This article is part of our TheSix Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EDT)
7:30 a.m: Manchester United v. Tottenham
10:00 a.m: Liverpool v. Huddersfield
10:00 a.m: Crystal Palace v. West Ham
10:00 a.m: Arsenal v. Swansea City
10:00 a.m: Watford v. Stoke City
10:00 a.m: West Brom v. Manchester City
12:30 p.m: Bournemouth v. Chelsea
PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
FORWARD
Richarlison, WAT v. STK (€14M): He won't come cheaply, but Richarlison is one of the most consistent fantasy producers thanks to his high number of touches and duels won. He has a 16-duel gap for the league lead while playing almost 60 fewer minutes than the second-place player. His high number of touches (436) for a forward is impressive on its own, but 65 of them have come in the opponent's box, the second-most in the Premier League.
Alvaro Morata, CHE at BOU (€9M): Morata is much more goal dependent than Richarlison, but he's also much more likely to actually score that goal. Despite playing away to Bournemouth, Chelsea are still comfortable favorites and come in with nine goals scored in four league away matches. The other benefit of Morata is that he's the clear top goal-scoring option for Chelsea, whereas Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool all have multiple pieces who could turn up.
MIDFIELDER
David Silva, MCI at WBA (€14M): Silva comes in with the fourth-most touches in the Premier League this season, and only eight players have more touches in the box. Additionally, West Brom are quite comfortable giving up possession, as they've allowed the fourth-most touches in the league (and second-most among teams on the slate). Silva's touches give him a really strong floor, and with no team having higher implied goal odds, Silva could find himself with a goal or an assist by day's end.
Mesut Ozil, ARS v. SWA (€9M):Granit Xhaka (€14M) is by far the safest option on an Arsenal side that comes in with the highest win and implied goals scored odds. Xhaka's 103.3 touches per 90 minutes is the third-most in the Premier League, and the most among players who have been on the field for at least 300 minutes. Additionally, his 71.48 completed passes per 90 trail only eight players, three of whom haven't hit the 300-minute mark yet. However, Ozil is no slouch and finds himself in a good bit of form after scoring a goal and picking up an assist last weekend at Everton. With Arsenal expected to dominate possession, Xhaka is likely to get a ton of touches, but if the Gunners expectedly push the gas in the attack, Ozil will be a big fantasy contributor.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, CRY v. WHU (€6M): Loftus-Cheek was a regular starter under former manager Frank de Boer, and he has a good opportunity to regain that spot for new boss Roy Hodgson on Saturday against West Ham. He is fully recovered from a hip injury that briefly sidelined him, and he comes in with the second-most duels won per 90 minutes in the Premier League among players with at least 200 minutes. He doesn't get nearly as many touches or complete as many passes as the holding midfielders on his team like Yohan Cabaye (€11M) or Luka Milivojevic (€11M), but his significantly lower price helps make up for it. For those looking for an even more attack-minded Palace player, Wilfried Zaha (€8M) is averaging nearly eight duels won and more than nine touches in the box per 90 in limited time this season.
DEFENDER
Nicolas Otamendi, MCI at WBA (€15M): Paying this much for a defender would seem nuts in many other fantasy formats, but Otamendi is arguably the most consistent player on The Six thanks to Man City's dominance both defensively and in possession. Otamendi and centerback partner John Stones (€14M) average the most completed passes per 90 minutes in the Premier League, and they are both in the top seven of most touches per 90. Otamendi's ability to score on set pieces puts him ahead of Stones in terms of fantasy upside, though you can't really go wrong with either against a West Brom side likely to concede a ton of possession.
Davide Zappacosta, CHE at BOU (€5M): Most of Chelsea's defenders are rightfully expensive, but Zappacosta hasn't quite played enough to warrant the increase in price yet. With Victor Moses (€6M, midfielder) still sidelined, Zappacosta has a path to a starting spot, even though Cesar Azpilicueta (€13M) took the right wingback spot recently. There is certainly lineup risk because there is no late swap, but for those willing to take it, Zappacosta could really pay off that marginal salary.
Eric Bailly, MUN v. TOT (€5M): The matchup against Spurs is certainly not an easy one given how well their attack has been playing, but Bailly's cheap price has to put him in consideration for fantasy managers. The clean sheet is unlikely, but United will try to maintain the possession advantage, and Bailly will likely get blocked shot attempts against a Spurs side that never hesitates to shoot.
GOALKEEPER
Heurelho Gomes, WAT v. STK (€8M): Gomes leads the league in punches, clearances (among goalkeepers) and is tied for seventh in accurate keeper sweepers. He doesn't make a ton of saves, but he comes in with decent clean sheet odds and isn't cost prohibitive.
