This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
Welcome to Matchday 16 of the 2015-2016 Premier League season. This article is to guide you to an optimal squad for your $50,000 DraftKings salary.| Time (EST) | Home (win odds) | (draw odds) | Away (win odds) |
| 7:45:00 AM | Norwich City (19/10) | 9/4 | Everton (6/4) |
| 10:00:00 AM | Crystal Palace (6/4) | 9/4 | Southampton (19/10) |
| 10:00:00 AM | Manchester City (3/10) | 9/2 | Swansea City (9/1) |
| 10:00:00 AM | Sunderland (7/4) | 9/4 | Watford (13/8) |
| 10:00:00 AM | West Ham (6/4) | 9/4 | Stoke City (19/10) |
| 12:30:00 PM | Bournemouth (12/5) | 23/10 | Manchester United (6/5) |
Odds from PaddyPower.com as of 12:00am EST, Dec. 10
As always, Step 1 in building a good lineup: make sure your players are starting. There is a bit of guesswork in projecting lineups until they are actually announced, and all recommendations and projections are subject to change based on this. All said, be sure to check the lineups page approximately one hour before kickoff.
Goalkeepers:
Joe Hart, MCI v. SWA ($4,300): Obligatory chalk play mention. Manchester City is still greatly hampered by injury and has had bouts of very poor home form, allowing 10 goals in their last six home matches and a shock loss away at Stoke last weekend. Fortunately for City, they host a dire Swansea side who's taken just one point in their last five matches and just sacked their manager.
Jack Butland, STK at WHU ($3,000): Butland has had an excellent season and is making a strong case for the top goalkeeper in the Premier League and, surely to the surprise of many, the top choice keeper for England internationally. He is coming off an excellent performance, shutting out Manchester City as his Stoke side pulled off a huge home victory. They now travel to West London to face a West Ham side that is winless in its last five matches and faces serious injury concerns to offensive leaders Dimitri Payet (ankle), Diafra Sakho (thigh), Victor Moses (knee) and Manuel Lanzini (thigh).
Other goalkeepers to consider:Heurelho Gomes, WAT at SUN ($3,300); Tim Howard, EVE at NOR ($3,700)
Defenders:
Erik Pieters, STK at WHU ($3,900): Butland is receiving much-deserved accolades for his ability between the sticks this season but his fullback deserves some serious notoriety as well. Pieters can attack when asked, but he also showcases keen ability to pick up statistics in defensive categories. He was essential in Stoke's win over Manchester City, finishing with nine interceptions and four tackles.
Patrick van Aanholt, SUN v. WAT ($2,900): With Sunderland putting forth their five-man back line, van Aanholt becomes a wing back and a very important part of the offense. Watford is one of the teams more prone to conceding peripheral stats, a trend that should continue Saturday.
Cedric Soares SOU at CRY ($3,800): Soares has shown his prominence in the cross game throughout the season, and he had eight last week in tandem with six tackles won. He's a good safe play week-in and week-out.
Other defenders to consider:Adam Smith, BOU v. MUN ($2,600); Seamus Coleman, EVE at NOR ($4,400); Nicolas Otamendi, MCI v. SWA ($3,100); Glen Johnson, STK at WHU ($3,600); Ryan Bertrand, SOU at CRY ($3,200); Aleksander Kolarov, MCI v. SWA ($5,600); Guillermo Varela, MUN at BOU ($2,100)
Midfielders:
Kevin De Bruyne, MCI v. SWA ($7,800): The return of David Silva lessens De Bruyne's role and amount of time on the ball, but the shift to a wider role and being subbed off early in the midweek UCL match should result in a strong floor while refreshing his high ceiling as his side is the strongest favorites on the day.
Jesse Lingard, MUN at BOU ($3,400): Manchester United flamed out of the Champions League at mid-week and desperately need a positive result against the injury-plagued, relegation-threatened Bournemouth. Lingard has proven an important component of the Manchester United offense, as dull as that offense has been. His price is hard to pass up.
Xherdan Shaqiri, STK at WHU ($4,600): Shaqiri assisted on both goals during Stoke's big win over Man City last week, and he'll continue to play a crucial set-up role in the attack.
Other midfielders to consider:Dusan Tadic, SOU at CRY ($7,700); Yann M'Vila, SUN v. WAT ($3,500); Juan Mata, MUN at BOU ($6,700); Yohan Cabaye, CRY v. SOU ($6,000); Yannick Bolasie, CRY v. SOU ($5,500); Sadio Mane, SOU at CRY ($7,300); Gareth Barry, EVE at NOR ($2,800); David Silva, MCI v. SWA ($5,800); Jason Puncheon, CRY v. SOU ($4,800); Ross Barkley, EVE at NOR ($6,900); Wilfried Zaha, CRY v. SOU ($4,300); Robbie Brady, NOR v. EVE ($6,000); Ben Watson, WAT at SUN ($3,500)
Forwards:
Duncan Watmore, SUN v. WAT ($3,200): The 21-year-old Watmore is a little known entity, but not much longer. Across all competitions he's averaging 0.75 goals per 90 minutes, an impressive stat in its own right. He has the ability to make captivating runs, weaving through the opposing defenses. His wider role promotes accumulation of peripheral stats, giving him a very good floor for his price, an especially enticing feature from a forward.
Wilfried Bony, MCI v. SWA ($5,200): He is the starting striker on the heaviest favorite and had a spectacular one-goal, two-assist performance in just 25 minutes at mid-week in the Champions League, confirming their move on to the group stage.
Other forwards to consider:Gerard Deulofeu, EVE at NOR ($4,900); Marko Arnautovic, STK at WHU ($4,300); Mauro Zarate, WHU v. STK ($4,100); Raheem Sterling, MCI v. SWA ($6,600); Odion Ighalo, WAT at SUN ($6,200); Graziano Pelle, SOU at CRY ($6,700); Romelu Lukaku, EVE at NOR ($7,800); Anthony Martial, MUN at BOU ($6,100); Troy Deeney, WAT at SUN ($5,300); Jermain Defoe, SUN v. WAT ($4,300); Steven Fletcher, SUN v. WAT ($3,800); Mame Diouf, STK at WHU ($3,700)
