This may be the toughest EPL DFS slate to figure out in a while. Liverpool should score at home against West Brom, but good luck affording many Liverpool players, especially on DraftKings’ two-game slate. It’s a little bit easier on FanDuel’s three-game slate, but I’m not exactly eager to use players from what should be a low-scoring game between Tottenham and Wolverhampton. I expect most of the goals to come from Brighton and West Ham, but once again, the players I trust are expensive, and there are a handful of players on either team who are capable of scoring.

 

Goal Keepers
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
AlissonLIVWBA59008.021411.82
This is the rare slate where I think it makes sense to pay up for a keeper, especially on DK. Liverpool will almost certainly win at home, and only two teams have scored less than West Brom this season.
Rui PatricioWOLTOT  98.89
The problem with playing Patricio is that Tottenham probably won't take very many shots. That being said, this figures to be the lowest-scoring game on the slate, and Spurs have proven they can't really break down good defensive teams.
Robert SanchezBHAWHU46005.7388.83
I cannot quite bring myself to play Sam Johnstone, so I will go with the next cheapest option. West Ham's finishing has taken a hit with Antonio out, as they have six goals on 18 shots on target in their last five games. There is a good chance no team keeps a clean sheet on this slate, and if that is the case, you will likely be glad you did not spend up at the position.
Forwards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Said BenrahmaWHUBHA66005.93137.69
He has three crosses in both of his starts this season, and Brighton have allowed 22 goals on the season. He is the most affordable way into West Ham's attack, and I might bet him at +300 to score a goal as well.
Midfielders
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Curtis JonesLIVWBA52004.33128.99
He has three shots and two chances created in each of his last two starts, and he is the only reasonably priced way into Liverpool's attack.
Mohamed SalahLIVWBA1120020.822433.30
The comparisons between Salah and Mane for fantasy look silly now. It would be closer if Salah wasn't on penalties, but Salah is clearly the safer choice.
Sadio ManeLIVWBA1040014.682121.14
I'm fine playing Mane if you need to save some money, especially in a GPP. Mane leads Liverpool in headed shots, and West Brom have surrendered a ton of headed shots this season.
Tomas SoucekWHUBHA49007.031514.52
He has goals in three of his last seven games, and he is a fine alternative if you cannot afford Sebastien Haller.
Son Heung-MinTOTWOL  1926.29
He has taken on a lot more of a creative role in December, averaging two chances created per game. He has been much safer than Kane during that time, and he remains cheaper than Kane.
Defenders
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Vladimir CoufalWHUBHA590010.411416.39
He has 21 crosses in his last two games, with at least two chances created in four straight games and six of his last seven. I like him on both sites.
Dara O'SheaWBALIV36003.63811.40
He had 10 clearances against City 11 days ago, and he had nice fantasy days against Chelsea and Everton earlier this season as well. He has at least 9.1 FD fantasy points in seven straight starts, and I'm fine with that floor at his price.
Andrew RobertsonLIVWBA770014.451516.21
He has created four chances in each of his last two games, and he is safer than Trent Alexander-Arnold on both sites. That being said, good luck affording him on DraftKings.
Fabian BalbuenaWHUBHA37004.91115.55
He has double-digit fantasy points on FD in 10 of his 11 games this season.
Joel VeltmanBHAWHU45004.67108.05
He had two crosses in 45 minutes last week with Tariq Lamptey out. If Veltman takes Lamptey's position out wide, he could be a nice value on DK.

 

Example Lineups

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.

 

DK Cash  DK GPP
Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary  Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
FSaid BenrahmaWHUBHA5.93$6,600  FDanny WelbeckBHAWHU6.76$6,700
FLeandro TrossardBHAWHU9.38$7,800  FSaid BenrahmaWHUBHA5.93$6,600
MCurtis JonesLIVWBA4.33$5,200  MTomas SoucekWHUBHA7.03$4,900
MSolly MarchBHAWHU11.84$8,100  MMohamed SalahLIVWBA20.82$11,200
DVladimir CoufalWHUBHA10.41$5,900  DVladimir CoufalWHUBHA10.41$5,900
DAndrew RobertsonLIVWBA14.45$7,700  DJoel VeltmanBHAWHU4.67$4,500
GKRobert SanchezBHAWHU5.73$4,600  GKAlissonLIVWBA8.02$5,900
UtilPablo FornalsWHUBHA6.76$3,900  UtilPablo FornalsWHUBHA6.76$3,900
    Total$49,800      Total$49,600
              
DK Pivot Cash  DK Pivot GPP
Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary  Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
F     1 F     
FJarrod BowenWHUBHA12.74$8,9001 F     
M     1 M     
M     1 M     
D     1 D     
DJoel VeltmanBHAWHU4.67$4,5001 D     
GK     1 GKRobert SanchezBHAWHU5.73$4,600
UtilJordan HendersonLIVWBA7.69$5,8001 UtilCurtis JonesLIVWBA4.33$5,200
    Total$19,200      Total$9,800
              
FD Cash  FD GPP
PosPlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary  PosPlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
F/MMohamed SalahLIVWBA33.30$24  F/MSaid BenrahmaWHUBHA7.69$13
F/MCurtis JonesLIVWBA8.99$12  F/MCurtis JonesLIVWBA8.99$12
F/MDaniel PodenceWOLTOT13.77$16  F/MSadio ManeLIVWBA21.14$21
F/MSon Heung-MinTOTWOL26.29$19  F/MTomas SoucekWHUBHA14.52$15
DFabian BalbuenaWHUBHA15.55$11  DAndrew RobertsonLIVWBA16.21$15
DDara O'SheaWBALIV11.40$8  DDara O'SheaWBALIV11.40$8
GKRui PatricioWOLTOT8.89$9  GKAlissonLIVWBA11.82$14
    Total$99      Total$98
              
FD Pivot Cash  FD Pivot GPP
PosPlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary  PosPlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
F/M     1 F/M     
F/M     1 F/M     
F/MTomas SoucekWHUBHA14.52$151 F/M     
F/MHarry KaneTOTWOL30.79$201 F/MSebastien HallerWHUBHA11.25$18
D     1 DVladimir CoufalWHUBHA16.39$14
D     1 D     
GK     1 GK     
    Total$35      Total$32