DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday EPL Picks

MATCHES (EST)

• 1:00 pm: Crystal Palace vs. West Ham United
• 1:00 pm: Newcastle United vs. Leeds United
• 3:15 pm: Southampton vs. Arsenal
• 3:15 pm: West Bromwich Albion vs. Manchester City

For detailed stats and odds, check out the

DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday EPL Cheat Sheet

FORWARDS

Gabriel Jesus, MCI at WBA ($6,300): Manchester City will be without their best player, midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, but they are still comfortably the biggest favorite on the slate with the highest implied goal total, and their striker has the third-highest anytime goal scorer odds but the 16th-highest price among forwards. Admittedly, Jesus has been pretty poor this season, so it's not like his price is completely unjustified, but against a West Brom side that's allowed the most goals, most shots, most shots on goal and most chances created in the Premier League this season, does it even matter? Frankly, all of the Manchester City attackers are laughably under-priced given the matchup, with Raheem Sterling ($7,800), Riyad Mahrez ($7,600) and Ferran Torres ($6,700) also strong choices if they start. The lineup is the issue, as Man City are playing in the latter part of the slate, so just be sure you have some salary flexibility in case Jesus doesn't start (in actuality, you're likely to have multiple Man City pieces anyway). This applies to cash games and GPPs, though tournament players should obviously consider a Man City fade given their expected popularity.

Raphinha, LEE at NEW ($8,000): Leeds are favored away to Newcastle, who have allowed the second-most crosses, shots, shots on goal and chances created (all behind West Brom). Despite sitting 12th in the table, Leeds are a very fantasy-friendly team, having taken the fourth-most shots (trailing only Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United) while sending in the third-most crosses and creating the sixth-most chances. From a floor perspective, stacking Leeds is a viable strategy away from Manchester City if you think the slate could be low scoring overall, and Raphinha fits that build as their primary set-piece taker. He does not have a monopoly, losing some opportunities to midfielders like Jack Harrison ($7,700) and Kalvin Phillips ($4,400), but his open play contributions still make him a very viable option. Additionally, Patrick Bamford ($7,700) is always an target in tournaments, especially since he has the highest anytime goal scorer odds on the slate. Another possibility in the price range is Jarrod Bowen ($8,400), who shares set pieces for a West Ham side that's a slight favorite away to Crystal Palace, who have allowed the third-most crosses among teams on the slate (sixth in the Premier League). Then again, Michail Antonio ($8,200) shouldn't be ignored since he has higher upside (+180 anytime goal scorer odds versus +320 for Bowen) and no reliance on set pieces for a similar floor.

Eberechi Eze, CRY v. WHU ($6,200): The other side of Bowen's game is where we can get some value floors, with Eze and Andros Townsend ($6,600) both solid options because of their shared role on set pieces. Neither have been good recently, but matches away to Arsenal and Manchester City contributed to that, with a home game against West Ham a much easier situation. Eze is a more aggressive attacker, which leads to more fouls drawn (he's averaging 2.92 per 90 this season), while Townsend's floor is helped by tackles won. Either one can work (I wouldn't play both), with Eze possibly getting more attention because he's slightly cheaper.

MIDFIELDERS

Phil Foden, MCI at WBA ($8,800): The absence of De Bruyne will surely affect the Man City attack, but again, they are still big favorite with a high implied team total. His absence opens up plenty of set pieces, and those most recently went to Foden, who took eight corners in City's Premier League win over Aston Villa last week, helping him to 20.7 fantasy points without a goal (he also had five shots, including one on goal, and six chances created to go with his nine crosses). Foden's floor is solid anyway, but he'd easily be the most popular player on the slate if we knew he would be taking set pieces against West Brom. There is some uncertainty because guys like Mahrez and Bernardo Silva ($6,100 midfielder/forward) have taken some dead balls at times, including recently, but Foden also has higher goal-scoring odds than all but two expected starters (Bamford and Sterling).

James Ward-Prowse, SOU v. ARS ($6,500): Ward-Prowse has scored the second-most floor points this season among active players on the slate, as he seems to be one of those guys who just always gets there. The matchup against Arsenal isn't ideal, but it's also not one that has to be avoided, especially given that Southampton are at home and Ward-Prowse is the sixth most-expensive midfield-only eligible player (there are 18 total players who cost more). A monopoly of set pieces for Southampton is what keeps his floor so consistent and likely to make him popular in cash games. I guess I shouldn't ignore the other side of this match, and specifically Bukayo Saka ($9,400, midfielder/forward), who has been one of the best floor players in the Premier League since becoming a full-timer starter, with his role on set pieces playing a big part. It's possible that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ($7,900, midfielder/forward) doesn't play, which could allow Willian ($6,800, midfielder/forward) or Nicolas Pepe ($6,000, midfielder/forward) to start, and that could take opportunities away from Saka. He makes for a solid play in a vacuum, but as potentially the most expensive starter on the slate, Saka probably doesn't fit the optimal build given how cheap the Manchester City attackers are in a game they should do well in. And speaking of Manchester City, Ilkay Gundogan ($7,100) has been in tremendous form recently and would likely be popular if Foden and Mahrez don't start with the expectation he takes set pieces even though he hasn't taken many this season.

Ryan Fraser, NEW v. LEE ($5,300): The Newcastle lineup is far from locked in, but at least we'll know the starters before lock, which will help us know if we'll get their best floor player in Fraser, who never hesitates to cross or shoot. His salary is solid even though Newcastle are home underdogs, and he could be a solid pay-down option for those who like guys not completely dependent on set pieces like Jonjo Shelvey ($5,000). That's not to say Fraser won't get dead-ball opportunities, but he at least has enough of a floor without them. West Ham's Said Benrahma ($5,700, midfielder/forward) has also been a popular play lately, though a lot of that came from being forward eligible and there are plenty of forwards to play on this slate. Otherwise, paying down for Arsenal's Thomas Partey ($3,200) wouldn't be the worst play, though the opportunity cost is high, especially with cheap defenders available.

DEFENDERS

Aaron Cresswell, WHU at CRY ($6,500): Before we jump into the cheap guys, there are plenty of defenders who are worth their high prices, highlighted by Cresswell, who has a decent role on set pieces for West Ham. His floor is solid from those crosses, though you may be better off targeting Vladimir Coufal ($5,800) on the other side because he's shown a solid floor of late without the need for free kicks. Additionally, the Leeds' fullbacks are always considerations, especially in a plus matchup for crossers, and you can't be faulted for thinking of someone like Oleksandr Zinchenko ($4,500) if he gets the start at left-back for Manchester City since they are such big favorites. Then again, Joao Cancelo ($5,300) is probably the best option given the expected game script.

Tyrick Mitchell, CRY v. WHU ($3,500): Mitchell continues to start ahead of Patrick van Aanholt ($4,100), who would be a decent cheaper option if he returns to the first XI. There's nothing overly special about Mitchell other than he's a cheap fullback, and the matchup isn't that difficult even if Palace are underdogs. Newcastle's Jamal Lewis ($3,800) is also in this range, and we'll know if they're starting because they both play in the early set of games. Then again, you could also look at the Manchester City center-backs, especially because they have the highest clean sheet odds on the slate, which puts John Stones ($3,900) and Ruben Dias ($3,600) on the radar.

Jake Vokins, SOU v. ARS ($2,800): Southampton will be without both of their regular starting fullbacks, which could leave Vokins and Yan Valery ($2,700) in the first XI. Vokins has yet to play a Premier League minute this season and only played 90 last season (he scored 6.6 fantasy points in a 1-1 draw against Brighton), while Valery has gotten 11 minutes this season but made 10 starts last season, finishing with a total of three shots, 11 crosses and a yellow card. The unknown of Vokins makes him a little more attractive, though if you really need the extra $100 then it's probably not that big of a deal. Either way, they will almost certainly be the cheapest fullbacks on the slate, which will make them interesting options in cash games and GPPs.

GOALKEEPER

Sam Johnstone, WBA v. MCI ($3,600): Johnstone leads the Premier League in saves and is now facing a Manchester City side that's forced the third-most saves. Yes, he has the highest likelihood of getting lit up, but the salary savings surely helps alleviate that concern. Otherwise, Vicente Guaita ($4,400) and Karl Darlow ($4,200) are the cheapest home goalkeepers not facing the biggest favorite with the highest implied goal total.