4 FanDuel Premier League Players to Avoid for Matchweek 4
The main slate for Matchweek 4 features six Saturday matches -- among them what should be a tremendous clash between Tottenham and Everton -- and includes six squads who are currently in the top half of the table.
As with any sport, it is imperative to have your players, especially the high-priced studs, live up to their price tag. When investing in 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
Harry Kane, Tottenham
FanDuel Price: $10,000
After winning the golden boot last season, Kane, who has averaged 15.92 FanDuel points this season, has been unable to find the back of the net, yet is the fifth-highest priced forward for Matchweek 4.
Kane and Tottenham travel to Goodison Park to face Everton. The Spurs enter Saturday’s match as a 0.5-goal favorite, and have an implied team total of 1.5 goals.
The Spurs -- as well as Kane -- have struggled to reproduce last season's success. Kane actually leads the league-- by a wide margin -- in shots (24), with United’s Romelu Lukaku far back with 14. Even with the high number of shots, Kane’s production has dipped significantly from last season. He has only produced 25% of his shots on target (6) after taking over 50% of his shots on target last season.
The Spurs have maintained 63.8% of the possession in their first three matches, while the Toffees have maintained 47.2% of the possession this season. The Toffees have allowed the sixth-fewest shots (7) to forwards while allowing a goal and an assist.
Kane has found plenty of opportunities to pound the goal -- giving him a high floor -- but has yet to capitalize on those opportunities and now has a tough matchup against Everton. DFS players should consider other forwards Saturday -- such as Arsenal’s Alexandre Lazazette or United’s Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford (depending on who is in the starting XI) -- who all seemingly have better matchups. Wait until Kane returns to top form before rostering the forward.
Midfielder
Oriol Romeu, Southampton
FanDuel Price: $9,500
Romeu is the eighth-highest priced midfielder for Matchweek 4, and is Fan Duel’s top-priced player in Southampton’s match against Watford despite averaging fewer FanDuel points (17.67) than six other midfielders and forwards in that same match.
The Saints have earned 4 points in their two home matches this season. They are a 1-goal favorite over the Hornets and the over/under is set at 2.5 goals.
Romeu’s FanDuel fantasy production generally comes from defensive actions, his 5 chance created in Matchweek 1 notwithstanding. In his last two seasons with the Saints, Romeu has created only 28 chances while taking 14 shots on target, as he generally plays a defensive-midfielder role.
The Hornets have struggled to possess the ball this season, averaging 46.1% of the possession through three matches, and haven’t been capable of placing heavy pressure on their opponents’ back line. They have allowed the fourth-fewest clearances (8), fifth-fewest tackles (14) and fewest interceptions (7) to opposing midfielders/defensive-midfielders.
Southampton will likely control the possession and are a large favorite to win, which may hinder Romeu from picking up defensive actions. Romeu’s involvement in the Saints’ attack is limited, making him a risky play in all formats, especially when there are likely better options in the same match.
Defender
Daley Blind, Manchester United
FanDuel Price: $6,500
Blind is tied, along with eight other defenders, as the third-highest priced defender for Matchweek 4, and he has averaged 15.58 FanDuel points through three matches.
The Red Devils are a 1-goal favorite over the Potters and have an implied team total of 1.75 goals. United have maintained 58.5% of the possession in their three matches, while the Potters have maintained 43.2% of the possession this season.
As they did last season, the Potters have struggled to produce defensive statistics for opposing defenders. They have allowed the sixth-fewest tackles (14), sixth-fewest blocked shots (4), fifth-fewest clearances (41), and fifth-fewest interceptions (12) to opposing defenders.
Blind has sent in 23 crosses this season -- a stat not scored on FanDuel -- but has only created 3 chances. The Red Devils will likely dominate Saturday’s match, which should allow Blind to continue to send in crosses, but could limit his floor with defensive actions, making him a risky play on FanDuel.
Goalkeeper
Fraser Forster, Southampton
FanDuel Price: $4,500
Forster is tied for the sixth-highest keeper for Matchweek 4, and he has averaged 18.83 FanDuel points through three matches this season. As mentioned above, the Saints are a large favorite over the Hornets (1-goal).
The Hornets have been held scoreless once this season -- Matchweek 3 against Brighton -- while scoring 5 goals in their other two matches and allowing the fifth-fewest saves (6) to opposing keepers this season.
Southampton should be able to control the match on their home pitch against a Hornets squad that struggles to maintain possession. A clean sheet is well within the range of outcomes for Forster, but the Hornets have shown the ability to find the net this season while taking a low number of shots, making Forster extremely dependent on a clean sheet.
