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 (EDT)
10:00 a.m: Chelsea v. Bournemouth
10:00 a.m: Everton v. Huddersfield
10:00 a.m: Crystal Palace v. Southampton
10:00 a.m: Brighton v. Fulham
10:00 a.m: West Ham v. Wolverhampton
12:30 p.m: Manchester City v. Newcastle
FORWARDS
Sergio Aguero, MCI v. NEW ($11,100): The Manchester City attacking rotation has been in full swing, as we've seen Raheem Sterling ($9,900), Gabriel Jesus ($9,400), Riyad Mahrez ($9,800) and Bernardo Silva ($8,200) each get at least one start, while Aguero is the only attacker to start and play at least 75 minutes in all three games. Aguero is the most expensive of the group, but there's no denying he has the highest upside after we saw him bag a hat trick on nine shots (four on goal) against Huddersfield two weeks ago. The schedule makers did us no favors by putting Man City in the late game, and while we'll have plenty of forward-eligible pivots if Aguero doesn't start, it could force us to leave a decent amount of salary on the table. Mahrez seemingly has the highest floor with a partial role on set pieces, but his playing time is always far from certain thanks to the other options who could come off the bench, a group that also includes Leroy Sane ($9,600), who had 10 goals and 15 assists last season.
Eden Hazard, CHE v. BOU ($10,800): With Manchester City stacks expected to be popular, Chelsea present a number of intriguing GPP options at home against Bournemouth. Hazard makes for a fine cash-game play if Willian ($9,500) isn't in the starting XI, though it's tough to roster him and an upper-level Manchester City attacker unless you want multiple punts. That being said, Chelsea are expected to score multiple goals against the Cherries, so there is certainly a place in GPP lineups for those two, as well as Alvaro Morata ($8,000) and Pedro ($8,400). It's a bit crazy to think that Chelsea's attacking players could be under-owned when they are at home against Bournemouth, but Manchester City can really alter a slate when they're up against a non-top-six side at the Etihad Stadium.
Gylfi Sigurdsson, EVE v. HUD ($7,900): Sigurdsson picked up his first assist of the season last week at Bournemouth and continues to be the primary set-piece taker for an Everton side that is comfortably favored at home against Huddersfield. He hasn't been taking many shots, but 18 crosses, eight chances created and five fouls drawn in three matches -- including two when Everton went down to 10 men -- is the right production for a floor player. Everton will need to fill the void left by Richarlison's suspension, and some may simply turn to Theo Walcott ($7,400) in GPPs against a Huddersfield side that's allowed the most goals (tied with West Ham), most shots and most chances created this season (playing Chelsea and Manchester City certainly contributed to the poor figures). If you want to go even cheaper, there's a possibility that Dominic Calvert-Lewin ($4,800) gets the call in Richarlison's spot because Bernard ($5,600, midfielder) isn't fully fit, though Calvert-Lewin is almost completely goal dependent to really pay off. Or, you could just target Cenk Tosun ($6,500), who is actually their center-forward and has the best anytime goal scorer odds on the team.
MIDFIELDERS
Ilkay Gundogan, MCI v. NEW ($5,900): Gundogan has taken multiple corners in each of Man City's matches this season, helping him to 10 crosses over that span. He's also fired off six shots, including two on goal, and could play a decent part of the Man City attack against a likely overmatched Newcastle side. His peripheral floor isn't overly high, but getting access to the biggest favorite with the highest implied goal total at less than $6,000 is enticing. David Silva ($7,600) is theoretically another possibility, especially after he scored one goal and created nine chances over his first two starts, but his salary is a bit high if you want other Man City players, and he hasn't taken a corner yet (that being said, his goal came off a great free kick).
Jean Michael Seri, FUL at BHA ($5,200): Rostering Fulham players while they're away from home wasn't my expectation when I saw the schedule for this slate, but here we are with Seri, whose role on set pieces and contributions elsewhere have him as clear cash-game target. He's actually on the bottom end of a tier of players worth considering for cash games, one that also includes Felipe Anderson ($6,400), Robert Snodgrass ($5,800), Mohamed Elyounoussi ($6,600) James Ward-Prowse ($6,200), Joao Moutinho ($5,700), Luka Milivojevic ($5,500) and Aaron Mooy ($5,400). You can make a reasonable case for each player, but Seri provides one of the safer floors for the lowest price. Felipe and the Southampton options may be a touch too expensive, and if you prefer a favored home play, Milivojevic makes more sense.
Michail Antonio, WHU v. WOL ($5,600): Antonio's spot in the starting XI is far from guaranteed, and you could make the case that Felipe and Snodgrass are safer cash-game plays, but Antonio's floor isn't that much lower, he just gets there through shots, tackles won and fouls drawn instead of crosses. He is also forward eligible, but because there are a number of very viable forwards, that aspect doesn't really increase Antonio's viability. Snodgrass is likely to have a bigger role on set pieces than anyone else, so he's the safer option from the West Ham midfield, but it's worth recognizing they have multiple pieces you can use.
Philip Billing, HUD at EVE ($3,500): Billing averaged 0.83 shots, including 0.24 on goal, 1.42 crosses, 1.89 tackles won, 2.13 interceptions and 0.71 fouls drawn per 90 minutes last season, equating to 5.8 fantasy points per 90 minutes, but he's been a much more active attacker this year, averaging 8.26 fantasy points per 90 minutes thanks to 1.00 shot, 3.00 crosses, 2.67 tackles won, 1.33 interceptions and 1.67 fouls drawn. The small sample size is obviously a factor here, though it's worth pointing out that Billing's first two games were home against Chelsea (11.50 fantasy points) and at Manchester City (3.75). He is the type of player I consider on underdogs because of the defensive work he can do, but the attacking points have certainly made him a more complete player and his low salary still doesn't require much to help us out. That being said, we're more likely to see the defensive work this weekend if he lines up next to Mooy while Jonathan Hogg is suspended.
DEFENDERS
Benjamin Mendy, MCI v. NEW ($7,300): Mendy is by far the most expensive defender on the slate, but he's been one of the most consistent attacking players in the league. We wouldn't hesitate to pay $7,300 for a Manchester City midfielder who had sent in 25 crosses, took six shots, won six tackles and had three assists on six chances created, so why would we hesitate for a player who also has an excellent chance at the three-point clean sheet bonus? Paying up for Mendy likely prices you out of Chelsea's Marcos Alonso ($6,700), at least in cash games, but I think paying up for both in a GPP lineup could be a very viable strategy while pairing them with Aguero and Morata, for example.
Florent Hadergjonaj, HUD at EVE ($3,900): Hadergjonaj sent in seven crosses in his two starts not against Manchester City this season, and he continues to be a decent wide attacking piece for Huddersfield. His sub-$4,000 salary could make him a popular option for fantasy players looking to save at the defender spot because he'll likely be one of the cheapest fullbacks, and his price doesn't necessitate much in order to make value.
Cedric Soares, SOU at CRY ($4,100): We've seen a small increase in Cedric's crossing of late, and while the matchup at Crystal Palace isn't one we have to necessarily target, this is a player who used to regularly cost more than $5,000 in plus matchups. Teammate Ryan Bertrand ($4,600) has been the better fantasy scorer, but I'm not sure you're getting a whole lot more this week for the extra $500. While Mendy and Alonso make a lot of sense at the top of the salary scale, skipping past the mid-$4,000s makes sense so you can use those funds elsewhere, as those players' floors aren't that much higher than the Cedric/Hadergjonaj level.
GOALKEEPER
Jonas Lossl, HUD at EVE ($3,900): Manchester City and/or Chelsea stacks likely necessitate paying down in a few spots, and Lossl's price is a bit eye-opening because he's only $300 more than Martin Dubravka and $200 more than Asmir Begovic, who are +2000 and +800 underdogs, respectively. Admittedly, Huddersfield are +600, so it's not like they are hugely different, but Everton don't have nearly the implied goal total that Manchester City and Chelsea do. With many people likely rostering Man City and Chelsea attackers, it's understandable to move beyond Dubrava and Begovic, while those with Sigurdsson in their lineups can still get a solid game out of him without sacrificing Lossl's upside. All of that being said, it may actually be optimal to pay up at the position, with Ederson ($6,000) and Kepa Arrizabalaga ($5,800) the obvious top options, especially considering paying down for Jordan Pickford ($5,600) or Wayne Hennessey ($5,200) doesn't save you that much in salary.
