4 FanDuel Premier League Players to Avoid for Matchweek 3
The main slate for Matchweek 3 features five Saturday matches, including all three newly promoted squads and only two squads -- Manchester United and Southampton -- that finished in the top half of the table last season.
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 will likely contribute in FanDuel's emphasized areas (goals, assists, and shots on target). It's also just as crucial not to overspend on players in bad matchups.
We should try 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 check out 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
Manolo Gabbiadini, Southampton
FanDuel Price: $8,500
Gabbiadini, who has averaged 11.2 FanDuel points in his first two matches this season, is tied with United’s Marcus Rashford and Huddersfield’s Steve Mounie as the fourth-highest priced forward for Matchweek 3.
Gabbiadini and the Saints travel to Kirklees Stadium to face Huddersfield. The Saints enter Saturday’s match as a 0.5-goal favorite, and have an implied team total of 1.5 goals.
Gabbiadini has only produced a single shot on target in his first two matches -- a shot on which he scored -- while taking a total of 7 shots. Gabbiadini’s goal came in Matchweek 2 against West Ham, when he basically ran behind the Hammer’s back line and received a through ball from Nathan Redmond for the easy finish. The goal was a complete mistake by the Hammer’s defense, and it is hard to trust that Huddersfield, whose back line is playing surprisingly well, will make that same error.
The Terries have maintained 48.2% of the possession in winning their first two matches, while the Saints have maintained 59.3% of the possession in that span. Huddersfield have not conceded a goal this season, and have allowed the sixth-fewest shots (4) to opposing forwards.
In his 11 matches in the Premier League last season, Gabbiadini produced 11 shots on target -- 29 total shots -- while creating 6 chances and scoring 4 goals. Gabbiadini has a seemingly low floor, as he does not produce enough statistics in the Saints’ attack to justify his price.
Midfielder
Juan Mata, Manchester United
FanDuel Price: $8,000
DFS players will want some exposure to the United match, as it boasts the highest/over under total on the slate (3 goals), and the Red Devils are clearly the best squad in action. The Red Devils enter Saturday’s match as a 1.5-goal favorite over Leicester, and they have an implied team total of 2.25 goals, the largest on the slate.
Mata, however, is not the best investment in that match despite the salary relief he offers. He has yet to play a full 90 and has been subbed off in the 76th and 75th minute in his first two matches. Mata has averaged 12.12 FanDuel points in those matches and struggled at Old Tafford in Matchweek 1, despite producing a higher FanDuel score,
The Foxes have played well against attacking-midfielders on the right side this season. They have allowed 3 crosses and 3 chances created, while allowing only 2 shots on target.
The Foxes have only controlled 40.4% of the possession this season, which could allow Mata the opportunity to stay in the attack throughout the match. But the possibility of him not playing a full match -- combined with Leicester’s ability to hinder the attack on the right side -- gives Mata a low ceiling, making him the midfielder to avoid.
Defender
Miguel Britos, Watford
FanDuel Price: $6,500
For the second-straight week, Britos is listed as one of the highest-priced defenders on the slate -- the third highest, specifically -- and after a subpar match against Bournemouth, he is once again a defender to avoid.
The Hornets host Brighton at Vicarage Road, and enter Saturday’s match as a 0.5-goal favorite, with an implied team total of 1.5 goals. Both squads have struggled this season to maintain possession, although the Hornets should be able to control possession against Brighton.
Britos’ goal in Matchweek 1 came late in stoppage time, as the Hornets were pushing far up the pitch looking for the equalizer against Liverpool. Last season, Britos produced only 18 shots -- with 5 of those shots on target -- while scoring once.
It is likely that Britos’ Matchweek 1 outing will be his top attacking performance of the season. Britos averaged just over 5 clearances in his 27 matches last season, but struggled in the other defensive categories (tackles, interceptions, and blocked shots), averaging fewer than 2 in each of those actions.
The Seagulls are not a team DFS players should attack when looking at defenders. They are a newly promoted squad who should be battling relegation all season and are in the bottom-five of the table in clearances, tackles, and interceptions allowed to defenders, while allowing the seventh-most blocked shots (4) to defenders this season.
DFS players want target defenders who could see a high number of defensive actions, or defenders who will likely be utilized in the attack. Britos offers neither of those options, making him an extremely risky option, especially in GPP.
Goalkeeper
Kasper Schmeichel, Leicester
FanDuel Price: $5,500
Schmeichel is the highest-priced keeper for Matchweek 3, and, as mentioned above, has an extremely difficult match against Manchester United. Little surprise the Foxes are the largest underdog on the slate (1.5-goals).
The Red Devils will likely win Saturday’s match and should easily possess the ball against a Leicester squad that has struggled in that category so far this season. However, the Red Devils have easily controlled their first two matches of the season, winning both by a score of 4-0 while averaging 55.9% if the possession, but have only allowed 5 saves from opposing goalies.
The Red Devils have been extremely efficient in the attack this season, and there is no reason to believe that is going to change against Leicester. It is hard to predict that United will again score 4 goals -- although it is well within the possible outcomes -- but they should continue their efficiency. Schmeichel is facing a top squad, but as the highest-priced keeper against an efficient attack, he should be avoided.
