FanDuel EPL DFS Soccer Analysis – August 18 2018
By David Gate
Welcome to another week of FanDuel EPL analysis. We have a 10 team slate to work on and we have all the tips and picks to help you cash this week on soccer DFS!
Well I hope you enjoyed the season opener! I had a great week doubling my money although I failed to cash in GPPs I found the green in all my cash games and head-to-heads. I mainly have Crystal Palace to thank for that with Wifried Zaha and Aaron Wan-Bissaka combining to push me into the money.
My big pick of last weekend Ruben Neves was outstanding – bagging a goal and an assist in a stellar performance. 100% exposure to him really helped my bank balance. My only big mistake was overestimating Fulham in GPPs.
This week has a prime matchup with Arsenal visiting Chelsea and a number of other well matched ties. My favorite game of the weekend is the West Ham v Bournemouth game which should prove to be a goalfest!
Even though I am still annoyed with the FanDuel scoring system it pips the DraftKings system for now. While I’m cashing I won’t be moving sites quite yet! I just wish they would take the product seriously. They have not changed the game logs to reflect the new system for ANOTHER week. Should have been done by the beginning of June for the World Cup. Ridiculous that we are still looking at the wrong stats on their page.
I’ll be on Twitter @davidgatesports to chat through lineups changes and team sheet surprises from 9:00am ET.
FanDuel EPL Goalkeepers
Even though he wasn’t available on FanDuel last week Kepa Arrizabalaga (5000) would have put up 20 points with a clean sheet and a win bonus. He only made one save last week but will have more opportunity against Arsenal who are more dangerous. I like the upside of him ‘breaking the slate’ with a 5 save game and both bonuses this week in GPP.
The other two keepers at the top of the roster are slightly safer but don’t have quite the same upside. Jordan Pickford (5500) should be fine against a Southampton side that struggle to score, especially away from home.
Hugo Loris (5000) is the banker this week and your go-to for cash games. Fulham struggled at home to much weaker opposition last weekend. Tottenham should keep them wrapped up nicely on Saturday.
Interestingly Fabri (5000) picked up 19 points for Fulham despite having neither win or clean sheet bonus. He made 8 saves and will be facing Spurs who should get even more shots in. A high risk/reward play if you fancy rolling the dice.
FanDuel EPL Defenders
I went back and watched the Fulham v Crystal Palace game from last week and was taken aback by how much opportunity the Cottagers were allowing the Palace fullbacks. Wan Bissaka and van Aanholt had free rein. That gets me hyped for the Spurs fullbacks this weekend who even are better.
I love Ben Davies (6500) to dominate Fulham on the big Wembley pitch. He created two chances last week and is more likely to get the assist this time around. Also happy to take Serge Aurier (6500) this week although his score was inflated by an assist; the matchup is good. I will be all over Kieran Trippier (6500) if he makes his first start of the campaign.
West Ham center back Fabián Balbuena (5500) was by far the best Hammers defender as they got hammered (sorry) by Liverpool last weekend. He is the new leader of the unit and is underpriced in a good matchup against Bournemouth.
Ricardo Pereira (5500) was a good source of attack from the back for Leicester against Manchester United last week. He has an even better matchup a home to Wolves. Lots of upside here.
FanDuel EPL Midfielders
I have a very clear strategy for midfield this week. In cash games I am going to back the Spurs duo of Dele Alli (9500) and Christian Eriksen (11500). They have the best matchup by far of any of the top options on the roster. Fulham will give up plenty of possession and space and doubling up on this pair gives you a very safe floor for cash games with a high upside.
For GPP games I am going to back the West Ham v Bournemouth game heavily by stacking each team in different lines. For a West Ham stack I will be using Michail Antonio (7500) who was active against Liverpool despite having virtually no possession.
Alongside him I will have Felipe Anderson (8000) who flashed great potential against Liverpool. He is the most talented player on their roster and record signing. A great matchup.
For a Bournemouth stack I will be heavy on Ryan Fraser (7500) who is a solid $1k underpriced on this week’s slate. He was The Cherries best player last week and has a great opportunity to repeat his 30+ point performance on Saturday.
Ruben Neves (8500) can’t be ignored against Leicester. He got almost all his 32 points from his goal and assist so I have a slight note of caution but he has the upside to make it worthwhile in GPP play again.
FanDuel EPL Forwards
The West Ham v Bournemouth game is by far the most likely to get over 2.5 goals this weekend at 68% probability with the bookies. They are expecting 3.4 goals in total. Therefore I want a ton of exposure to the three forwards in this game.
Callum Wilson (7500) racked up 40 FanDuel points last week. And he missed a penalty. He was a few inches away from a 60 point week. He is a very good player who struggled with injuries last year. He maybe the difference between Bournemouth staying up or going dow this season.
His teammate Joshua King (7000) certainly takes a knock to his potential in DFS playing in a deeper role. However there will be goals and chances in this game and his bargain price gives him huge upside. He has won me so much money in the past I am happy to trust him this week.
Marko Arnautovic (9500) has GTD designation but there is no real suggestion that he won’t start on Saturday. He was peripheral against Liverpool but he is an outstanding play at home against an open team like Bournemouth.
I am not really interested in the forwards in the Chelsea v Arsenal game. Morata was trash for me last week and can’t be trusted. And do I really think an Arsenal forward will get 30+ points to justify their price… no I don’t.
The Harry Kane (12000) August Curse is REAL people! He has never scored in the opening month of the season. He looks tired from the World Cup and still not 100% sure on his dodgy ankle. Happy to avoid him this week at his price. Though his matchup is very tempting….
FanDuel EPL 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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Sample Lineup: Bournemouth Stack
FWD: Wilson – Bournemouth
FWD: King – Bournemouth
MID: Fraser – Bournemouth
MlD: Eriksen – Spurs
MID: Alli – Spurs
DEF: Davies – Spurs
DEF: Balbuena – West Ham
GK: Arrizabalaga – Chelsea
Sample Lineup: West Ham Stack
FWD: Arnautovic – West Ham
FWD: Wilson – Bournemouth
MlD: Alli – Spurs
MlD: Anderson – West Ham
MID: Antonio – West Ham
DEF: Davies – Spurs
DEF: Aurier – Spurs
GK: Arrizabalaga – Chelsea
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Best of luck in your FanDuel EPL contests and stay tuned to Fantasy CPR for all the latest DFS news and analysis!