4 FanDuel Premier League Players to Avoid for Matchweek 30

FanDuel introduced late swap for their Premier League contests earlier this week and their main slate now includes all but one of this weekend’s matches, with Saturday’s early match between Liverpool and Everton being the only fixture excluded from the slate.

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 also just as important not to overspend on players in bad matchups.

We 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. DFS players, as always, should look at injury reports and confirmed starting XI's, when they become available.

Let's take a look at four players, across the entire pitch, who should be avoided in the upcoming matches.

Forward

Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal

FanDuel Price: $11,700

Sanchez is the third-highest priced forward for Matchweek 30, and he has averaged 32.10 FanDuel points per match this season, which leads all forwards. Sanchez has been in the Gunners’ starting XI as a forward 19 times this campaign, and he has lined up as an attacking midfielder six other times. Sanchez played a full 90 minutes in Chile’s win over Venezuela earlier this week, but his status for Sunday’s Arsenal-Manchester City match is uncertain.

Sanchez and Arsenal host City at Emirates Stadium in Sunday’s late match. The Gunners are the league’s third-best squad at maintaining possession and the fourth-best squad at producing shots in home matches. Arsenal enter Saturday’s match as the slight underdog, and the over/under is set at 3 goals, the highest of the weekend.

The Citizens maintain a league-best 60.9% of the possession in road matches while allowing the third-fewest number of shots per match. They have conceded the Premier League’s fourth-fewest goals away from their home pitch and have allowed the fewest shots (99), second-fewest shots on target (37) and fourth-fewest goals (16) to forwards/attacking midfielders this season.

Sanchez is one of the top attackers in the world and is always a threat to record a top fantasy performance, scoring over 40 FanDuel points eight times this season. Sanchez has scored twice as many goals this season in road matches -- while producing equal shots on target -- and has been held scoreless in his last two matches following the previous two international breaks.

Now, he faces one of the top defenses against his position.

With two of the top-five priced forwards ruled out of this weekend’s slate due to injury (Harry Kane) and suspension (Zlatan Ibrahimovic) -- plus Chelsea's Diego Costa listed as a game-time decision -- DFS players will have the option to pay down at forward to find great value plays in better matchups. If DFS players are making a large number of lineups, it may be wise to include Sanchez in a few as he is always a threat to score, but it's probably best should look to gain an advantage over the field by staying below his ownership percentage.

Midfielder

David Silva, Manchester City

FanDuel Price: $8,500

Silva is the ninth-highest priced midfielder for Matchweek 30, and he has averaged 18.8 FanDuel points this season. Silva has struggled in his last eight matches against clubs in the top half of the table, averaging 13.65 FanDuel points in those eight matches while never scoring above 17 FanDuel points.

Silva has not been heavily involved in the Citizens’ attack this season, scoring twice while assisting on five other goals. Silva may find it difficult to produce on the score sheet against Arsenal as the Gunners have allowed the sixth-fewest goals on their home pitch while allowing the eighth-fewest shots.

The Gunners are not a great matchup for central-midfielders as they have allowed the league’s fewest goals to that position this season. They have also been stingy with crosses and chances created, giving up the fifth-fewest crosses and ninth-fewest chances created to central-midfielders this season.

Most of Silva’s FanDuel points come from the attack as he only averages two defensive actions per match. Silva’s involvement in the attack may be limited against an Arsenal squad that has performed well against his position, making Silva a top target to avoid.

Defender

Alfie Mawson, Swansea City

FanDuel Price: $6,300

Mawson is tied for the seventh-highest priced defender for Matchweek 30, along with two other players, and he has averaged 19.03 FanDuel points in 18 matches this season. Mawson has scored has scored under 14 FanDuel points in three of his last four matches and in four of his last six matches.

Mawson and Swansea host Middlesbrough at Liberty Stadium in Sunday’s early match. On their home pitch, the Swans maintain 50% of the possession and make 16.2 tackles per match while allowing 13 shots. The Swans enter Sunday’s match as a half-goal favorite, and the over/under is set at 2.5 goals.

The Boro are currently in the drop zone and have earned nine points in 14 away matches. The Boro are not a good matchup for central-defenders this season, ranking in the bottom three in interceptions, clearances and blocked shots allowed while allowing the fifth-fewest tackles to the position.

Mawson has scored four goals this campaign while only producing five shots on target, but he has produced at least one shot -- off target -- in 8 of his last 10 matches. The Boro have yet to concede a goal to a central-defender this season and have only allowed six shots on target.

With most of the top clubs in action and a few facing clubs battling relegations, DFS players can find better value than a high-priced defender in a poor matchup, making investing in Mawson a risky proposition.

Keeper

Victor Valdes, Middlesbrough

FanDuel Price: $6,700

Valdes is tied for the fourth-highest priced keeper for Matchweek 30, along with Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois, and he has averaged 12.15 FanDuel points per outing this season. Valdes has scored under 10 FanDuel points in two of his last three matches while averaging just over three saves in that span.

Clean sheets and saves are extremely important for keeper scoring on FanDuel. Valdes has kept six clean sheets this season, four coming on his home pitch. The Boro concede 15.4 shots per match, but despite battling relegation, have allowed the Premier League’s fourth-fewest goals in road matches this season.

Valdes has a poor matchup for DFS players as he faces the Premier League’s fourth-worst squad, the Swans, who are fighting to stay up. The Swans average 13.3 shots per match, the league's 10th-best average in home matches. Despite conceding eight clean sheets overall this season, Swansea have scored in seven of their previous eight matches, including netting at least once in three straight home matches.

The Swans produce middle-of-the-table numbers in shots on target and saves forced, making Valdes’ price hard to justify. Swansea's recent form makes investing in a Valdes clean sheet extremely risky, and DFS players should look to save money by investing in another keeper.