FanDuel EPL DFS: Fixtures, Flyers & Fades – May 5 2018
By David Gate
We are back with an end of season Premier League slate for FanDuel EPL! We have all the Fixtures, Flyers & Fades you need to cash this week in EPL DFS!
There are only two more Premier League weekends left until the season over. It flies by and we have made good money since last August. While some of the teams who are safe from relegation may ease off the gas, we will be full steam on these last few slates.
Most of the action this week centers around teams who are fighting for survival. West Brom face the only big six side in Spurs; Swansea are away at Bournemouth; Southampton play Everton in the last game.
Those three sides all have to win to help their chances of staying in the Premier League next season. The other two games Leicester v West Ham and Watford v Newcastle are low stakes games late in the season.
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 top play of the day is Marko Arnautovic (9000) who is facing a Leicester side who seemingly gave up trying some point around Easter. The Foxes were beaten 5-0 by Crystal Palace last time out and have nothing to play for with no chance of relegation and no chance of European qualification. Arnie is the best non-Spurs player on this roster, at a good price and in a prime spot. He is a solid floor, high ceiling play every week anyway.
Tottenham Hotspur are going to be an obvious play for most punters. They have the big hitters in a game they need to win help guarantee a top four finish for Champions League next season. Saying that West Brom have been good at shutting down sides since Alan Pardew was fired. I think it will be a close game with Spurs finding a winner late on. That means I will be using Christian Eriksen (10500) and Dele Alli (9500) as my high-priced plays.
For Defense and Goalkeeper I am looking out Southampton who have a good chance of clean sheet away to Everton. Alex Mcarthy (4500) does not fill me with excitement but he is at the bargain price and there are no prime keepers on this slate. Wesley Hoedt (6000) is the man to repel the Everton long ball onslaught.
FanDuel EPL: Flyers
Will Hughes (7000) is a favorite of mine. He has a high ceiling and has been Watford’s best player in the second half of the season. He is at a nice price in a game I am otherwise avoiding. Newcastle will be sitting deep and inviting pressure. Playing at home, Hughes should take the initiative. This won’t be a high scoring game but I expect Hughes to get enough from auxiliary stats to provide good, low owned value in midfield.
I am going for Swansea attackers to help augment my lineup. I prefer their matchup to the other relegation threatened teams. Bournemouth give up chances and goals and I expect Jordan Ayew (8000) to take full advantage. His brother Andre Ayew (7500) is also a good play and Sam Clucas (6000) is my favorite MID value pick today.
One high ceiling, low floor play from that game is Alfie Mawson (5500). He is always a goal threat from set pieces and is a nice pick if you want to create some upside in GPP.
FanDuel EPL: Fades
Harry Kane (12500) is chasing Mohamed Salah for the golden boot and is facing the worst side in the Premier League. He will be +50% owned and if you play him I don’t blame you, especially in cash. My hesitation is that he has not looked right after his ankle injury and West Brom are fighting hard and have done well against Liverpool and Manchester United recently.
The uptick in form for Newcastle means most of their side has had a price bump this week. They are facing Watford who have given up plenty of DFS points recently. However I think this game screams end-of-season boredom. I can’t trust any Newcastle attackers this week.
Similarly I cannot understand why anyone would go for Leicester players this week against West Ham. Jamie Vardy (9500) and Riyad Mahrez (9000) will tempt a lot of punters under $10k but I am fading them again today.
FanDuel EPL: Lineup
Note: this is a sample lineup and are not optimized. The only guarantee I can give you is that I will playing it 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.
Sample Lineup:
FWD: J Ayew – Swansea
FWD: Arnautovic – West Ham
MID: Alli – Tottenham Hotspur
MlD: Eriksen – Tottenham Hotspur
MID: Hughes – Watford
DEF: Hoedt – Southampton
DEF: Mawson – Swansea
GK: McCarthy – Southampton
Best of luck in your FanDuel EPL contests and stay tuned to Fantasy CPR for all the latest DFS news and analysis across your favorite sports.