FanDuel World Cup DFS Analysis – Tuesday July 3 2018
By David Gate
Welcome to the FantasyCPR column for FanDuel World Cup slates! We have all the tips and analysis you need to cash this Tuesday on DFS soccer!
The round of last 16 is almost over at this World Cup and by the end of Tuesday we will know the eight quarter-finalists vying for the big prize. Spain were the latest big team to depart the competition yesterday leaving only four previous winners; Brazil, Uruguay, France and England.
Today’s slate sees one of those teams looking to advance as England take on Colombia. The other game today is the early matchup between Sweden and Switzerland. Both games should be tight but England and Switzerland are the slight favorites.
Before we get to those quarter finals we have a great chance to cash with these last two round of 16 games. There is plenty of opportunity to build a solid core with some lower owned players to help you separate yourself from the field.
The lineups in this article will be for the All-day slate, but there should be enough info here to construct a line for the Main slate also. Bookmark my Guide to World Cup Set Piece Takers to help you increase your chances for goals and assists in your lines.
You will need to keep an eye on team sheets throughout the day which will come out an hour before kickoff of each game. The first game on the slate is starting at 10am EST and the last at 2pm EST. You can follow me on Twitter – @davidgatesports – for updates.
FanDuel World Cup Goalkeepers
The pricing for these four goalkeepers seem upside-down to me. I get it. The two keepers who have put up good numbers are at the top and the two that haven’t are at the bottom. But this doesn’t really take into account the group stage opponents or the game situations.
England did not keep a clean sheet in their three games, yet did not concede more than once. Those goals were a dodgy penalty; a late pointless goal when 6-0 up; and a lone long-range goal to Belgium with two backup teams on the field.
I think Jordan Pickford (4500) has as good a chance as any other keeper on Tuesday to get the clean sheet and win bonuses. He is also the cheapest keeper. He won’t have the most saves but there is plenty of upside for his price.
Robin Olsen (6000) has been solid in his opening three games. If you want to pay up for him then it’s a fine play. I would rather have the budget for other positions.
David Ospina (5500) is the guy you want if you want saves. England shoot a lot and Harry Kane will force the Arsenal man into more saves than the other keepers on this slate.
I would use Yann Sommer (5000) if you have a very chalky lineup in GPP and you are looking for separation. I fancy the Swiss to grind out the win.
FanDuel World Cup Defenders
I know you have been reading my Set Piece and Penalties handy guide before every FanDuel World Cup slate. Therefore you will be well aware of Andreas Granqvist (7500). The Swedish captain has scored two penalties already in this World Cup. A tight match against Switzerland could well be decided from the spot.
Most of the players I like on this slate for FWD and MID are on the chalky side of things. Therefore I am really looking to the DEF to make my GPP lineups stand out.
The guy I like most for that is Harry Maguire (5000). The England center back has been very good in this tournament so far and has shown off his range of passing. I like his upside of an assist or goal in this game. John Stones (7000) has been the guy from set pieces so far but I think this game is the one for Maguire.
I really like the look of both Ricardo Rodriguez (4500) and Manuel Akanji (4500) against Sweden. Rodriguez for his set-piece/attacking upside and Akjani for repelling a one-dimensional Sweden attack.
FanDuel World Cup Midfielders
For some bizarre reason FanDuel has Marcus Rashford (7500) listed as a midfielder instead of a forward. He is a striker and plays as such whenever he is deployed in Gareth Southgate’s system. This means he has huge upside at the position.
There is a fair chance he could start against Colombia if Dele Alli is not ruled fit or Raheem Sterling is dropped. I may even leave him in one GPP lineup as a sub who could come on and grab a goal in a tight game. That is a huge risk play but maybe the deciding factor in a close two game slate.
Elsewhere I am going to build a solid midfield with the Swiss pair of Xherdan Shaqiri (9500) and Granit Xhaka (7500). These will be chalky options with high floors. I am fine having them both and taking a punt with Rashford.
I really want James Rodriguez (9000) to start for Colombia. Not because I want to play him but because I want to fade him. He clearly is not fit but will be high owned as one of the biggest stars and highest priced players at the position. Fade him! Play Jesse Lingard (8500) instead.
FanDuel World Cup Forwards
You’re playing Harry Kane (13000). I’m playing Harry Kane. We are all playing Harry Kane. The only other decent option at the position is Radamel Falcao (11000). Maybe you have a cheeky GPP line where you fade Kane and back Falcao. Or maybe you have a line with them both and gut your midfield. I hate both of those plays. Just stick the England man in your lineup and spend your time thinking about who to pair him with.
There are only two reasonable options for cash games. Ola Toivonen (8500) is a decent play who won’t tank your line. He is their main striker and will be the biggest goal threat for the Swedes. I will probably go with Mario Gavranovic (8000) who I rank slightly below Toivonen but has the upside with my Swiss stack.
Raheem Sterling (9500) is a GPP play only. Likely to be the first England player subbed off, if he even starts.
Everything else is painful for me to even consider. I would consider Breel Embolo (7000), John Guidetti (6500) and Luis Muriel (6500) as punt plays if you want to spend the budget on high priced defenders. Not a bad strategy.
FanDuel World Cup Lineup
Note: this is a sample lineup and is 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.
Suggested Lineup
FWD: Kane – England
FWD: Guidetti – Sweden
MID: Lingard – England
MID: Shaqiri – Switzerland
MID: Xhaka – Switzerland
DEF: Maguire – England
DEF: Rodriguez – Switzerland
GK: Pickford – England
Good luck in all your FanDuel World Cup contests and stay tuned to Fantasy CPR each and every day for all the latest fantasy sports and DFS analysis to help you build your best teams!