SOCCER

4 FanDuel Premier League Studs to Target for Matchweek 5

Austan Kas  —  @AustanKas Sep 15th, 2016
Coming off a four-goal outburst, Harry Kane and Tottenham get a juicy home matchup against Sunderland.

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.

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. This piece is for the full weekend slate, which covers all 10 matches.

Forward

Harry Kane, Tottenham

Price: £11.2 million

Tottenham is a big 1.5-goal favorite for their home matchup with Sunderland. The Spurs' attack had been slow out of the gate, but they erupted for four goals last week against Stoke City. Kane got one of the goals, and he's now gone over the 20-point mark on FanDuel in two of his last three contests.

This has the makings of another offensive barrage for Tottenham, and Kane -- who is averaging 22.3 passes and 2.3 shots per game -- has the best chance to score of any player in the match, per bet365.

The Black Cats boast a miserable 39.7% possession rate, the second worst clip in the Premier League, and they're allowing 15 shots per game. Sunderland just gave up three goals in a loss to Everton in Matchweek 4, and in all, they've conceded eight times in four matches.

Midfielders

Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City

Price: £15.3 million

City is going to be a team to target for their home matchup with Bournemouth. Even if Sergio Agüero was playing, De Bruyne would be attractive, but he's particularly enticing with Agüero in the midst of his three-game EPL ban.

In the Manchester Derby last weekend, De Bruyne was the best player on the pitch, scoring a goal and helping to create another as City topped Manchester United.


Much like Tottenham's game, this one profiles as a bloodbath as the in-form Citizens are favored by 1.5 goals. City owns a league-high 61.0% possession rate, and they figure to boss the proceedings. The Cherries are surrendering 15.8 shots per match, and they gave up 33 goals in 19 road EPL matches a year ago.

The only concern here is that Pep Guardiola could possibly elect to rest De Bruyne after City's midweek Champions League game, a match where the Belgian played all 90 minutes. Check the starting XI, and if De Bruyne is in there, he's a high-end play this week.

Defender

Curtis Davies, Hull City

Price: £9.2 million

After an incredible four-match run, Davies' salary has finally jumped. Now, instead of being a screaming bargain, he's just a solid play. That's especially the case when Hull takes on one of the big boys, which they do this weekend as they host Arsenal.

Davies has been superb this season. According to WhoScored.com's player rating system, he's been the best player in England. Davies is averaging 10.3 clearances, 7.8 interceptions, 2.8 blocks and 1.5 tackles per match. Playing against a favored Arsenal side who has a 54.8% possession rate, the fifth-highest clip in the league, Davies figures to get plenty of chances to rack up defensive stats.

The salary takes him off the must-roster list, but it's still hard to pass on a guy in a favorable spot who is averaging 34.38 FanDuel points per match.

Goalie

Heurelho Gomes, Watford

Price: £7.8 million

Much like Davies, the game script figures to keep Gomes extremely busy as Watford hosts Manchester United.

Watford ranks in the bottom five in possession (42%), and they are allowing opponents to fire off 16.5 shots per contest, the third-most in the Premier League. United is tied for fourth in shots per game (16.5), and Jose Mourinho's side should control this one.

Averaging just 11.63 FanDuel points per match, Gomes hasn't been a great fantasy keeper so far this season, but he should have a chance to amass plenty of saves and clearances. If he can limit the damage to just one or two goals allowed, Gomes could have a big fantasy day against the Red Devils.