DraftKings EPL Daily Fantasy Picks – April 1

Aug 4, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; AC Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati (32) makes a save on Chelsea forward Juan Mata (10) during the second half at Metlife Stadium. Chelsea won the game 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 4, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; AC Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati (32) makes a save on Chelsea forward Juan Mata (10) during the second half at Metlife Stadium. Chelsea won the game 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Chelsea head up the DraftKings EPL slate this week. Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Chelsea head up the DraftKings EPL slate this week. Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

DraftKings EPL DFS returns this weekend with a seven game slate on Saturday. We are here to give you the best tips, picks and lineups!

After the international break there are a number of players who have come back with injuries or who have had time to recover at home. There are two games on this slate I am going to heavily target. I love the Tottenham team as they matchup against Burnley. The South coast derby of Southampton v Bournemouth promises to have plenty of goals and contain much value.

Teams release their lineups an hour before kick off – which is at 9am ET. 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 lineups on Twitter at @DavidGateSports and @FantasyCPR

The best EPL DFS lineups have 3x value to $1k of DraftKings budget. These lineups are designed for GPP play and not cash. Because of the scoring in soccer DFS that means chasing goals and assists wherever you can find them. It often means looking in places where others won’t rather than just load up with the highest priced strikers on the slate.

My picks are 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 fair match up

*** Three Stars = excellent option with a strong match up

Which goalkeepers will get the clean sheet bonus this week in DraftKings EPL?  Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Which goalkeepers will get the clean sheet bonus this week in DraftKings EPL?  Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

DraftKings EPL Goalkeepers

With so many keepers available there are many ways to get the value you’re looking for. The safest route to take with goalkeepers is to chase the clean sheets and win bonus. This week’s stoppers primed for clean sheets include David deGea (6000)*** and Hugo Lloris (5600)**. All of these are solid picks but I don’t see the upside I would like.

Thibaut Courtois (5900)** missed Belgium’s last international with a hip injury. I expect Chelsea to keep a clean sheet this week against Palace so I will use him if he is fit.

If you want to take to opposite tactic the busiest keeper this week will be Tom Heaton (4000)** at home to Spurs. With Harry Kane missing through injury I like Heaton is all formats increases chance of clean sheet and reliance on Eriksen and Alli shooting from distance which will mean more saves.

My favorite goalkeeper this week is Heurelho Gomes (5300)***. Watford are a solid home team and Sunderland will be desperate late on in this game firing low percentage shots.

Tottenham defenders provide excellent value for DraftKings EPL Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Tottenham defenders provide excellent value for DraftKings EPL Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

DraftKings EPL Defenders

One team I will be watching the team sheet for is Tottenham Hotspur. I expect Spurs will start on the front foot against Burnley and their fullbacks will be a big part of the attack. Ben Davies (4900)** is a great price this week but if Danny Rose (5300)*** is fit and replaces him I will have him everywhere. Rose is the better player in a perfect match up.

I expect many people will be on Harry Maguire (3500) as he matches up with Andy Carroll. I am more interested in who partners him. If Curtis Davies (2800)*** is ready after his long injury then I love him at a bargain price, same upside and smaller ownership.

My defender of the day on DraftKings EPL is Marcos Alonso (5700)***. Crystal Palace give up lots down their right hand side with Zaha not tracking back. Alonso has a midfield upside this week and is set for both attacking stats and a clean sheet bonus. The other three Chelsea defenders are also good picks at low prices but I ‘m going to use David Luiz (3600)** because of his upside of getting a goal from a set-piece.

Dele Alli is a great pick in midfield this week in DraftKings EPL DFS Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Dele Alli is a great pick in midfield this week in DraftKings EPL DFS Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

DraftKings EPL Midfielders

With Ryan Fraser nursing an injury and missing out on his first cap for Scotland it could see Junior Stanislas (5800)*** return to the side. When he starts he is their primary set piece taker with corners, free kicks and penalties. In a great matchup at a low price I love him and with late swap there will be pivot options if he does miss out. On the other side Redmond (5600)**, Ward-Prowse (5700)** and Tadic (6400)** are all nicely set.

Harry Kane is out for a few more weeks and so Christian Eriksen (10200)*** and Dele Alli (8600)*** stay as the main goal threats in a great matchup with Burnley. With Son Heung-Min (8100)** set to be the lone striker I like him as a midfield alternative of DraftKings.

The other team with excellent midfield value this week is West Ham. With Michail Antonio out injured the rest of the midfield gets a huge bump in a great matchup with Hull. Manuel Lanzini (7300)*** is my favorite as he will take all set piece duties and will play in the number 10 role where Hull are particularly weak at defending.  Andre Ayew (5800)*** has been the Hammers’ best player since his introduction to the lineup and has fantastic upside at his price.

One forward who operates with the M/F designation on DraftKings I like this week is Marko Arnautovic (5600)***. He will be Stoke’s main goal threat in a favorable matchup against Leicester. I love the upside in midfield to grab a goal or two.

Tottenham forwards will look to take advantage against Burnley in DraftKings EPL Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Tottenham forwards will look to take advantage against Burnley in DraftKings EPL Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

DraftKings EPL Forwards

As I target stacks in the Southampton v Bournemouth I like the strikers in this game. Joshua King (6400)*** is in fine form and although his price has risen this matchup justifies that value. Strike partner Benik Afobe (4200)** is also a nice play but has a much lower floor.

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Gabbiadini has an injury designation and is widely expected to sit this game as he recovers from a groin strain. Next man up is Shane Long (5500)** who has a high upside against a leaky defense.

Andy Carroll (6300)** has been playing much better as he works his way back from injury. He put up 15 DraftKings points last week without a goal. He has a great opportunity to get on the score sheet against Hull.

On DraftKings this week I am going to roll the dice on Marcus Rashford (7400)**. Ibrahimovic is suspended and Rooney is injured meaning the young Englishman will keep his spot. He is at home to West Brom and Man Utd will have plenty of possession and will create a good amount of chances.

Pedro (8400)***  is a really nice alternative to Hazard and Costa anyway but with Costa questionable he becomes a must play.

FanDuel EPL
Aug 4, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Chelsea midfielder Ramires (7) is tripped up by AC Milan defender Matias Silvestre (26) during the second half at Metlife Stadium. Chelsea won the game 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

DraftKings EPL Lineups April 1

Lineup 1:

GK: De Gea – Man Utd

DEF: Alonso – Chelsea

DEF: Rose – Tottenham

MID: Alli – Tottenham

MID: Son – Tottenham

FWD: King – Bournemouth

FWD: Long – Southampton

UTIL: Afobe – Bournemouth

Lineup 2:

GK: Gomes – Watford

DEF: Alonso – Chelsea

DEF: Luiz – Chelsea

MID: Arnautovic – Stoke

MID: Son – Tottenham

FWD: Ayew – West Ham

FWD: Pedro – Chelsea

UTIL: Rashford – Man Utd

Next: FanDuel EPL Picks

Best of luck this weekend in your DraftKings EPL contests and stay tuned to Fantasy CPR on Twitter leading up to lock as we pass on all the late breaking lineup news and roster updates!