sanchez, ARS at STK ($10,600): Likely to be the highest owned player in the slate, Alexis carries the highest goal-scoring odds and on the largest favorite with the highest expected goal total. Down in price, and in DFS points, from where he was midseason, he still offers the most upside. Joshua King is similarly priced, but with lower upside. However, in a tournament both or one can be played, as they are clearly the two best options on the slate (prior to lineups being announced).

Fernando Llorente, SWA at SUN ($8,000): As with most forwards, Llorente is goal dependent. Helping him is the second-highest goal-scoring odds among likely starters and a Swansea team fighting for their lives against a Sunderland side who are preparing for the Championship.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Kevin Swanson plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: kswan613, DraftKings: kswan613.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kevin Swanson
Kevin was a contributing fantasy soccer writer for RotoWire and focused primarily on the Premier League. He has been active in DFS soccer since 2014 and is an avid supporter of Chelsea and anything Didier Drogba.
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