SOCCER

4 FanDuel Premier League Studs to Target for Matchweek 11

Facing Everton in a game that should be an open and fantasy-friendly affair, Eden Hazard is in a sweet spot. Which other high-priced players are worth checking out?

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.

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 is the second week that FanDuel here in the U.S. is offering DFS for the Premier League (it was previously only available in the U.K.) This article is geared toward the U.S.-based Premier League DFS, and it is for the main slate. That slate starts at 11 a.m. EST on Saturday and features five matches. FanDuel is also offering a three-match Sunday slate.

Matchweek 11 Main Slate
Saturday, November 5th
Sunderland at Bournemouth
Middlesbrough at Manchester City
Crystal Palace at Burnley
Stoke City at West Ham
Everton at Chelsea


Let's get to it.

Forward

Sergio Aguero, Manchester City

FanDuel Salary: $12,300

Aguero is pricey and so chalky, but he's hard to pass up with a superb home matchup against Middlesbrough. Aguero is averaging 26.9 FanDuel points per game, and City are a 2-goal favorite, the biggest favorite of the slate. Considering the game has an over/under of three, we should be expecting a lot of chances for the Citizens.

That won't be much of a change from what they've been doing in their first year under Pep Guardiola as City are tied for the Premier League lead in goals with 24 in 10 matches, and they lead the league in possession at 60.7%. City's possession rate jumps to 63.3% when they're at home, and they're averaging 18.2 shots per game at The Etihad. On the flip side, Middlesbrough is getting off a measly 8.4 shots per match in their travels, so it figures to be one-way traffic.

Aguero, as he has since he came to England, is providing the Citizens with world-class finishing ability. He's scored 7 goals in seven starts (he was suspended for three matches), and he's firing off 4.5 shots per match. Aguero will have a great chance to keep his good run of form going, and his likelihood of putting one in the back of the net makes him worth the costly price tag.

Midfielder

Eden Hazard, Chelsea

FanDuel Salary: $10,000

Much like Aguero, Hazard may be chalk for his home matchup with Everton, but the situation is just too nice. This game should be an open, fantasy-friendly matchup. It also features an over/under of three, and Chelsea are a one-goal favorite.

The Blues have been outstanding at Stamford Bridge this season, scoring 13 goals in five home matches. The good home form extends to Hazard, who has netted four goals and averaged 3.8 shots per game in those five home contests. Averaging 26.3 FanDuel points for the year, Hazard has been sparkling of late, posting 37.75 FanDuel points per match over his last three outings.

In a match oddsmakers expect to be a high-scoring affair, Romelu Lukaku, Ross Barkley and Diego Costa also make for good plays, but Hazard's lights-out form puts him at the top of the list.

Defender

Calum Chambers, Middlesbrough

FanDuel Salary: $8,500

Only two defenders -- Chambers and Scott Dunn -- are over $7,000, so you'll likely have to find some value plays elsewhere to squeeze Chambers into your lineup. You'll want to try to do that, though, because Chambers is in a position to rack up some fantasy points this week.

For the same reasons Aguero is a good play, Chambers is in a nice spot. The Boro should soak up a ton of pressure against City, which will give Chambers -- who is on loan from Arsenal -- ample opportunities to amass counting stats.

Averaging 24.3 FanDuel points per game, Chambers is the highest-scoring defender on the slate. He's been even better in his one game against a top-tier side as a member of Middlesbrough, totaling 32.75 FanDuel points against Tottenham. For the year, he is averaging 3.0 tackles, 2.8 interceptions and 1.8 blocks to go with a whopping 7.0 clearances. He's also attempting 46.5 passes per game.

Goalie

Tom Heaton, Burnley

FanDuel Salary: $6,600

The goalie options aren't ideal on this six-game slate. Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois is enticing, but he scored a total of 11.75 FanDuel points in two matches against Liverpool and Arsenal -- sides with attacking firepower comparable to Everton -- so we'll pivot to Heaton.

Heaton is in fine form, averaging 31.83 FanDuel points over his last three games. Admittedly, that number is boosted by an 11-save, 42.75-point clean sheet last week against Manchester United, but he's finished with at least 15 FanDuel points in 7 of 10 matches this year.

Burnley won't see as much pressure as they did against the Red Devils, but with a meager possession rate of 39.9%, they're not going to see much of the ball regardless of the opposition. That applies here with Crystal Palace, who sits ninth in possession (51.4%). Palace is also getting off the ninth-most shots per game at 14.7 -- 4.5 of which are on target -- so Heaton should be busy enough to have a useful fantasy day.