This article is part of our Starting Eleven series.
MATCHES (EDT)
7:30 a.m: Cardiff City v. Newcastle
10:00 a.m: Everton v. Southampton
10:00 a.m: Leicester City v. Wolves
10:00 a.m: Tottenham v. Fulham
10:00 a.m: West Ham v. Bournemouth
12:30 p.m: Chelsea v. Arsenal
FORWARDS
If you've followed the Premier League the past couple seasons, you've probably heard about Harry Kane's struggles to score in August. Whatever fantasy players want to do to justify that stat is fine, but it's not something I take into account when I think about Kane. He has the highest goal scoring odds on the slate and a favorable matchup with Fulham. A quiet performance in last weekend's win over Newcastle was justifiable after a short turnaround following the World Cup, but Fulham will once again be missing their top two center-backs, as Alfie Mawson (knee) and Tim Ream (thigh) continue to miss out. One of the best strikers in the Premier League facing a banged up backline for a newly promoted side? Fade at your own risk.
Before I go any further, it's important to indicate that yes, Chelsea and Arsenal are on the slate. The unpredictability of this matchup, and lack of production from Alvaro Morata and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last week, has me timid to select either forward. If I had to pick one, Aubameyang would be my selection based on his impressive scoring record in a half-season with the Gunners (10 goals, four assists in 13 games). He had a quiet outing against Manchester City (what forward not on Liverpool doesn't?), but Aubameyang isn't the type of player to go on goal-scoring droughts. Eden Hazard is always an option and realistically the top play in this matchup.
Bournemouth kicked off their season with a quality outing last Saturday, beating Cardiff 2-0 thanks to a goal and assist from Callum Wilson. On top of the goal-scoring exploits, he added six shots (three on target) and four duels won to round out a solid all-around performance. He's got a tougher matchup as the Cherries travel to West Ham, but not an encounter I'll be avoiding.
Everton's offseason addition of Marco Silva seems to have Richarlison off and running, as the two former Watford men linked back up with the Toffees. Richarlison showed he still knows how to score goals after netting both of Everton's goals in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Wolverhampton, while also adding three tackles and 10 duels won. They'll host Southampton and have the third-best win odds, making the Brazilian attacker an appetizing play. Cenk Tosun and Theo Walcott are alternatives in the Everton attack, though I prefer Richarlison after seeing what he did in the opening match.
A narrow loss to Tottenham last week has Rafa Benitez's crew needing a win against Cardiff City, a club who many have as favorites to be relegated in their first season back in the top flight. Aside from Joselu, who scored an early equalizer, Kenedy put in one of Newcastle's better performances, finishing with two shots, six interceptions (tied for the most in GW1), one tackle and 13 duels won.
MIDFIELDERS
Despite Fulham's tough matchup, Jean Michael Seri is firmly in play after piling up four interceptions, four tackles, 83 passes and nine duels won in a top Gameweek 1 performance. There was some concern about his ability to adapt to the Premier League, but he put those to bed in his first 90-minute shift despite Fulham losing to Bournemouth. Seri is expected to keep his place in the side and will need to put in a defensive masterclass if Fulham are going to get anything from the match against Spurs.
Seri was solid, but the star of the promoted teams was Ruben Neves, who had a goal and an assist along with three shots (one on target) and four duels won against Everton. He'll face a similar matchup as Wolverhampton travel to Leicester.
Christian Eriksen was the first player on my team and will likely receive the captaincy. If you haven't found out yet, I'm very high on Tottenham this week. 2018 will bring more of the same from Eriksen, as he continues to do it all for Spurs. Against Newcastle, he led them in crosses (8 total, three accurate) and scoring chances created (five), while adding two shots and taking all five corners. The only thing missing was a goal or assist. In a format where prices aren't relevant, Eriksen is a name I've got to have on my team sheet.
Riyad Mahrez's departure to Manchester City brought about the acquisition of James Maddison from Norwich City as his direct replacement. He made his competitive debut in Friday's 2-1 loss to Manchester United, taking two shots (one on target) and winning five duels. He wasn't spectacular, but did enough to warrant consideration in a much friendlier matchup with Wolverhampton. His role as Leicester's primary set-piece taker is also something to take into account when trying to justify his inclusion in your starting XI.
DEFENDERS AND GOALKEEPERS
Tottenham come into Saturday's home match against Fulham with the best win odds, as well as the best clean sheet chance by a sizable margin, making Hugo Lloris and the Spurs backline highly coveted. Tottenham's possession-based style puts all of their defenders in play, while Fulham are likely worth avoiding due to the matchup. Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez are the easy choices due to the unpredictability of Tottenham's starting outside-backs.
Aside from Tottenham, I'm interested in either David Luiz or Antonio Rudiger after both center-backs were two of the top three passers last week. I don't expect them to have as much of the ball against Arsenal, but it's clear Maurizio Sarri's playing style has his center-backs making plenty of passes. Between the two, Rudiger would be my selection based on his all-around performance against Huddersfield, as he added two shots (one on target), three tackles and six duels won.
