This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.
For detailed odds and stats, check out the Fantasy Premier League: Saturday Cheat Sheet.
MATCHES (EDT)
11:00 a.m: Newcastle v. Watford
11:00 a.m: West Ham v. Burnley
11:00 a.m: Cardiff City v. Leicester City
11:00 a.m: Everton v. Brighton
1:30 p.m: Arsenal v. Liverpool
3:45 p.m: Wolves v. Tottenham
FORWARDS
Alexandre Lacazette, ARS v. LIV ($10,000): I just can't throw my money at Harry Kane ($13,000), and I'm not sure Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ($11,500) should be priced much more than Lacazette even given recent performances. Lacazette has the same floor as those guys at around 10 fantasy points (though Kane has been lower), and he still has decent goal odds in what is expected to be the highest-scoring match on the slate. With Aubameyang, you're banking on a goal against a back line that has allowed just four in league play because he doesn't create chances, but Lacazette is still averaging 3.02 shots and 1.26 chances created per 90 minutes in addition to getting back more than the others for defensive stats.
Marko Arnautovic, WHU v. BRN ($11,000): Arnautovic had an illness last weekend but returned off the bench in a Carabao Cup on Wednesday and should be ready for this match. His floor has been around 15 fantasy points, with at least one shot on goal and chance created per match, and he faces one of the worst back lines on the slate. Burnley have given up nine goals in their last two games and 106 shots in the last five, the second most in the league. Arnautovic has been solid against better defenses and should hit 15 points at a minimum. You can't say the same for Roberto Firmino ($11,500), who has just 5.6 total fantasy points in his last two league starts, and while Jamie Vardy ($11,000) is also in a good spot, he doesn't have the same floor as a goal-dependent striker.
Glenn Murray, BHA at EVE ($9,000): Most of the value forwards are close to unusable in cash games because most of their floors are around five points. Bobby Reid ($7,500) might make the most sense, and even then you're banking on a Cardiff forward. Murray is at least scoring goals, already at six, half of what he had all of last season. The glaring problem with Murray is that he's scored six goals from his seven shots on target and that rate will be impossible to continue. I still think he's worth a chance, as he's scored in his last five starts, not including when he got a concussion or in matches against Tottenham and Liverpool. Everton have been inconsistent all season and almost half of their shots allowed (44) have come on target (20) in the last five matches.
MIDFIELDERS
Gylfi Sigurdsson, EVE v. BHA ($10,000): Sigurdsson might be my favorite play on the slate with one of the higher floors and a couple thousand bucks cheaper than Kane and Mohamed Salah ($12,000). Sure, those guys have the names, but they also have more difficult matchups. Brighton aren't allowing goals, but they have given up the most shots (113) and chances created (85) in the last five games. As for Sigurdsson, he's not only creating multiple chances per match, but he also has 17 shots in the his four.
Christian Eriksen, TOT at WOL ($9,000): A lot of people will go with Salah and/or Sadio Mane ($10,500) after recent performances, but neither are easy to trust at the Emirates. Eriksen's price dipped after a month away, and after starting in the midweek Cup match, he should be close to his usual self. His overall numbers are slightly down through his first six starts, but nothing much has changed since last campaign when he averaged 1.12 shots on goal and 2.62 chances created per 90 minutes. His floor is 10 around fantasy points and his return to the lineup should help Spurs return to form after struggling to score in his absence. James Maddison ($9,000) may be more popular because he's averaging more points per match, but Eriksen rarely flops while Maddison has done so a couple times this season in decent matchups. Richarlison ($8,000) is also sitting there if you want to go heavy on the Toffees.
Callum Paterson, CAR v. LEI ($6,000): Paterson has scored in back-to-back matches, but his price remains the same. Sure, he doesn't have much of a floor with just two chances created and two shots on goal in those two matches, but you're not paying for a floor at this price. Leicester have also struggled lately with just one point in their last three matches. Teammate Josh Murphy ($6,000) is in the same boat, but he's playing on the left wing and hasn't gone a full 90 in the last two matches. If you want less upside, Beram Kayal ($6,000) has been surprisingly useful for Brighton as a defensive midfielder.
DEFENDERS
Shkodran Mustafi, ARS v. LIV ($6,500): If you have the money, Mustafi is almost guaranteed for close to 20 fantasy points. His floor is around 15, but against Liverpool, it's likely he'll be extremely busy, as the Reds have forced the third-most clearances (145) in the last five gameweeks. He has the same floor as other expensive options like Shane Duffy ($7,500) and Harry Maguire ($7,000), so there's no reason to burn cash on them.
Sol Bamba, CAR v. LEIC ($5,000): I'll stop writing about Bamba when his price goes up, but until then it's too hard to pass on a $5,000 defender who has had at least 22 fantasy points in five of his last eight starts. He's shown upside with a goal and assist, and more importantly has a floor around 15 points from clearances. Leicester aren't a great attacking team, but Bamba still managed five clearances and seven interceptions against Fulham a couple weeks ago. Jamaal Lascelles and Craig Cathcart may be the only other two who have the same floor for the same price.
Kiko Femenia, WAT at NEW ($4,500): If you've been reading my previews, Kiko was in this spot the past two weeks and surpassed 20 fantasy points in both matches. Until that changes, he'll be in my lineups, as he had seven clearances, seven tackles and four interceptions in the last two.
GOALKEEPER
Jordan Pickford, EVE v. BHA ($5,000): This isn't a good week to spend up at goalkeeper unless you have good intel that Hugo Lloris ($6,500) is going to make 10 saves, win and get a clean sheet. Pickford is the biggest favorite on the slate and has made multiple saves in seven of 10 matches this season. Brighton are on a winning streak, but that has to do with the schedule, and they still have just three away goals. Ben Foster ($5,000) is in the conversation, but as a slight underdog he doesn't make as much sense.
