SOCCER

Premier League: 4 FanDuel Value Plays for Matchweek 12

Julian Speroni has started four straight matches for Crystal Palace, and the Eagles have a nice home matchup versus a struggling Everton side. Who else can provide value to your FanDuel squad?

A larger-than-normal FanDuel slate for Saturday means the possibility of more value plays in the Premier League. However, three of the top four teams in the standings are on the slate, so prices are elevated since the last time England's top league was in action.

Matchweek 12
Saturday, November 18th
Everton at Crystal Palace
Huddersfield at Bournemouth
Chelsea at West Brom
Southampton at Liverpool
Swansea at Burnley
Manchester City at Leicester
Newcastle at Manchester United


There are 13 players at the forward or midfield position who are priced at or above $9,000. The top defenders are priced at $7,000. Four keepers are priced at $5,500. These prices make the players listed below good value options for Saturday.

Let's get to it.

Forward

Jermain Defoe ($6,500): Playing the Bournemouth striker brings a little bit of risk. The attacking lineup for the Cherries is up in the air, and Defoe had been dealing with a hamstring injury prior to the international break. However, manager Eddie Howe seems to back the striker and could reinstate him into the lineup.

Defoe was able to make a 15-minute appearance in Bournemouth's match against Newcastle in Matchweek 11. The break gave him a chance to rest his leg even more prior to facing Huddersfield.

Bournemouth has been poor offensively this season, averaging just under 10 shots per match. However, Huddersfield have been struggling on both sides of the ball and now sit in the bottom half of teams defensively. Huddersfield also average less time on the ball than Bournemouth, which should continue this week at Vitality Stadium. Bournemouth have never lost to a newly-promoted side at home and have won the last five such matches by an aggregate score of 17-3.

Josh King and Benik Afobe are both battling injuries, which leaves just Callum Wilson as a starting striker option outside of Defoe. Even though it is risky, there is still value with Defoe coming off the bench. He has scored more goals off the bench than any other Premier League player.

Midfielder

Renato Sanches ($5,500): Sanches should return to the Swansea lineup this weekend against Burnley. His return has helped Swansea reach almost full fitness as a squad.


Sanches will get to come back against a team that has one of the lowest average possession statistics in the league. Swansea have also won all four Premier League meetings with Burnley, which should give them much-needed confidence heading into this one.

Sanches has only been able to feature in five matches, but he has put in some defensive work. He has four tackles, six interceptions, and two clearances. He drew eight fouls and created three chances in his last two matches before the injury.

In his last match, he played as the right outside midfielder. The position may not matter as Sanches will have responsibility on both sides of the ball regardless of where along the midfield he plays.

Defender

Wesley Hoedt ($4,500): Southampton's Hoedt has gone under the radar, but he is getting a chance to lock up a permanent spot alongside Virgil van Dijk. Having only one starting defender priced below him may not last too long.

Hoedt was signed this past summer as the future for van Dijk was unclear. Fans have been astonished by his long passing ability, but that is not his only talent. He is averaging over 13 FanDuel points in four games -- recording 4 tackles, 8 interceptions, and 18 clearances.

Hoedt and the Saints' back line should be busy on the road at Liverpool. Despite having similar possession numbers, Southampton is giving up about four more shots per match. Liverpool have also scored 21 goals to Southampton's 9.

It shouldn't take long for Hoedt to out-earn his price. Southampton have kept clean sheets in their last four matches with Liverpool in all competitions, but it will take plenty of work to keep the streak going.

Keeper

Julian Speroni ($4,500): Veteran keeper Speroni is clearly the top choice for Crystal Palace after starting the last four matches. During those four weeks, no team has allowed fewer big chances than Palace. That trend is likely to continue as opponents Everton have only scored two away goals.

Everton is still influx as they have not committed to manager David Unsworth, who has switched lineups at will in his tenure. Palace should benefit from that dysfunction. Of course, the Eagles are still among the worst teams in the league, so Speroni should face some shots.

Speroni is being added by many managers on the official Premier League season-long fantasy game, where his value is even higher. Still, he is one of the cheapest starting keepers on FanDuel and will not need a shutout to return value.



Douglas
Smith is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Douglas Smith also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username aquemini03. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his/her personal views, he/she may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his/her personal account. The views expressed in his/her articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.