This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (ET)
- 12:00 pm: Netherlands vs. Czech Republic
- 3:00 pm: Belgium vs. Portugal
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS
Memphis Depay, NED v. CZE ($11,200): You don't need Depay in your team, but he may prevent you from cashing if he's in more than 50 percent of lineups, which seems likely. Netherlands are the biggest favorite on the slate and are projected to score a half goal more than Belgium, according to the odds. Depay takes all set pieces and has the best odds to hit the back of the net. If you don't want to mess around, you could add him first and then build the rest of your squad. He was great in the group stage, grabbing two goals and an assist from 11 shots, five chances created and 12 corners. Czech Republic are in the same mold as Wales in that they don't care to hold much possession and would rather make things ugly. They've had some success at keeping games low scoring, but they give up a lot of chances. In three group matches, they conceded 16 corners, which should help Depay's floor. If they succeed at keeping this low scoring and this match goes to extra time, Depay isn't going to be subbed off early. He'll either be involved in a Netherlands goal or he'll play 120 minutes and take 10 corners. Romelu Lukaku ($9,400) and Cristiano Ronaldo ($10,500) are always options because of
MATCHES (ET)
- 12:00 pm: Netherlands vs. Czech Republic
- 3:00 pm: Belgium vs. Portugal
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS
Memphis Depay, NED v. CZE ($11,200): You don't need Depay in your team, but he may prevent you from cashing if he's in more than 50 percent of lineups, which seems likely. Netherlands are the biggest favorite on the slate and are projected to score a half goal more than Belgium, according to the odds. Depay takes all set pieces and has the best odds to hit the back of the net. If you don't want to mess around, you could add him first and then build the rest of your squad. He was great in the group stage, grabbing two goals and an assist from 11 shots, five chances created and 12 corners. Czech Republic are in the same mold as Wales in that they don't care to hold much possession and would rather make things ugly. They've had some success at keeping games low scoring, but they give up a lot of chances. In three group matches, they conceded 16 corners, which should help Depay's floor. If they succeed at keeping this low scoring and this match goes to extra time, Depay isn't going to be subbed off early. He'll either be involved in a Netherlands goal or he'll play 120 minutes and take 10 corners. Romelu Lukaku ($9,400) and Cristiano Ronaldo ($10,500) are always options because of their ability to score, but Depay makes more sense in cash games.
Bernardo Silva, POR v. BEL ($5,300): There aren't a ton of ways to go for a cheap forward, which will make it hard to roster both Depay and Kevin De Bruyne. There's a chance Leandro Trossard ($5,900) starts on the wing, but that's not something to bet on in the late match. Wout Weghorst ($8,100) is a decent GPP option since that's the last place a lot of people will look for Netherlands, similar to Kasper Dolberg on Saturday. Diogo Jota ($7,400) and Patrik Schick ($7,300) are also possibilities, but neither have much of a floor. That leads me to Silva, who also doesn't have much of a floor nor is he likely to go a full 90. However, he's the cheapest expected starting forward on the slate and he at least has a chance to make the score-sheet in the Portugal attack, accruing three chances created in the draw against France. Your choice is to either spend a couple more thousand on a forward with no floor or save money on Silva with no floor. I'll save money.
MIDFIELDERS
Kevin De Bruyne, BEL v. POR ($10,000): Similar to the last slate with these teams, you may have to decide between Depay and De Bruyne or settle on both. The rest of your roster will be hampered if using both, but unlike that last slate, there are only two matches on this one, meaning it's less likely a cheaper player breaks the slate. De Bruyne, similar to Lukaku, will probably be less popular than he should be because it's a tough matchup. Still, Portugal's back line struggled in the group stage and a lot of people will look at their results against Germany and France, and stack the Belgians. Either way, it's always hard to fade De Bruyne. He'll take all set pieces for Belgium and even without a goal, he still hit 20 fantasy points in 89 minutes against Finland. He'll get opportunities from set pieces or open play no matter how the match goes. Unlike Depay, who you're also betting on the matchup with, De Bruyne seems to hit his numbers no matter the opponent. If you don't spend on De Bruyne, you'll be able to save money because no other midfielder is near him in terms of price.
Georginio Wijnaldum, NED v. CZE ($7,600): After the last match, it wouldn't be surprising if stacking Depay and Wijnaldum was a popular strategy. Wijnaldum doesn't have a high floor, sitting around five to seven points in the group stage, but he's constantly in the right place at the right time, hence his three goals from four shots on target. In three matches, he has 10 shots and two chances created, so the numbers aren't overwhelming. Still, he plays in an attacking position and will not be subbed out, which means something in the knockout stages. The other choice in this range would be to look at players from a team with a lower implied goal total. If you don't like the Netherlands stack, there are plenty of other options: Bruno Fernandes ($8,300) will always draw looks at a discount, but Joao Moutinho ($4,500) has a chance to start again and may be worth putting in the squad if you want some risk because you don't know if he'll be starting until late. Unfortunately, that's kind of it since it's not like Yannick Carrasco ($7,200) and Dries Mertens ($7,000) are guaranteed to start or produce, either.
Jakub Jankto, CZE v. NED ($4,600): Jankto will be a popular player to spend down on, mainly because he's taken the most set pieces for Czech Republic. The other part is that the other set-piece taker, Vladimir Darida ($4,800), is doubtful with an injury. If Darida doesn't start, Jankto could be on all set pieces, and while there may only be two or three, you're not paying much for it. The main worry for Jankto is that he hasn't played more than 74 minutes in any game this tournament. Even if that remains the case, he's hit his numbers through set pieces and crosses from open play. If he hits six or seven points again, that would be fine for the price. I'd keep an eye on lineups because there's a chance Ryan Gravenberch ($4,100) starts in the Netherlands midfield again after going a full 90 in the final group match.
DEFENDERS
Thomas Meunier, GER v. POR ($5,200): I don't think you need to spend on any defender, and you may not be able to due to the high-end forwards. Denzel Dumfries ($5,800) could be overused, but a lot of his fantasy value has come from two goals. He has a shot on goal in all three matches and is a great tournament play, but without crosses, his floor may not hit five points. I'm not huge on Meunier, either, but he's a favored wing-back and doesn't cost an overwhelming amount. He had a floor of nine points against Denmark and presents the same kind of upside as Dumfries, supplying three shots and two chances created in his two main matches. I'd consider Vladimir Coufal ($4,900) because Czech Republic will need him to do something if they want to take anything from the match. Otherwise, I can't get into the Portugal full-backs, especially since Raphael Guerreiro ($5,100) is almost the same price as Meunier.
Ales Mateju, CZE v. NED ($2,600): I don't know a ton about Mateju, but he's a minimally priced full-back who could start for the suspended Jan Boril. That's kind of all you need to know, even as the biggest underdog on the slate. Otherwise, the Netherlands center-backs are fairly expensive outside of Stefan de Vrij ($3,100), and even then you're hoping for a clean sheet and just over five points. I'd rather save $500 and take a chance on Mateju with the hope he can send in a few crosses.
GOALKEEPER
Tomas Vaclik, CZE v. NED ($3,800): Maarten Stekelenburg ($5,500) has the best odds to win and get a clean sheet, but Czech Republic's implied goal total is near 1.0, and he has five saves in three matches. I'd rather punt on Vaclik and hope he can turn a positive or use the goalkeeper for whichever team you're focusing on in the Belgium v. Portugal match. Vaclik has yet to finish in the negative in three matches, so that's at least one thing going for him.
