FanDuel EPL DFS: Fixtures, flyers & fades – Feb 10 2018

There are 10 teams playing on Saturday’s FanDuel EPL DFS slate. We have all the best tips and analysis to help you cash with this week’s Fixtures, Flyers & Fades column.

Last week was a mixed bag for the column. The cash line made money in every contest I entered but I didn’t hit with a single GPP line making it an even money day with FanDuel EPL DFS. I correctly predicted the Arsenal game would be the big blow out of the day  – they won 5-1 – but it was Aaron Ramsey with the hat trick and my guy Aubameyang only got the one goal.

Looking into this week’s main slate we have only one big six side playing and that is Man City. The Man City players are chalk when every big team is playing so they will be super-chalk on Saturday. Working out how you want to play that is going to be the key for your different cash and GPP lineups.

All the other matchups on the slate are pretty even contests meaning we should see some competitive games with some good DFS points totals.

I break down this column into three categories: Fixtures are those you need to build your lineups around. Flyers are the gambles and the punts; cheaper or lesser known players in great positions for a break out game. Fades are those you need to avoid; I think who you choose to fade in soccer DFS is more important than in any other DFS sport.

I’ll be on Twitter @davidgatesports to chat through lineups changes and team sheet surprises from 9:00am ET.

FanDuel EPL: Fixtures

My play of the week in Stoke City’s Xherdan Shaqiri (9000) who has been back in good form since the Potters changed managers. The side have perked up since the change in coach and Shaqiri is the creative hub in this side. They have an excellent matchup against Brighton & Hove Albion who I love to target for headed goals. Now the tiny Swiss player is not going to grab you a header but he takes all their set pieces so I’m expecting an assist or two.

One player who will be in all my lineups alongside Shaqiri is Wilfred Ndidi (8500) of Leicester. The defensive midfielder has made more tackles this season than any other player in the EPL. He is facing Man City this week and will have lots of opportunity to rack up defensive stats.

I love the Swansea center backs this week against Burnley. There are three options with the formation Swansea uses and all are in play; Alfie Mawson (6000) Federico Fernandez (6500) and Martin van Hoorn (5500).

You cannot avoid Sergio Aguero (13000) in cash games this week. He is by far the most likely striker to score on the slate and has a great matchup at home. I think you can fade him in GPP but I would only do that with a high upside line.

There are only two keepers that interest me this week; Nick Pope (5000) is the safest keeper in FanDuel EPL DFS. He makes saves and always has a good chance of a clean sheet. The Swansea pitch is a bog so I don’t expect many goals in that game. Wayne Hennessey (4500) is also in a nice spot for a clean sheet against an Everton side that can barely manage a shot on goal.

FanDuel EPL: Flyers

My favorite non-Aguero forward on this slate is Troy Deeney (7000) who is a bargain 7k up against a porous West Ham defense. He has been in good form recently and has been restored as the key front man ahead of Andre Gray. He currently has a GTD designation but all indications are is that he will play and he will start.

Another forward I like in GPP is Peter Crouch (8500) who could get those headers against Brighton. He makes a nice stack with Shaqiri.

My favorite midfield punt of the day is Andros Townsend (7000). With Wilfred Zaha and Bakary Sako out that leaves Townsend as the sole ‘pace’ guy in the Palace attack. He has high ceiling but a low floor. Play him in GPP. On the other side of the ball i have to use Seamus Coleman (5500) while his price remains under 6k.

If you are looking for a contrarian move tomorrow then think about stacking Leicester. They have a tough matchup with Man City. However City have a number of injuries and a Champions League game this week. This game has been high scoring in recent times and Leicester managed a 4-2 win against them last season.

Try a lineup with Jamie Vardy (9000), Marc Albrighton (7000) and Kelechi Iheanacho (7500) for a high upside punt.

FanDuel EPL: Fades

On the face of things Chicharito (9500) has an inviting matchup with Watford who have been struggling for clean sheets. However the Mexican international is one of the most hit or miss players in DFS. He offers you nothing if he doesn’t score; not even shots on goal!

He has only two goals at home all season. The big pitch at the Olympic Stadium leaves the forward very isolated and they have no other fit attackers to support him or feed him the ball. I would not even think about him this week.

Obviously I am not going to recommend fading Man City players this week but I will strike a note of caution in GPP. Trying to add Kevin de Bruyne (12000) or even Raheem Sterling (10000) to Aguero means weakening every other spot on your lineup.

Often that tactic works a treat but on a smaller slate than usual with few genuine bargains available I would advocate spreading the cash around more evenly. That is a must this week in cash play but also I think it will bear dividends in GPP.

Everton are a mess right now and are struggling to even hit the target. Palace meanwhile have got themselves out of the worst of the relegation trouble with some decent results. Look to fade Wayne Rooney (9000) and Cenk Tosun (8500). And wouldn’t be so hot on Gylfi Sigurdsson (8500) either.

FanDuel EPL DFS: Lineups

Note: these are sample lineups and are not optimized. The only guarantee I can give you is that I will playing them too. I will also have some lines that are not here. Best thing is to take some of these picks and build your own lineup – especially in GPP – as lineup sharing only reduces the amount you can win.

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Lineup 1: Cash

FWD: Aguero – Man City

FWD: Deeney – Watford

MID: Shaqiri – Stoke

MlD: Ndidi – Leicester

MID: Townsend – Crystal Palace

DEF: van der Hoorn – Swansea

DEF: Coleman – Everton

GK: Hennessey – Crystal Palace

Lineup 2: GPP

FWD: Vardy – Leicester

FWD: Iheanacho – Leicester

MID: Ndidi – Leicester

MlD: de Bruyne – Man City

MID: Bernardo Silva – Man City

DEF: van der Hoorn – Swansea

DEF: Coleman – Everton

GK: Hennessey – Crystal Palace

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