SOCCER

Premier League: 4 FanDuel Value Plays for Matchweek 6

Injuries, midweek action, suspension news, and an intriguing fixture list mean needing to find some value plays -- and those may be where you least expect them.

Two of the biggest strikers in the Premier League take center stage this week in fantasy Premier League as Harry Kane's injury and Sergio Agüero's return from suspension shake up the landscape.

Agüero is not a value play, but Kane's strike partner, Vincent Janssen, will be targeted heavily for his £6 million price tag. Despite a good match up against Middlesbrough, this may not be the best place to turn to find value.

For this week's value plays, let's focus on the eight-game schedule on Saturday in the Premier League. It is a slate ripe with mismatches and goal-scoring potential.

Finding value so that Agüero can slot in at one of the forward positions will be key.

Forward

Salomon Rondon, West Brom

Price: £8.4 million

Rondon's best game was in Matchweek 1, but he was revived last week when Nacer Chadli was put behind him in attack. An assist and a goal propelled Rondon to 35.75 points on FanDuel. West Brom gets the worst team in the league, Stoke City, this week, giving Rondon a chance to stay hot.


Rondon has only scored one other goal in Premier League play this season, but it was the end of his hot streak from the Copa America. He scored three goals in four games across all competitions before going three league games without a tally. Rondon scored in back-to-back games three times last season.

Stoke's defense is being picked apart recently. They are among the leaders in aerials won but also third in the league in yellow cards. This may play right into Rondon's hands, as both his goal and assist last week came on plays worked along the ground. It also helps that WhoScored has Stoke City ranked 19th out of 20 defensively.

If he plays like he did last week, Rondon should be able to challenge the Stoke back line and draw fouls in dangerous positions. With not many low-priced options outside of those at Spurs expected to play a big role this week, Rondon fits well as a mid-tier value option.

Midfielder

Alex Iwobi, Arsenal

Price: £7.5 million

It would be easy to nominate Chadli after his 60-plus point performance last week, but Iwobi is in a good spot against Chelsea. Iwobi created three chances and collected two assists against Hull. The stats tell of a youngster building confidence, but when many noticed that he was telling Mesut Ozil where to be on the pitch last week it was clear that Iwobi is comfortable as a main piece of the Arsenal attack.

Iwobi was installed on the left side of the midfield against Hull but found space in the center at opportune times. His performance against Hull emphasized his spatial awareness skills. He showed skill and poise on the ball. Iwobi has not been phased by his competition and already made his mark on the Champions League group stage. He is also tied for the league lead in assists with three on the year.

It appears that Iwobi is still in a battle with Theo Walcott, but neither even made the bench in the League Cup game earlier this week. However, it is Iwobi that is garnering all the attention and being the driving force for Arsenal, so he should get another run out this weekend against a Chelsea side with questions at the back.

Defender

Seamus Coleman, Everton

Price: £6.2 million

Coleman captained Everton in their midweek cup loss, the first under Ronald Koeman. The early league surge means Everton is second in the Premier League table, and Coleman has acknowledged that the League Cup loss cannot upset their momentum.


Coleman has returned for three total games and is making an impact. He comes off a superb league game against Middlesbrough tallying 38 FanDuel points. Everton gets another favorable match up against Bournemouth with The Toffees as slight favorites on the road. Everton also has at least two goals in their last six meetings with the Cherries and won five of those matches. Coleman tallied an assist in last year's match at the Vitality Stadium.

FanDuel rewards defensive actions, and Coleman has averaged five so far this season. In a very limited sample size, he has also not committed a defensive error. Against a team that has only scored three goals on the season and has a minus-six goal differential, Coleman should not be tested much defensively and should have the luxury of going forward to join the attack.

Keeper

Steve Mandanda, Crystal Palace

Price: £6.3 million

Mandanda will likely be low owned with much of the attention on the favorable matchups of Ben Foster and Claudio Bravo. However, Palace get a fixture against Sunderland as Mandanda looks to build on his eight saves through three starts.


Palace have averaged close to 52% possession this season, and Mandanda is an integral part as manager Alan Pardew believes he helps to control the game. Palace are slight favorites on the road, so they should see similar possession numbers to their season average.

Of course, keepers need to make saves to rack up the points, but Sunderland has been able to generate shots on target versus Crystal Palace. In the last four matches between these teams, the Black Cats have managed six, four, three, and seven shots on frame, respectively. Mandanda should be up to the task against a team that has only found the net three times this season.