This article is part of our Starting Eleven series.
After a brief break following the conclusion of the Premier League season, Starting Eleven is back for the World Cup offering cash games for players in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Before we jump into Friday's three-game slate, let's remind ourselves about the scoring rules:
Rosters consist of 11 players in any acceptable formation (minimum of three defenders, three midfielders and one forward) and there is no salary cap. Fantasy points are distributed as such:
Defenders, Midfielders, and Forwards:
• Goal: 8 pts (exclusive of shot on target)
• Assist: 5 pts
• Shot on Target: 2 pts
• Shot Off Target: 0.5 pts
• Missed Penalty Kick: -5 pts
• Clean Sheet (for Defender in user's Active Lineup for the player's entire match): 5 pts
• Clean Sheet (for Midfielder in user's Active Lineup for the player's entire match): 3 pts
• Foul Drawn: 1 pt
• Completed Pass: 0.1 pts
• Tackle Won: 1 pt
• Pass Intercepted: 1 pt
• Duel Won: 0.5 pts
• Red Card: -5 pts
• Yellow Card: -2 pts
• Own Goal -3 pts
• Every two goals conceded (for Defenders): -2 pts
Goalkeepers:
• Clean Sheet (for Goalkeeper in user's Active Lineup for entire game): 7 pts
• Saves: 2 pt
• Penalty Saves: 5 pts
• Every two goals Conceded: -2 pts
• Own goal: -3
• Goal: 8 pts
To enhance the fantasy points above, fantasy owners choose one player to be their captain, who will score double points (similar to the Premier League's official fantasy game). The enhancements don't end there, as fantasy owners can also make up to three substitutions, so if a player gets injured, sent off or is simply not performing well, they can be replaced by a player in the same game (note: captain's points do not transfer). A few more key points:
• Goalkeepers, Defenders, and Midfielders must play the entire match, including stoppage time, to qualify for the clean sheet points. The player's team must allow zero goals, including own goals, over the course of regular time and stoppage time to qualify.
• An own goal counts towards the number of goals conceded and will preclude the team scored on from getting clean sheet points.
• A Goalkeeper will earn 5 pts for a penalty kick save even if the penalty kick is not on target.
• Points for shots and saves are not awarded on penalty kicks. The only points available to be earned on penalty kicks are points for a goal, penalty miss, penalty save, and own goal.
Okay, onto Friday's slate!
MATCHES (EDT)
8:00 a.m: Egypt v. Uruguay
11:00 a.m: Morocco v. Iran
2:00 p.m: Spain v. Portugal
FORWARDS
Uruguay are the biggest favorites on the slate with the highest implied goal total, so there's every expectation that Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani will be popular choices by fantasy owners. That's not to say there aren't other forwards to consider -- in fact, there are quite a few others worth a look -- but it's tough to argue that the Uruguay strikers don't have the highest upside. The biggest consideration is that they could steal fantasy points from each other; it's a concern, but I still side with Suarez.
The Spain-Portugal match includes some serious firepower, and the winner of this match is likely to go on and win the group. Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo could be popular because he's Cristiano Ronaldo, but his matchup against Spain is the worst one he'll have in the group stage. On the flip side, depending on a goal from Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa might be tough against a fairly tough Portuguese defense, one that includes starting centerbacks from Barcelona and Real Madrid, two teams that are very familiar with Costa. It seems a bit crazy to completely fade the forwards in this game, but it makes sense when considering the other two matches.
Speaking of fades, it's going to be tough to fade Mohamed Salah if he starts for Egypt because he does absolutely everything in the attack for them, but playing his first match since suffering a shoulder injury in the Champions League final and matching up against the best team in Group A are probably reasons enough to look elsewhere for a forward.
Morocco and Iran don't have a lot of household names, but that doesn't mean they don't have players who can produce fantasy points. Iran's Alireza Jahanbakhsh is the best option on the team after dominating the Eredivisie this past season, averaging 4.5 shots, including 2.0 on goal, 2.5 chances created, 2.1 fouls suffered and 2.2 tackles won per 90 minutes for AZ Alkmaar. He may not have the moniker as the "Iranian Messi" like teammate Sardar Azmoun, he just has the dominant stats.
MIDFIELDERS
Again, the Morocco-Iran match doesn't have any worldwide stars, but there are plenty of fantasy points to be had. With Spain and Portugal also in their group, this is each team's best opportunity to get three points. The first name on my list is Morocco's Hakim Ziyech, who averaged 4.9 shots, including 1.4 on goal, and 4.2 chances created per 90 minutes for Ajax, also in the Eredivisie. It's basically a defense-optional league, but those stats are still impressive for an attacking midfielder who plays a very similar role for his national team. Up against an Iranian defense, Ziyech could be one of the best fantasy plays on the day.
Another lesser-known player on the slate is Uruguay's Georgian de Arrascaeta, who plays his club football for Cruzeiro in Brazil. Having weapons like Suarez and Cavani in front of him is a huge bonus for a player who is averaging 4.7 shots, including 1.3 on goal, 3.1 fouls drawn and 3.4 chances created per 90 minutes this season (only five appearances), and the fact that Uruguay are facing an Egypt side expected to sit back and defend for most of the game, regardless if Salah starts, de Arrascaeta becomes a near lineup-lock.
Over to the big boys, with Spain having a number of midfielders worthy of consideration, highlighted by David Silva, who plays much more forward for Spain than he does for Manchester City. Premier League players are used to seeing Silva line up next to midfielders like Kevin De Bruyne or Ilkay Gundogan, but he should be in the front line for Spain with Costa and Isco, who I also think is a viable option despite the tough matchup against Portugal.
DEFENDERS AND GOALKEEPERS
The potential of Mohamed Salah starting for Egypt has to dampen Uruguay's clean sheet odds a little bit, but they'll still be in a good shutout position if they can limit the counterattacks. The Uruguay centerbacks are set with Diego Godin and Jose Maria Jimenez, who are club teammates at Atletico Madrid, and the fullbacks will be two of Guillermo Varela, Martin Caceres, Gaston Silva or Maxi Pereira, any of whom I'd consider. And, of course, if I'm rolling with a Uruguay defensive stack, I'll happily include goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.
If you're looking for a little more attacking upside from the game where both teams will be trying to get their only win of the tournament, Morocco's Achraf Hakimi and Iran's Ramin Rezaeian fit the bill. The clean sheet is possible, of course, but we're grabbing these guys for their attacking exploits.
Spain and Portugal have a bunch of solid attacking defenders, but the Portugal ones are actually preferred in a vacuum; unfortunately, they're not playing in a vacuum, they're playing on a pitch in Russia against one of the top-three favorites to win the entire tournament. Part of me wants to stay away from this game completely, but the random goals in big games from Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique will also peak my interest.
