Unexpected starters play an important role in any EPL DFS slate, but when you have big clubs like Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool on the same slate, it is even more important. All of those teams have players who I think would be pretty solid values if they get a chance, especially at the forward and midfield spots. The nice thing about a team like Chelsea is you have five players who are forward-eligible on DraftKings within $900 of each other. It is hard to know right now which is the best play, though I am hoping Callum Hudson-Odoi or Christian Pulisic gets the start. The nice thing is we can plug any one of them in our lineups before the first game and adjust without too much difficulty depending on the lineup. It is harder to do that with a team like Liverpool that has five super-expensive players and relatively cheap starters at the other positions. Manchester United’s Europa League game Thursday began a run of four games in 10 days, so that may be the team most likely to have a surprise starter or two. Then again, with all of the injuries they have had, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may not have much of a choice in his starting 11.

 

Goalkeepers
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Nick PopeBRNTOT40009.24814.69
Tottenham doesn't get as many shots on goal as the top sides in the league, which makes Pope's floor lower than we are used to. On the other hand, Spurs have scored exactly one goal in four of their last five games against Burnley, so Pope's floor may not be as low as you think. Spurs have struggled against teams that sit back all season, and it hasn't been much better lately, with three goals in their last five games. They were shut out in three of those games.
Hugo LlorisTOTBRN56007.871212.15
I think Lloris has the best shot at a clean sheet and a win of any keeper on the slate, though the oddsmakers admittedly have more faith in Liverpool than I do.
Forwards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Marcus RashfordMUNCHE750011.572017.12
Rashford hasn't been nearly as good as Bruno Fernandes over the last four games, but he has been consistent, with double-digit DK fantasy points in all four. Rashford is slightly less consistent on FanDuel but overall has been more productive for that scoring.
Roberto FirminoLIVSHU81009.641815.12
Firmino struggled against Manchester City, along with everyone else, but he has at least three shots in seven of his last eight starts. He isn't as good for fantasy as Salah or Mane but he is cheaper and he may be safer.
Midfielders
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Son Heung-MinTOTBRN1000016.961922.30
Harry Kane has just one assist in his last 11 games, and as such, Son Heung-Min has gone back to being the clear fantasy play you want from this team, especially for cash lineups. Son leads the team in crosses, and chances created and is tied with Kane with 13 goals. If Gareth Bale starts, he will likely take some set pieces from Son, but this should be a good matchup regardless.
Ashley WestwoodBRNTOT57008.44119.82
Westwood splits set pieces with Dwight McNeil, and while McNeil is more of a threat in open play, Westwood is much cheaper.
Bruno FernandesMUNCHE1040022.232231.63
There are a lot of very good players going Sunday, and some of them have much more inviting matchups. None, however, are as safe as Fernandes. He has at least 22 DK fantasy points in four consecutive games, and he has at least 14 FD fantasy points in 12 of his last 13. There are probably better targets for GPP lineups, but I don't know how you get away from Fernandes for cash games.
JorginhoCHEMUN46008.291314.63
It isn't often you get a cheap midfielder on penalites for a good team. Unfortunately, that is where is fantasy value begins and ends.
Oliver NorwoodSHULIV32004.98106.99
Norwood is a nice differential, but it is tough to count on someone that cheap in the last game of the slate. If he doesn't play, replacing him will be difficult. That being said, Sheffield are running out of healthy players, so I feel relatively confident Norwood will play. He leads the team in crosses and he had four against Fulham despite playing only 39 minutes off the bench. If Norwood does not start, John Lundstram is a relatively cheap alternative.
MidfieldersTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Mason MountCHEMUN930013.741718.44
I think Mount is the Chelsea player I trust the most, though you'll have to pay a premium for that trust on DraftKings. While United have a very good team, they have conceded a lot of goals, and Chelsea's form is as good as anyone's. Mount has at least 15 FD fantasy points in seven consecutive starts, and he has been just as consistent for DraftKings in that time.
Defenders
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Sergio ReguilonTOTBRN44007.391012.83
Reguilon gets forward and puts in crosses against weak teams, and he has 11 crosses, three shots and three chances created in his last three games. No team has allowed as many crosses as Burnley, and I'm thrilled to get Reguilon at this price. Matt Doherty had five crosses from right back in the reverse fixture, while Ben Davies added three from left back.
Matt DohertyTOTBRN33005.161210.76
As we mentioned above, Doherty got forward against Burnley the first time around, and I suspect he will again if he starts. Even if Doherty does start, there is no guarantee how long he will play, especially if Serge Aurier is on the bench. Japhet Tanganga would be a fantasy option if he starts instead, though Doherty is much more of a proven commodity in attack than Tanganga.
Charlie TaylorBRNTOT47006.73910.31
Among the teams on Sunday's slate, only Burnley have allowed more crosses than Spurs. I think Taylor is a better bet to get forward than Lowton, especially with Josh Brownhill lined up in front of Lowton at right mid. That being said, Lowton is worth considering if you need to save some money.
Enda StevensSHULIV36004.3969.66
It is counterintuitive, but Stevens has actually been better for fantasy against better teams. He has at least three crosses in five of his last seven games, and the exceptions were against Fulham and Brighton. Liverpool are not nearly as scary on the road, and while I'm not expecting a ton from Stevens, I think he is safe for cash games on DraftKings.
Ethan AmpaduSHULIV34005.011312.30
Liverpool has allowed 176 more clearances than any other team in the league. Ampadu leads Sheffield in clearances among the players who are healthy, and he should be safe on FanDuel.
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Phil JagielkaSHULIV25000.97116.50
Jagielka is averaging 4.33 clearances per start, second on Sheffield only to Jack Egan. Jagielka didn't do much for fantasy against Fulham despite recording three clearances, but he had double-digit fantasy points in his other two starts. He could easily be a better value than Ethan Ampadu, though Ampadu is much safer.
Nathaniel PhillipsLIVSHU26002.44810.61
It is rare to get any Liverpool starter at a discount, but that may be the case with Phillips. Phillips is averaging 12.0 FD fantasy points in five starts, with double-digit fantasy points in four of those. No one will ever be excited about playing Nathaniel Phillips, but he should be a solid cash play. It certainly helps that Sheffield have allowed the second-most clearances in the league.
Antonio RudigerCHEMUN35006.51811.93
Rudiger has at least 8.9 FD fantasy points in nine of his 10 starts. His matchup isn't as good as Jagielka's, but Rudiger is cheaper and possibly safer.

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
FSon Heung-MinTOTBUR16.96$10,000  FChristian PulisicCHEMU6.62$6,500
FMarcus RashfordMUCHE11.57$7,500  FAnthony MartialMUCHE8.12$5,400
MOliver NorwoodSHULIV4.98$3,200  MMarcus RashfordMUCHE11.57$7,500
MBruno FernandesMUCHE22.23$10,400  MMohamed SalahLIVSHU15.91$9,600
DSergio ReguilonTOTBUR7.39$4,400  DMatt DohertyTOTBUR5.16$3,300
DEnda StevensSHULIV4.39$3,600  DCharlie TaylorBURTOT6.73$4,700
GKNick PopeBURTOT9.24$4,000  GKHugo LlorisTOTBUR7.87$5,600
UtilAndrew RobertsonLIVSHU12.41$6,400  UtilTrent Alexander-ArnoldLIVSHU13.55$7,300
    Total$49,500      Total$49,900
              
DK Pivot Cash  DK Pivot GPP
Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary  Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
F     1 FOlivier GiroudCHEMU6.27$6,700
F     1 FMason Greenwood    
MAshley WestwoodBURTOT8.44$5,7001 M     
M     1 M     
D     1 D     
D     1 D     
GK     1 GK     
UtilMatthew LowtonBURTOT6.52$4,2001 Util     
    Total$9,900      Total$6,700
              
FD Cash  FD GPP
PosPlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary  PosPlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
F/MBruno FernandesMUNCHE31.63$22  F/MJorginhoCHEMUN14.63$13
F/MSon Heung-MinTOTBRN22.30$19  F/MSon Heung-MinTOTBRN22.30$19
F/MMason MountCHEMUN18.44$17  F/MRoberto FirminoLIVSHU15.12$18
F/MRoberto FirminoLIVSHU15.12$18  F/MChristian PulisicCHEMUN8.21$14
DAntonio RudigerCHEMUN11.93$8  DSergio ReguilonTOTBRN12.83$10
DNathaniel PhillipsLIVSHU10.61$8  DJames TarkowskiBRNTOT14.91$14
GKNick PopeBRNTOT14.69$8  GKHugo LlorisTOTBRN12.15$12
    Total$100      Total$100
              
FD Pivot Cash  FD Pivot GPP
PosPlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary  PosPlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
F/M     1 F/M     
F/M     1 F/M     
F/M     1 F/MMarcus RashfordMUNCHE17.12$20
F/MDwight McNeilBRNTOT8.85$13#REF! F/M     
DEthan AmpaduSHULIV12.30$131 D     
D     1 DBen MeeBRNTOT16.98$13
GK     1 GK     
    Total$26      Total$33