DraftKings EPL Fantasy Daily Picks – February 25 2017
By David Gate
Premier League action returns on Saturday with 12 teams primed for DraftKings EPL DFS games. Read on for tips and picks!
The aim of these articles is to offer DraftKings EPL 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 an hour before kick off – which will be around 9am ET on Saturday. It is paramount you check these team sheets before you complete 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 DraftKings EPL lineups on Twitter at @DavidGateSports and @FantasyCPR
The key to all DFS sports is value. Getting the most points out of every dollar spent. Gaining 3 points for every $1K of budget will be a very high scoring lineup on DraftKings.
I rank my picks 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 match up
*** Three Stars = excellent pick with a strong match up
DraftKings EPL Goalkeepers
Top of my keeper list for game week 26 is Eldin Jakupovic (6700)*** of Hull City. Since appointing Marco Silva as manager in January there has been a significant improvement in performances and results. This has included keeping clean sheets against Man Utd and Liverpool already this month. Burnley has managed to score a measly 5 goals away from home in 11 games this season. Jakupovic is my best bet of the day to both stack the stat line and get the clean sheet bonus.
Middlesborough rank a surprising 3rd in goals concede away (13) while Crystal Palace rank 19th in goals scored at home (13) meaning that Victor Valdes (6800)** is a solid pick this week to pick up the clean sheet bonus.
Joel Robles (6300)** has hugely benefited from Everton’s defensive stability and a healthy compliment of defenders in front of him. Sunderland rank 18th in goals scored this year and would be dead last if not the 4-0 rout of Palace earlier in the month. There is a high chance here of a clean sheet but not enough upside to warrant inclusion in a GPP lineup.
The least busy keeper of the day will surely be Thibaut Courtois (6000)***. Chelsea are the only top 6 team in action and are huge favorites for this game and should find the going easy enough to protect the Belgian stopper.
DraftKings EPL Defenders
Top of the list will be Alonso (6600)*** and Coleman (6000)***. Both have elite matchups against teams who struggle to score and give up goals readily to opposing attacks. There is so little upside to defensive stats on DraftKings that it is always worth chasing goals from every outfield position. These attacking wing backs have everything set for big days.
I’ve been hot on Jose Holebas (4500)*** for a while now. He is playing in midfield and racks up the crosses giving a solid floor for the DEF position. This week is a fantastic matchup for him to grab an assist with a West Ham side who gives up a ton of headed goals. With Andy Carroll missing for the Hammers his chances of grabbing the clean sheet bonus takes a bump too.
One team I am going to load up on this week is West Brom. They score a huge proportion of their goals from corners and headers which is the weakest part of Bournemouth’s defence. For this reason I think we could see Gareth McAuley (3600)** on the score sheet again.
DraftKings EPL Midfielders
Open up the Midfield slate for Saturday and you will see 5 of the top 8 players involved in the Chelsea v Swansea match. Inevitably people will fill their midfields with these options but I think you should give most of them as much fade as you can manage. Let’s look at why:
Eden Hazard (9400) – A great player but has done very little in DFS since Pedro came into the side as the second forward.
Sigurdsson (8400) – His points totals against the top sides is really poor. He is Swansea’s only creative force and Chelsea will stick Kante on him to lock him up.
Willian (7700) – Lost his place to Pedro. Hasn’t scored more than 4 DraftKings points in 2017.
Victor Moses (7200) – If he was $1k cheaper than maybe. Maybe.
Now I think Chelsea are going to win easily and one or more of the players above is going to get a goal or an assist. But if we consider their prices, their high roster % and the sheer number of guys which spread out all the other stats… I’m leaving well alone. I understand if you can’t – someone here will have a great week – but I don’t like the odds or the upside.
The one exception in this game I would make is Pedro (8600)** who is in great form and can be used in a MID spot even though he plays as a FWD.
This leaves us Ross Barkley (7300)*** as the best midfielder over $7k this week. He has a great matchup at home to Sunderland. I will have him in at least one lineup.
I am also keen on Michael Antonio (7100)*** and Robert Snodgrass (8300)* against Watford. I had them ranked higher until news of Andy Carroll’s unavailability came out. It makes it harder for West Ham to score – though they will depend on these two even more which could negate that.
Etienne Capoue (5100)*** is very nicely priced for a midfielder with 5 goals this season in a favorable home matchup. West Brom’s midfield against Bournemouth has some very attractive options with Matt Phillips(7000)** due a big game and Brunt (5900)*** and Morrison (4300)** are both underpriced.
My number one midfield pick on DraftKings this week is Troy Deeney (5400)*** who plays as a forward. He has an elite matchup and bargain price. I’m all over him this week.
DraftKings EPL Forwards
It’s hard to pass on the expensive forwards this week with Romelu Lukaku (9000)*** and Diego Costa (10100)*** all with top match ups. You’ll have to use at least one of them in cash games but I’ll have a lineup or two without any of them in GPP as I think Lukaku and Costa will be over 50% rostered.
More from FanSided
- MLB Rumors: Justin Verlander has a clear suitor, but it comes with a catch
- MLB Rumors: Braves trade grade, Cardinals trade bait, Red Sox selling
- USMNT news: Turner to Forest, Trusty to Sheffield, Reynolds to Westerlo
- Inside the Clubhouse: What I’m hearing as the MLB Trade Deadline nears
- Yankees: Luis Severino has blunt assessment of another miserable outing
Salomón Rondón (6100)** hasn’t scored in 9 games and has only scored in two matches since September!This week he faces Bournemouth in an elite match up and is still West Brom’s top scorer with 7 goals on the season. His form is a huge red flag but I will roll the dice on him in one lineup on Saturday.
From the midrange forwards I like Joshua King (5700)** Since Callum Wilson was ruled out for the rest of the season Joshua King has become Bournemouth’s primary goal threat. He faces West Brom away in a game that could easily become a shoot out. I like his upside this week.
My favorite forward picks in week 26 are found much further down the price list. I love Watford’s M’Baye Niang (5800)*** who has looked a fantastic acquisition for the Hornets. He carved out a goal and assist for 26 DraftKings points in his first home game against Burnley. His upside and price point too good to ignore. Similarly Hull’s Oumar Niasse (5200)*** has come in from Everton to be a starter. He scored in his only home game for the Tigers so far and goes up against a Burnley side who have only kept one clean sheet away from home all season.
DraftKings EPL Lineups
Lineup 1
GK: Courtois – Chelsea
DEF: Alonso – Chelsea
DEF: Holebas – Watford
MID: Deeney – Watford
MID: Chadli – West Brom
FWD: Costa – Chelsea
FWD: Rondon – West Brom
UTIL: Niang – Watford
Lineup 2
GK: Robles – Everton
DEF: Coleman – Everton
DEF: McAuley – West Brom
MID: Deeney – Watford
MID: Barkley – Everton
FWD: King – Bournemouth
FWD: Lukaku – Everton
UTIL: Antonio – West Ham
Best of luck in your EPL DFS contests and stay tuned to Fantasy CPR for all the late breaking lineup news and roster updates!