I believe this is our first four-game EPL DFS slate of the season, but if you think that means it will be easier to find bargains on the slate, you may be sadly mistaken. Lately I’ve found that the best place to find value is in the midfield, especially on DraftKings, and that appears to be the case Sunday as well. Even though I think you’re better off paying up at defense, I’m not necessarily paying all the way up. I usually like to use the cheapest of the top-tier defenders, since those players usually tend to be quite similar.
As always, the lineups below are examples of lineups you can make using the players in the Playbook and are not for plug and play.
Goal Keepers |
Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
Nick Pope | BRN | ARS | 3900 | 6.63 | 8 | 11.17 |
Their annual horror show at the Etihad notwithstanding, Burnley have looked like themselves the last month, allowing one goal to Everton and keeping clean sheets against Crystal Palace and Brighton. Arsenal have only scored twice in their last five games, and I don't know how they're going to break down a good defensive team like Burnley. |
Vicente Guaita | CRY | TOT | 4100 | 5.74 | 9 | 9.45 |
Breaking down teams that pack it in defensively hasn't been Tottenham's forte this season, so I think there is a decent chance Guaita can nab some saves while not conceding much, if at all. That being said, this feels pretty risky. |
Bernd Leno | ARS | BRN | 5700 | 6.64 | 12 | 10.00 |
Burnley have been just as bad offensively as Arsenal, and Arsenal have conceded the fourth-fewest goals in the league. Leno is probably safer than Nick Pope, but he is obviously much more expensive. |
Forwards |
Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
Jamie Vardy | LEI | BHA | 9500 | 15.8 | 20 | 27.08 |
The only question with Vardy is if we can trust him in cash games, and I think the answer is yes. He has double-digit fantasy points on DK in seven of nine games this season, and I think Leicester's counter-attacking style should play well against Brighton. |
Chris Wood | BRN | ARS | 4700 | 5.93 | 16 | 10.61 |
He has 40 percent of Burnley's goals this season, and while I'm not necessarily expecting a goal in this game, I would be fine using Wood as a punt in a GPP. He will allow you to spend up elsewhere while giving you a decent shot at a goal. |
Midfielders |
Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
James Maddison | LEI | BHA | 9100 | 10.16 | 14 | 8.81 |
While I do think Vardy is safe, it may be easier to simply play Maddison for cash lineups. He had double-digit DK fantasy points in four straight games, even though he didn't have a single shot on goal in that time. I love his price on FanDuel. |
Ademola Lookman | FUL | LIV | 5800 | 11.45 | 15 | 17.91 |
I would be lying if I said I was totally comfortable with this pick, but Lookman had at least 12.3 FD fantasy points in six straight games before struggling at City last week. Liverpool have been better defensively after a slow start, but they still aren't airtight, and Lookman is the safest Fulham attacker. |
Sadio Mane | LIV | FUL | 9300 | 14.98 | 20 | 21.73 |
Mane is probably safer than Salah, and he is definitely cheaper. Salah's home/road splits are not as crazy as they have been the last couple of years, but I still feel better with Mane, especially in cash games. |
Ivan Cavaleiro | FUL | LIV | 4200 | 6.54 | 11 | 9.08 |
He is on penalties, at least if Mitrovic remains on the bench, and he has five shots on goal and two chances created over his last three games. He's been consistent of late, but I think he's a better GPP play. |
Robbie Brady | BRN | ARS | 3800 | 6 | 10 | 8.57 |
Brady had five crosses and a very nice goal against Everton last week, but his price barely budged. I'm not expecting another goal, but he has at least 9.0 DK fantasy points in both of his starts this season. I would be more than happy if we can get that production Sunday at his price. |
Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
Bukayo Saka | ARS | BRN | 7700 | 10.46 | 13 | 11.32 |
As we mentioned above, Arsenal have hit a ton of crosses of late, and Saka has been one of the main culprits. He has at least six DK fantasy points in every start this season, and his forward eligibilty is valuable, especially in cash games. |
Pascal Gross | BHA | LEI | 8000 | 9.33 | 14 | 12.39 |
He is the safest of the Brighton attackers, and on DraftKings, he is also the most expensive. Gross has created 13 chances in his last five games, with two goals and two assists in that span. |
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa | FUL | LIV | 3700 | 6.6 | 9 | 11.65 |
Anguissa has at least 6.8 DK fantasy points in each of his last five starts, which would be plenty considering his price. If Fulham are able to attack much in this game, Anguissa figures to be heavily involved. |
Defenders |
Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
James Tarkowski | BRN | ARS | 2700 | 4.33 | 13 | 14.16 |
Only Aston Villa have played more crosses than Arsenal this season, and that should lead to a ton of clearances for Tarkowski and Ben Mee. Tarkowski is cheaper and is probably more of an attacking threat on set pieces, though Mee is totally playable as well. |
Rob Holding | ARS | BRN | 2800 | 3.1 | 9 | 10.98 |
He has struggled the last two weeks, though I blame that more on the style Spurs and Wolves play than anything else. Holding is averaging 5.0 clearances in his last four starts, and central defenders can rack up clearances against Burnley because of all of the long balls. Gabriel Magalhaes has a higher ceiling, but I think Holding is a much better value. |
Sergio Reguilon | TOT | CRY | 5200 | 9.13 | 12 | 16.71 |
Reguilon had double-digit fantasy points on DK in consecutive games against West Ham, Brighton and West Brom in October and November. He has gotten forward less against Arsenal, Chelsea and City since then, but I think he will get forward a lot more in this game. The same pretty much applies to Serge Aurier as well, but I think Reguilon is safer. |
Kieran Tierney | ARS | BRN | 5000 | 7.15 | 9 | 10.49 |
On the one hand, Kieran Tierney has at least five crosses in four of his last five games, including 10 last week in the North London Derby. On the other hand, hitting a ton of crosses hasn't worked for Arsenal, despite Mikel Arteta's protestations, so maybe he'll decide to try something else. On another hand, Burnley are usually quite good at forcing attackers out wide and inviting them to send the ball into the box. Tierney should be safe on DK, and he won't break the bank. |
Joel Veltman | BHA | LEI | 3400 | 5.39 | 10 | 9.27 |
He has been inconsistent, and I don't love the matchup, but he has eight crosses in his last four games, and there really aren't any other cheap defenders I want to play on DraftKings. |
Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
Trent Alexander-Arnold | LIV | FUL | 6700 | 10.75 | 15 | 11.96 |
His FPPG is down because he played 89 minutes total in his last two games due to injury. He appears to be fully fit, and I slightly prefer him to Andrew Robertson. |
The lineups below are examples of lineups you can make using the players in the Playbook and are not for plug and play.
DK Cash | | DK GPP |
Pos. | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary | | Pos. | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary |
F | Ademola Lookman | FUL | LIV | 11.45 | $5,800 | | F | Pascal Gross | BHA | LEI | 9.33 | $8,000 |
F | Bukayo Saka | ARS | BUR | 10.46 | $7,700 | | F | Jamie Vardy | LEI | BHA | 15.8 | $9,500 |
M | James Maddison | LEI | BHA | 10.16 | $9,100 | | M | Robbie Brady | BUR | ARS | 6 | $3,800 |
M | Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa | FUL | LIV | 6.6 | $3,700 | | M | Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa | FUL | LIV | 6.6 | $3,700 |
D | Sergio Reguilon | TOT | CRY | 9.13 | $5,200 | | D | Serge Aurier | TOT | CRY | 11.38 | $5,300 |
D | Kieran Tierney | ARS | BUR | 7.15 | $5,000 | | D | Trent Alexander-Arnold | LIV | FUL | 10.75 | $6,700 |
GK | Nick Pope | BUR | ARS | 6.63 | $3,900 | | GK | Nick Pope | BUR | ARS | 6.63 | $3,900 |
Util | Sadio Mane | LIV | FUL | 14.98 | $9,300 | | Util | James Maddison | LEI | BHA | 10.16 | $9,100 |
| | | | Total | $49,700 | | | | | | Total | $50,000 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
DK Pivot Cash | | DK Pivot GPP |
Pos. | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary | | Pos. | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary |
F | | | | | | | F | | | | | |
F | | | | | | | F | | | | | |
M | | | | | | | M | | | | | |
M | Robbie Brady | BUR | ARS | 6 | $3,800 | | M | | | | | |
D | | | | | | | D | | | | | |
D | | | | | | | D | James Justin | LEI | BHA | 8.29 | $5,900 |
GK | | | | | | | GK | | | | | |
Util | Jamie Vardy | LEI | BHA | 15.8 | $9,500 | | Util | Sadio Mane | LIV | FUL | 14.98 | $9,300 |
| | | | Total | $13,300 | | | | | | Total | $15,200 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
FD Cash | | FD GPP |
Pos | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary | | Pos | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary |
F/M | James Maddison | LEI | BHA | 8.81 | $14 | | F/M | Robbie Brady | BRN | ARS | 8.57 | $10 |
F/M | Sadio Mane | LIV | FUL | 21.73 | $20 | | F/M | Sadio Mane | LIV | FUL | 21.73 | $20 |
F/M | Jamie Vardy | LEI | BHA | 27.08 | $20 | | F/M | James Maddison | LEI | BHA | 8.81 | $14 |
F/M | Pascal Gross | BHA | LEI | 12.39 | $14 | | F/M | Jamie Vardy | LEI | BHA | 27.08 | $20 |
D | Rob Holding | ARS | BRN | 10.98 | $9 | | D | Tariq Lamptey | BHA | LEI | 12.25 | $13 |
D | James Tarkowski | BRN | ARS | 14.16 | $13 | | D | Trent Alexander-Arnold | LIV | FUL | 11.96 | $15 |
GK | Nick Pope | BRN | ARS | 11.17 | $8 | | GK | Nick Pope | BRN | ARS | 11.17 | $8 |
| | | | Total | $98 | | | | | | Total | $100 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
FD Pivot Cash | | FD Pivot GPP |
Pos | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary | | Pos | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary |
F/M | | | | | | | F/M | | | | | |
F/M | Mohamed Salah | LIV | FUL | 31.34 | $23 | | F/M | Wilfried Zaha | CRY | TOT | 23.86 | $18 |
F/M | Ayoze Perez | LEI | BHA | 11.82 | $17 | | F/M | | | | | |
F/M | | | | | | | F/M | Harry Kane | TOT | CRY | 34.33 | $22 |
D | | | | | | | D | | | | | |
D | | | | | | | D | | | | | |
GK | | | | | | | GK | | | | | |
| | | | Total | $40 | | | | | | Total | $40 |