SOCCER

4 FanDuel Premier League Studs to Target for Matchweek 14

Mesut Ozil has displayed a newfound scoring touch this year, and the Gunners have a tasty matchup this week against West Ham.

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 article is geared toward the U.S.-based Premier League DFS, and it is for the main slate. That slate starts at 10 a.m. EST on Saturday and features six matches.

Matchweek 14 Main Slate
Saturday, December 3rd
Swansea City at Tottenham
Arsenal at West Ham
Southampton at Crystal Palace
Leicester at Sunderland
Burnley at Stoke City
Watford at West Brom


Forward

Harry Kane, Tottenham

FanDuel Salary: $12,700

Only two players -- Alexis Sanchez ($12,800) being the other -- are priced over $10,600, so it'll take a serious investment to roster Kane. But the dude is in a great spot to put up a big game. The Spurs welcome Swansea City, a team hemorrhaging goals this season, to White Hart Lane.

The Swans have surrendered 26 goals in 13 league matches, including 14 goals in their last six fixtures. Tottenham aren't a goal-scoring juggernaut, but their 17.0 shots per game and 56.1% possession rate both rank third in the Premier League. Kane leads Spurs with 2.4 shots per game and 5 goals this season.

The match has an over/under of 3 goals, which ties for the most of any game on the main slate, and Spurs are a 1.5-goal favorite. Kane -- whose value is boosted by the fact he handles penalties -- figures to be heavily involved in a match Tottenham should control.

Midfielder

Mesut Ozil, Arsenal

FanDuel Salary: $10,600

The other main-slate match with an over/under of three goals is Arsenal at West Ham. The Hammers have allowed 24 goals in 13 league matches, although they've tightened up lately, giving up just 7 goals in their last six contests. Still, Arsenal, whose 55.6% possession rate ranks fourth, should spend plenty of time on the front foot in this one.

Ozil has always been a pull-the-strings, playmaking wizard from midfield, but this year, he's become more of a goalscorer.

Exhibit A:


In 16 appearances this campaign across the Premier League and the Champions League, Ozil has netted seven goals while dishing out three assists. He has three goals and one assist this year in 11 EPL appearances. For reference, his career-high single-season goal mark in the Premier League is six, which he set a year ago in 33 appearances.

Ozil is averaging 1.7 shots per game while drawing close to a foul per match (0.8) this season in the Premier League. Of course, this comes in addition to his massive contributions as a passer and playmaker as he is averaging 58.5 passes per match.

Anytime Arsenal is expected to be in a high-scoring game, like they are this weekend, Ozil will likely be a key cog in the fixture. He's always had a safe floor thanks to his on-ball playmaking talent, but his newfound scoring touch gives him an elite ceiling.

Defender

Federico Fernandez, Swansea City

FanDuel Salary: $6,100

All the reasons that make Kane an attractive play also put Fernandez in a good spot -- although Fernandez is a game-time fitness call with a knock. With Spurs expected to see a lot of the ball, Swansea City should spend plenty of time defending. That should give Fernandez ample opportunity to rack up defensive stats such as clearances, tackles, and interceptions.

On the season, Fernandez is averaging 19.4 FanDuel points per game. In eight appearances, he's totaling 8.3 clearances, 2.8 interceptions, 1.3 tackles, and 0.9 blocks per match. In a matchup like this, he should have every chance to build on those numbers. Fellow Swansea defenders Mike van der Hoorn and Jordi Amat are also in a good spot if Fernandez sits.

Goalie

Jordan Pickford, Sunderland

FanDuel Salary: $6,900

It's hard to find a good time to play Pickford because Sunderland has been so bad this year. With that said, Leicester City haven't been very good, and this may be a pretty nice spot for Pickford.

Remember, for DFS, we want a goalie who is going to be busy, which Pickford has been in just about every match this year, but not at the risk of rostering a goalie who gets beaten multiple times. In this one, Pickford's chances of being busy and keeping a clean sheet -- a 10-point boost -- aren't too shabby.

The Black Cats are at home, and Leicester rank a meager 16th in shots per game with 10.6. Sunderland, though, are last in the league in possession (40.5%), and they allow the third-most shots per game (19.5). The Foxes should be able to keep Pickford fairly active, but if Leicester maintain their current attacking form -- 16 goals in 13 matches -- they shouldn't do too much damage.

Pickford, for his part, has been a good fantasy asset this season. His 15.8 FanDuel points per game ranks second among active goalies on the main slate, so he's been good even when Sunderland have been in much worse spots than they will be this weekend.