DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Boxing Day EPL Picks

DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Boxing Day EPL Picks

This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.

MATCHES (ET)

For detailed stats and odds, check out the

DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Boxing Day EPL Cheat Sheet 

FORWARDS

Phil Foden, MCI vs. LEI ($10,400): Assuming Riyad Mahrez ($9,500) isn't in the starting lineup, Foden will split set pieces for Manchester City, who have a 2.5-implied goal total at home against Leicester City. Man City are in great form, outscoring the opposition 11-0 in their last two matches. Foden was rested for the win over Newcastle but prior to that, he had a goal and assist in 90 minutes against Leeds. He filled the stat sheet with peripherals too, attempting six shots, sending in five crosses and creating five chances on his way to putting up a massive 34 fantasy points. Gabriel Martinelli ($10,700) is the most expensive player on the slate. He's been taking corner kicks and has three goals in his last two games. His salary seems a bit high, but Arsenal have a favorable matchup away to Norwich. Bukayo Saka ($9,900) has been splitting set pieces with Martinelli. In my opinion, Saka's floor is still slightly higher, even if he takes a few less corners on average. Neither is necessary for cash games but both make for good GPP options.

Son Heung-Min, TOT vs. CRY ($9,700): Son continues to take a near-monopoly of Tottenham's set pieces. He also has a goal in three consecutive matches and Spurs are in a decent spot at home against Crystal Palace. Jarrod Bowen ($9,400) is a similar option, in a similarly favorable spot but Son has better goalscoring odds and more of a role on sets. Looking cheaper, Dwight McNeil ($7,800) is an option for cash games considering that Burnley are home favorites against Everton. Harry Kane ($6,800) is the only player on the slate with better than 50-percent odds to score. His salary looks cheap and I'd expect him to be quite popular in tournaments. Alexandre Lacazette ($7,900) and Raheem Sterling ($8,600) have the next-best goalscoring odds. Unfortunately, I have to mention Chris Wood ($3,500) as his salary has dropped all the way down to the minimum. Burnley are in a nice spot at home against Everton and Wood has the slate's fourth-best goal odds at +135. He has no floor but that type of upside for just $3,500 makes him appealing for GPPs. 

MIDFIELDERS:

Kevin De Bruyne, MCI vs. LEI ($9,000): De Bruyne's salary has dropped considerably for no apparent reason. He's still splitting set pieces and he's played 90 minutes in his last three starts. He's shown big upside, as well, scoring two goals on nine shots against Leeds. The bargain price makes him one of, if not the first player in my lineup. James Ward-Prowse ($8,800) has a similar salary with Southampton away to West Ham. He's sent in at least seven crosses in eight of his last 10 games and scored with a beautiful free-kick last time out. While still viable in cash games, I couldn't roster him ahead of De Bruyne with the prices that close. Jack Grealish ($8,000) is likely to go somewhat overlooked and would make for a good leverage option in tournaments. He's the cheapest of Man City's front three and scored while playing 90 minutes in his last start against Leeds.

Manuel Lanzini, WHU vs. SOU ($5,200): While he didn't take set pieces in their previous league game, Lanzini took the majority of corners (four) Wednesday in the cup match against Tottenham. He also took their last penalty kick. Billy Gilmour ($5,000) and Ashley Westwood ($4,900) will probably take more set pieces, but neither has much open-play upside. If Lucas Digne isn't in Everton's lineup, Anthony Gordon ($5,100) will likely take most of the corners. He has some goal equity playing in the front three and makes for a good GPP target with Everton in a decent spot against Burnley. Looking cheaper, Will Hughes ($3,600) has been taking most of Crystal Palace's set pieces. The matchup away to Spurs isn't great, but it was encouraging to see him play 90 minutes last match, which was more than a week ago. Przemyslaw Placheta ($3,000) has played at least 70 minutes in consecutive starts while taking six corners over that stretch. Despite the matchup against Arsenal, the minimum salary is too cheap for an attacking player with a minority role on set pieces. 

DEFENDERS

Joao Cancelo, MCI vs. LEI ($6,500): Cancelo has been phenomenal this season. He scored a beautiful goal and picked up his fourth league assist last match against Newcastle. He doesn't take set pieces, but he still has a decent floor. He's taken at least two shots in nine of his last 10 starts and has taken at least three in six of those, while also having 14 shots on goal in that span. He sends in crosses and creates plenty of chances which gives him considerable assist equity. Cancelo has as much open-play upside as any defender in the league and he has three goals and seven assists across 22 starts in all competitions. Without the Liverpool and Chelsea full-backs on the slate, he's clearly the top option. Elsewhere, Kieran Tierney ($5,900) is in a nice spot against Norwich. It's unclear if Lucas Digne ($5,400) will return, but if he does, there's a good chance he splits set pieces for Everton in a decent matchup away to Burnley. I didn't highlight Digne because he's not in expected lineups, but if he starts, he becomes a priority.

Ruben Dias, MCI vs. LEI ($3,500): Second defender isn't as much of a priority as there aren't really any mid-priced full-backs who stand out. Dias is cheap enough and Manchester City's 48-percent clean sheet odds are highest on the slate. All of the cheap, favored center-backs are decent tournament options. 

GOALKEEPERS

Ederson, MCI vs. LEI ($5,900): Ederson has the best clean-sheet odds on the slate at 48 percent. Manchester City shut Leicester City out in the reverse fixture earlier in the season. Plus, he's won nine consecutive starts and has kept a clean sheet in three straight. 

Tim Krul, NOR vs. ARS ($3,800): Krul is the cheapest home goalkeeper and most of the Arsenal players are overpriced. Rostering him and fading Arsenal just makes sense. If you'd rather target a cheap clean sheet, Nick Pope ($4,900) and Jordan Pickford ($4,600) have 30-percent odds and the Burnley-Everton match has the slate's lowest-implied goal total. 

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.
RotoWire Community
Join Our Subscriber-Only Soccer Chat
Chat with our writers and other RotoWire Soccer fans for all the pre-game info and in-game banter.
Join The Discussion
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ryan Belongia
Ryan is the top-ranked DFS soccer player on RG, reigning King of the Pitch Champion at DraftKings and 2021 finalist for FSWA's Soccer Writer of the Year.
UEFA Nations League Best Bets: Picks, Odds & Predictions for Saturday, Oct. 12
UEFA Nations League Best Bets: Picks, Odds & Predictions for Saturday, Oct. 12
Fantrax Premier League Player Rankings: Gameweek 8
Fantrax Premier League Player Rankings: Gameweek 8
UEFA Nations League Betting Picks & Predictions for Matchday 3
UEFA Nations League Betting Picks & Predictions for Matchday 3
Fantasy Premier League Player Rankings: Gameweek 8
Fantasy Premier League Player Rankings: Gameweek 8
Premier League Preview: Aston Villa vs. Manchester United Predictions, Odds, & Notes
Premier League Preview: Aston Villa vs. Manchester United Predictions, Odds, & Notes
Premier League Gameweek 7: Odds, Best Bets, Predictions & Free Tips
Premier League Gameweek 7: Odds, Best Bets, Predictions & Free Tips