SOCCER

4 FanDuel Premier League Players to Avoid in Matchweek 12

Riyad Mahrez has scored over 20 FanDuel points in four straight matches but faces a tough opponent in his next match. What other players should we avoid in Matchweek 12?

The main slate for Matchweek 12 features seven Saturday matches, with four of the top-five clubs in action, but only one -- Chelsea -- facing a club currently in the bottom-five of the table (West Bromwich Albion).

As with any sport, it is imperative to have your players, especially the high-priced studs, live up to their price tag. When investing in any player, it is important to determine who will likely contribute in FanDuel's emphasized areas (goals, assists, and shots on target). It's also just as crucial not to overspend on players in bad matchups.

We should try to take advantage of the teams -- and players -- who play especially well either home or away, while also looking at oddsmakers favorites and over/under totals. DFS players, as always, should check out injury reports and confirmed starting XIs when they become available.

Let's take a look at four players across the entire pitch who should be avoided.

Forward

Marcus Rashford, Manchester United

FanDuel Price: $8,000

Rashford is tied, along with five other forwards, as the seventh-highest priced forward for Matchweek 12, and he has averaged 15.16 FanDuel points this season, scoring fewer than 8.0 FanDuel points in four of his previous five matches when he appeared in the Red Devils' starting XI. Rashford has taken 11 corners for the Red Devils over the last two matchweeks, but those corners have not led to an assist or a chance created.

The Red Devils host Newcastle at Old Trafford in Saturday’s late match and are 1.5-goal favorite over the Magpies. The Red Devils maintain 53.8% of the possession at Old Trafford while the Magpies maintain 46.6% of the possession in away matches.

United’s attack has been subpar as of late, scoring two goals across their previous four Premier League matches, while Rashford has moved into the forward-line alongside Romelu Lukaku in their last two league matches. Although the Red Devils are tied with Manchester City and Liverpool as the largest favorite on the slate, their forwards face a Newcastle backline that has performed well against forwards this season. They have allowed the 10th-fewest shots (35), 7th-fewest shots on target (13), 4th-fewest goals (3) and have yet to allow an assist to a forward this campaign.

With an implied team total of 2.0 goals, United’s attack seems likely to bounce back against the Magpies. However, Rashford has only played a full match once this campaign and has scored more than 10 FanDuel points just twice in his last seven matches, making him a great forward to avoid.

Midfielder

Riyad Mahrez, Leicester City

FanDuel Price: $8,500

Mahrez is tied, along with four other midfielders, as the ninth-highest-priced midfielder for Matchweek 12, and he has averaged 17.95 FanDuel points this season. Mahrez has been in great form over his previous four matches, scoring 2 goals while tallying 2 assists and averaging 27.0 FanDuel points in that span.

The Foxes host Manchester City at King Power stadium and are tied with Newcastle and Southampton as the largest underdog on the slate. The Foxes are the Premier League’s third-worst squad at maintaining possession in road matches while the Citizens are the league’s best club in that category in home matches.

The Citizens are, as of now, the Premier League’s top club -- currently leading the table -- and have performed well against all positions this season, including midfielders/attacking midfielders. They have allowed the seventh-fewest chances created (14), fourth-fewest crosses (13), third-fewest shots on target (8) and fewest shots (17) to midfielders/attacking-midfielders this season.

The Citizens do surrender a decent amount of defensive actions to midfielders/attacking-midfielders, which could offer an average floor to Mahrez, but as a top-priced midfielder with a limited ceiling, Mahrez is a midfielder to avoid.

Defender

Ben Mee, Burnley

FanDuel Price: $7,000

Mee is tied with five other defenders as the top-priced defender for Matchweek 12. He has averaged 21.0 FanDuel points this season, the fourth-highest average among available defenders on the slate.

The Clarets host Swansea City at Turf Moor and are a 0.5-goal favorite over Swans. The over/under -- 2.0 goals -- is tied for the lowest over/under on the slate, and the Swans have an implied team total of 0.75 goals.

Mee has two splits -- home-away and matches against bottom eight clubs -- that will come into play against the Swans. Mee has averaged 18.55 FanDuel points in his five matches against clubs in the bottom eight of the Premier League table while averaging 23.04 FanDuel points in his other matches. Mee also averages fewer FanDuel points at Turf Moor as the defender has put up 18.3 FanDuel points in his five home matches this season, compared to his 23.25-point average in road matches.

The Swans have allowed middle-of-the-table numbers in most defensive actions to center-backs this season. Swansea are the league’s second-worst club at maintaining possession in road matches, while the Clarets maintain 51.9% of the possession -- eighth-best in the Premier League -- on their home pitch. As the top-priced defender on the slate, Mee’s upside should be limited against a likely relegation-bound Swansea club

Goalkeeper

Jonas Lossl, Huddersfield

FanDuel Price: $5,500

Lossl is tied with three other keepers as the top-priced goalie on the slate. He has averaged 15.14 FanDuel points this season, the third-highest average among the four top-priced keepers available.

The Terriers travel to Dean Court to face the Cherries and are a 0.5-goal underdog. Bournemouth have an implied team total of 1.5 goals and have been held without a goal in three of their five matches at Dean Court this season.

According to the odds, Bournemouth is likely to score at least one goal in Saturday’s match, an outcome the Terriers have allowed in three of their five away matches. However, the Cherries have forced the ninth-fewest saves (24) from opposing keepers while scoring the second-fewest number of goals (7) this season.

Even with a clean sheet, an unlikely outcome according to the odds, Lossi does not figure to have a large number of save opportunities -- which makes him a risky option, especially given that Liverpool's Simon Mignolet is $1,000 cheaper at the keeper position and in what appears to be a better spot.