SOCCER

4 FanDuel Premier League Players to Avoid for Matchweek 35

Wilfred Ndidi has a tough matchup against a West Brom side that doesn't surrender many points to his position. Which other players should we stay away from in Matchweek 35.

The main slate for Matchweek 35 features five Saturday matches, none of which include any club in the top seven of the Premier League table. FanDuel’s late swap is available for the slate as it continues to be available for all soccer slates.

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

Andre Ayew, West Ham

FanDuel Price: $7,800

As we got into above, there are no top clubs on the slate, which limits the options for top players -- including forwards -- on the pitch. Ayew, normally a mid-tier option, comes in as the sixth-highest priced forward on the slate, and he has averaged 10.99 FanDuel points this season. In his last six starts, Ayew has averaged 16.75 FanDuel points while scoring twice both as a forward and an attacking-mid.

Ayew and West Ham travel to bet365 stadium to face Stoke City. The Irons have the second-lowest implied total (1.0 goal), just above Hull City's implied total, and the over/under is set at 2.5 goals.

The Irons maintain 47.2% of the possession, per WhoScored, while averaging 11.8 shots per match away from London Stadium. The Potters have not performed much better, maintaining 48.6% of the possession while allowing 15.3 shots per match at bet365 Stadium.

This is not a great slate for forwards -- or attacking-midfielders -- and Ayew has one of the worst matchups of any forward on the slate. The Potters have allowed the 10th-fewest shots (212), 10th-fewest assists (17), 9th-fewest shots on target (76) and 6th-fewest goals (17) to forwards/attacking-midfielders this season.

The Potters are in the bottom-three of the table in all four of those categories compared to the other squads on the slate and have conceded the second-fewest home goals (20) on the slate. Since Matchweek 25, the Potters have conceded only 14 shots on target to forwards/attacking-midfielders, the third-fewest shots on target in that span and the lowest total on the slate.

Ayew is priced only $1,400 cheaper than the top forward, Joshua King, and only $1,100 cheaper than Christian Benteke, who could be the top-owned forward on the slate. Those two forwards have what appear to be much better matchups, so DFS players will want to avoid Ayew and get some exposure to those top priced forwards.

Midfielder

Wilfred Ndidi, Leicester City

FanDuel Price: $8,100

Ndidi is the second-highest prices midfielder for Matchweek 35, and he has averaged 22 FanDuel points through 12 matches this season. Ndidi has not reached his average in his last three matches while averaging 15.83 FanDuel points in that span.

Ndidi and Leicester travel to The Hawthorns to face West Brom. The match is a pick’em, although the Foxes are a slight underdog according to the moneyline, and the over/under is set at 2.5 goals.

The Foxes are the Premier League’s fourth-worst squad at maintaining possession in road matches and average 10.5 shots per match while the Baggies are the league’s worst club at maintaining possession but allow the ninth-fewest shots on their home pitch.

Ndidi has scored one goal and tallied one assist this season and relies heavily on defensive actions to earn FanDuel points. Among all EPL teams, the Baggies have allowed the fifth-fewest goals (3) and fifth-fewest assists (3) and eighth-fewest chances created (40) to central midfielders this season. The Baggies are also in the middle of the table in tackles (77) and clearances (77) allowed to Ndidi’s position.

Just $100 cheaper than teammate Riyad Mahrez, who seemingly has a better matchup on the right side, Ndidi should be avoided in favor of midfielders in better matchups, such as Palace’s two-highest priced midfielders or Dusan Tadic.

Defender

Christian Fuchs, Leicester City

FanDuel Price: $6,600

Fuchs is tied as the fourth-highest priced defender for Matchweek 35, along with Bournemouth’s Steve Cook, and he has averaged 19.97 FanDuel points this season.

West Brom have an implied total of 1.25 goals and have not scored more than one goal in their last four matches, including being held scoreless in their previous two home matches.

The Baggies are not a great matchup for defenders as they just don’t put heavy pressure on their opponents due to a lack of possession and average just under four shots on target per match. Since Matchweek 29, the Baggies have allowed the fewest blocked shots (7), third-fewest clearances (82), sixth-fewest interceptions (32) and eighth-fewest tackles (26) to defenders. The Baggies have been even better at stopping left-backs from appearing on the scoresheet as they have not allowed a goal or an assist to the position this season.

Fuchs is just $200 cheaper than Burnley’s Ben Mee, who may not play this week, and just $100 cheaper than two Hull defenders. The Hull defenders -- Harry Maguire and Andrea Ranocchia -- both have better perceived matchups than Fuchs, and at basically the same price, DFS players should pivot away from the Leicester defense.

Keeper

Jordan Pickford, Sunderland

FanDuel Price: $7,000

Pickford is tied as the third-highest priced keeper for Matchweek 35, along with Leicester's Kasper Schmeichel, and he has averaged 15.89 FanDuel points through 24 matches this season. Pickford is in bad form as he has allowed three goals while making only two saves and averaging 2.88 FanDuel points in his previous two matches.

Clean sheets and saves are extremely important for keeper scoring on FanDuel, and Pickford has kept three clean sheets this season, all three of which have come at home. The Black Cats allow the Premier League’s third-most shots in home matches (15.8) while the Cherries take the 10th-fewest shots on target (3.5) per match.

Bournemouth have allowed nine clean sheets to opposing keepers this season -- including six clean sheets away from Dean Court -- but they have scored in six of their last eight road matches. Since Matchweek 25, the Cherries have not been a great matchup for opposing keepers as they have scored the 7th-most goals in the league (14) while forcing the 10th-fewest saves (25).

The Black Cats have basically clinched a spot in the Championship next season. They are destined for relegation but enter Saturday’s match as a slight underdog, and the over/under is set at 2.5 goals. The Cherries should be able to place shots on target, but Pickford has been in poor form over his last two matches and should be avoided by DFS players despite playing at home.