Merry Christmas! Hopefully, we can avoid any more games getting canceled for Sunday’s EPL DFS slate. The good news is that enough games are scheduled that even if we lose one more, we should have plenty of options to choose from for our lineups. As has been the case for much of December, I will probably pay a decent amount for my goalkeeper. Fortunately, there are a handful of cheap midfielders who we can play to allow us to spend up at keeper and elsewhere.
Goalkeepers
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Tim Krul
NOR
ARS
3800
4.64
7
7.82
Arsenal is allowing 3.5 saves per game, third-most in the league. They have scored 1.5 goals per game, seventh-most in the league. Arsenal's offense is rolling right now, but Krul still has the best matchup among the cheap goalkeepers. I don't think we need to save money at keeper for this slate, but in case you want to, I think Krul is our best bet.
Lukasz Fabianski
WHU
SOU
5400
7.96
12
12.09
West Ham is +200 to win and keep a clean sheet. Perhaps more importantly, only six teams have allowed more saves per game than Southampton, and only four teams have scored fewer goals per game. Fabianski threads the needle of being safe with a high ceiling and a reasonable price.
Alvaro Fernandez
BRE
BHA
9
10.36
I still don't think I'm going to play a cheap keeper on FanDuel, but at least we have some more options than we do on DraftKings. Only three teams have scored fewer goals than Brighton, and Fernandez has at least seven fantasy points in six consecutive games.
Aaron Ramsdale
ARS
NOR
5700
11.82
14
18.27
When Ederson is in the slate, he is almost always my pay up keeper option. According to the odds, he should be, as Manchester City is -135 to win and keep a clean sheet. That being said, only four teams have been shut out less often than Leicester this season. Meanwhile, Norwich has been shut out the most. For their part, Arsenal has kept the fourth-most clean sheets this season. Even with Arsenal playing on the road, I think Ramsdale is a better bet (for his price) if you are chasing a win and clean sheet.
Forwards
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Raheem Sterling
MCI
LEI
8600
10.56
17
15.83
I'm not sure why Sterling remains so cheap on FanDuel. I suppose you could argue the goals won't continue forever, but he has at least 28.5 FD fantasy points in four straight games and five of his last six. He also has at least two chances created in five of his last six games.
Midfielders
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Solly March
BHA
BRE
10
9.59
March is averaging 13.5 FD fantasy points in seven starts, with double-digit fantasy points in six of those. He isn't guaranteed to start in the late game, which is a problem, but we should be able to pivot to Enock Mwepu or Adam Lallana if March is on the bench.
Mason Mount
CHE
AVL
20
21.71
Mount's four-game goals streak ended at Wolverhampton but he still created three chances. He is one of the safest players on the slate in a good matchup at Aston Villa.
Kevin De Bruyne
MCI
LEI
9000
12.8
21
17.14
De Bruyne is averaging 28.8 FD fantasy points in his last six starts, and he has been just as good on DK. His lack of forward eligibility makes it more difficult to play De Bruyne on DK but I will try to get him in most of my lineups.
Bukayo Saka
ARS
NOR
9900
11.48
16
14.35
He is in great form with a great matchup, and his forward eligibility on DraftKings only adds to his appeal, especially for cash games.
Martin Odegaard
ARS
NOR
8300
8.24
15
14.21
Odegaard has been just as good as Saka on FD and he is slightly cheaper. I wouold definitely consider playing them both but if I had to choose, I'll save the dollar and use the guy who has created at least two chances in six consecutive games.
Midfielders
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Conor Gallagher
CRY
TOT
8500
15.52
19
22.92
Gallagher is onoe of the safest players on either slate, and he is affordable. Tottenham looks solid defensively but not good enough to scare me away. It is difficult to spend up at much in the midfield but I am going to try.
Son Heung-Min
TOT
CRY
9700
16.85
20
19.60
I don't love the matchup against Crystal Palace, though Palace has struggled at Tottenham the last few seasons. More importantly, Son Heung-min has three goals, an assist, seven chances created and 21 crosses in his last three games. He is a safe play on both sites, and his forward-eligibility is valuable on DK.
Mathias Normann
NOR
ARS
5100
7.98
14
13.58
My best guess is that Mathias Normann will start and Milot Rashica will not, which would put Normann on set pieces. If both Norman and Rashica are out again, Billy Gilmour would stay in that role. Whoever takes corners will be a nice value play Sunday, though Rashica is more expensive than the others.
William Smallbone
SOU
WHU
3700
7.2
7
6.90
Southampton has a couple of players who could be game-time decisions, which could push Smallbone to the bench. That being said, the loss of the Burnley/ Everton game means Smallbone is by far the best punt play if he starts. If he doesn't start, we will have to hope another surprise option emerges once lineups are announced.
Defenders
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Emerson Royal
TOT
CRY
5300
7.67
11
12.96
Royal replaces Lucas Digne as my spend up defender on DraftKings. Royal has at least 6.2 fantasy points in five straight games and seven of his last eight. He should be safe in a pretty nice matchup.
Cedric Soares
ARS
NOR
3800
1.83
7
5.72
In four matches this season, Soares has come off the bench twice and gotten starts against Chelsea and Manchester City. He had 2.8 DK fantasy points in eight minutes against Norwich back in September, and he would be a fantastic play if Takehiro Tomiyasu's injury keeps him out.
Luke Thomas
LEI
MCI
3800
7.24
11
11.96
This is obviously a tough matchup but this is a good price on DraftKings for someone who has been quite consistent. If Soares doesn't get the start, Thomas is a fine pivot.
Tariq Lamptey
BHA
BRE
8
8.40
Lamptey has been inconsistent on FD, which we would expect from a defender who relies on attacking statistics. That being said, Brentford's defense has cooled considerably after a hot start, and Lamptey has an excellent shot at creating a few chances and perhaps picking up an assist.
Ben Johnson
WHU
SOU
4200
6.21
11
13.48
I had Vladimir Coufal on this list, but Johnson has been just as good for fantasy and is $700 cheaper on DK. If for some reason Johnson does not start, Coufal would be a fine alternative.
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Jannik Vestergaard
LEI
MCI
3100
1.95
8
9.34
It looks like Vestergaard will get his first start in 2 1/2 months thanks to Caglar Soyuncu's injury. Vestergaard is averaging 14.4 FD fantasy points when he starts this season, including 14.3 against Manchester City. He is a cash play if he starts.
Craig Dawson
WHU
SOU
2900
2.8
9
10.36
Only Liverpool has allowed more clearances than Southampton, and only give teams have allowed more blocks+tackles+interceptions+clearances. Dawson is far safer than Issa Diop and he is only $1 more.
