Yahoo DFS Soccer: Saturday EPL Picks

Yahoo DFS Soccer: Saturday EPL Picks

This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Soccer series.

MATCHES (EDT)

10:00 a.m: Bournemouth v. Leicester City
10:00 a.m: Chelsea v. Cardiff City
10:00 a.m: Huddersfield v. Crystal Palace
10:00 a.m: Manchester City v. Fulham
10:00 a.m: Newcastle v. Arsenal
12:30 p.m: Watford v. Manchester United

FORWARDS

Sergio Aguero, MCI v. FUL (£27): Pricing has gotten much tighter this week across all positions, but that doesn't mean we need to fade the player with the highest salary, even in cash games. Aguero leads the Premier League with 20 shots this season, and while he's failed to find the back of the net in three of four starts, his upside was apparent when he bagged a hat trick against Huddersfield on Aug. 19. In addition, Manchester City come in as the biggest favorite with the highest implied goal total, likely leading to very high ownership for their lead attacker. Paying down slightly for Raheem Sterling (£24), who has two goals on six shots (four on target) and eight fouls won in three games, is an option, though pairing the two isn't out of the question given how many goals Man City are expected to score.

Eden Hazard, CHE v. CAR (£25): Hazard is the only player in the Premier League to make the scoresheet in all four games this season, a particularly impressive accomplishment since he's only started twice. He's taken at least two shots, and put one on goal, in three consecutive games, and his eight chances created over that span are the second-most in the league. Similar to Manchester City, Chelsea are big favorites with a high implied goal total, and no one has better anytime goal scoring odds on the team than Hazard. With scant midfielders worth paying up for, fitting in Aguero and Hazard shouldn't be much of an issue, which also means the pair could be very popular. For those who don't want to spend up but still get Chelsea exposure, Pedro (£18) offers a solid floor after taking eight shots, and putting five on goal, in his last three appearances while finding the back of the net thrice in four games.

Callum Wilson, BOU v. LEI (£18): Moving down the salary scale at forward eventually brings us to Wilson, who has taken the third-most shots of any player on the slate and has better anytime goal scorer odds than players like Alexandre Lacazette (£22) and Alexis Sanchez (£23). He doesn't have the upside of Hazard and Aguero, but that's why you can get him for much less.

MIDFIELDERS

David Silva, MCI v. FUL (£23): If there is a midfielder worth paying up for it's Silva, whose 13 chances created in the past three games are the most in the Premier League, though he's amazingly been unable to pick up an assist in that time. His shot creation for others is elite, but he's also taken eight of his own over that span, putting three on target. In a similar story to Aguero and Sterling, Manchester City's overwhelming upside puts all of their attackers in play, with Silva coming in slightly safer than teammate midfield Riyad Mahrez (£23).

Aaron Mooy, HUD v. CRY (£14): Mooy creates a lot of his fantasy production from defensive stats, as he's won nine tackles and intercepted five passes in three games, and his role on set pieces has also allowed him to send in three accurate crosses. The matchup against Crystal Palace is fairly even, though Palace are slightly favored, and Mooy should still be able to move up a little bit while trying to slow down an attacking line led by Wilfried Zaha. If Mooy's price is a bit too high for a defensive midfielder against Palace, you could pay £3 less for Philip Billing, who has scored at least 6.35 fantasy points in three of four matches (he had only 2.15 away to Manchester City) and scored a goal on his lone shot attempt at Everton before the international break.

Willian, CHE v. CAR (£18): While Chelsea's best attackers are either forwards or defenders, Willian is no stranger to getting on the scoresheet, something that surely could happen if he's in the starting XI against a Cardiff side that's well overmatched. Willian hasn't been shooting nearly as much this season as last, when he averaged 2.58 shots (including 1.19 on goal) per 90 minutes, but Saturday's game could be the one that lets him break out.

DEFENDERS

Marcos Alonso, CHE v. CAR (£25): The lack of high-priced midfielders means we can use that money for defenders, with Alonso leading the way thanks to his excellent attacking contributions (two goals on eight shots, including two on target, two assists on four chances created, three corners won and three fouls won in four games) and Chelsea's overwhelming clean sheet odds. For those who regularly play on Yahoo, Alonso's price is a bit eye-popping given that he hasn't been more than £18 this season, but he's producing like an elite midfielder and we still get clean sheet points if Chelsea can hold out Cardiff, who were held scoreless in three of four games this season.

Ben Chilwell, LEI at BOU (£16): Chilwell has been a solid all-around contributor this season, and particularly of late, scoring more than 6.00 fantasy points in each of his past two games, neither of which came with a shutout or an appearances on the scoresheet. He has a small role on set pieces, but it's his ability to win tackles, draw fouls and still take shots (he's put all three on goal this season) that makes him an attractive target. The clean sheet is unlikely at Bournemouth, but there's definite attacking upside for the Leicester left-back.

Ashley Young, MUN at WAT (£13): Expected to start in place of Luke Shaw (£15), Young also provides solid attacking upside and relatively good clean sheet odds. His lone start this season was a moderate success despite the lack of a clean sheet, as he had two accurate crosses, two corners won, four fouls won and one tackle won for 6.80 fantasy points. We saw plenty last season that he's not afraid to move up in the attack, and his lower salary certainly makes him worth consideration because Manchester United are still favored despite playing away.

GOALKEEPER

Ederson, MCI v. FUL (£16): While he disappointed in three of four games this season, it's tough not giving a long look at Ederson thanks to Man City's overwhelming win odds and strong clean sheet chances. Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga (£20) also comes in with high win odds and better clean sheet chances than Ederson, but that's why you have to pay more. No other keepers are as strong for at least the win, so while you could pay down further, the risk obviously increases.

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. Andrew M. Laird plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: kingmorland, DraftKings: andrewmlaird, Yahoo: Lairdinho.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrew M. Laird
Andrew M. Laird, the 2017 and 2018 FSWA Soccer Writer of the Year, is RotoWire's Head of DFS Content and Senior Soccer Editor. He is a nine-time FSWA award finalist, including twice for Football Writer of the Year.
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