DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Saturday EPL Picks

DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Saturday EPL Picks

This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.

For detailed odds and stats, check out the Fantasy Premier League: Saturday Cheat Sheet.

MATCHES (EDT)

10:00 a.m: Burnley v. Bournemouth
10:00 a.m: Leicester City v. Huddersfield
10:00 a.m: Crystal Palace v. Newcastle
10:00 a.m: Cardiff City v. Manchester City
10:00 a.m: Manchester United v. Wolverhampton
10:00 a.m: Liverpool v. Southampton
12:30 p.m: Brighton v. Tottenham

FORWARDS

Johann Berg Gudmundsson, BUR v. BOU ($7,900): Despite Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham all being on the slate, Gudmunsson could be the highest owned forward in cash games. Burnley aren't great (they're probably not even good), but Gudmundsson leads them in crosses because he has a monopoly of set pieces, while he also co-leads in shots and is joint-second in fouls drawn. Meanwhile, Bournemouth come in having allowed the second-most crosses and fifth-most shots this season among teams on the slate.

Leroy Sane, MCI at CAR ($8,700): The Manchester City lineup is one giant mystery, but it seems like Sane has a case to make the starting XI after scoring a goal last weekend against Fulham and then picking up an assist off the bench during Wednesday's Champions League match against Lyon. He took a majority of corners last weekend, and he could have a similar setup at Cardiff if Riyad Mahrez ($8,800), who will be a popular cash play if he starts and Sane does not, is in the first XI. The upside option is always Sergio Aguero ($10,300), who hasn't scored in four straight matches, though he does have two assists and 15 shots (four on goal) over that span.

Adama Traore, WOL at MU ($5,200): Traore has yet to get a start in four games this season, but he's been electric in his limited minutes, averaging 2.35 shots, 7.04 crosses and 4.70 fouls drawn per 90 minutes. Obviously those are really inflated because he hasn't had an appearance longer than 45 minutes, but he's incredibly fast with the ball and his ability to draw fouls and take shots puts him in play if he starts, even against Manchester United, who have committed the sixth-most fouls among teams on the slate.

MIDFIELDERS

James Maddison, LEI v. HUD ($8,200): Maddison has been one of the most consistent fantasy producers this season excluding his goals and assists, scoring at least 6.00 in every game, including four times with at least 9.00. His significant role on set pieces and consistent foul-winning provide him with a solid floor, and he's even shooting much more now, taking nine and putting four on goal in the past two games. Meanwhile, Huddersfield have allowed the joint-most goals and fourth-most shots among teams on the slate.

Aaron Mooy, HUD at LEI ($5,400): Mooy joins Maddison as one of the more productive cash-game players this season, scoring at least 7.50 points in all four starts, none of which included a goal or an assist (that's obviously a negative about his upside). While Maddison does more of his damage on the attacking end, Mooy combines his role on set pieces with defensive work like winning tackles and intercepting passes. Even though he's much cheaper and provides the same defensive production, I think I'm done touting Philip Billing ($3,800), much to the chagrin of some, even though paying off that salary doesn't take much. His lack of upside hinders the risk, but if you really think Huddersfield can do some damage (I don't), Rajiv van La Parra ($4,000) makes more sense in the price range.

James Milner, LIV v. SOU ($7,100): Milner is responsible for most of Liverpool's set pieces when he's on the pitch, and his role on penalties (he scored one during Tuesday's Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain) only helps his upside. Liverpool are the biggest home favorite and face a Southampton side that's allowed the fourth-most crosses among teams on the slate, and it surely doesn't hurt that Milner won nine tackles in the past two games.

DEFENDERS

Kieran Trippier, TOT at BHA ($6,400): Trippier didn't travel for Wednesday's Champions League match at Inter Milan, which provides some optimism that he'll start at Brighton on Saturday. Tottenham play in the late game, so there's some risk to using Trippier because you don't get any set pieces if he sits for Serge Aurier ($5,200), but he makes for a solid play if he starts because of his role on corners. Admittedly, he hasn't been the most consistent fantasy producer this season, though his down games came against Manchester United (away) and Liverpool (home), and Saturday's matchup at Brighton will look a lot more like his games against Fulham and at Watford when he scored at least 14.00 floor points in each.

Ben Chilwell, LEI v. HUD ($5,300): There are a number of high-priced defenders from Tottenham (as discussed), Manchester United and Liverpool this week, but I'm willing to bypass most of them for Chilwell, who has a minimal role on set pieces but has still scored at least 8.00 fantasy points, without a goal or an assist, in all five starts this season. He's a very good open-play crosser and has gotten three of his four shots on goal, the type of play that should stay consistent at home to Huddersfield.

Chris Lowe, HUD at LEI ($4,100): I know it feels like there are a lot of players from this Leicester-Huddersfield match, especially since it has the second-lowest implied goal total, but both teams have shown to have solid peripheral stat producers, and Lowe fits into that category after he sent in 16 crosses during last weekend's match against Crystal Palace. However, his crossing is pretty much all he does, even if his role on corners provides some stability. Teammate Florent Hadergjonaj ($3,900) is also a viable option because of price, especially since he wins a few more tackles and draws a few more fouls.

GOALKEEPER

Rui Patricio, WOL at MU ($3,900): Paying up at goalkeeper this week likely means you're fishing for at least one lower-priced midfielder or defender (and more likely two), and doing so takes you away from guys like Mooy, Chilwell, Ilkay Gundogan ($5,700) and Luka Milivojevic (4,900), none of whom are as close to a guarantee of 10 points like Ederson ($6,000), Alisson ($5,900) and, to a lesser extent, Kasper Schmeichel ($5,600) and David de Gea ($5,500). I point out Patricio because I don't think many people will be rostering players from Manchester United, and there is a decent history of visiting goalkeepers putting up huge save numbers in games at Old Trafford. Could he get blasted? Of course! But at $3,900 it might be worth the risk if you're not rostering Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez or Paul Pogba.

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.
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
Andrew M. Laird
Andrew is a former RotoWire contributor. He was the 2017 and 2018 FSWA Soccer Writer of the Year. He is a nine-time FSWA award finalist, including twice for Football Writer of the Year.
Fantrax Premier League Player Rankings: Gameweek 12
Fantrax Premier League Player Rankings: Gameweek 12
Fantasy Premier League Player Rankings: Gameweek 12
Fantasy Premier League Player Rankings: Gameweek 12
Premier League Preview: Manchester United vs. Leicester City Predictions, Odds, Notes
Premier League Preview: Manchester United vs. Leicester City Predictions, Odds, Notes
DraftKings DFS Preview for Saturday, Nov. 9: A Perfect Slate
DraftKings DFS Preview for Saturday, Nov. 9: A Perfect Slate
Premier League Gameweek 11: Odds, Best Bets, Predictions & Free Tips
Premier League Gameweek 11: Odds, Best Bets, Predictions & Free Tips
DraftKings DFS EPL Picks for Saturday, Nov. 9
DraftKings DFS EPL Picks for Saturday, Nov. 9