The first thing that stands out in Saturday’s EPL DFS slate is the strength of the goalkeepers. Most of the keepers on the slate have solid matchups and there were a few who nearly made the playbook. In the end, a few matchups stood out above the rest, especially considering their prices, but you could make an argument for just about any keeper Saturday.

Despite that, I do think there will be a fair amount of goals in this slate. The top five teams in goals conceded play Saturday and while most of the top goal-scoring sides will get the day off, it should turn out to be a rather fun slate.

Playbook:

Goalkeepers
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Edouard MendyCHESOU590012.581320.00
Only Wolves and Norwich have scored fewer goals or allowed more clean sheets than Southampton, and only four teams have allowed more saves. Chelsea's defense may be too good for Mendy to pick up too many saves, but he looks like a better cash play than most high-priced keepers who are expected to get a win and a clean sheet at home. I don't think you have to pay up on this slate, but it is awfully tempting. Mendy has at least 15.5 FD fantasy points in four of his five games this season.
Karl DarlowNEWWOL390010.05715.50
Once again Wolves look like the best matchup in the league for opposing goalkeepers. Only Norwich has scored fewer goals than Wolverhampton, and only Liverpool and Leeds have allowed more saves. No team has been shut out more. Darlow has 12 saves and two goals allowed through two games so even if he doesn't keep a clean sheet on the road, he should be a safe cash play at a bargain price.
Nick PopeBRNNOR54002.56114.42
Burnley has traditionally done very well against the bottom of the table, and it is pretty important that Burnley gets their first win in this game. Norwich has scored the fewest goals in the league, making Pope one of the best keeper plays on the slate.
Tim KrulNORBRN42000.5181.33
Krul nearly missed out on this playbook, but with Maxwel Cornet likely to miss the game and Matej Vydra and Jay Rodriguez dealing with injuries, Krul deserves consideration. I still think I prefer Karl Darlow, especially for cash games, but betting against Burnley's offense is usually a good idea, especially with the way Chris Wood, Dwight McNeil and Ashley Barnes have played of late.
Forwards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Raul JimenezWOLNEW90008.882115.38
I don't trust strikers for cash games as a general rule, but I might make an exception for Raul Jimenez, especially in this matchup. Only four players have more chances created than Jimenez this season, and I like his chances at a goal after he got his first one of the season last week.
Joshua KingWATLEE48006.131812.02
Emmanuel Dennis is cheaper on FanDuel and may be a better GPP play, but King has at least two chances created in four of his five games this season. Only Newcastle and Norwich have conceded more goals than Leeds this season, which puts all three Watford attackers in play.
Matej VydraBRNNOR69003.4134.90
Vydra had two chances created including an assist in his only start of the season last week at Leicester. He is dealing with a back injury, which means he probably won't play 90 minutes. Even so, he looks like Burnley's best attacker, and if he starts, he is underpriced on FanDuel.
Jay RodriguezBRNNOR47002.44112.65
Rodriguez was underwhelming in his only Premier League start of the season, with one shot and zero chances created. Even so, he scored all four goals in the EFL Cup against Rochdale last week and he would be my favorite budget attacker on both sites if he starts. Like Vydra, Rodriguez is dealing with an injury which could keep him out.
Midfielders
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Dwight McNeilBRNNOR830012.121515.70
He was disappointing last week at Leicester, though starting back in his familiar left-midfield role at home against Norwich is about as good as it gets. He has at least 12 DK fantasy poitns in four straight games when Maxwel Cornet sits and so long as Cornet is out again, McNeil's ceiling is as high as anyone's.
Joao MoutinhoWOLNEW64006.3599.48
Only Tottenham and Arsenal have allowed more crosses than Newcastle this season, and only Norwich has conceded more goals. Moutinho is a safe play on DraftKings and while he doesn't contribute many attacking returns, it wouldn't be shocking against Newcastle.
RaphinhaLEEWAT1070018.42123.95
Watford has been surprisingly stingy defensively, though at least some of that is likely due to playing a soft schedule. Raphinha is super safe even when he doesn't score, with at least three chances created in his last three games and 34 crosses in six games this season. You probably have better GPP options, though I may play him in FanDuel GPPs due to the price.
Ismaila SarrWATLEE930019.112024.97
He has three goals in his last two games, which were against the teams who have conceded the most goals in the league. Leeds is third in goals conceded and Sarr is a great bet to score again. He has a higher floor on DraftKings thanks to his crosses, but he is a great GPP play on both sites.
Mateusz KlichLEEWAT680013.221622.52
He has 10 shots (six on goal), eight chances created and six crosses in his last three games. It is hard to imagine why he is still so cheap on FanDuel, and he is a solid cash play on DraftKings as well.
MidfieldersTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Allan Saint-MaximinNEWWOL800015.341921.53
I don't really trust him for DraftKings, but he certainly looks like a safe cash play on FanDuel. He is tied with Jimenez with 16 chances created and while Jimenez has the better matchup, Saint-Maximin is cheaper.
Defenders
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
William Troost-EkongWATLEE25001.499.10
Watford has played a pretty soft schedule to this point, which probably explains why his defensive stats have been somewhat lacking. Among the likely starters, Troost-Ekong leads Watford in Clearances+Blocks+Interceptions and only Liverpool has allowed more CBI than Leeds this season.
Ben GibsonNORBRN26003.91014.25
This is a revenge game for Gibson, who was unhappy riding the bench for Burnley before he was moved on to Norwich. Much more importantly, he leads Norwich in clearances+blocks+interceptions per start. Gibson is a strong fantasy play on FanDuel, though Bali Mumba would be a nice value if he were to start instead.
MarcalWOLNEW55008.061010.47
Only Tottenham and Arsenal have allowed more crosses than Newcastle. Marcal has at least three crosses in all six games this season, and he is one of the safest plays on the slate.
Charlie TaylorBRNNOR50006.8811.38
Taylor did very little against Leicester, but I thiink a lot of that is because Maxwel Cornet was brilliant down the left-hand side. With Cornet out, Taylor should be safe at home against Norwich.
Max AaronsNORBRN43006.95911.85
Burnley is not sitting back and allowing teams to send in 30 crosses a game like they have in past seasons, but I still think this is a pretty favorable matchup for Aarons. No team has had less possession than Burnley this season, so Aarons should have more chances to get forward than he did at Everton last week.
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Danny RoseWATLEE41006.89811.37
For as many goals as Leeds has conceded this season, they have allowed suprisingly few crosses. That being said, Rose has topped eight DK fantasy points in two of his three starts this season, and he is worth a shot at his price.

Core Plays:

Draftkings Core Plays

Top Tier

Ismaila Sarr$9,300
Raphinha$10,700

Mid Tier

Joao Moutinho$6,400
Dwight McNeil$8,300

Value Tier

Joshua King$4,800
Max Aarons$4,300
   
Fanduel Core Plays

Top Tier

Raphinha$21
Allan Saint-Maximin$19

Mid Tier

Emmanuel Dennis$16
Mateusz Klich$16

Value Tier

Matej Vydra$13
Ben Gibson$10