FanDuel Premier League Value Plays for Matchweek 23

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 and includes seven matches.

Sergio Aguero ($23) is the most expensive player on a slate in which five of the six most expensive are from Manchester City. Oleksandr Zinchenko, Djibril Sidibe, and Cesar Azpilicueta ($15) share the highest salary for defenders. Ederson ($14) is the top keeper to make it a full sweep at every position for Manchester City.

There are 399 players available with an average salary of just over $10. Let's see where the value lies in Matchweek 23.

Forward/Midfielder

Leander Dendoncker, Wolverhampton ($12)

Dendoncker had a goal last week and hopes to stay on the score sheet against Southampton. He has been inconsistent with his average pushing toward 10 points, but he does have double-digits in four of the last seven matches. He played a strictly defensive role the last time that he faced Southampton, but seems to be finding more time in the offensive zone over the last 10 games, even though he is playing on the back line. This role will also help Dendoncker pick up more defensive actions. Southampton's improved play raises Dendoncker's possible defensive action numbers. Neither team have been able to dominate possession this season, so the game should be back and forth, giving Dendoncker a chance to get involved at both ends.

Bernard, Everton ($11)

Everton have played improved soccer of late winning three of the last four matches. Carlo Ancelloti was appointed manager at the end of December and Bernard has been employed on the outside of the midfield. He picked up a slight knock, but returned to the starting lineup last week to create four chances. He also drew a foul and had two defensive actions. It was his best game since the last one against West Ham. Bernard scored 28.2 points against West Ham the last time out, which is his second-best total of the season. Bernard scored a goal and had four tackles in the first match against The Hammers. He will look to recreate that form at West Ham this weekend.

Defender

Steve Cooke, Bournemouth ($11)

Bournemouth have been struggling for a couple months, but Cooke was out for some of that time. His average is still approaching 16 points per game. Despite Bournemouth's woes, Cooke has sat steadily around 10 points in the last four matches with 20 clearances in that time. Cooke scored 18 points the last time Bournemouth faced Norwich. He completed nine clearances in that match, which is how he earned the majority of his points. Norwich have also been struggling with Bournemouth six points clear, despite both being in the relegation zone. Bournemouth need to turn their season around this week, but Cooke will still be put to the test.

Martin Montoya, Brighton ($10)

Montoya is having a decent three-game stretch after being put back in the starting lineup. Last week against Everton was the worst of the three, but he is averaging 13.2 points in that stretch. That is the exact amount of points Montoya scored against Villa the last time out. Montoya's most consistent defensive category is tackles, which is not typical for those that are generally featured here. He has 10 tackles over the last three games. Much like Cooke and Bournemouth, Montoya and Brighton are in a game that should be back and forth and allow the defender to be involved on both ends. Montoya has a chance created in each of the last two games.

Ahmed El Mohamady, Aston Villa ($8)

El Mohamady has not been a regular starter for Aston Villa, but he is coming off an 11-point match in a 6-1 loss and sits at the lowest price on the slate. He managed to create two chances from three crosses in the lopsided game. He has only played 11 games, but El Mohamady has created at least two chances five times. He created five chances against Bournemouth in his opening match of the season.

Clearly there is a theme for the defenders of picking those with good ability to get forward in a back-and-forth game. If El Mohamady does not start, there are pivot options with Villa, such as James Chester ($8).

Keeper

Jordan Pickford, Everton ($10)

Pickford may end up being chalk given his good form of late and Everton being favored against West Ham. Pickford has three clean sheets in his last five matches. Prior to that, he allowed just a goal a piece to Manchester United and Chelsea, with a combined 10 saves. Pickford shut out West Ham earlier this season with four saves in the October match. West Ham have lost three of their last four, scoring no more than one goal in any of the losses.

Keepers from the games discussed among the other value plays are available at or below $12 and carry intrigue as well. Arsenal's Bernd Leno ($12) is also available at the traditional threshold salary and adds to the options for value keepers. There have not been many options in recent weeks, but even with choices Pickford is likely to be highly owned.

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.