This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
For detailed odds and stats, check out the Fantasy Premier League: Saturday Cheat Sheet.
MATCHES (EST)
10:00 a.m: Bournemouth v. Stoke City
10:00 a.m: Brighton v. West Ham
10:00 a.m: Leicester City v. Swansea City
10:00 a.m: Manchester United v. Huddersfield
10:00 a.m: West Brom v. Southampton
12:30 p.m: Arsenal v. Everton
FORWARDS
Alexis Sanchez, MUN v. HUD ($10,400): The pool of forwards that are attractive for cash games is really shallow, and with values available at the other positions, Alexis could be the highest-owned player in cash and GPPs despite being the most expensive one on the slate. He failed to take a single shot in United's surprising 2-0 loss at Spurs on Wednesday, but a home match against Huddersfield is another story. Man United are the biggest favorites on the slate with the highest implied goal total against a Huddersfield side that's conceded 12 goals in their last four matches while scoring just one. In fact, it's not out of the question to grab two Manchester United forwards, with Anthony Martial ($9,000) looking like a more attractive fantasy option of late versus Romelu Lukaku ($10,100), who has taken just a single shot in four of his last five starts (albeit one was only 14 minutes).
Jamie Vardy, LEI v. SWA ($7,500): Swansea City have scraped themselves out of last place thanks to huge home wins over Liverpool and Arsenal, but they come into Saturday's match as firm underdogs away to Leicester. The absence of Riyad Mahrez ($9,500) will put more of an attacking focus on Vardy, who comes in three goals on nine shots in his last four games. He's extremely goal dependent, making him a weak cash-game option, but Vardy is capable of scoring any time he's on the pitch, and home against Swansea City seems like a ripe time.
Salomon Rondon, WBA v. SOU ($5,800): Rondon shouldn't sniff a cash lineup either, but he's certainly worthy of GPP consideration after taking 25 shots (seven on goal) in the five games before Wednesday's match at Manchester City when he was understandably held without a shot. It's a bit of a small sample size, but no team has allowed more goals to center forwards over the past six weeks as Southampton, and West Brom manager Alan Pardew is clearly building his attack around Rondon, as they've sent in more crosses than any other team over that span. If there is one big thing holding me back from Rondon it's that Daniel Sturridge ($5,900) may start with (or instead of) him, which would definitely take shooting opportunities away. In fact, Sturridge himself makes for a great GPP play given his penchant for shooting and West Brom's work to focus on their center forwards.
MIDFIELDERS
Marc Albrighton, LEI v. SWA ($8,000): This salary seems a bit crazy for Albrighton, but if you simply saw it as the guy who is taking (most likely) all set pieces while playing at home against Swansea City, you'd think it was a little more reasonable. With Mahrez grumpily holding out because he didn't get a transfer before the January window closed, Leicester may rely more on Albrighton to lump crosses into the box as opposed to having Mahrez take defenders on from the wing. Albrighton's price puts him in the same group as James Ward-Prowse ($8,500) and Xherdan Shaqiri ($7,800), but he's the only one playing as a home favorite, with Leicester obviously having a higher implied goal total.
Junior Stanislas, BOU v. STK ($6,100): Stanislas was solid Wednesday in his return from injury, finishing with one goal on four shots (two on target) and two crosses in Bournemouth's shocking 3-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. He shared corners with Jordon Ibe ($6,600, forward eligible), but he contributes more in the attack to justify him for $500 less. Stoke are coming off back-to-back clean sheets, but they allowed nine goals in their previous three matches while Bournemouth have scored multiple goals in five of their last six.
Joao Mario, WHU at BHA ($5,900):Joao Mario's introduction to West Ham couldn't have gone much better from a fantasy standpoint, as he stood over three corners, helping him to seven crosses, while taking one shot and winning three fouls for 12.25 fantasy points. West Ham continue to have a number of key attackers out, but Joao Mario showed that he can produce even without them, giving us every reason to trust him Saturday against a Brighton side has been held without a goal in four of their last six matches while allowing 11 over that span.
DEFENDER
Aaron Cresswell, WHU at BHA ($5,100): Cresswell's salary seems a bit high until you see that he's $1,800 less than Manchester United's Ashley Young. Paying that much for a defender guarantees that you need at least one assist to make value, which pushes me down to Cresswell, who continues to share corners and will be a much more attractive fantasy option if he plays out wide (it certainly doesn't hurt that Brighton have allowed the third-most crosses per game among teams on the slate). Admittedly, there is enough value further down the salary list that there's no need to prioritize Cresswell, and if you still want West Ham defensive exposure, Sam Byram ($3,800) or Pablo Zabaleta ($3,900) should do the trick.
Simon Francis, BOU v. STK ($4,300): Francis' value takes a big hit if he lines up as a centerback, but with Adam Smith ($4,700) doubtful because of a thigh injury, we could save a little money with getting Francis out wide. He's obviously a much more attacking player when he's a fullback, and the Stoke attack is not strong enough where Francis will be pinned back all game.
Craig Dawson, WBA v. SOU ($4,000): Either West Brom fullback should be considered at home against Southampton, as their cheap prices and ability to move up in the attack provide a decent opportunity to return value. No team has sent in more crosses over the past six gameweeks than West Brom, which is even more impressive when you see they only had two in their loss to Man City earlier this week. Meanwhile, Southampton have allowed the fourth-most among teams on the slate over that span, and they have just one clean sheet in their last 16 league matches.
GOALKEEPER
David de Gea, MUN v. HUD ($6,000): De Gea is the surest thing on the slate, and even though Manchester United are usually heavy favorites, it's rare for de Gea to finish without multiple saves; in fact, it's only happened eight times in his 25 league starts this season. The cost is obviously very high, but de Gea provides much more certainty than any other keeper. If the price scares you away, Lukasz Fabianski ($4,200), the league-leader in saves, makes a lot of sense if you think the Leicester attack will struggle without Mahrez.
