DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Friday UEFA Euro 2020 Picks

MATCHES (ET)

• 9:00 am: Sweden vs. Slovakia
• 12:00 pm: Croatia vs. Czech Republic
• 3:00 pm: England vs. Scotland

For detailed stats and odds, check out the

DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: UEFA Euro 2020 Friday Cheat Sheet

FORWARDS

Harry Kane, ENG v. SCO ($10,500): I'm usually in the fade-the-expensive-central-forward-with-no-floor camp, but this feels like a match Kane could bag a brace in, similar to Romelu Lukaku against Russia. I don't have a ton of faith in the Scotland back line after it allowed seven shots on target to Czech Republic last match, especially if Kieran Tierney isn't fit. Still, Kane is far from a reasonable cash play. As seen last match, he doesn't have much of a floor, and you're banking on a goal in order to hit value. It's a bad strategy in cash games, but maybe that last match will turn people off him? Even then, it's not like England's other forwards are better choices, no matter who starts. Raheem Sterling ($8,700) scored the lone goal last match, but I'm not putting money on that happening again. Even slate-breaker Patrik Schick ($8,000) will be hard to use in cash games because he's not going to get the same opportunities against Croatia. If you don't go Kane, you're either using another English player or hoping someone stands out in the Sweden and Slovakia game.

Alexander Isak, SWE v. SVK ($5,700): The bad part about Isak is that he could be too popular given his price and that his stock seemed to blow up after almost scoring against Spain. He es it here because he has the best odds of anyone to score outside of England, and Sweden seem content at just sending balls forward to let Isak work his magic. At 21 years old, he's likely headed for a bigger club after scoring 17 goals in 34 matches this past season at Real Sociedad. As one of the cheaper forwards on the slate, he seems almost too obvious, even though he isn't your usual cash play. Teammate Emil Forsberg ($7,900) will take set pieces, but you're also paying for them, and the same goes for Robert Mak ($6,800). If you're looking for tournament options, Marcus Berg ($6,300) may inevitably be passed over for the cheaper Isak.

MIDFIELDERS

Luka Modric, CRO v. CZE ($7,600): Modric could and should be the chalkiest play on the slate. At a similar price against England in a match that had little attacking, he hit a floor of 10.5 fantasy points despite having only two set pieces. There's a chance he takes closer to 10 set pieces Friday, pushing his floor higher to go with a touch of upside. There are few reasons to fade Modric in cash games, especially since the England guys are all a tad more expensive. Phil Foden ($9,000) is the perfect tournament play if he starts again, while I'd strongly consider Mason Mount ($8,200) or Jack Grealish ($8,100) if one of them starts. If they both start, set pieces will be more spread out and that'll be hard to spend on. With Modric, you don't have to worry about split sets.

Marek Hamsik, SVK v. SWE ($6,300): If you don't spend up at midfielder, there are plenty of choices to use in the mid-range. Hamsik might be my favorite because even though he's splitting corners with Mak, he's a central part to what Slovakia do on the pitch, and despite battling an injury entering the tournament, he still went a full 90 in the first match. I don't think Sweden should be favored as much as they are, so I don't think the matchup should be a huge detractor. He'll be on the ball a ton and isn't afraid to take shots from distance, as seen in the three he had last week. If you prefer Sweden, Dejan Kulusevski ($6,500) is at a decent rate and in the first match of the day, so you'll know if he's completely back from COVID-19 and in the starting XI. Otherwise, both of Czech Republic's set-piece takers, Vladimir Darida ($6,200) and Jakub Jankto ($6,000), were fairly active in their opening match. For the favored Croatians, Ivan Perisic ($6,000) is somewhat cheap given the situation as a favorite.

Declan Rice, ENG v. SCO ($3,400): There have been a lot of players who were bad in their opening match (fantasy wise) and then put in completely opposite performances in the second game. Sure, Rice isn't the same player as Gareth Bale, but he could easily put in the same kind of numbers Kalvin Phillips ($4,300) had in the first game, especially in a better matchup. I'm not saying Rice is a cash play, but if you're stacking the expensive English guys, he might be worth a look since a goal from him isn't impossible. Lukas Haraslin ($3,700) and Marcelo Brozovic ($3,500) are also in this range with maybe a touch more upside.

DEFENDERS

Sime Vrsaljko, CRO v. CZE ($4,700): It's viable to spend up at defender, but a lot of that depends on who starts for England. If Kyle Walker ($4,600) starts again, that leaves just the left-back who is worth anything and you're still paying around $6,000 for a defender who may or may not take sets. And if it's Ben Chilwell ($6,700), he's probably too expensive since he shouldn't be $1,000 more than Kieran Trippier. Andrew Robertson ($6,400) is a good GPP option, but he's not going to get as much action in this match, and he definitely won't have 14 crosses again. That led me to the cheaper Vrsaljko, who got up the field a decent amount against England with seven crosses, and now he's favored. If he can match what he did in the first game and get close to double-digit fantasy points, that'd be enough, especially for the price. 

Emil Krafth, SWE v. SVK ($3,500): Krafth is a projected starting full-back on a favorite and he's almost the same price as teammate Victor Lindelof ($3,400), who plays center-back. Krafth came on at right-back for the injured Mikael Lustig last match and is a great value play if he starts Friday. There's a chance he's underrated after playing as a center-back in a back three for Newcastle this past season, but he's played on the flank plenty in prior campaigns. Either way, he's cheap and should get a few crosses in a decent matchup. If you need to pivot in that first match, Tomas Hubocan ($3,200) is also cheap and should get more forward than he did against Spain. 

GOALKEEPER

Dominik Livakovic, CRO v. CZE ($5,100): I think this is a great bounce-back spot for Croatia, who opened with a tough game against England. Using Livakovic is also a pivot against anyone who thinks Schick, Darida and Jankto will repeat their performances from the last match. And since Croatia have the worst odds for a clean sheet of the favorites, Livakovic won't be popular. If Schick braces again, blame me. If you have money, Jordan Pickford ($5,900) seems like a lock for a clean sheet in every group match. I'd also consider any of the underdogs outside of Scotland unless you're fully fading Kane and Co.