This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
For detailed odds and stats, check out the Fantasy Premier League: Wednesday Cheat Sheet.
MATCHES (EST)
2:45 p.m: Swansea City v. Manchester City
2:45 p.m: Newcastle v. Everton
2:45 p.m: Southampton v. Leicester City
3:00 p.m: Manchester United v. Bournemouth
3:00 p.m: Tottenham v. Brighton
3:00 p.m: Liverpool v. West Brom
3:00 p.m: West Ham v. Arsenal
FORWARDS
Philippe Coutinho, LIV v. WBA ($10,600): Coutinho played just 12 minutes off the bench this past weekend, so he looks set to start for a Liverpool side that is the biggest favorite on the slate. He's taken a majority of set pieces recently, and given the goal dependency of a lot of other higher-priced players, he's likely to be the highest owned in cash. That doesn't make him a bad GPP play, as he scored 35 and 44 fantasy points in his last two starts, respectively, because of four goals and two assists.
Marcus Rashford, MUN v. BOU ($8,100): Manchester United are heavily favored at home against Bournemouth, and Rashford has been taking most set pieces when he's on the pitch, giving him a decent floor for cash games. Unfortunately, there's no guarantee he starts, as the congested schedule could allow him to be rested. Romelu Lukaku ($8,400) is cheaper than we usually see, though he could also be rested for Zlatan Ibrahimovic ($8,200). Both make decent GPP plays since they're likely to be lower owned due to the plethora of forwards on the slate.
Son Heung-Min, TOT v. BHA ($8,700): Paying up for Harry Kane ($11,200) shouldn't be ignored for GPPs, as the other high-priced options could push his ownership down even though he has the best anytime goal scorer odds on the slate. Meanwhile, Son is in a great run of form, scoring a goal in three consecutive matches while also assisting one on six chances created against Stoke this past weekend. The upside isn't as high with Son, but it's a pretty significant cost savings while still getting access to an elite attack against an overmatched opponent.
MIDFIELDERS
Matt Ritchie, NEW v. EVE ($7,300):Christian Eriksen ($9,600) is the most expensive midfield-only player, and I can't fault someone for taking him despite the relatively poor floor returns of late. Tottenham are huge favorites and he could be on all set pieces. Unfortunately, he's not guaranteed to be on all of them; in fact, he's not even guaranteed to start because of possible rotation. Ritchie, on the other hand, is the dominant set piece taker for Newcastle, even if Jonjo Shelvey ($4,200) poaches a few when he's on the pitch. Newcastle haven't been great recently, but as home favorites and Ritchie's role for the team, he makes for a solid play given that the set piece takers for the other favorites are significantly more expensive.
Jesse Lingard, MUN v. BOU ($6,300): Lingard was basically silent in his 76 minutes against Manchester City this past weekend, but he was excellent in his previous two starts, scoring three goals on six shots (five on target) while assisting another on seven chances created. Lingard even has a path to set pieces if the lineup shakes out in his favor, giving him legitimate cash consideration. Nevertheless, it's really about getting somewhat cheaper exposure to a United attack that's expected to score multiple goals.
James Ward-Prowse, SOU v. LEI ($5,600): I hate writing about Southampton because they have a ton of similar players who have similar roles and we won't know who is valuable until lineups come out. Ward-Prowse has been taking more corners than anyone else on the team recently, and while he has a decent floor for cash games, his ceiling is seen way too rarely for serious GPP consideration. My podcast co-host Jordan Cooper said on our Wednesday preview podcast that it's the perfect GPP time for Dusan Tadic ($5,900), which I can understand but can't do because I made a promise to myself earlier this season that I would never roster Tadic ever again and I'm a man of my word. This is a personal thing though; I got Tadic wrong almost every time I played him, and since he fails to pay off more than he succeeds, I can accept missing out when he's good. But please, be my guest dropping him into a GPP lineup.
DEFENDERS
Danny Rose, TOT v. BHA ($6,200): There are a ton of elite fullbacks on this slate, and choosing between the ones from Spurs, Manchester United and Liverpool will be tough. I side with the Tottenham ones because Spurs tend to use them more in the attack, but it's tough to go wrong with any of them. There is a path to Rose taking corners, and while Serge Aurier ($5,700) is a little cheaper, Rose sent in 35 crosses in his four starts this season and Aurier has just 16 in his last four.
Hector Bellerin, ARS at WHU ($3,800): Bellerin was a much more fantasy-friendly option last season, as somehow his advancement from fullback to wingback actually reduced his crossing. Nevertheless, he's still getting involved in the attack, scoring one goal on five shots and assisting two on seven chances created in his last three games. Arsenal are away, but the West Ham attack hasn't been good (and David Moyes isn't known for his beautiful attacking football), so the three-point clean sheet bonus is in play. You won't find many playable fullbacks under $4,000, and this feels like a slate where you should probably pay down at defender.
Juan Foyth, TOT v. BHA ($2,500): I will fully admit that I'm copping out here as Foyth is highly unlikely to start, even with Spurs shorthanded at centerback thanks to Toby Alderweireld being ruled out until February because of a hamstring injury and Davinson Sanchez suspended. It's more a reminder to look for potential defender values when lineups come out because the rotation from many clubs could unearth some value plays. That being said, we're likely to find them at centerback and not the more attractive fullbacks, but if you can get four, five or six points out of a $2,500-$3,000, that's a win on Wednesday's slate given what you can do with the money. Foyth has the benefit of playing on an overwhelming favorite, but you could also target guys like Tosin Adarabioyo ($2,500 and also highly unlikely to start), Chris Smalling ($3,400) or Ragnar Klavan ($3,400).
GOALKEEPER
Adrian, WHU v. ARS ($4,000): I would be okay paying up for David de Gea ($5,800) because I'm always a proponent of that, but this doesn't feel like the slate where you'll have enough money to do so. Instead, it'll come down to picking the goalkeeper who is facing one of the big clubs that you're fading. Don't think Manchester City will crush Swansea City? Then go with Lukasz Fabianski ($3,600). Do you see Manchester United laying an egg against Bournemouth at Old Trafford? Then Asmir Begovic ($3,800) is your guy. Fabianski has the benefit of playing at home, though Manchester United made plenty of visiting goalkeepers pay off last season. I side with the West Ham keeper because he's coming off a really strong performance against Chelsea this past weekend, which was preceded by a six-save effort against Manchester City at the Etihad. With Arsenal likely to rotate, Adrian's day may not be as tough as some of the other underdog keepers.
