This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.
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MATCHES (EST)
10:00 a.m: Huddersfield v. Southampton
10:00 a.m: Bournemouth v. Brighton
10:00 a.m: West Ham v. Watford
10:00 a.m: Newcastle v. Fulham
10:00 a.m: Manchester City v. Crystal Palace
10:00 a.m: Chelsea v. Leicester
12:30 p.m: Cardiff City v. Manchester United
FORWARDS
Gabriel Jesus, MCI v. CRY ($13,000): There's plenty of risk involved with taking Jesus or Sergio Aguero ($13,000), but both have the best scoring odds for a reason. It's likely Jesus will get the start after Aguero got the call Tuesday, and while he may only play 70 minutes, that may be enough. Jesus' floor is unpredictable and has been only around 10 fantasy points at times, but he also could score a brace and he's averaging a combined four shots on goal and chances created per 90 minutes. Plus, Palace have allowed three goals in three of their last four road trips. There's no one else I'd trust in the high range of forwards, with Romelu Lukaku ($12,000) oddly the next most expensive. Ayoze Perez ($11,000) has a good floor but little upside, while Pedro ($11,500) is mostly goal or bust.
Danny Ings, SOU at HUD ($9,500): There are a lot of places to go in the mid-range, and that's why points are needed from your second forward. I think Ings has the best floor of them, and he makes the cut for me. Ings not only scored a brace in his return from injury, but he's also had a solid floor thanks to 1.61 shots on goal and 1.51 chances created per 90 minutes. Even if he doesn't make the score sheet, he should be around 10 fantasy points against a Huddersfield side that hasn't played better at home. It'll be hard to use Chicharito ($10,500) or Marcus Rashford ($10,500) with a Man City forward, unless they are your top forwards because of the quality midfield options. If you still don't believe in Southampton, Salomon Rondon ($9,500) is close behind Ings, along with the two Fulham strikers.
Joshua King, BOU v. BHA ($7,500): King won't be a popular play, and that's fine since he doesn't have more than 4.3 fantasy points in his last four starts. Some of that had to do with the matchups and no
MIDFIELDERS
Leroy Sane, MCI v. CRY ($10,000): I'm disappointed that Sane's price is finally going up, but he's also still cheap compared to the top forwards and Raheem Sterling ($12,000). Sane wasn't in Tuesday's roster, so there's a decent chance he plays a full 90 against Palace. He's averaging 1.21 shots on goal and 2.52 chances created per 90 minutes in addition to making the score sheet in four of his last five starts in all competitions. He's been electric on the wing, and while Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been great for Palace on the opposite side, I'm not sure that will matter. I think Eden Hazard ($11,500) is great, but Sane produces just as much, especially since Hazard doesn't get any fantasy points for drawing fouls.
Robert Snodgrass, WHU v. WAT ($8,500): While Sane's price has increased, Snodgrass has stayed in the same range despite three straight outings with at least 32 fantasy points. The goals probably won't keep coming for Snodgrass, but the chances will since he's taking the majority of set pieces for West Ham, and he's averaging 2.44 created per 90 minutes. He hasn't scored fewer than 10 fantasy points in his last eight starts, while Watford have given up multiple goals in their last five games. I'd be intrigued if Kevin De Bruyne ($9,000) started, or even Paul Pogba ($9,000), but there's no reason to go against Snodgrass in this matchup.
Ryan Fraser, BOU v. BHA ($8,000): There are better floors in this range, but it's hard to pass up Fraser in favorable matchups. Brighton have allowed the second-most chances in the league (197), and that's where Fraser thrives on the wing, averaging 2.41 created per 90 minutes. Sure, he's had some bad performances against tougher competition, but he's also had multiple appearances on the score sheet on three different occasions. He has four goals and seven assists, and they've all come against teams outside of the top eight in the table. Jefferson Lerma and Ander Herrera have been more consistent at coming close to 20 fantasy points at the same price, but Fraser's upside outweighs the rest, and even then, his floor won't be terrible in this spot.
DEFENDERS
Cesar Azpilicueta, CHE v. LEI ($5,500): I considered Marcos Alonso ($6,000) and then saw a cheaper Azpilicueta. Alonso takes more shots, but Azpilicueta has created five more chances in the last five matches, and that's in addition to more tackles, clearances and blocks. The upside isn't the same, but Alonso hasn't shown upside since the first month of the season. As usual, Sol Bamba ($6,500) is a good bet for 20 points if you have the money, while Ciaran Clark ($6,000) isn't far behind on an improved Newcastle back line.
Matt Targett, SOU at HUD ($4,000): Targett still hasn't moved up in price even though he has 10 chances created in his last four starts to go with a mix of defensive stats. Huddersfield have forced the most clearances from defenders this season (339) and while that's not Targett's best fantasy trait, it could add to his floor. Even on the road he'll get corner opportunities, and that's all you can ask from a defender at his price. His floor is just as high as those priced above him, from Alfie Mawson ($4,500) to teammate Maya Yoshida ($4,500). I'd also give Martin Kelly ($4,500) a look in GPPs, if he starts, because he had 14 clearances last match and now travels to Man City.
Javier Manquillo, NEW v. FUL ($4,000): Here's another cheap play who I backed last weekend and he exceeded expectations with an assist. If Federico Fernandez isn't able to return, Manquillo is again a steal with a floor near 15 fantasy points. As a fullback, he's oddly produced 16 clearances in his last two starts, so that's a nice addition to possible chances created and interceptions. There's also a clean sheet opportunity for Newcastle because you never know what Fulham will do. If you prefer safety over cheap defenders, Mamadou Sakho ($5,000) should be busy against Man City, while Jannik Vestergaard ($5,000) and Jan Bednarek ($5,000) both have floors near 15 fantasy points for Southampton.
GOALKEEPER
Asmir Begovic, BOU v. BHA ($4,000): Begovic has the fourth-best odds to win in a match projected to have to second-fewest goals. Considering Brighton have scored only seven goals in nine road matches and were just shutout at Burnley, Begovic is a steal and should be near his totals from the Huddersfield match when he reached 19.5 fantasy points. Kepa Arrizabalaga ($5,500) is the next best value because Ederson ($6,500) costs too much for a goalkeeper. Another cheap option is Alex McCarthy ($4,500) as a small favorite in the match expected to have the fewest goals.
