This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Soccer series.
MATCHES (EST)
- 10:00 am: Newcastle United vs. West Bromwich Albion
- 12:30 pm: Manchester United vs. Manchester City
- 3:00 pm: Everton vs. Chelsea
FORWARDS
Gabriel Jesus, MCI at MUN (£21): Manchester City have the highest implied goal total on the slate and Jesus is expected to lead the line again. He is considerably cheaper than Sergio Aguero (£27), though we have to recognize that Jesus seems unlikely to play a full 90 minutes because Aguero is an option off the bench. If that's enough of a concern, or you like the other side of the Manchester derby, Anthony Martial (£22) and Mason Greenwood (£20) are interesting options, especially the latter after he took five shots in each of his past two games, and they are cheaper than Marcus Rashford (£25).
Timo Werner, CHE at EVE (£25): Chelsea are the biggest favorite on the slate, and while Olivier Giroud (£22) is cheaper and has higher anytime goal scorer odds, Werner is the safer option and more likely to play the entire match. The Chelsea defense has been very good lately, which means Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£29) and Richarlison (£22) aren't likely to be very popular on the other side, with the former certainly lower because he's the most expensive forward overall. Another guy who is likely to be way overlooked is Callum Wilson (£24) because he's playing in the game with the lowest implied total, but he actually has higher anytime goal scorer odds than everyone but Giroud and Werner, so he really shouldn't go completely ignored.
Karlan Grant, WBA at NEW (£17): Grant is the pay-down option for anyone looking to save at the position, though he doesn't have nearly the upside of the more expensive choices. However, he managed multiple shots in four of his last five starts and no team on the slate has allowed more shots than Newcastle this season. It's not much to go on, but it's what you've got if you want to pay down at the position.
MIDFIELDERS
Mason Mount, CHE at EVE (£20): With Hakim Ziyech ruled out with a hamstring injury, Mount figures to be on almost all set pieces for the biggest favorite on the slate. Mount's fantasy returns have been somewhat inconsistent, but in a game that could be pretty open, he has a decent chance to extend his four-game streak with at least one shot on goal. He should create a good number of chances from those set pieces, and he comes in at a significant discount to Bruno Fernandes (£30) and Kevin De Bruyne (£29), who face off against each other. In a similar price range, Gylfi Sigurdsson (£19) could get all of Everton's set pieces because both James Rodriguez and Lucas Digne are out, but you have to wonder how many dead-ball opportunities they'll get as the biggest underdog on the slate. If anything, fantasy players who like Chelsea may want to take a shot at Kai Havertz (£16), who seems to be settling in after previously sitting out with COVID-19.
Jonjo Shelvey, NEW v. WBA (£13): Shelvey could have a path to set pieces for a Newcastle side that is actually favored, a situation that doesn't happen all that often. They aren't as big as Chelsea or Manchester City, but we can at least get a path to their attack at a lower price, unlike Wilson compared to Werner, Jesus and Raheem Sterling (£27). Newcastle are dealing with a number of undisclosed COVID issues, so we could get cheap access to their midfield without Shelvey, either with Matt Ritchie (£13), who could take set pieces if he's in, or Miguel Almiron (£11).
Matthew Phillips, WBA at NEW (£10): Phillips could keep his spot in the starting XI because Matheus Pereira is suspended, and he could be responsible for West Brom's dead balls. While they may not actually get many of them, Phillips is as cheap as you can get and in the first game, so we'll know he's starting right away. It's not a lot, but as a punt to help afford players from the other games, he could be helpful.
DEFENDERS
Ben Chilwell, CHE at EVE (£16): No team has overwhelming clean sheet odds, but Chilwell's price is certainly a good one for a player who likes to move up in the attack and plays with a goalkeeper who has conceded only twice in seven Premier League starts. While Reece James (£18) is a good attacking option on the other side of the field, and occasionally takes set pieces, the price difference for Chilwell is enough that he could be the preferred option if you don't want to play both.
Alex Telles, MUN v. MCI (£14): Manchester United have the worst clean sheet odds on the slate, so the consideration for Telles is that he can hit one of his free kicks well enough to end up on someone's head and into the goal to give him an assist. He rarely shoots, so his upside is definitely assist-dependent, but playing him with someone like Harry Maguire (£15) makes sense from a correlative standpoint.
Federico Fernandez, NEW v. WBA (£11): Newcastle have the best clean sheet odds on the slate (really!) and all of their defenders are fairly cheap. None offer much attacking upside, but if you prefer an outside player then Kieran Gibbs (£10) could be an option as well. Admittedly, their clean sheet chances aren't even that high, but they provide salary relief that players in the other games can't match.
GOALKEEPER
Karl Darlow, NEW v. WBA (£14): Darlow has the best clean sheet odds on the slate, is playing in the game with the lowest implied goal total and is second in the Premier League in saves. Of course, Sam Johnstone (£13) has decent clean sheet odds in the game with the lowest total and he leads the Premier League in saves, so there's certainly a reason to think about one of these two instead of the players in the other matches, unless you have the money to pay up for Edouard Mendy (£19).
