This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
For detailed stats and odds, check out the Fantasy Premier League: Saturday DFS Cheat Sheet.
MATCHES (EST)
10:00 am: Crystal Palace vs. West Ham United
10:00 am: Huddersfield Town vs. Arsenal
10:00 am: Liverpool vs. AFC Bournemouth
10:00 am: Southampton vs. Cardiff City
10:00 am: Watford vs. Everton
12:30 pm: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Burnley
FORWARDS
Mohamed Salah, LIV v. BOU ($10,900): Liverpool are the biggest favorite on the slate with the highest implied goal total, while no player has better anytime goal scorer odds than Salah. It seems like we're constantly having to make this same decision over and over, and while Salah's floor isn't that attractive for cash games, he could be the highest-owned player simply because people are scared to fade his upside, one that we saw earlier this season against Bournemouth when he scored three goals on four shots (three on target) en route to 38.00 fantasy points. His partial role on set pieces certainly helps his floor, but Salah has scored at least 10.00 floor points in just two Premier League games this season, with the most recent one coming August (yes, August) 25 against Brighton. And while he's going to be really popular in cash games, just know that you need at least a goal for Salah to pay off his salary, a situation that also applies to Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ($10,000), who has the second-highest goal scorer odds on the slate. Their upsides are certainly high enough for GPPs, and their lower-owned teammates make just as much sense, such as Sadio Mane ($9,100), Roberto Firmino ($8,100) and Alexandre Lacazette ($8,600).
Andros Townsend, CRY v. WHU ($8,500): Townsend leads the way at forward for those who want to fade Salah in cash games, though it's certainly possible to pair the two. The Crystal Palace winger has been disappointing in each of his last two, but last week's match was played without the suspended Wilfried Zaha ($7,500), who is a viable GPP play Saturday. Palace are terrible without Zaha, so I'm willing to give Townsend a pass on that poor performance and give him the green light at home against West Ham, who he had 8.00 floor points against in a 3-2 loss earlier this season. Another option in this range is Everton's Gylfi Sigurdsson ($8,800), who is an away underdog (slightly) and has seen teammate Lucas Digne ($6,800, defender) basically match him in floor points this season, and the latter is eligible for the clean sheet bonus, even if it's not that likely to happen. That being said, Watford have allowed the most shots, most crosses, and most tackles to be won while committing the most fouls in the Premier League over the past six games, and if you want to blame it on the schedule, here's the murderers' row they've faced: Newcastle, Bournemouth (away), Crystal Palace (away), Burnley, Tottenham (away) and Brighton (away). And, of course, if you're thinking about Sigurdsson then Richarlison ($6,700) should be considered in GPPs, as his floor points haven't been nearly as good recently. Or you can avoid Everton and grab Burnley's Dwight McNeil ($8,300), who feels overpriced because he debuted this season at $3,600, but he's scored at least 9.25 fantasy points in all but one of his seven starts, which was away to Manchester United, and he is facing a Brighton side that's conceded the second-most shots, fifth-most crosses and second-most chances this season.
David Junior Hoilett, CAR at SOU ($5,900): After a really troubling run that saw them score one goal on 38 shots in five Premier League games, Cardiff seem to be turning it around with three goals on 31 shots in their last two. The uptick in production has come with Hoilett either not playing or coming off the bench, so it's certainly possible he doesn't start away to Southampton, who have conceded the second-most shots and second-most crosses over the past six games. Hoilett's upside isn't that high, but his floor is solid for cash games, scoring at least 7.00 fantasy points in six of his last seven starts, including each of the last five.
MIDFIELDERS
James Ward-Prowse, SOU v. CAR ($8,300): Ward-Prowse figures to get attention in cash games because he has a role on set pieces for the third-biggest favorite on the slate, one playing a Cardiff side that's conceded the joint-most goals, joint-most assists, third-most chances and most corners among teams on the slate. However, Matt Targett ($5,300, defender) shares set pieces with Ward-Prowse, who has a solid floor but has reached 9.75 fantasy points just twice in his past five starts; then again, he's scored at least 6.25 in each of the other three. Of course, those are just floor points, as he also has a goal in three of his last four games, including a penalty.
Solly March, BHA v. BUR ($6,100): March has lost a lot of his set-piece opportunities to Pascal Gross ($7,800, midfielder/forward), but he's been very good in his last two starts, scoring 9.25 and 10.75 fantasy points against Fulham and Watford, respectively. He'll now get to face a Burnley side that's conceded the most shots, most shots on goal, third-most crosses, most chances and second-most corners this season. There are actually a few midfielders in this price range who could be solid cash-game options, with Arsenal's Lucas Torreira ($6,100) possibly having set pieces against Huddersfield, the second-biggest underdog on the slate, while Southampton's Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg ($6,300) comes in after scoring at least 8.00 floor points in three of his last four starts, though he had two yellow cards, a red card and a goal in that span. His floor is pretty strong because of his well-rounded production, as he averaged 2.32 shots, including 1.29 on target, 2.06 tackles won, 1.54 fouls drawn, 1.55 interceptions and 1.29 crosses per 90 minutes over his last four starts, equating to 8.95 fantasy points, a pretty good return for this salary. Then again, you will never have to work hard to convince me that Josh Murphy ($5,600), who is on the other side of the Southampton match, is a good play, especially after he scored 9.75 last week against Bournemouth in only 69 minutes.
Will Hughes, WAT v. EVE ($3,600): You can't expect too much when you roster a sub-$4,000 player, and Hughes certainly fits that mold, even if he's had five games this season with at least 6.00 floor points. He will have no role on set pieces, and he's likely to get most of his value from tackles and fouls drawn, but at least he's facing an Everton team that's had the third-most tackles won against them, and they've committed the third-most fouls. If you're looking for a little more attacking versatility, be on the lookout for Leandro Bacuna ($3,600) in the Cardiff starting XI, as he averaged 1.30 shots and 3.80 crosses per 90 minutes for Reading this season before transferring last month.
DEFENDERS
Lucas Digne, EVE at WAT ($6,800): Digne is the most expensive defender on the slate, but he's earned it by scoring at least 10.75 floor points in five consecutive Premier League starts, and no player in the Premier League has reached 8.00 or 10.00 floor points more times than the Everton left-back. His role on set pieces continues to be split with Sigurdsson, but his open-play production is strong enough to warrant a spot in most cash lineups. As mentioned above, Watford have allowed the most shots, most crosses and most tackles to be won while committing the most fouls in the Premier League over the past six games, and the most crosses figure is also applicable for the entire season, a span that has seen them concede the third-most corners. There are likely to be plenty of people who pay up at both defender spots, with Watford's Jose Holebas ($6,200) filling the other spot because of his monopoly of set pieces, but it's a role that has helped him eclipse four crosses in just two of his last six starts, and he now faces Everton, who have conceded the third-fewest crosses and corners this season, though they have committed the third-most fouls among teams on the slate.
Yan Valery, SOU v. CAR ($4,500): Valery has scored at least 5.00 floor points in each of his last three starts, including 7.25 in both of his last two, and he does it with a combination of crosses, tackles won, interceptions and fouls drawn. Teammate Matt Targett ($5,300) could also get some consideration because of his role on set pieces, and the fact that he's much cheaper than Ward-Prowse and is eligible for the clean sheet bonus (Cardiff have four goals in their last seven Premier League games), but Valery at least provides a little salary relief while still getting the solid matchup.
Aaron Cresswell, WHU at CRY ($4,500): Cresswell could have a role on set pieces based on certain lineup decisions, and he's going up against a Crystal Palace side that's conceded the second-most crosses among teams on the slate. His upside is pretty assist dependent, but the low salary could make it worth it against a Palace side that's conceded six goals in their last four games.
GOALKEEPER
Tom Heaton, BUR at BHA ($4,200): Paying up for Alisson ($6,000) is certainly in play because Liverpool are such big favorites and have the highest clean sheet odds, but there will be plenty of people who have no interest in paying up at goalkeeper because of what it requires at the other positions (namely, paying down). And while Jonas Lossl ($4,000) is the cheapest home goalkeeper, and there may not be many people playing Arsenal attackers in cash games, Heaton comes in with at least 5.00 fantasy points in six consecutive starts, including at least 10.00 in two of his last three despite zero wins or clean sheets. The save upside isn't going to be that high against Brighton, who have forced the second-fewest in the Premier League, but there aren't expected to be many goals in this match, as it has the lowest implied goal total according to the oddsmakers.
Editor's note: a previous version of this article showed Aaron Cresswell's price as $4,200; it has since been corrected.
