SOCCER

Premier League: 4 FanDuel Value Plays for Matchweek 35

Benik Afobe has a great matchup against Sunderland. Which other value plays can produce in a big way this weekend?

It is crunch time in the Premier League. Six teams in action on the five-game FanDuel slate are still not safe from relegation.

A slate dominated by teams in the lower half of the table means that pricing is reasonable, with Joshua King of Bournemouth the most expensive player at $9,200. He has scored three goals in his last four matches to warrant the pricing. King and Christian Benteke will likely see a lot of ownership this week.

Who on the opposite end of pricing can provide a lift for your team? Let's get to it.

Forward

Benik Afobe, Bournemouth

FanDuel Price: $6,900

While most of the attention will be on King, it is Afobe that plays in an advanced role in front of King. He also scored a goal last week by being in the right place at the right time. That is something he has shown a knack for this season.


Per WhoScores.com, there have been more than 2.5 goals scored in 9 of Bournemouth's last 11 away games. Sunderland have lost seven straight and have given up 31 goals at home, the second-most in the league. According to Rotowire, Sunderland have given up the second-most goals to forwards this season.

Afobe was once on Barcelona's radar as a 17-year old prospect and has now become a viable attacking option in the Premier League. Afobe is in good form over his last seven matches and has a great chance to keep it up against the last-place team.

Midfielder

Robbie Brady, Burnley

FanDuel Price: $5,600

Brady's appeal comes from the suspension of Joey Barton. That thrusts Brady into direct free-kick and potentially corner-kick duty. Brady will play on the wing and likely be the outlet for counter attacks against Crystal Palace.


The matchup is one that has provided goals in recent history. Brady has not scored since February, but his form has improved in each of the last three matches. He is coming off his best FanDuel performance of the season, a game in which he added six tackles while creating four scoring chances. This shows his versatility as a box-to-box midfielder.

Brady has produced 12 chances in 11 matches and averages 2.0 defensive actions per match. In a fixture that has a history of being wide open, both of those numbers should go up.

Defender

Martin Kelly, Crystal Palace

FanDuel Price: $5,100

Kelly will be starting based on the injuries facing Crystal Palace. Kelly is not a flashy player and will likely be low owned. Again, this is likely an open match. That means Kelly and partner Damien Delaney will not be bored.

In 24 appearances, Kelly has averaged six defensive actions. He has also created eight chances and won about half of his aerial duels. He is also coming off his best game since January 3rd, and his 18.25-fantasy-point performance against Tottenham included 6 clearances and 3 tackles. Kelly has 38 clearances in his last five matches.

Burnley leads the league in long passes, so Kelly will have to be alert as the Clarets try to counter quickly. If Burnley continue to struggle to generate offense, they will likely go even more to the simple, route-one football -- meaning Kelly will have a chance to continue racking up clearances.

Keeper

Jack Butland, Stoke City

FanDuel Price: $6,100

Butland returned last week after a very lengthy injury layoff. He made four saves in a loss to Swansea, but he will be glad to be back on home soil. Stoke have a plus-three goal differential at home and have taken points from 12 of the 17 matches played at the bet365 Stadium.

Butland should face some shots this week against West Ham as they are eighth in the league in total shots. However, the Hammers have won just four games on the road. Stoke are unbeaten in their last seven matches against West Ham, so history indicates that Butland and Stoke are in for a good day.