Premier League: 4 FanDuel Studs to Target for Matchweek 4

The waters are starting to calm in the Premier League. With most stars fully recovered after a busy summer and managers getting the necessary time on the training ground to integrate offseason signings, roles will start to become more predictable.

Overall, this is a good thing for us in the DFS world. While there were so many variables at play the first few weeks of the season, starting lineups will become more predictable as the campaign progresses, allowing us to have a better idea what we're getting when we invest our bankroll.

As is the case when playing any sport on FanDuel, it’s imperative to hit on high-priced studs, the players in which you’ve made the biggest investment. This especially true with strikers in soccer as goals are often the difference between winning and losing in DFS.

Here is the entire schedule for Matchweek 4, which features 10 games.

With a full 10-game slate on tap, there is no shortage of options. Let’s take a look at some high-priced players -- all across the pitch -- who, despite costing a good chunk of change, are worth the investment.

Forward

Roberto Firmino, Liverpool

Price: £9.7 million

Liverpool's attackers are going to be attractive all season. The Reds' are potent offensively, and they lead the Premier League in shots per game at 18.3.

Firmino has been key cog in the attack. He is averaging 23.5 FanDuel points per match over the last two contests, and he's put up those numbers without scoring a goal. His chances of scoring would receive a boost if Philippe Coutinho can't recover in time from the international break, but it appears the Brazilian international will be back in England soon enough to face the defending champs.

Leicester has only had 47.6% possession through three matches, so the Reds -- who are tied for second in the league with a possession rate of 57.8% -- should see plenty of the ball. Firmino is averaging 2.3 shots and 48.0 passes per game to go along with drawing 1.7 fouls. He's credited, per FanDuel, with creating nine chances over the last two matches. In a game with a 2.5 over/under with Liverpool as a one-goal favorite, Firmino is in a great spot to continue producing.

Midfielders

Dimitri Payet, West Ham

Price: £11 million

Payet, West Ham's star man, is scheduled to return to a full-time role for this weekend's home clash against Watford. Payet was a monster for the Hammers a year ago, scoring 9 goals with 12 assists and finishing as the league's second-rated player, per WhoScored.com.

Aside from being the central focus of West Ham's attack, he also takes corners and lines up free kicks, giving him extra opportunities to rack up fantasy points. Of course, it helps that he's really, really good at said free kicks.

Watford has conceded six goals in three games. They're in the bottom five in possession (41.8%), shots allowed per game (15.7) and fouls per match (16.7). The fouls per contests are a league-worst mark and helps make this an especially attractive matchup for Payet. As we've seen, Payet is a threat on just about any free kick in the attacking half.

Nothing is ever set in stone when it comes to a player's fitness, especially after an international break, so make sure Payet is in the starting XI. If he is, this is a great spot for him to return with a bang.

Defender

Christian Fuchs, Leicester City

Price: £9.2 million

Another week, another good matchup for Fuchs.

We've covered it multiple times already this season, but it's worth pounding the point home -- as a productive defender on a solid back line playing for a Leicester team which soaks up pressure, Fuchs is a good play on a weekly basis. That's especially true when the Foxes meet up with an offensive-minded side -- like, you know, Liverpool. Just about everything that made Firmino enticing also applies here.

Averaging 16.0 FanDuel points per game, Fuchs has picked up where he left off a year ago. He is averaging 2.3 tackles, 3.0 interceptions, 3.3 clearances and 40.7 passes per match. Fuchs should be a busy, busy man against the high-powered Reds.

Goalie

Tom Heaton, Burnley

Price: £8.2 million

After facing a pretty tough schedule through three games, including matches against Chelsea and Liverpool, Heaton and Burnley get what should be a slightly easier opponent this week in Hull City.

Even though Hull City started by taking six points from their first two matches, it was a little bit of a smoke-and-mirrors act. Through three games, the Tigers have scored just 4 goals and are averaging a meager 11.3 shots per game, which ranks 12th in the Premier League.

Hull City should be able to generate more of an attack against Burnley, which ranks next to last in shots allowed be game (21.7). That's good news for Heaton. Burnley's weaker defense gives him the chance to rack up saves, but Hull City's offensive struggles could help him keep a clean sheet -- a dreamy scenario for DFS.

Heaton is turning aside 6 shots per match while tallying an average of 21.2 FanDuel points per game, which leads all Premier League goalies. Unfortunately, with a spike for Matchweek 4, his salary now reflects his play.