EPL DFS Breakdown – Sunday 8/11/2019
By Vince Dray
EPL DFS: Mid-Tier Forwards/Midfielders
Christian Pulisic (Chelsea @ Manchester United, $16) – As a Chelsea fan and a fan of United States soccer, it’s impossible for me to leave Pulisic out of this breakdown. Obviously, we don’t know how Pulisic will fare in his first Premier League season, but he had a 4 goal/4 assist season in 9 starts with Dortmund last year.
He’s the kind of player that will pick up peripheral stats well which makes me like that price tag. The United defense was not as stout as you would think last year, allowing 1.42 goals per game. Clearly this is a new season, but I don’t think Chelsea gets shut out in this game and Pulisic could be involved.
One thing to be aware of here is an inflated ownership. For US fans, Pulisic will be one of the most recognizable and likable names on the slate, so he’ll draw extra ownership.
James Maddison (Wolverhampton @ Leicester, $16) – James Maddison makes his first of (probably) tons of appearances in my EPL DFS Breakdowns. He was one of my favorite affordable midfielders to play every week due to his safe floor and solid upside.
Maddison led the league in chances created with 100 last year and added 7 goals and 7 assists of his own. Anyone who can average 2.8 chances created per game and mix in some goals or assists is going to have great fantasy value.
This isn’t a tremendous matchup against Wolves but playing at home I expect another good fantasy output from Maddison on Sunday. Consider him in all formats. Youri Tielemans ($14) really came on fantasy-wise at the end of last season, and I like him in all formats as well.
Joelinton (Arsenal @ Newcastle, $14) – Looking more at this slate, the top-tier isn’t really attractive, and neither is the value, so I’ll likely be filling my lineup with mid-tier guys as best I can. Joelinton was just added to Newcastle’s squad this summer on a move from Hoffenheim.
Newcastle scored the 5th least goals in the league last year, and they’ll look to Joelinton to replace both of their starting forwards from last year. Joelinton is a decent goal scorer, having scored 11 in 33 appearances last season, but he won’t fix Newcastle’s scoring issues on his own.
Last season, Arsenal gave up 1.84 goals per game on the road, so I don’t think they’ll shut Newcastle down completely, especially with the lack of defensive help they brought in this summer. Joelinton and Matt Ritchie ($14) are solid mid-tier plays on Sunday, especially given the essentially non-existent value.
I’m not even going to bother with a value section here. Please just get your value from a defender or a goalkeeper.