This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EST)
- 10:00 am: Aston Villa vs. Crystal Palace
- 10:00 am: Fulham vs. Southampton
- 12:30 pm: Arsenal vs. Chelsea
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
MIDFIELDERS
Jack Grealish, AVL v. CRY ($10,000): Grealish figures to be one of the most popular players in cash games because he's the fifth-highest scoring player in the league, including the second-most floor points. He has a role on set pieces, though they don't play a huge role in his production, as he's the league leader in chances created (yes, more than Bruno Fernandes and Kevin De Bruyne), as well as fouls drawn. Amazingly, his 56 fouls drawn are 20 more than second-highest Sadio Mane. Additionally, only seven players have taken more shots this season. Grealish is the most expensive player on the slate, but with Crystal Palace allowing the most shots, crosses and chances created among the six teams, many fantasy players will have no problem spending up for him.
James Ward-Prowse, SOU at FUL ($8,000): While Grealish scores plenty of fantasy points in open play, Ward-Prowse does a ton of damage on set pieces, accounting for the highest set-piece share of any player in the league. That will certainly play a role Saturday, as Southampton are favored away to Fulham, who have allowed the most shots on goal and second-most crosses among teams on the slate. Despite the somewhat elevated price, Ward-Prowse, the ninth-highest floor-point scorer in the league this season, figures to be very popular, even in combination with the expensive Grealish. In fact, the midfield position has incredibly high opportunity cost because of these two and one other expensive player, so those who focus on GPPs will see them as easier fades despite the possibility they're some of the highest-scoring players on a slate with not many goals expected.
Mason Mount, CHE at ARS ($7,700): With Ben Chilwell and Reece James likely to miss the next two games, Mount should continue to have a major role on set pieces. Mount may be sharing with Emerson Palmieri ($4,700, defender), but he should still be on enough dead balls to make him a very viable play. The combination of Grealish, Ward-Prowse and Mount should be popular in cash games because they have the highest floors, with fantasy players potentially fading one of them if they want to pay up at forward. The other midfielder-only eligible players on the slate just aren't that attractive, either from a matchup or price standpoint, as Tom Cairney ($5,500) or Conor Hourihane ($6,700) are fine (the latter is pretty over-priced unless he has a very clear path to a set-piece monopoly), but rostering them means you'll have to make up the fantasy-point difference at the other positions to justify fading one of Grealish, Ward-Prowse or Mount.
FORWARDS
Ivan Cavaleiro, FUL v. SOU ($5,400): Cavaleiro was a late scratch last week but could be a popular play if he's fit enough to start against Southampton. He has a path to set pieces, though he makes for a solid option even without a role on dead balls because of his price and attacking position. If he isn't in, Ademola Lookman ($6,600) could be an option for set pieces and potentially be a popular play because he's moderately priced on a slate where paying up for forwards might be tough.
Nicolas Pepe, ARS v. CHE ($5,600): The Arsenal attack has struggled lately, but Pepe has been a decent fantasy scorer and is pay-down option in a game that should be close. Willian ($6,200) is likely to be more popular in cash games because he takes more set pieces than Pepe, but the slight increase in price with not as much open-play value will likely keep him from being overly popular. Then again, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (calf) likely out, how much can we really expect from the Arsenal attack anyway?
Bertrand Traore, AVL v. CRY ($8,200): Traore has been taking set pieces for Aston Villa lately, and he has to be a consideration if it seems likely that role continues against Crystal Palace. GPP players may look at teammate Anwar El Ghazi ($8,700), who took a ridiculous 16 shots, including nine on goal, sent in 14 crosses and created five chances in the past two games, but it might be tough to pay up for either if you play the three expensive midfielders. If you do think Aston Villa take it to Crystal Palace, then it might be a better use of funds to target Ollie Watkins ($7,200), who has the highest anytime goal scorer odds on the slate. Otherwise, Eberechi Eze ($6,800) on the other side of this game could be an interesting target, at least in cash games, as he usually has a role on set pieces and is a good open-play attacker, though he isn't cheap.
DEFENDERS
Emerson Palmieri, CHE at ARS ($4,700): Emerson is expected to start in place of the injured Ben Chilwell (ankle), and a potential role on set pieces should make him popular. He gets most of the opportunities when Mount doesn't start, but he did take one corner last game after coming on for Chilwell. Even if he doesn't have any dead-ball responsibilities, Emerson has very good open-play value, and he should be popular because Chelsea are favored.
Patrick van Aanholt, CRY at AVL ($4,400): Crystal Palace are underdogs away to Villa, but that doesn't mean they're just going to sit back and let the home team do whatever they want. van Aanholt doesn't seem to have any set pieces anymore, but he still likes to get involved in the attack and doesn't hesitate to take shots when given the opportunity. Both fullbacks on the other side of his game, Matty Cash ($5,900) and Matt Targett ($5,300), make for reasonable plays, but while they are better than the similarly-priced midfielders, they are tough to fit in salary-wise unless you pay down at forward and one defender spot.
Ryan Bertrand, SOU at FUL ($4,000): Southampton are favored away to Fulham, who have allowed the second-most crosses among teams on the slate. Bertrand isn't usually a big open-play crosser, as a lot of his previous crosses came from corners, which he doesn't seem to be taking anymore, but the matchup may allow him to move forward more than he has been. Most people will probably focus elsewhere, but if you like the GPP upside of whoever starts up front from Southampton, Bertrand makes for a decent correlation play.
GOALKEEPER
Vicente Guaita, CRY at AVL ($4,200): Guaita, the cheapest goalkeeper on the slate, got lit up for seven goals last weekend against Liverpool, but he had only allowed a single goal in each of his previous four. Meanwhile, Aston Villa scored multiple goals just once in their last five, giving Guaita a decent shot as a usable score given his price.
