This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.
For detailed odds and stats, check out the Fantasy Premier League: Saturday Cheat Sheet.
MATCHES (EDT)
7:30 a.m: Watford v. Liverpool (not included on bigger slates)
10:00 a.m: Everton v. Stoke City
10:00 a.m: Crystal Palace v. Huddersfield
10:00 a.m: Southampton v. Swansea City
10:00 a.m: West Brom v. Bournemouth
10:00 a.m: Chelsea v. Burnley
12:30 p.m: Brighton v. Manchester City
We welcome back fantasy Premier League and the second season of fantasy soccer on FanDuel. No rule or roster structure changes this year, so the same as the last. For the first few weeks of the season it will be tough to pull specific data points because of preseason injuries, teams still waiting for key players to come back, ongoing transfer sagas, and so on. We will base picks this week on what teams tended to do in the preseason/tours and focus on a few potential value plays due to injuries/late starts for key players.
PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
GOALKEEPER
Tom Heaton, BRN at CHE ($5,000): On top of the goalkeeper list this year is a man most FanDuel players are familiar with: Heaton. Last season, he single handedly kept Burnley in matches and could be in line to see decent shot volume away to Chelsea, who open the season as Champions and will be looking for a rebound from the previous weekend's loss to Arsenal in the Community Shield.
Mathew Ryan, BHA at MCI ($4,500): Brighton & Hove Albion will be baptized by fire in their first week in the Premier League. Man City look extremely dangerous going forward in preseason and should have plenty of shots on goal, which is good for an opponent goalkeeper's fantasy upside. Likely to give up a few, Ryan can still easily provide value given the volume of shots he is likely to face.
DEFENDER
Lewis Dunk, BHA at MCI ($6,500): One of the more expensive options, Dunk should anchor a Brighton defense that is likely to be pinned back for 90 mins. While Man City doesn't lump the ball into the box, there are chances for clearances and interceptions at the top of the 18-yard box and inside when City inevitably try to pass the ball into the goal. On the other side, Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy and Danilo all make for interesting options going forward and will likely park themselves in a forward position, even playing as auxiliary wingers.
Patrick van Aanholt, CRY v. HUD ($6,500): This one is more formation dependent, as new manager Frank de Boer (formerly of Ajax and Inter) likes to play a 3-4-3, possibly pushing van Aanholt up the flank. This should give PVA more playmaking opportunities, but he does carry some floor risk as he has never known to really put in a shift and commit back. On paper, Palace have a far better team than Huddersfield, so there may not be as much need.
Cuco Martina, EVE v. STK ($4,000): This is a low price for a decent player likely to step in due to injury. Everton are a slightly different side after the loss of Romelu Lukaku and potential loss of Ross Barkely (though one could argue Barkley leaving is not that bad), but they are still better than the current Stoke team, who lost players and haven't bought any big replacements.
MIDFIELDER
Kevin De Bruyne, MCI v. BHA ($10,500): In the first two months last season, KDB was likely the player of the year. It looked like Pep Guardiola ran him ragged in the second half of the year, and overall the team just wasn't as cohesive. Now with another threat up top in Gabriel Jesus, KDB's assist potential is as high as anyone in the league. Still able to score from anywhere on the field, there is a reason De Bruyne is the most expensive of likely starters this week. Other Man City midfielders are certainly in play, and it's possible to even play three City players this week (just note Raheem Sterling is a forward).
Cesc Fabregas, CHE v. BRN ($9,500): Let's be honest, Chelsea haven't inspired this preseason and looked asleep or uninterested for much of the shiny dinner plate friendly last week. With Tiemoue Bakayoko (knee) out, Fabregas should be charged with controlling the pace of the match and provide opportunities for the forwards. The main set-piece taker and playmaker against a weaker Burnley team, Fabregas is in line for a decent day. Willian is a decent pivot for $1k less.
Cheaper options to consider include Matt Phillips, Xherdan Shaqiri, Tom Carroll (if Gylfi Sigurdsson is out) and Ruben Loftus-Cheek if he starts in the attack.
FORWARD
Sergio Aguero, MCI v. BHA ($11,500): After much speculation, it looks like Aguero will stay with the Citizens this year and lead what could be the best side going forward in recent memory. Week to week the choice between Aguero and Jesus, who is a fine play if he starts, will be difficult, but against a lower-tier team there should be enough room for everyone.
Chelsea Forward:Michy Batshuayi or Alvaro Morata could lead the line for Chelsea, or they could start together with Morata likely out wide left. We will have to look at the formation to get better insight, but if one is starting alone they will likely be highly owned, and for good reason. While the City forwards are likely the better options, the Chelsea forwards offer significant upside themselves as long as Fabregas is playing.
FanDuel is a shot on goal and goal dependent scoring system for forwards. With that in-mind, cheaper forwards who have potential this week include whoever starts among Manolo Gabbiadini and Charlie Austin, as well as Christian Benteke, Joselu, Tammy Abraham and Joshua King if Jermain Defoe is out.
