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The full Premier League fixture list returns this weekend and Saturday’s slate looks like it’ll provide a great opportunity to profit. There are five games to choose from and non-more important than Leicester City’s visit to Selhurst Park, as Claudio Ranieri’s side look to extend their lead at the top of the table.
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Jack Butland – DK 3,300
Opponent – Watford
I was relatively surprised to find that Jack Butland was one of the cheapest options in goal. The Stoke City goalkeeper has averaged a very respectable 8 points per game this season and has a nice fixture against Watford this weekend. Goalkeepers receive five points for a victory and five for keeping a clean sheet, and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if we saw Butland pick up all ten points. Stoke are the better of the two sides and Watford have only scored 29 goals all season, only Newcastle and Aston Villa have scored fewer. All in all, Butland are a great cheap option in goal in Saturday’s slate at just $3,300.
Ben Foster – DK 3,900
Opponent – Norwich City
Ben Foster isn’t my first choice option in goal but he’s a good alternative to Jack Butland and you can make the argument he’s worth the extra $600. Foster has averaged 9 points per game this season, which is better than any goalkeeper who will start in this slate. The Englishman also has a good fixture against Norwich who are one of the worse sides in the Premier League. They’re 18th in the table, they’ve only scored 31 goals all season, and therefore this good be a good match up to draft Ben Foster at a reasonable price.
Geoff Cameron– DK 2,800
Opponent – Watford
Stoke City’s first choice right back, Glen Johnson is out injured, as is second choice right back, Phil Bardsley, therefore Geoff Cameron is likely to start in the position, just like he did against Southampton last weekend. Cameron’s average of 4 points per game isn’t particularly inspiring, although the majority of his appearances have been as a central defender. As a right back he is likely to score more points, as he proved versus Southampton when he scored 8 points, despite Stoke failing to keep a clean sheet. Playing in the full back position, Cameron is an excellent edition to your side at just $2,800.
Angel Rangel – DK 3,200
Opponent – Aston Villa
A second cheap defensive option is Swansea full back, Angel Rangel. One of the main reasons for me selecting Rangel is due to the opposition he faces, Aston Villa. Villa are by far the worst side in the Premier League and unsurprisingly, Swansea are the overwhelming favourites to win this match. Swansea’s opponents have only scored 22 goals all season, subsequently there’s a good chance of a clean sheet which would earn Rangel an extra three points. Furthermore, Rangel has scored well in recent gameweeks, his last five Premier League starts have resulted in 48 points, an average of 9.6 points per game.
Yannick Bolasie – DK 5,700
Opponent – Leicester City
Yannick Bolasie offers excellent value at $5,700, he’s a great point-scorer, as he has already proved. This season Bolasie has averaged 12.5 points per game and he can cause the Leicester City defence all sorts of problems. His good average is largely due to willingness to run down the wing and cross the ball into the box. In Bolasie’s 19 Premier League appearances this season, he’s delivered 97 crosses, therefore that’s over 5 points per game from crosses alone. These crosses obviously occasionally result in assists which are worth 6 points each and Bolasie pops up with the odd goal now and again.
Bertrand Traore– DK 3,300
Opponent – West Ham United
First of all, Bertrand Traore isn’t guaranteed to start for Chelsea, but should he start, he’s a must have in your line ups at $3,300. Traore has averaged 7.8 points per game on DraftKings, but this doesn’t do him justice because the majority of his appearances have come from the bench. In the two Premier League matches he’s started this month, he’s scored 11 and 15 points, plus he may play as a striker due to Diego Costa being out injured. Finally, in all competitions, Traore has scored four goals in his last six appearances, and he’s registered an assist in that period of time, as a result he has the potential to be a top point scorer in this slate.
Loic Remy – DK 3,100
Opponent – West Ham United
Just like Bertrand Traore, I wouldn’t advise you fielded Loic Remy until he’s listed in Chelsea’s starting eleven, but with Diego Costa out injured, there’s a good chance Remy will start up front. Despite playing very little for Chelsea, Remy has an excellent goal scoring record, he’s scored a goal for every 129 minutes he’s played. Furthermore, before joining Chelsea, he played for Newcastle and scored 14 goals in 26 appearances, therefore he clearly has the ability to be a good point-scorer. If Remy does start, he’s being massively undervalued at $3,300 and there’s every chance he’ll score at Stamford Bridge against West Ham.
Saido Berahino – DK 3,500
Opponent – Norwich City
Saido Berahino is another affordable forward, but unlike Remy, he is certain to start up front for West Brom. The main attraction for selecting Berahino was his opponents, Norwich City. Norwich are one of the worst sides defensively in the Premier League, they’ve conceded 54 goals this season, only Aston Villa have conceded more, therefore Berahino will inevitably have opportunities to score. The English forward is a very good goalscorer, he’s scored four goals this season but has only started 12 Premier League games, and in the 2014/15 season, Berahino scored 14 times. At $3,500, at home versus one of the worst teams in the Premier League, Saido Berahino is a good option up front.
Jamie Vardy – DK 7,700
Opponent – Crystal Palace
Jamie Vardy may be slightly pricey at $7,700, but having saved the majority of my budget on the players above, we can spend big on the most likely point-scorers and Vardy is one of them. He’s averaged 14.5 points per game this campaign, which is more than any other striker available in this slate. Leicester face Crystal Palace who have been in poor form of late and haven’t kept a clean sheet in the Premier League since January. Vardy will have opportunities to score and he’s already scored 19 goals this season as well as recording 5 assists.
Gylfi Sigurdsson – DK 7,500
Opponent – Aston Villa
Finally, we have Gylfi Sigurdsson who is an expensive purchase, although he faces the worst side in the Premier League, Aston Villa. He’s averaged an impressive 12.2 points per game and there’s a good chance he’ll outscore his average at the Liberty Stadium versus Aston Villa. Sigurdsson’s consistently high point-scoring is largely because he takes corners for Swansea, he’s delivered 128 crosses in total this campaign. His recent point-scoring has been excellent which is what really attracted me to Sigurdsson, he’s averaged over 22 points per game since February in the matches he’s played 60+ minutes in.
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View Comments
Have to admit, I'm a follower of EPL soccer, but I've been taking a beating since the scoring switched over on DK. Appreciate these insights. Haven't helped me yet but I'm confident the tide is getting ready to turn. Hopefully this week.
Question though. Like the call on Traore, but isn't his value hurt if he indeed plays up front for Costa instead of in the midfield? For a 50/50 lineup, should that change my expectations?
Hi Stouts, first of all ensure Traore is starting before selecting him in your side. Secondly, regardless of what position he plays in versus West Ham, he's a value play at $3,300. Should he start up front, he actually has a higher expected points total in my opinion. Good luck this weekend.