DraftKings EPL DFS Soccer Daily Picks January 21 2017

There are six games on Saturday’s main DraftKings EPL DFS slate this weekend. Get your lineup set for tomorrow morning’s action with our DraftKings EPL daily picks.

This is a blog of tips, picks and strategy for Premier League Daily Fantasy DraftKings EPL. The aim of these articles is to provide DFS players with an edge through delving into stats and news to give your lineup the best possible chance of making money on DraftKings.

I will also be doing the same for FanDuel. While a lot of information will be applicable to both sites I will tailor lineups according each site’s scoring systems.

It is crucial to remember that, unlike US sports, the EPL has no official injury reports or designations. The information is usually out there but it is not as simple as looking for an official report. There is also a high amount of rotation within the squads meaning there are often surprises on the team sheets. Teams release their lineups 45 minutes to an hour before kick off. It is paramount you check these team sheets before you finalize your lineup. The DFS sites won’t list designations like they do for NFL or NBA sports as a player could be on the bench. I will list changes to my DFS lineups on Twitter at @DavidGateSports and @FantasyCPR

The key to all DFS sports is value. Getting the most points out of every dollar spent. The EPL contests are still quite new to these sites but it seems that 3 points for every $1k of budget will be a high scoring lineup in DraftKings.

My picks are ranked out of three stars for each position to give you an idea of how confident I am in that pick.

* One Star = high floor players who will get adequate value

** Two Stars = players with a higher upside and good matchup

*** Three Stars = excellent pick with a strong matchup

DraftKings /

Goalkeepers

Ben Foster (5500)*** – West Brom

Despite conceding 4 goals to Spurs last week Foster managed to accumulate 8 DraftKings points. He ranks 2nd in the league for saves which are the bread & butter of scoring for GKs. West Brom are home to a slumping Sunderland who have only mustered 20 goals all year (18th). Foster is my favorite pick this week to rack up the saves while also collecting the clean sheet bonus.

David de Gea (5600)** – Manchester United

Stoke have only scored 13 goals at home in the league (17th) and 4 of 5 the Spaniard’s best DraftKings performances have been away from home. This is a rare week when de Gea is actually deserving of a price that leads the slate. Man Utd are one of the form teams in the league and should be able to shut out the Potters.

Maarten Stekelenburg (4900)** or Joel Robles (5000)** – Everton

There has been little reason to include Stekelenburg this year as he is averaging a woeful 4.4 DraftKings points even before his injury. In his place Joel Robles has been excellent grabbing over 16 DraftKings points in 3 of his four starts over the holiday period. Though Robles deserves credit, more should be given to Everton’s form and greatly improved defense. I feel confident this week in whoever gets the nod.

Credit: Hugo Santos-US PRESSWIRE /

Defenders

Baines (5100) *** & Coleman(5300) *** – Everton

The Toffees have well and truly escaped the slump that followed their hot start, culminating in last week’s surprise demolition of Man City. This upturn in form is due in no small part to the return to fitness of fullbacks Baines & Coleman. They are crucial to way Koeman wants the team to play. They bring both stability at the back and a crucial attacking edge. This week they travel to London to play a struggling Crystal Palace side who are fresh off a convincing loss to West Ham. Also look out for youngster Mason Holgate (3500)** if they play 3-5-2 for a great value play.

Kevin Wimmer (3100)***

An injury to Vertonghen has opened a door this week for a strong value replacement. Logic says it will be Kevin Wimmer who performed well last season in Vertonghen’s absence. There is a possibility that Spurs will turn to Ben Davies (4300)* instead. Although a left back by trade, he played in the center for Wales at Euro 2016 and didn’t look out of place. The Spurs defenders should be busy in this game with City trying to get their league season back on track. Due to this being the late kick off we probably won’t know who starts before teams lock at 10am EST. This is a high risk, high reward pick.

Matteo Darmian (4400)** – Manchester United

Manager Jose Mourinho has struggled to settle on a regular left back. He plumped for Darmian against Liverpool who plays on the left at international level for Italy. It is hard to get big points from defenders in DFS as their opportunities to score, assist, shoot and create chances are much more restricted than the other outfield positions. The emphasis for defenders is to hunt for value which is there this week for Darmian. I don’t like Daley Blind (4700) at left back but if he starts in midfield then I’ll put him in as he will be well priced for a Man Utd midfield starter. There is also the possibility Luke Shaw (4100)*** returns from injury instantly upgrading him to a great value play.

Credit: Evan Habeeb-US PRESSWIRE /

Midfielders

Paul Pogba (7500)*** – Manchester United

Even the most expensive player in the world has off days. On Sunday Pogba got out-thought and out-muscled by the Liverpool midfield. With a full week to repair and recover I’m expecting Jose Mourinho to have his Man Utd side drilled and ready to get the three points at Stoke. I’m choosing Pogba over Dele Alli (7800)** this week due to matchup and kick off time. He is a high ceiling, high floor pick to build your midfield around.

Tom Davies (3500)*** & Morgan Schneiderlin (3300)*** – Everton

Everton have huge expectations for youngster Davies. In only his second start last week he put in an MVP performance against Man City racking up 14.5 DraftKings points. What makes it more impressive is that he was only starting because $25m signing Schneiderlin was not at full match fitness! Koeman should find a way to get them both on the field this week. Either of these players starting should be in your lineup as they face a Crystal Palace side who gave up huge points to West Ham’s midfield last Saturday. Enormous value here but check the lineups before they lock.

Chris Brunt(5100)** & Matt Philips(6700)** – West Brom

Ranking second in assists this season is Matt Philips with 8 to his name. He has been a must own in all Fantasy formats over the last few months. While The Baggies have a favorable matchup at home to Sunderland I can’t go all in on him as his price point has creeped too far beyond his points average. A slightly better value pick this week is Northern Irish team mate Chris Brunt who takes West Brom’s free kicks and corners.

Junior Stanislas (6700)** – Bournemouth

When playing at home Bournemouth tend to take the fight to the opposition. Junior Stanislas has been a consistently undervalued play in midfield as he doesn’t carry high name recognition. He has scored 10+ DraftKings points in 6 of his last 10 starts but has only exceeded 20 once. He is a great option to create a low floor for your midfield while saving to spend on high priced forwards.

FanDuel /

Forwards

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (8800)*** – Manchester United

Man Utd travel to Stoke who have been on the receiving end of some drubbings by the league’s top teams; losing at home 4-1 to City and 4-0 to Spurs and convincingly at Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool. This bodes well for Ibrahimovic who leads the league in shots and goals. I would look to stack him with Pogba if you can afford it. He is my pick of the high end forwards this weekend over Aguero (9100)* and Kane (9000)** squaring up in the late kick off. Last week Kane scored an incredible 53 DraftKings points which will attract a lot of selections on Saturday making Ibrahimovic even more appealing.

More from FanSided

Romelu Lukaku (7600)** – Everton

At just $7.6k the in-form Lukaku is a solid centerpiece to build your lineup around. Last week Crystal Palace found it hard to contain Andy Carroll who got on the score sheet with a stunning bicycle kick. The Belgian striker has tended to be streaky but with 5 goals in his last 7, I feel good about his prospects on Saturday.

Salomón Rondón (6900)** & Jermaine Defoe (7100)**

The West Brom v Sunderland matchup offers two strikers both priced around $7k who I’m keen on for different reasons. Rondón is the high ceiling pick, playing at home against a woeful Sunderland back line. He has 4 games this year with 25+ DraftKings points including 40 at home to a similarly porous Swansea side. On the other side of the pitch is Defoe who is the only legitimate goal threat for the Black Cats. His consistency means his floor is lower but so is his ceiling. Sunderland only have 20 goals on the season and create much fewer chances.

Joshua King (5700)*, Callum Wilson (5900)* & Benik Afobe (5400)* – Bournemouth

This is one to pay attention to when the team sheets are released. Bournemouth have been rotating their front line; last week leaving out regulars King and Wilson to go with fit again Afiobe and midfielder Ryan Fraser. The Cherries have scored 63% of their goals at home and have a favorable matchup with Watford at the Vitality Stadium. One of these three should score. Worth looking at if you need a cheaper option to fill the second FWD position.

DraftKings EPL Lineups 1/21

Lineup 1

GK: Foster – West Brom

DEF: Baines – Everton

DEF: Coleman – Everton

MID: Davies – Everton

MID: Pogba – Man Utd

FWD: Ibrahimovic – Man Utd

FWD: Lukaku – Everton

UTIL: Stanislas – West Brom

Lineup 2

GK: Randolph – West Ham

DEF: Darmian – Man Utd

DEF: Wimmer – Tottenham

MID: Alli – Tottenham

MID: Pogba – Man Utd

FWD: Ibrahimovic – Man Utd

FWD: Kane – Tottenham

UTIL: Walker – Tottenham

Next: FanDuel EPL Picks

Best of luck this weekend in your DraftKings EPL contests and stay tuned to Fantasy CPR on Twitter for our final lineups Saturday morning!

DraftKings EPL Fantasy Daily Picks – January 21 2017

By David Gate | Jan 20, 2017