FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Saturday EPL Targets

FanDuel Fantasy Soccer: Saturday EPL Targets

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 (EST)

10:00 a.m: Arsenal v. Huddersfield
10:00 a.m: Burnley v. Brighton
10:00 a.m: Manchester United v. Fulham
10:00 a.m: Cardiff City v. Southampton
10:00 a.m: West Ham v. Crystal Palace
12:30 p.m: Chelsea v. Manchester City
2:45 p.m: Leicester v. Tottenham

FORWARDS

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, ARS v. HUD ($12,500): This is a weird slate, and that usually means hitting on two forwards will be difficult. I'm mostly fading the Chelsea v. Manchester City match because there's been a total of four goals in their last three meetings, and even then you're guessing between which City player will be involved most, which is never an easy thing. It's a little different for Arsenal as the biggest favorite with the most goals expected. I wouldn't be surprised if Alexandre Lacazette ($10,500) started over Aubameyang, and if they both start I'm leaning toward the latter. There isn't much that separates them, only that Aubemeyang is in better form and already has 10 goals this season. Arsenal have found something that works in the attack and that's led to three goals, one assist, five shots on goal and four chances created in Aubameyang's last three starts. I'd rather back him at home than Harry Kane ($13,500), who faces a Leicester team that has allowed one goal in their last four home matches in all competitions and just 13 shots on goal in the last five Premier League games.

Marcus Rashford, MUN v. FUL ($9,000): It's extremely difficult to roster Anthony Martial ($12,000) at his price, so I'm going with his teammate Rashford, who has similar odds to find the back of the net. As long as he starts, Rashford has been viable in his last three starts in all competitions, posting nine shots and eight chances created. He's undoubtedly had trouble scoring, but the odds are the odds and he has just a 2.4 percent lower chance to score a goal than Martiall, at least according to the oddsmakers. The other part of this equation is Fulham, who are still allowing plenty of goals under new manager Claudio Ranieri. I'm not sure I'd spend up for anyone else near this range in cash games, with Chicharito ($11,000) goal-or-bust and Wilfried Zaha ($9,500) on the road.

Florin Andone, BHA at BRN ($7,500): I backed Andone last match and he scored off the bench, which is exactly what I thought was going to happen… Maybe not, but he should be set for a start after Glenn Murray went down with a shoulder injury. Andone doesn't have much of a floor, and that's what you're paying for, but he's scored in back-to-back matches and faces the leakiest back line in the league, one that allowed the most shots (108), shots on goal (39) and chances created (84) in the last five matches. You could roll with Aleksandar Mitrovic ($8,500) at a decent price, but Fulham have an expected goal total below one, while Lucas Perez ($6,500) is also a possibility if he starts for West Ham.

MIDFIELDERS

Christian Eriksen, TOT at LEI ($8,500): Since all of the Chelsea and Man City players haven't dropped in price despite a more difficult matchup, I'm looking elsewhere. Eriksen oddly hasn't scored in league play, but he's held a solid floor with 12 chances created in his last three starts. And while Tottenham may not win big, there will be free-kick opportunities. Meanwhile, Leicester haven't allowed quality shots, but they've given up 50 chances in the last five matches. If Eriksen doesn't start, James Maddison ($9,000) is a good replacement on the other side or for a different look, Stuart Armstrong ($8,500) has been Southampton's best goal scorer and they face Cardiff.

Robert Snodgrass, WHU v. CRY ($8,000): You could throw Felipe Anderson ($8,500) in this spot, but Snodgrass is slightly cheaper and has a better floor. Since Snodgrass came into the squad, he's taken Anderson's free kicks and that's led to a floor of around 15 fantasy points. Snodgrass isn't getting shots, but he has 19 chances created in his last six starts to go with a few tackles and interceptions. Anderson is probably the better GPP play since he's already shown he can score a brace and have a big outing, while Snodgrass is capped to around 30 points.

Granit Xhaka, ARS v. HUD ($8,000): There are a lot of places to go with your third midfielder, but Arsenal's spot-kick taker feels like the safest place. He's hit 14.7 fantasy points in five of his last six starts, and that's mostly from defensive stats like tackles, interceptions and clearances. Throw in a couple chances created and a shot on goal and you're in business. There is some downside in that he may not be forced into much defensive action against Huddersfield, and if you're worried about that, there are other choices: Jesse Lingard ($8,000) could be a favorite after scoring last match, Wilfred Ndidi ($8,000) will get defensive work and can get 20 fantasy points against Spurs and Johann Berg Gudmundsson ($7,500) is in a great spot to produce. Additionally, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg ($8,000) should be plenty active against Cardiff, while Andros Townsend ($8,000) is on a nice run with a floor near 15 points.

DEFENDERS

Calum Chambers, FUL at MUN ($5,500): Since changing positions, Chambers has been close to a lock for 20 fantasy points. Normally a center-back, Chambers has played as a defensive midfielder in the last four matches and that's produced 10 shots, 19 tackles, 15 interceptions and nine clearances. Those are incredible numbers, and with Fulham expected to play defensively most of the way against Man United, he should be headed for 20 points again, if not 30, if it's a repeat from the trip to Chelsea. If you want more upside, Kieran Trippier ($6,500) is a little cheaper than usual coming off an injury.

Sead Kolasinac, ARS v. HUD ($4,500): Similar to the attackers, a formation change helped Kolasinac become a viable fantasy defender, accruing 10 chances created in his last three starts. Since Arsenal are big favorites, he should be on the attack a good portion of this match. There are questions regarding his floor since he doesn't get many defensive stats outside of tackles, but he should be involved enough to where that may not matter. If you need to save money, Matt Targett and Angelo Ogbonna are reasonable places to look at $4,000, but there's a chance neither make the starting XI.

Wes Morgan, LEI v. TOT ($4,500): Morgan has been my trustworthy defender the last few weeks and that's not going to change since he has at least 16 fantasy points in his last five starts, averaging more than 10 combined clearances, tackles and interceptions per match. Tottenham oddly haven't forced many clearances, but neither have Fulham or Brighton and Morgan still racked up stats in those matches. Plus, Spurs have allowed the third-most interceptions (71) and tackles (100) in the last five gameweeks. One of my favorites from the World Cup, Leon Balogun is also on my radar for the same price after he came on when Shane Duffy was sent off last match.

GOALKEEPER

Bernd Leno, ARS v. HUD ($4,500): If you want to follow everyone else, Leno is going to be on the majority of rosters because not only is he the cheapest, but he also has the best odds to win and allow the fewest goals. I don't trust Arsenal to get a clean sheet against anyone, but Leno should at least be in line for a win. Alex McCarthy ($4,000) and Neil Etheridge ($4,500) are the others under consideration, but neither have close to the same odds of winning as Leno.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Adam Zdroik plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: zdroik, DraftKings: rotozdroik, Yahoo: StreakMaster.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Adam Zdroik
Adam, a 2019, 2018 and 2017 Finalist for FSWA's Soccer Writer of the Year, is RotoWire's soccer editor. He also runs RotoWire's Bracketology, as well as writes on other various college basketball content. He has previously worked at ESPN and Sporting Kansas City, and he is a former Streak for the Cash winner and Michigan State graduate.
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