4 FanDuel Premier League Players to Avoid in Matchweek 10
FanDuel has made their Premier League DFS games available to US players starting in Matchweek 10, so this article will focus on the main slate US FanDuel games.
Most US Premier League DFS players are accustomed to playing DFS on other sites with different scoring categories. It is imperative to determine which players will likely contribute in FanDuel's emphasized scoring areas (goals, assists, and shots on target).
DFS players, when picking their lineup, should look to take advantage of the teams -- and players -- who play especially well either home or away, while also looking at Vegas favorites and over/under totals. It's just as important not to overspend on players in bad matchups.
The main slate for Matchweek 10 features six Saturday matches, including three of the top five clubs. Let's take a look at four players, across the entire pitch, who should be avoided in the upcoming matches.
Forward
Jamie Vardy, Leicester City
FanDuel Price: $7,000
Vardy was not in the starting XI, for the first time this season, in Matchweek 9 against Crystal Palace. Manager Claudio Ranieri insisted that Vardy was rested and not dropped from the starting XI. Whatever the reason is, Vardy has not performed at the same level DFS players marveled at last season, scoring only two goals while averaging 11.06 FanDuel points.
| Stat | Against Top 10 Squads | Against Bottom 10 Squads |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 1 | 1 |
| Assist | 0 | 1 |
| Chances Creates | 1 | 6 |
| Shots on Goal | 3 | 1 |
| Average FanDuel Points | 8.5 | 14.25 |
Vardy is the 10th-highest priced forward for Matchweek 10. Looking at Vardy's home and away splits shows a slight difference (6 points), but that number is a bit deceiving. Vardy has only performed well in one match away from King Power Stadium, Matchweek 4 against Liverpool. The Reds have conceded 11 goals this season, fourth-most among squads in the top 10. If that match is removed from Vardy's splits, the forward has created only one chance, while taking zero shots on target, averaging 2.5 FanDuel points in four matches.
Vardy, and Leicester, travel to White Hart Lane Saturday to face Tottenham. The Spurs have conceded one goal in four matches in front of their home fans, while controlling 53.4% of the possession. The Spurs are also the sixth-best squad at limiting shots, allowing 10.3 shots per match.
The Foxes have struggled away from their home fans this season, losing all four of their matches. Leicester has maintained 42.5% of the possession away from King Power Stadium, scoring only three goals. DFS players should avoid Vardy in a match that will likely be controlled by the Spurs, while looking for other forwards who have higher projected ceilings.
Midfielder
Riyad Mahrez, Leicester City
FanDuel Price: $8,600
Mahrez is the 11th-highest priced midfielder for Matchweek 10, as Leicester face Tottenham at White Hart Lane. The Spurs are a fairly large favorite (-158), and the over/under is set at 2.5.
Mahrez has been a stud for DFS players in the past, especially with his consistent crossing numbers, 34 through nine matches. The major issue with selecting Mahrez on FanDuel is his strength, crosses, is not scored unless it leads to a chance created.
In the first two matchweeks, Mahrez averaged 31.38 FanDuel points while scoring one goal. In Matchweeks 3 through 9, Mahrez averaged 9.39 FanDuel points, which has certainly burned DFS players who spent a large percentage of their salary on the midfielder.
| Stat | First 2 Matches | Last 7 Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 1 | 0 |
| Shots on Goal | 3 | 3 |
| Chances Creates | 3 | 7 |
| Tackles | 4 | 5 |
Mahrez has not produced for DFS players over the last seven matches, but his last three matches against clubs in the top 10 have been atrocious, averaging just over four points. As mentioned above, Spurs should control possession, limiting Mahrez's ability for chances created.
Mahrez should be able to add other stats -- tackles and interceptions -- in a match that the Foxes will likely be trailing. However, the unlikely possibility that the Foxes will have many scoring opportunities makes Mahrez, especially at his price, a great player to avoid.
Defender
Aleksandar Kolarov, Manchester City
FanDuel Price: $6,500
Kolarov is the 13th-highest priced defender as the Sky Blues travel to the Hawthorns to face West Brom. Kolarov has averaged 14.3 FanDuel points through Matchweek 9. City have had two matches this season where they have traveled to face squads in the bottom half of the league. In those two matches -- Matchweek 6 against Swansea City and Matchweek 2 against Stoke City -- Kolarov has averaged 11.88 FanDuel points, about 3 points under his season average.
City are the third-best team at controlling possession away from their home stadium and enter the match as a large favorite (-222). Defender points on FanDuel mainly consist of defensive statistics -- clearances, tackles and interceptions -- with assists and goals being a huge bonus. The Baggies struggle with possession at the Hawthorns, maintaining the ball 37.1% of the match, last in the league in that category.
Kolarov has created only three chances this year while being unable to produce any goals or assists. Saturday's match will likely be controlled by City, limiting Kolarov's upside in defensive categories. Kolarov has not shown this season the ability to be involved in City's attack, greatly limiting his ceiling in this match. DFS players should look to take advantage of defenders in better matches who will likely have the ability to earn a large number of defensive statistics.
Keeper
Artur Boruc, Bournemouth
FanDuel Price: $5,800
Boruc is the fifth-highest priced keeper for Matchweek 10 and has averaged 14.7 FanDuel points. The Cherries travel to Riverside Stadium to face Middlesbrough, where the Boro have only been shut out once. Boro possess the ball 51.2% of the match, while averaging 10 shots in front of their home fans.
Clean sheets are extremely important for keeper scoring on FanDuel, and Boruc has maintained three, including Matchweek 9 against Tottenham. However, all three of Boruc's clean sheets have come at home, as the Cherries have struggled away from Dean Court, allowing eight away goals. Bournemouth control 46.4% of the possession away from Dean Court and are a slight underdog (+200) against Middlesbrough.
The Cherries have struggled on opponents' home pitch this season, making Boruc a risky play anytime he is not playing at Dean Court. Middlesbrough should have goal-scoring opportunities this match, as they are a better team at Riverside Stadium. In a match that does not set up to see a lot of shots, DFS players should avoid Boruc in favor of keepers who are projected to see more shots and, in turn, have a higher ceiling.
