FanDuel EPL Fantasy Daily Picks – February 1 2017
By David Gate
The midweek Premier League action continues in FanDuel EPL DFS with 6 teams facing up in Wednesday night.
The aim of these articles is to provide FanDuel EPL DFS players with an edge through delving into stats and news to give your lineup the best possible chance of making money on FanDuel.
I will also be doing the same for DraftKings. 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 – which will be around 1:45pm on Wednesday. It is paramount you check these team sheets before you finalize your lineup. The DFS sites won’t list designations as accurately as 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 4 points for every $1k of budget will be a high scoring lineup.
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
FanDuel EPL Goalkeepers
I can make a case for 5 of the 6 keepers on today’s slate. Everyone but Bravo. If you want to chase the clean sheet bonus then I’d go for de Gea (6400)** or Robles (6200)**. They rank 3rd and 4th for goals conceded. If you want to chase saves & clearances then go for Jakupovic (6300)** or Randolph (6100)*. The best bet for both is Lee Grant (6600)*** at home to Everton. I don’t have strong feelings for any of them so I would set the rest of my roster and see how much I have left for a keeper.
FanDuel EPL Defenders
I am really high on Everton’s defenders right now. The have switched from a 4-4-2 formation to a 3-5-2 formation and it has worked wonders for them, keeping 4 clean sheets in the last 5 games. Consequently all their center backs are currently under priced. Williams (5800)** will certainly start but there is a question whether the return of Jagielka(5100)** will replace youngster Holgate(5100)** or Funes Mori(5400)** or will Koemann keep things the unchanged?
In the new formation Baines (6400)*** and Coleman (6300)*** are essentially playing as midfielders, greatly increasing the likelihood of assists, goals, shots and chances created. They are both attacking players and I love their upside right now. For comparison, Chelsea play with the same formation and FanDuel list Alonso and Moses as midfielders. I would stack these guys if you can make it work.
Elsewhere, I’m not interested in any of the West Ham or Stoke defenders. Fonte (5500) will make his first start for the Hammers but I want to see how they do this week before backing them in DFS and I just don’t like the price points of Stoke’s backline.
I will be scouring the team sheets for value in the Man Utd, Man City and Hull lineups. If Man Utd are unchanged I’m leaving them alone but I love the value of Darmian (5400)**, Bailly(5400)** and even Luke Shaw (4700)* if any of them get the nod.
It was announced yesterday that Hull’s Curtis Davies is out for 8 weeks even though he’s listed as GTD on FanDuel. They will probably replace him with midfielder Huddlestone (4700)**. The only higher priced player in this game I like is Hull’s Harry Maguire (6100)** who is coming off a huge game last week (49.75 FanDuel pts).
The Man City defense has possibility for good value also. They have been starting Kolarov (5900)* in the center and while he has been solid on DFS he has been pretty terrible for Man City! There is a good chance that Stones(4800)** could find himself back in the team but they are really hoping club captain Kompany(4000)** is fit to go.
FanDuel EPL Midfielders
There are two midfielders over $10k available today. Kevin De Bruyne(10400) managed to get over 17 FanDuel points for the first time since Game Week 17 last week. That stat is a little deceptive as Hugo Lloris gifted him a goal to inflate his total. He is out of form and only managed 23 FanDuel points against West Ham at home in the reverse fixture. Instead I really prefer Pogba(10000)*** this week. Man Utd are increasingly working out how to utilize his enormous talent and make him the heartbeat of their play. He grabbed a goal against tonight’s opponents Hull in the League Cup last week. I’m including him as the centerpiece of my lineups today. If you want a pivot that will be rostered less I would look at Mkhitaryan(8400)**.
West Ham’s Michail Antonio(8300)* is in great form and has been a very popular pick. While I can see him having a good showing today I am avoiding him due to his high usage. Instead I am turning to Manuel Lanzini(6500)***. He has replaced recently traded star Payet as the team’s creative hub, filling the number 10 role. His star is on the rise but his price point is still relatively low.
The midfields of Everton and Hull both offer some interesting value options. Kevin Mirallas (5700)** has moved inside in the new formation and is supporting the attack alongside the more expensive Barkley(7400)* yet has a similar upside. Look out for Schneiderlin (4700)** as he may make his first start today.
For Hull it is thought Huddlestone(4700)* will start in defense but I still like him due to his price. Defenders tend to have more consistent stat sheets but far less upside. See this as solid lineup filler. The great value pick here is recent signing Evandro(4300)**. Hull are going to look somewhere for attacking midfield production now Snodgrass(6200)* has been transferred to West Ham. Evandro is the player who will get the first chance to prove himself and has huge upside at such a low price.
FanDuel EPL Forwards
Three strikers head up tonight’s slate. Leading the way is Ibrahimovic(13200)*** who faces a leaky Hull defense at Old Trafford who just lost key defender Curtis Davies to injury. Hull have conceded 10 penalties this term, 3 more than anyone else. Ibrahimovic is the designated penalty taker these days and has been in fine form, especially at home. He is pricey and will certain to be highly rostered so it comes down to your DFS strategy. Can you afford to miss the guy everyone has who blows up?
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Between Lukaku(11000)** and Aguero(11800)* I would opt for the Everton forward. His price point is easier plus Aguero is just returning from injury and I’d be surprised if he plays 90 minutes with new signing Gabriel Jesus waiting in the wings.
Looking at the mid-priced forwards Andy Carroll(8700)** has three goals in his last two games and is facing Man City’s defense who have been unable to find stability. He is listed with a groin injury so check his status before lineups lock. Stoke City’s Arnautovic(8000)** is the only other realistic option in the 8-11k range.
With usage of expensive forwards expected to be high there is some real opportunity further down the price range. Saido Berahino(6900)* became an outcast at West Brom and hasn’t played since October. He will be hoping his transfer to Stoke will revitalize his promising career. If he starts today then he has huge upside as a proven Premier League goalscorer and is the type of player who could shine against Everton’s 3-5-2 formation.
Hull’s new signing Oumar Niasse(5400)** is another playing hoping to revive his career after a terrible time at Everton. He scored against tonight’s opponents in the league cup last week and is fresh and ready to prove himself in this league. He should be a more solid option than his hot & cold striking partner Abel Hernandez(5700)*.
My FanDuel EPL Lineup
I’ve gone for an aggressive lineup which should prove solid for cash games but with high upside for tournament play.
FWD: Ibrahimovic – Man Utd
FWD: Niasse – Hull
MID: Lanzini – West Ham
MID: Pogba – Man Utd
MID:Mirallas – Everton
DEF: Coleman – Everton
DEF: Baines – Everton
GK: Robles – Everton
Best of luck today in your FanDuel EPL contests and stay tuned to Fantasy CPR on Twitter for all the late breaking lineup news and roster updates!