Most days, the biggest challenge for EPL DFS is trying to cram as many expensive players into your lineup as possible. In Sunday’s slate, the biggest challenge is finding someone worth paying up for. The lack of team favorites makes paying up for any goalkeepers a dubious endeavor at best. There are plenty of studs in the late game, but paying up for Liverpool or Chelsea players is risky in such a tough matchup.
Goalkeepers
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Wayne Hennessey
BRN
LEE
4300
5.28
7
4.50
I would like it better if Nick Pope is able to start, but Hennessey was solid in relief against Manchester United. More importantly, only five teams have allowed more saves than Leeds, and each of those teams has scored at least five more goals than Leeds. Burnley's keeper should be safe, even on the road.
Jordan Pickford
EVE
BHA
4700
6.02
10
9.56
Trusting Everton's defense is often an exercise in futility, but we are getting a pretty good price considering Everton is +165 to win. More importantly, only two teams have scored fewer goals than Brighton this season.
Forwards
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Chris Wood
BRN
LEE
4000
5.48
15
8.99
The top goal scorer for any team probably needs to cost more than $4000 on DraftKings. Only Newcastle and Norwich have allowed more goals than Leeds this season. Wood is a GPP play and unlike Aaron Lennon, he is forward-eligible.
Midfielders
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Aaron Lennon
BRN
LEE
4200
2.99
9
4.71
Lennon was pretty clearly Burnley's best player Thursday, though it didn't result in a whole lot statistically outside of his goal. That being said, this should be a much better matchup, and Lennon looks like the best value for Burnley, especially on DraftKings. He is a better GPP play, but I would consider him a punt play for cash games.
Johann Gudmundsson
BRN
LEE
6000
5.08
8
6.97
Gudmundsson looked rejuvinated playing on the left side against Manchester United, finishing with six crosses and a chance created. He is safer than Aaron Lennon and cheaper than Dwight McNeil.
Raphinha
LEE
BRN
10700
17.04
20
22.58
On the one hand, I don't feel great using someone who has five crosses and one chance created over his last three games. On the other hand, those games were against Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea. With no other safe forward options on the slate, I will roll with Raphinha in a good matchup against Burnley.
John McGinn
AVL
BRE
7800
11.63
15
15.52
McGinn has 19 crosses and eight chances created in his last four games, and three of those were against Liverpool, Leicester and Manchester City. This is a much better matchup, and this price is well worth paying.
Solly March
BHA
EVE
6400
5.47
9
9.33
March has 19 crosses in his last two games, against Chelsea and Wolverhampton. This isn't a great matchup, but it shouldn't be any worse than those last two. Even with his price going up, March looks like one of the safest players on the slate.
Midfielders
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Demarai Gray
EVE
BHA
9000
11.99
16
15.74
This is a lot to pay for Gray on DraftKings, but it is not as if there are any better spots to pay up. Gray has at least 9.8 DK fantasy points in seven consecutive starts, and the only knock against him is he isn't listed as a forward on DraftKings.
Mason Mount
CHE
LIV
19
21.28
Paying up for anyone in this game no named Mohamed Salah could be a mistake, but considering recent form and Chelsea's defense, I think Mount is safer.
Defenders
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Thiago Silva
CHE
LIV
12
14.85
Silva is the safest of the Chelsea defenders, though you have to pay a little bit for that safety. Liverpool has long been the best matchup in the league for defensive stats, and Sunday should be no different.
Ben Mee
BRN
LEE
2500
4.84
12
15.07
Burnley's defense has been much improved of late, and Ben Mee has been in the center of it, averaging 20.8 FD fantasy points in his last four games. James Tarkowski is safer, but Ben Mee looks like the better value.
Robin Koch
LEE
BRN
2500
0.54
9
8.45
Burnley is allowing the most clearances per game in the league this season, and Koch leads his team in clearances per start. If you need to save some money at defender, Koch is the best bet.
Lucas Digne
EVE
BHA
5700
9.22
12
14.32
Digne has a chance to be on set pieces with Andros Townsend out, and that makes him stand out among the expensive defenders on DraftKings.
Matthew Lowton
BRN
LEE
4700
7.46
13
14.86
I don't know why Lowton is so much cheaper than Charlie Taylor, but I will gladly take advantage. Barring an unforseen starter, Lowton is one of the safest defenders who costs less than $5000.
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Dominic Thompson
BRE
AVL
3700
1.65
10
5.20
I don't know if I completely trust him, but he is cheap enough that I probably don't have to. His price is low because he didn't do anything against Manchester City, but if he can match the two crosses he had against Brighton on Boxing Day, that should be enough to return value.
