4 FanDuel Premier League Studs to Target for Matchweek 17

As is the case when playing any sport on FanDuel, it’s imperative to hit on high-priced studs, the players in which you’ve made the biggest investment. This especially true with strikers in soccer as goals are often the difference between winning and losing in DFS.

Let’s take a look at some high-priced players -- all across the pitch -- who, despite costing a good chunk of change, are worth the investment.

This article is geared toward the U.S.-based Premier League DFS, and it is for Saturday's main slate. That slate starts at 10:00 a.m. EST and features five matches. It's an odd slate of games as all five matches feature an over/under of 2.5 goals, and 60% of the matches are pick 'ems.

Let's get to it.

Forward

Alvaro Negredo, Middlesbrough

FanDuel Salary: $7,800

It's an odd slate for strikers as only Zlatan Ibrahimovic is priced over $8,700. Zlatan has scored at least 24 FanDuel points in five of his last six games, going over the 30-point mark four times in that span. He's really good, but Manchester United have a tough road matchup against an in-form West Brom side.

With that in mind, we can dip down into the second tier of forwards, save some cash and nab Negredo, who has a pristine home matchup against Swansea.

Swansea are allowing the fourth-most shots per game (15.5), and they've surrendered 34 goals in 16 matches, the second-most in the league. The Swans gave up three goals in their midweek loss to West Brom, a side that had scored just 20 goals in their first 15 matches of the campaign, and they've been beaten for 16 goals in their last six fixtures.

Both Middlesbrough and Swansea are middle-of-the-road sides in terms of possession -- Boro are at 48.3% and Swansea possess the ball 49% of the time -- and the match is a pick 'em between two sides battling relegation.

In cash games, Andy Carroll ($8,100) -- whose West Ham squad are a one-goal favorite, largest of the slate -- is probably a safer play, but Negredo makes sense as a tourney play who is unlikely to see huge ownership. Negredo did just recover from an injury, so make sure he's in the starting XI after a midweek affair.

Midfielder

Dimitri Payet, West Ham

FanDuel Salary: $9,800

After a slow start to the year, Payet is picking up his form. He's averaged 32.5 FanDuel points over his last two outings after averaging 15.55 points in the first matches prior.

As we just mentioned, the Hammers are a one-goal favorite, the biggest spread of the slate, for their home date with Hull City. Hull have allowed 35 goals in 16 matches, the most in the Premier League, and they've given up an average of two goals per match over their last six contests.

Payet dazzled in West Ham's midweek game against Burnley, creating a whopping 8 chances and scoring 34.75 FanDuel points without a goal or an assists. In other words, we was incredibly unlucky not to have a bigger fantasy day.

Michail Antonio ($8,600) is in a great spot, as well, but Payet's role -- and world-class skill -- as the Hammers' free-kick taker and a trigger man on corners gives him a slight boost over his teammate.

Defender

Curtis Davies, Hull City

FanDuel Salary: $5,800

Davies was our defender to target in the midweek installment, and he came through with 26 FanDuel points. The midweek matchup against Tottenham put him in a great spot, and while there shouldn't be as much one-way traffic against West Ham, Davies profiles as a solid play anytime Hull is an underdog (which is often).

As we covered, Hull are a one-goal underdog, and Davies has been racking up defensive statistics at a blistering pace this season. He leads the Premier League in interceptions (3.9) and blocks (1.6) per match while ranking seventh in clearances per game (7.8). All that action gives him a really safe floor even if his lack of aerial prowess (no goals in 16 matches this season) does cap his upside.

Goalie

David de Gea, Manchester United

FanDuel Salary: $6,700

de Gea is a world-class keeper, but the United star hasn't made for a good fantasy option very often this season. The reason for that is two-fold -- he hasn't been in great form, and he's not often asked to make making saves, limiting him point-getting abilities. In a four-game stretch earlier this year, de Gea made a total of two saves. That's a nightmare scenario.

Well, the Spain international is playing better of late. de Gea has allowed a total of three goals in his last four fixtures (across all competitions), including a four-save clean sheet against Spurs. And he should get tested as the Red Devils take on a West Brom side that may be the in-form team in the Premier League at the moment.

West Brom, typically a defensive-minded club, have scored 13 goals over the last six matches. They're still firing off just 10.6 shots per game for the campaign, which ranks 16th in the league, so the form probably won't last. While they're on the front foot, though, it gives us a chance to roster a resurgent de Gea in a pretty good spot.