4 FanDuel Premier League Players to Avoid in Matchweek 11
Matchweek 11 sees the top squads returning from Matchday 4 of the European tournaments (Champions and Europa), meaning DFS players, as always, should look at injury reports and confirmed starting XI, when they become available.
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.
As with any sport, it is imperative to have your players, especially the high-priced studs, live up to their price tag. When making an investment into any player, it is important to determine which players will likely contribute in FanDuel's emphasized areas (goals, assists and shots on target). It's just as important not to overspend on players in bad matchups.
FanDuel made their Premier League DFS games available to U.S. players starting last week in Matchweek 10, so this article will be geared toward the main slate U.S.-based FanDuel games. The main slate for Matchweek 11 features five Saturday matches and includes three of the top six clubs. FanDuel is also offering a Sunday slate that includes three matches.
Let's take a look at four players, across the entire pitch, who should be avoided in the upcoming matches.
Forward
Cristhian Stuani, Middlesbrough
FanDuel Price: $6,400
Stuani missed Boro's previous match against Bournemouth, but he has been declared fit for Saturday's match against Manchester City. Stuani is the eighth-highest forward for Matchweek 11 and has averaged 18.61 FanDuel points.
Stuani's average is quite deceiving, feasting on clubs in the bottom five. In three matches against bottom five clubs --- West Ham, West Brom and Sunderland --- Stuani has totaled 114.5 FanDuel points (38.16 average) while scoring three goals. Not including his match against Arsenal where he was subbed on in the 90th minute, Stuani has played three matches against squads not in the bottom five. In those three matches Stuani has totaled 15.75 FanDuel points, an average of 5.25 points/match.
| Stat | Matches Against Bottom-5 Squads | All Other Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 3 | 0 |
| Chances Created | 4 | 1 |
| Shots on Goal | 4 | 0 |
| Tackles | 11 | 3 |
| Average Points | 38.16 | 5.25 |
The Boro face the Sky Blues Saturday at Etihad Stadium. Middlesbrough have averaged 48.9% of the possession away from Riverside Stadium while Manchester City have averaged 63.3% of possession in matches at Etihad Stadium. Middlesbrough averages 8.4 shots away from their home fans, third-worst in the Premier League, while City allows a meager 6.2 shots on their home pitch, best in the league.
Against better squads, the Boro have proven they will sit back defensively, limiting their attack. Stuani has shown he is not a solid fantasy option against decent squads, and he now faces one of the best squads in the Premier League. Stuani should be avoided, especially in a slate that has limited players, in favor of forwards who have higher ceilings.
Midfielder
Cheikhou Kouyaté, West Ham
FanDuel Price: $7,900
Kouyaté is the ninth-most expensive midfielder and averages 14.55 FanDuel points. West Ham faces Stoke City Saturday at London Stadium, where Kouyaté has 14.25 FanDuel points. Kouyaté plays a defensive role for the Hammers --- defensive midfielder or defender --- and has not contributed on any goals. Kouyaté's top performance is 24.25 FanDuel points and has scored over 20 points three times while also scoring under 10 points three times. Kouyaté earns his points as a midfielder through defensive statistics --- clearances, interceptions and tackles --- and has not taken a shot on target this season.
The Potters have maintained 48.9% of the possession away from Bet365 Stadium while scoring five goals. The Hammers should control possession against Stoke as they maintain the ball 51.8 % of the match at London Stadium. West Ham has conceded eight goals this season in front of their own fans, tied for sixth-worst in the Premier League.
Kouyaté has shown the ability to take over a game defensively, earning over 20 FanDuel points while not producing in the attack. In such a small slate DFS players should look for midfielders that produce in their squad's attack, giving them a much higher ceiling. Kouyaté is a safe bet to score around his average (14.55), but he should be avoided as a midfielder that plays as a defender.
Defender
Simon Francis, Bournemouth
FanDuel Price: $7,300
Francis is the fourth-highest priced defender for Matchweek 11 and averages 16.52 FanDuel points. Francis earns most of his points through clearances and tackles, clearing the ball over five times in six different matches while making three or more tackles in three matches. Francis' top performance was Matchweek 9 against Tottenham, when he earned 24.5 FanDuel points. Francis has scored 20 or more points five times while scoring under 10 points once.
Bournemouth hosts Sunderland Saturday at Dean Court Stadium. The Black Cats have not won a match this season while only earning one point on their opponents pitch. Sunderland have been the worst squad in the Premier League this year and look destined for relegation. The Lads have possessed the ball a league-worst 37.7% of the match away from the Stadium of Light while Bournemouth have maintained 50.8% of the possession in front of their home fans.
Bournemouth will likely control this match, and Sunderland may continue to have difficulty in their attack, scoring only two goals away from their home pitch. Francis has proven his reliability on clearances and tackles to be productive for DFS players. With the unlikelihood that Sunderland will put pressure on Bournemouth's back line, Francis should be avoided in favor of defenders that have the possibility to earn a higher amount of defensive statistics.
Keeper
Adrián, West Ham
FanDuel Price: $6,100
Adrián is the fourth-highest priced keeper for Matchweek 11 and has averaged 13.1 FanDuel points. Saves and clean sheets are extremely important for keeper scoring on FanDuel, and Adrián has kept three clean sheets this season while averaging 3.4 saves per match. Adrián has been in good form of late, maintaining two clean sheets in his last three matches.
The Potters have maintained 48.9% of the possession away from Bet365 Stadium while scoring five goals. Stock have been held scoreless twice this season, both against squads in the top six (Everton and Tottenham). They are averaging 10 shots per match in their travels while West Ham concedes 11.6 shots per match at London Stadium. The Hammers have conceded eight goals on their home pitch.
Adrián is a great keeper and always capable of a clean sheet. However, Stoke City has proven they will not take many shots but have consistently found the back of the net. Adrián should not see a lot of shots this match, limiting his ability to earn points, and if he is unable to maintain his fourth clean sheet, he will severely hurt DFS players that were expecting a performance worthy of his salary.
