This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
Welcome to Matchday 2 of the 2015-2016 Premier League season. This article is to guide you to an optimal squad for your $50,000 DraftKings salary (hint: you in no way need to spend the entire salary cap).The following games are included:
Norwich at Sunderland
Newcastle at Swansea City
Stoke City at Tottenham
West Bromwich at Watford
Leicester at West Ham
Step one in building a good lineup: make sure your players are starting. There is a bit of guesswork in projecting lineups until they are actually announced, and all recommendations and projections are subject to change based on this. This Saturday is a little easier than usual because there is no late game, which means no "will Diego Costa play in the last game?" questions as lineup lock approaches. All said, be sure to check the starting lineups upon their announcement approximately one hour prior to kickoff.
Goalkeepers
Hugo Lloris ($5,600)
Tottenham were an own goal away from a clean sheet against Manchester United last weekend, though it should be noted that Michel Vorm was guarding the net. Tottenham are the largest favorites to win, and Lloris is expected to make his season debut after recovering from a broken wrist.
Heurelho Gomes ($4,000)
This recommendation comes with a bit more upside, especially with Gomes and Watford likely to be much less owned. Watford is favored against West Bromwich Albion, who are coming off a unimpressive 0-3 defeat to Manchester City. The biggest concern with Gomes may be West Brom's new addition of Jose Salomon Rondon at striker, but the ball has to actually get into the attacking half for Rondon to make any impact.
Defenders
Jose Holebas ($3,000)
I'm not hardcore in the thought that you absolutely must match your defenders with your goalkeeper, but I happen to like Watford's goalkeeper and Holebas warrants credit in his own right because of his ability to move upfield, both serving crosses and drawing fouls. If trends remain from the first weekend, Holebas figures to be the highest crossing defender on the slate.
Ben Davies ($3,700)
Davies (though less than Holebas) is active in the attack while holding a strong case for a defensive bonus. Davies is currently filling in at left back for Danny Rose, who is both an injury and possible transfer concern. If Rose ends up in the starting role over Davies, he can be relatively easily swapped into lineups for an additional $400.
Midfielders
Christian Eriksen ($8,400)
Tottenham are the hottest favorites on the Saturday slate, and Eriksen led the team in both crosses and shots last time out. Taking potentially the most active offensive option on the most heavily favorited team is often a good proposition.
Jonjo Shelvey ($6,200)
Shelvey was co-second in crosses from last weekend. I can't guarantee he'll maintain the same production, but it was certainly solid production against the excellent Chelsea defense.
Marc Albrighton ($6,500)
Albrighton had the best opening weekend of anyone, with a goal and two assists, contributing to a grand total of three goals. His cross total tied him with Shelvey, and the West Ham/Leicester matchup rates highest on the likelihood to have over 2.5 goals scored.
Nathan Redmond ($5,400)
Redmond was a story of heartbreak last week. Scrapped of his starting role and cohesively scrapped from all of my lineups, he came on late as a sub and scored a spectacular goal. Surely he's earned a starting role this week, and he is a high rate crosser and drawer of fouls. Obviously he can score goals too.
Forwards
Bafetimbi Gomis ($6,100)
Of forwards who played at least 45 minutes last weekend, Gomis had the best shots per minute ratio. Quality touches in the penalty box were key to his production, including when he drew a foul in the box that red carded Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois and led to a penalty kick that he converted. Gomis won't produce much outside of goals, but he is very capable of scoring. He's at the least worth owning a few shares of in GPPs.
Robbie Brady ($4,000)
Counting Brady as a forward is generous, as he is squarely a wide midfielder, but his floor is higher than you'll get with most at this position. He crosses the ball in high quantity, giving him a relatively high floor for a forward, as with most forward players you are pretty much gambling on a goal for any production.
Jose Rondon ($3,000)
Apparently unbeknownst to DraftKings, Rondon is a quality striker who scored 13 goals in 17 games for Zenit St. Petersburg. West Brom did not look good against Manchester City on Monday, and Rondon is more likely to come off the bench than to start, but all should be aware of the type of striking quality he brings to this offensively impotent squad.
…Pssst: Harry Kane ($9,800) is going to be hugely owned. If he doesn't produce and you've faded him, you have a huge advantage on the rest of the field. If he bags a hat trick, well, sorry. He's sub-even money to score a goal, for those of you that care about such things.
