When I create my EPL DFS lineups, I usually construct my cash lineups first. I like to find the players with high ceilings and good matchups who I think I can trust and put them in a lineup first, and then I can take the players from that lineup who I can’t live without and add them to some riskier picks for my GPP lineups.

That process didn’t work out for this slate, because there just aren’t enough safe players. It’s hard to trust Liverpool’s attackers given their recent form. Tottenham and Leicester are largely mysteries with the two best English forwards dealing with injuries. Brighton is never consistent from one week to the next and Leeds has a tough matchup.

As I did my research, I flagged a number of guys who I like a lot but don’t completely trust, and then I repeatedly found myself adding them to my cash lineups because they were still safer than the other options at their positions. My default in this situation is to play fewer cash lineups, but at the same time, if I can’t find players I think are safe, odds are other DFS players are having the same struggle. Perhaps the best strategy is to simply play the same contests I always do.

 

Goal Keepers
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Robert SanchezBHATOT46005.5479.00
This may be an overreaction to Harry Kane's injury. That being said, this is no longer a scary matchup, and I'm not sure I see anyone I am in a hurry to pay up for.
Lukasz FabianskiWHULIV40007.64812.00
On the surface, it looks like Liverpool righted the ship at Spurs on Thursday. Having watched that game, Liverpool's three goals had far more to do with Hugo Lloris and a makeshift defense playing terribly than with Liverpool's offense getting back on track. Liverpool have struggled on the road all season, and no team has allowed more saves than Liverpool.
Hugo LlorisTOTBHA50009.121313.95
Brighton has scored the fewest goals of any team in the slate by far, and Lloris is averaging 4.6 saves per game in his last eight games. If you are looking to pay up, he's your best bet.
Forwards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Steven BergwijnTOTBHA45004.36156.51
Bergwijn has created six chances in his last three games, and I think he is the most likely attacker to pick up some of the slack with Harry Kane out.
Midfielders
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Son Heung-MinTOTBHA900017.952124.03
On the one hand, he's going to be on penalties and probably the lion's share of set pieces, and only five teams have conceded more goals per game than Brighton this season. On the other hand, I don't trust anyone on the team to set Son up or finish when he sets them up. I think he is riskier than normal, but his ceiling is as high as anyone's.
James MaddisonLEILEE990014.741716.37
He had eight crosses and five shots against Everton, and while I would like him better if he created more than one chance or had more than one shot on goal, I was still encouraged by his first game with Jamie Vardy out. Maddison is a save play on both sites.
Harvey BarnesLEILEE740010.851615.84
I was worried that Barnes might struggle without Jamie Vardy there to draw the attention of the defense, but he created five chances including an assist on Leicester's only goal against Everton Wednesday. Barnes has three goals and two assists in his last six games, and he has nine chances created in his last three.
Cengiz UnderLEILEE71006.0386.40
His FPPG is a lote more impressive when you realize he is averaging 32.1 minutes per game this season. He had three crosses and three shots in 22 minutes against Everton Wednesday. He's riskier on FanDuel but he is also super cheap, and Leeds have allowed the third-most goals in the league.
Michail AntonioWHULIV830011.781816.72
I feel like I've got an unusually high number of players in my cash lineups who rely on scoring goals. Of course, when Antonio has two goals and an assist in his three starts since returning from injury, it is hard not to trust him. Liverpool's struggles with makeshift center backs this season is well-documented, and if anyone can take advantage, it is Antonio.
Defenders
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Craig DawsonWHULIV33006.6915.92
No team has had more clearances by opponents than Liverpool, and Dawson has 23 clearances in five games this season. He is pretty cheap for someone who has at least 12.8 FD fantasy points in four of those five games.
Toby AlderweireldTOTBHA36005.181116.56
Only four teams have allowed more clearances than Brighton this season. Alderweireld has at least 16.5 FD fantasy points in six of his last seven games, and I would gladly take that kind of production at his price.
Nathaniel PhillipsLIVWHU25002.38912.07
Phillips is averaging 13.9 FD fantasy points in three starts this season, and he is a nice value if he starts in place of Fabinho Sunday. Rhy Williams would be worth considering if he starts instead.
Timothy CastagneLEILEE42007.64914.78
He may not be the most exciting defender, but he has at least 6.1 DK fantasy points in four straight games. Leeds's back-and-forth style could allow Castagne to get forward a little bit more than we're used to.
Trent Alexander-ArnoldLIVWHU720013.511313.66
Alexander-Arnold sent in 22 crosses against Burnley and followed that up with a goal and an assist against Tottenham. He is safer on DK than most of the forwards and midfielders at his price, and he has a nice ceiling on FanDuel if he can find another attacking return.
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Joel VeltmanBHATOT46006.15910.55
Veltman struggled against Manchester City a couple of weeks ago but otherwise has 23 crosses and seven chances created in four games. He doesn't have the attacking flair of Tariq Lamptey but he is cheaper and more consistent. Veltman figures to be a solid cash play for as long as Lamptey is out.

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
FSteven BergwijnTOTBHA4.36$4,500  FSteven BergwijnTOTBHA4.36$4,500
FSon Heung-MinTOTBHA17.95$9,000  FAyoze PerezLEILEE5.83$6,500
MJames MaddisonLEILEE14.74$9,900  MSolly MarchBHATOT10.65$5,900
MMarc AlbrightonLEILEE7.85$5,700  MSon Heung-MinTOTBHA17.95$9,000
DVladimir CoufalWHULIV9.8$5,500  DJoel VeltmanBHATOT6.15$4,600
DTimothy CastagneLEILEE7.64$4,200  DTrent Alexander-ArnoldLIVWHU13.51$7,200
GKLukasz FabianskiWHULIV7.64$4,000  GKLukasz FabianskiWHULIV7.64$4,000
UtilTrent Alexander-ArnoldLIVWHU13.51$7,200  UtilMichail AntonioWHULIV11.78$8,300
    Total$50,000      Total$50,000
              
DK Pivot Cash  DK Pivot GPP
Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary  Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
F     1 F     
F     1 F     
M     1 M     
M     1 M     
DJoel VeltmanBHATOT6.15$4,6001 D     
D     1 D     
GK     1 GKRobert SanchezBHATOT5.54$4,600
UtilHarvey BarnesLEILEE10.85$7,4001 UtilHarvey BarnesLEILEE10.85$7,400
    Total$12,000      Total$12,000
              
FD Cash  FD GPP
PosPlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary  PosPlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
F/MJames MaddisonLEILEE16.37$17  F/MMichail AntonioWHULIV16.72$18
F/MSteven BergwijnTOTBHA6.51$15  F/MYouri TielemansLEILEE13.91$13
F/MSon Heung-MinTOTBHA24.03$21  F/MJames MaddisonLEILEE16.37$17
F/MHarvey BarnesLEILEE15.84$16  F/MSon Heung-MinTOTBHA24.03$21
DCraig DawsonWHULIV15.92$9  DTrent Alexander-ArnoldLIVWHU13.66$13
DToby AlderweireldTOTBHA16.56$11  DToby AlderweireldTOTBHA16.56$11
GKLukasz FabianskiWHULIV12.00$8  GKRobert SanchezBHATOT9.00$7
    Total$97      Total$100
              
FD Pivot Cash  FD Pivot GPP
PosPlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary  PosPlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
F/M     1 F/M     
F/M     1 F/M     
F/M     1 F/M     
F/M     #REF! F/M     
DNathaniel PhillipsLIVWHU12.07$91 DLiam CooperLEELEI15.76$13
D     1 DCraig DawsonWHULIV15.92$9
GKKasper SchmeichelLEILEE13.50$111 GK     
    Total$20      Total$22