SOCCER

4 FanDuel Premier League Players to Avoid in Matchweek 10

Manchester City are big favorites once again, but defender Fabian Delph isn't the best way to get exposure to the Citizens. Which other players should we avoid this week in EPL DFS?

The main slate for Matchweek 10 features six Saturday matches, with three of the top five clubs -- Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal -- as well as two of the three clubs currently in the drop zone.

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.

Forward

Roberto Firmino, Liverpool

FanDuel Price: $9,000

Firmino is tied with Chelsea’s Pedro as the eighth-highest priced forward for Matchweek 10, and he has averaged 17.47 FanDuel points this season. Firmino has struggled recently, scoring less than 10 FanDuel points in four of his last six matches while averaging 10.41 FanDuel points in that span.

The Reds host Huddersfield at Anfield and are the largest favorite on the slate. Both clubs have been good at maintaining the possession this season, with the Reds maintaining 60% of the possession at Anfield while the Terriers maintain 51.1% of the possession in away matches.

The Reds have averaged one goal per match over their last six Premier League matches and will now face a Terriers squad that has played well against forwards this season. They have allowed the 10th-fewest crosses (18), 9th-fewest shots on target (12) and 9th-most shots (33) to forwards this season.

Firmino has been inconsistent recently and will now face a capable Terriers back line while the other forwards in his price range -- Watford’s Richarlison and Chelsea’s Pedro -- both face opponents that are better matchups for forwards.

Midfielder

Abdoulaye Doucoure, Watford

FanDuel Price: $9,000

Doucoure is tied, along with three other midfielders, as the eighth-highest priced midfielder for Matchweek 10, and he has averaged 22.42 FanDuel points this season. Doucoure has scored three of his four goals in away matches this season while averaging 26 FanDuel points on the road, compared to 17.93 FanDuel points on his home pitch.

The Hornets host Stoke City at Vicarage Road and are a 0.5-goal favorite over the Potters with the over/under set at 2.5 goals. Both clubs have struggled possessing the ball this season with the Potters maintaining 45.7% of the possession away from their home pitch while the Hornets maintain 43.8% of the possession at Vicarage Road.

Doucoure has scored on each of his four shots on target this season while totaling seven shots. He has played in the midfield in five matches this season while lining up as a defensive midfielder in his other four matches. Besides the four goals, most of Doucoure’s fantasy production comes from defensive actions and chances created, and the Potters are not a great matchup for midfielders in those categories. They have allowed the 9th-fewest clearances (40), 5th-fewest tackles (53), 2nd-fewest blocked shots (4) and 7th-most interceptions (37) while allowing the 10th-most chances created (27) to midfielders/defensive midfielders this season.

Doucoure has been unable to score more than 20 FanDuel points in a match this season that he has not scored a goal in, and he is not a huge threat in the Hornets’ attack. As one of the top-priced midfielders on the slate, Doucoure will need to net a goal in order to deliver value -- especially in a GPP -- and it is hard to trust him to do that when he has only taken seven shots this season.

Defender

Fabian Delph, Manchester City

FanDuel Price: $7,000

Delph is tied with three other defenders as the third-highest priced defender for Matchweek 10. He has averaged 20.12 FanDuel points this season while averaging 19.83 FanDuel points as a starter.

Manchester City travels to the Hawthorns to face West Brom, and the Citizens are a 1.5-goal favorite over the Baggies. The two clubs are polar opposites when it comes to possession as the Baggies are the Premier League’s worst squad at maintaining possession on their home pitch while the Citizens are the league’s best squad in that category in road matches.

The Baggies have not been a great matchup for defenders this season. They have allowed the fewest interceptions (36), fewest blocked shots (8), ninth-most tackles (53) and ninth-most clearances (163) to defenders this campaign.

Delph has played well since becoming the consistent starter at left-back but will face a Baggies squad that does not control possession, which will limit the defender’s chance to pick up defensive actions. There are other defenders in Delph’s price range who should see heavy pressure or that have higher upside in attack, making Delph a risky option as one of the top-priced defenders on the slate.

Goalkeeper

Jack Butland, Stoke City

FanDuel Price: $4,000

Butland has averaged 9.61 FanDuel points this season while conceding the most goals in the Premier League through nine matches (20).

As mentioned above, the Potters travel to Vicarage Road to face Watford, and the Hornets have an implied team total of 1.5 goals. Butland has conceded two or more goals in five of his last six matches while making 15 saves in that span.

The Hornets have allowed opposing keepers to make 14 saves -- second-fewest in the Premier League -- while conceding two clean sheets. The Hornets have scored the sixth-most goals (15) in the Premier League this season while scoring two goals in each of their previous four matches.

DFS players may need to look for value at the keeper position due to so many top-priced attackers and midfielders on the slate being in good matchups. Although Butland does offer some salary relief, he does not offer high upside against a Hornets’ squad that consistently finds the back of the net without offering a ton of save opportunities.