This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.
For detailed odds and stats, check out the Fantasy Premier League: Boxing Day Cheat Sheet.
MATCHES (EST)
10:00 a.m: Watford v. Leicester City
10:00 a.m: West Brom v. Everton
10:00 a.m: Chelsea v. Brighton
10:00 a.m: Bournemouth v. West Ham
10:00 a.m: Manchester United v. Burnley
10:00 a.m: Huddersfield v. Stoke City
12:30 p.m: Liverpool v. Swansea City
FORWARDS
Alvaro Morata, CHE v. BHA ($11,500): Morata, Romelu Lukaku ($11,500) and Roberto Firmino ($10,500) are the highest-priced forwards on the slate, and they understandably come in with solid anytime goal scorer odds. Morata is the freshest of the bunch, as his last Premier League appearance came on Dec. 16 when he played 17 minutes off the bench, and he then went another 17 against Bournemouth in the League Cup this week. He picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in that match, which suspended him for Saturday's game against Everton when Chelsea failed to score. Meanwhile, Lukaku has played every possible minute in Premier League play this season (one of 10 players to do so) while Firmino has three very capable teammates who can allow Liverpool to crush an opponent without Firmino doing much. Morata is averaging the most shots and shots on goal per 90 minutes this season among the group while also having the best anytime goal scoring odds on the slate, which moves him ahead for me.
Marko Arnautovic, WHU at BOU ($8,000): After struggling to make much of an impact under Slaven Bilic, Arnautovic has become West Ham's best attacker with David Moyes in charge. He's scored three goals on 16 shots (five on goal) in his last four games while also helping on the defensive end by registering 10 clearances over that span. Meanwhile, Bournemouth come in having allowed 14 goals in their last five games, including eight in their last two, though it's worth noting those came against Liverpool and Manchester City, of which West Ham are not. Nevertheless, Arnautovic has a fine opportunity to keep his scoring run going, and his relatively low salary allows for spending up at other positions.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, MUN v. BUR ($7,500): As mentioned above, Lukaku has played every minute this season, so either it's time for a rest and Ibrahimovic will start or Lukaku will just keep getting run out there. If Lukaku's Christmas wish of getting a rest comes true, we could get a great value on Ibrahimovic, who scored his first goal of the season in United's Carabao Cup loss to Bristol City earlier this week. Ibrahimovic figures to be heavily owned because of his affordable salary and fact that United are dominant favorites, but it's tough to get his upside in this price range.
MIDFIELDERS
Philippe Coutinho, LIV v. SWA ($11,500): It's has been very difficult choosing between Coutinho and Mohamed Salah ($11,000), and if you're able to save at other positions I don't think it's out of the question to play both Tuesday at home against Swansea City. No one on Tuesday's slate has put more shots on goal over the past six games than Salah, who has five goals on 22 shots and an assist on 12 chances created over that span. Meanwhile, Coutinho has three goals on 18 shots and three assists on 13 chances created. It also helps that Swansea have allowed the most shots on goal in the league this season and have given up eight goals in their last three games.
Riyad Mahrez, LEI at WAT ($8,500): Mahrez has been in excellent form, scoring three goals on 14 shots (nine on goal) and assisting one on 16 chances created in his last six games. In fact, no player on the slate has more combined shots on goal and chances created than Mahrez over that span, which encourages his consideration against a Watford side that's allowed the third-most goals this season among teams on the slate, including seven in their last three games.
Tom Ince, HUD v. STK ($6,500): Full disclosure: there is a possibility that I recommend Ince every slate until he scores a goal, something that has eluded him despite taking the 12th-most shots in the league this season. What's encouraging for Tuesday is that Stoke City have allowed the second-most shots on goal this term, including the third-most over the past six gameweeks. Additionally, it's not like Ince is just firing terrible shots each game, as 22 of his 43 have come from inside the box; for reference Granit Xhaka scored his first goal of the season this past weekend, removing himself from the "most shots without a goal" conversation, but he's now taken 35 of 39 shots from outside the box.
DEFENDERS
Aaron Cresswell, WHU at BOU ($6,000): Despite lining up as a center-back recently, Cresswell has shown that he can produce on both ends of the pitch. He scored 20.75 fantasy points against Stoke City on Dec. 16 on the back of 11 clearances, and he then had 18.25 on Saturday against Newcastle by creating five chances. His role on corners provides a little more attacking upside, particularly with chances created, but if the Cherries come out attacking, Cresswell will be along the back line clearing the ball out.
Kevin Long, BUR at MUN ($5,000): Long put up a decent 15.5 points against Spurs on Saturday thanks to a game-high 12 clearances, and he should have plenty of opportunities for more at home against Manchester United. Teammate Ben Mee is the more reliable option, but he also costs $2,000 more, so it seems best to focus on Long as he continues to start for the suspended James Tarkowski ($6,500).
Cuco Martina, EVE at WBA ($6,500): Despite seemingly playing a more attacking role as Everton's starting left-back, Martina is third in tackles and fourth in clearances over the past four gameweeks. He doesn't come in terribly cheap, but he's scored at least 19.00 fantasy points in six consecutive starts, all without a goal or an assist.
GOALKEEPERS
David de Gea, MUN v. BUR ($5,500): The matchup against Burnley doesn't feel like it'll give de Gea a ton of save opportunities, but it's worth noting that Manchester United have allowed more shots on goal over the past four gameweeks than all but three teams (that stretch doesn't include the Arsenal game when de Gea made 14 saves, though it does include his five-save effort in the Manchester derby). With a few saves and a clean sheet -- United have the best clean sheet odds -- de Gea could surely put up a good enough score for this price.
