Fansided

EPL DFS Breakdown – Saturday 8/31/2019

By Vince Dray

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25: Raheem Sterling of Manchester City celebrates scoring their 2nd goal during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Manchester City at Vitality Stadium on August 25, 2019 in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25: Raheem Sterling of Manchester City celebrates scoring their 2nd goal during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Manchester City at Vitality Stadium on August 25, 2019 in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Offside/Offside via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 6
Next
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – AUGUST 25: Raheem Sterling of Manchester City celebrates scoring their 2nd goal during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Manchester City at Vitality Stadium on August 25, 2019 in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Offside/Offside via Getty Images) EPL DFS
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – AUGUST 25: Raheem Sterling of Manchester City celebrates scoring their 2nd goal during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Manchester City at Vitality Stadium on August 25, 2019 in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Offside/Offside via Getty Images) EPL DFS /

The busy start to the Premier League season continues this weekend with a large 7-game main slate Saturday.  A total of 13 top-flight teams played in Carabao Cup games this past Tuesday and Wednesday, but many players will get a break soon with this being the last weekend of games before the first international break of the season.  Make sure to check out this week’s EPL DFS Breakdown as it will be the last one until league play resumes in 2 weeks.

There are three decently large favorite on the slate Saturday and none of them are very surprising.  Manchester City (-3.0) takes the spot as largest favorite at home against Brighton.  A heavy favorite and the highest goal total (3.5) on the slate will make City the chalk once again.

Liverpool (-1.5) follows City as next biggest favorites as they travel to face Burnley (0/u 3.0).  Chelsea (-1.5) slides in as a third big favorite at home against a Sheffield United team that has exceeded expectations in this young season (o/u 2.5).

Many casual DFS players will be drawn to Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea, but something should be said for exposure to some other games especially in GPP tournaments.  Two other games on this slate have solid 3.0 goal totals (Norwich @ West Ham, Bournemouth @ Leicester).  Both home teams, Leicester (-1.0) and West Ham (-0.5) are slight favorites.

The last game on the slate is one that can be avoided for DFS purposes.  Aston Villa travel to Crystal Palace (-0.5) in a game with only a 2.5 over/under.  The fact that the last 3 games played at Selhurst Park have all ended 0-0 makes me want to fade this game even more.

There are a decent number of new injuries to address this week.  We start with Pedro who injured a hamstring warming up last week.  It was Ross Barkley who made the start for him on late notice, and it will most likely be up to him or Willian to fill that void this week.  Another part of Chelsea’s attack, Mason Mount, had to be subbed off last game, but the injury looks mild enough where Chelsea are hopeful to get him back for this match.

Wilfred Ndidi is questionable right now with a leg injury.  He’s a core midfielder for Leicester so he will be starting if he’s healthy.  If unavailable, some good value could open up here.

Joelinton broke through for his first EPL goal last weekend but did also get hurt.  He did not play in Newcastle’s midweek game, and in this good matchup, it would be nice to see him on the field.  Backup forwards Allan Saint-Maximin, Dwight Gayle, and Andy Carroll are all dealing with significant injuries themselves.  Joelinton will likely be asked to give it a go even if he’s not 100% because Yoshinori Muto is the only option left.

Johan Gudmundsson suffered an injury last weekend, and he’s being held out of Burnley’s Carabao Cup game on Wednesday.  He likely wasn’t going to be a good option this week against Liverpool regardless.

Leicester defender, Ben Chilwell, got hurt in the first game of the season and finally looks ready to return on Saturday.  If you plan on playing him, just make sure he’s actually in the starting lineup.  If not, Christian Fuchs will make his third start in a row, but he does not provide much fantasy value.