This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (ET)
- 12:00 pm: Czech Republic vs. Denmark
- 3:00 pm: Ukraine vs. England
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS
Raheem Sterling, ENG v. UKR ($9,300): Imagine fading Harry Kane ($9,700). Yeah, that's probably what I'll do again. He scored last match, but it was his only shot and it came in the 86th minute. He hasn't been as big of a focal point of the English attack as many expected, and while he has the best odds to score, he's not a cash play. That's where Sterling enters the picture despite also having a low floor. He's at least been better than Kane, producing five shots on target and a couple chances created in four matches. It's not much, but England have the highest implied goal total by a wide margin, so it makes sense to get a piece of their attack. Unless something crazy happens, Kane and Sterling will probably be England's only starters listed as forwards, meaning if you don't want them, there are other places to go. Both Phil Foden ($7,500) and Bukayo Saka ($6,200) are only midfield eligible despite playing in advanced positions.
Martin Braithwaite, DEN v, CZE ($8,600): If you fade England, know there isn't much else out there. Andriy Yarmolenko ($6,900) and Roman Yaremchuk ($5,800) have had their moments in this tournament, but England have yet to allow a goal, so I'm not touching Ukraine in cash games. Instead, I'll turn to Braithwaite, who had a late goal against Wales to save some value in a 4-0 win. Since he's more expensive than Kasper Dolberg ($8,000) and Patrik Schick ($7,600), he may not be as popular. Still, he could have the best floor of any forward on the slate, even as the most expensive non-English player. In four matches he's produced 13 shots, 11 crosses and nine fouls drawn, and his lowest floor was 5.7 points. As seen last game, Dolberg is the GPP play, and while Yussuf Poulsen could be back in the squad, I'm not positive they'll push him if not needed.
MIDFIELDERS
Mason Mount, ENG v. UKR ($8,400): I think Mount returns to the lineup Saturday, making him an almost must in cash games. Since there's a chance he doesn't start and England use the same attacking group as last game, you could move to Bukayo Saka ($6,200) if it comes to it, but hopefully it doesn't. Mount never tested positive for COVID-19, and he's been training with the team for a few days, so it only makes sense that he starts again, as he was one of the team's better players while having an almost exclusive role on set pieces in the first two matches. He had a floor of 18 points against Scotland and could be near that number again if he starts, so you probably don't want to miss out on that. Then again, he didn't play last match and is a definite risk since there aren't many other options near his price.
Antonin Barak, CZE v. DEN ($3,800): The unpredictability of Czech Republic's lineup doesn't help writing about it, but at least they're in the early match. You'll know if Barak and Petr Sevcik ($4,000) start again, or if Vladimir Darida ($5,000) and Jakub Jankto ($4,600) return to the XI. But if Barak starts, it'll be hard not to use him in cash games (and GPPs) after taking all Czech set pieces last match (six in total). That's the only information needed. You can get a $3,800 majority set-piece taker for a team that has an implied-goal total sitting around one. Tomas Holes ($5,200) may draw the second-most attention for the Czechs, but he's not going to score and assist again. I'd rather take a winger in Sevcik, who created a couple chances and had a couple crosses against Netherlands. It's probably not the best idea to use two underdog midfielders, but it's viable in case you're spending up at other positions.
Mikkel Damsgaard, DEN v. CZE ($5,900): I'm hoping that Damsgaard was subbed out in the 60th minute last match to get him some added rest for this game. He hasn't gone more than 72 minutes in any of his three appearances, which is troubling, but it's hard to deny what he's done in the attack, scoring the opener against Russia and then assisting the opener against Wales. In three matches, he has five shots, five chances created and four fouls drawn. If you're worried about playing time, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg ($5,100) is intriguing even if he didn't repeat his attacking numbers against Wales. There's a chance that puts people off his scent after creating nine chances the first three matches. Damsgaard has more upside, but Hojbjerg could have a higher floor with a full 90 more likely.
DEFENDERS
Daniel Wass, DEN v. CZE ($5,100): It's the first match, so we'll know if Wass returns to the starting XI or not following a minor illness. Jens Stryger Larsen ($5,000) was fine in his spot, but Wass is the preferred option and will take sets. There's still a question with playing time, as he's been subbed early in all three starts, but at $5,100, you could reasonably get a 10-point floor in 70 minutes; at least that's what I'm hoping for. I definitely don't want to spend $6,600 on Luke Shaw since it looks like his set-piece duty is about gone, while there's no guarantee Kieran Trippier ($6,100) starts again. If you bank on Trippier without any extra money, you could be stuck with Oleksandr Zinchenko ($5,700) or… Kyle Walker ($4,400). Zinchenko is a worthy GPP play and could be used in cash games as long as he plays at left-back again. However, I'm still not positive I want to pay that price in this matchup. Joakim Maehle ($6,300) has been great, but I can't spend $1,200 more on him if Wass is starting.
Illia Zabarnyi, CZE v. DEN ($2,500): There are a couple cheap full-backs, assuming they start. Jan Boril ($3,600) should be back in the XI for Pavel Kaderabek ($4,600) and Vitalii Mykolenko ($3,400) is also an option in the later match. Otherwise, you're looking at center-backs and not all of them can be like Leonardo Bonucci, who almost scored Friday. I was going to write up Boril and then saw he liked committing fouls more than sending in crosses. I'd rather spend minimum price on a center-back, who hasn't been all that bad. Zabarnyi has four tackles won and 10 interceptions in four matches, and, more importantly, had at least 3.7 fantasy points in all despite zero clean sheets. If you can guarantee four points at this price, that's not the worst thing.
GOALKEEPER
Jordan Pickford, ENG v. UKR ($5,800): If you have the money, Pickford should be slotted into your lineup, as he's yet to allow a goal in the tournament. Because of price, he won't be overly popular, and even if you only get 10 or 12 points from him, that could be more than whatever Shaw provides for a few more hundred. If you don't have the money, Georgiy Bushchan ($3,800) may be who I go to next because he's made 13 saves in four matches and, maybe more importantly, England aren't blowing teams out. They've scored four goals and seem content to play things cool after scoring once. The save opportunities will be there, and if he can make three or four, he could still finish in the positive if England only get a couple goals.
