SOCCER

FanDuel Premier League Value Plays for Matchweek 6

Newcastle's Christian Atsu returned from injury in good form and provides great value in an evenly weighted match. Which other players can help your FanDuel team on a small slate?

Value plays are often the difference on the FanDuel leaderboard. With this year's format, value plays will be priced at $12 or lower in most cases. There will be some exceptions along the way.

This article will cover FanDuel's main slate that begins Saturday at 10:00 a.m. EST.

Matchweek 6
Saturday, September 21st
Watford at Manchester City
Sheffield United at Everton
Norwich at Burnley
Brighton at Newcastle

Manchester City dominates the top of the price list on this small slate with Sergio Aguero ($23) at the very top, only one dollar less than he was last week. Teammate Nicholas Otamendi ($18) is the most expensive defender on the slate. The most expensive keeper is City's Ederson ($15), which is likely no surprise. Pricing on the smaller slate is more flexible, so roster composition should not be as difficult.

Let's look at where the value lies in Matchweek 6.

Forward/Midfielder

Christian Atsu, Newcastle ($12)

Atsu returned from a muscle injury last week and had the best game of his three appearances this season. He recorded an assist against Liverpool and padded his stats with three tackles. He has created three chances in every match and is the highest-rated expected starter for Newcastle against Brighton. Atsu averages nearly 18 FanDuel points due in part to his ability on the ball. He averages three key passes and nearly three successful dribbles each match. Newcastle are slight favorites, but odds have this match fairly tight. In this potentially back and forth affair Atsu's ability to control the ball could make a big difference.

Fernandinho, Manchester City ($8)

Fernandinho is likely going to be playing out of position this week as City have an injury problem at center back. In his one Premier League appearance this season he recorded four clearances and a total of six defensive actions. However, he may not be needed much defensively with City having a 91.3 implied win percentage and could earn an easy clean sheet bonus.


He did earn a clean sheet in City's Champions League Group Stage debut on Wednesday alongside Otamendi at center back. Fernandinho will likely still feel like he is playing a deep-lying midfielder with City pushed up owning possession. That will give him time to pick out good passes and get involved in the attack.

Defenders

Michael Keane, Everton ($12)

Keane has been hit or miss, but the trend he is setting means a big game this weekend. In odd matchweeks he has scored less than 10 points two of the three times. However, in even matchweeks he has scored over 16 points. Those higher point totals came against two teams currently in the relegation zone and Sheffield is not far away. Sheffield are one point above the relegation zone and have won only one match. Keane had nine clearances and two blocks against both Watford and Wolverhampton. Sheffield have similar possession numbers to those teams, which is several percentage points less than Everton.

Ben Godfrey, Norwich ($11)

Godfrey was a doubt last week but played the full match. He ended with a good showing against Manchester City racking up 11 defensive actions. It was the third time this season he had at least seven clearances and the second time in five matches that he had at least three blocks. He did score four goals last season in the Championship, but his value is in defensive actions. He is averaging nearly double the number of clearances per game in his first season in the Premier League than last year's promotion season in the second tier. He has also doubled his interception numbers and nearly tripled his average blocks per game.

Keeper

Mat Ryan, Brighton ($10)

Ryan is the contrarian play this week given recent form, but the expected tight nature of the match with Newcastle provides more value. It helps that Newcastle only get 30% of their total shots on target. Brighton have a shut out against Newcastle in three of their last four matches, although Atsu's form will test the Brighton backline. In the first matchup of the two teams last season Ryan stopped all six shots on target. Moving away from the keepers priced above $12 is a risky play this week, but it could make the difference.


Doug Smith is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Doug 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.