Saturday’s EPL DFS Slate figures to be interesting, even if the games aren’t particularly high-scoring. Burnley are coming off a 1-1 draw with Brighton in which they had season-highs with 20 shots and seven shots on Target. They go on the road to face a Crystal Palace side that struggles to score without Wilfried Zaha but has enough skill and athleticism to give Burnley problems. 

Brighton may have been fortunate to only concede the one goal, but we probably shouldn’t be surprised considering they had kept clean sheets in four consecutive games going into that contest. Their defense will likely be tested once again by Aston Villa, who are fifth in the league in goals per game. 

The most surprising part of Manchester City’s 15-game winning streak is that the last six wins have come without Kevin De Bruyne. Tottenham’s attack looks rejuvenated with the return of Harry Kane, but it may not matter considering Manchester City have allowed just five goals in 22 games since a 2-0 loss at Tottenham back in November. 

As always, the lineups below are examples of lineups you can make using the players in the Playbook and are not for plug and play.

 

Goalkeepers
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
EdersonMCITOT59008.831414.17
Even with Harry Kane back, Tottenham has struggled to score against the top teams in the league. City lead the league in clean sheets and wins and I like Ederson's chances for both Saturday. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said he may have Ederson take his team's next penalty, and while he's threatened to do it before without following through, the chance that he might actually score a goal simply raises his ceiling in GPPs.
Robert SanchezBHAAVL47007.66712.13
Only Manchester United have allowed more saves than Aston Villa this season. Sanchez has at least four saves in two of his last three games, with clean sheets in four of the last five. I think he's less likely to get a win and a clean sheet than the other keepers on this list, but he may be safer than those keepers.
Nick PopeBRNCRY45009.251014.62
Crystal Palace are winless and scoreless in four games without Wilfried Zaha, including a 1-0 loss at Burnley in November. Nick Pope had five saves in that game, and while I don't necessarily expect that many again, it does make me feel better about playing Pope in cash games. Five of Burnley's seven clean sheets have come on the road this season, which adds to Pope's GPP appeal.
        
Forwards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Pascal GrossBHAAVL840010.281312.66
Gross is the only Brighton attacker I trust, thanks to his 15 chances created and 33 crosses in his last four games. His forward-eligibility is really valuable on DraftKings, and I don't understand why he is so cheap on FanDuel.
Ollie WatkinsAVLBHA800012.942120.33
Watkins has a goal in four of his last five games, and he managed 16.5 FD fantasy points in the other game. It's easier to afford him on DK, but I think he is a strong GPP play on both sites.
        
Midfielders
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Jack GrealishAVLBHA910019.511925.10
Is it crazy to say Jack Grealish may be the safest player in a slate featuring Harry Kane, Son Heung-Min, Raheem Sterling, Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden, among others? Then I may be crazy. I don't like the Tottenham duo against the best team in the league, and City's attackers have all been pretty goal-dependent lately. They are better on FanDuel but even so, Grealish will likely be in all of my cash lineups.
Dwight McNeilBRNCRY69009.77128.84
McNeil was great against Brighton and Aston Villa and struggled against Man City and Chelsea. Crystal Palace is not scary, and I expect another strong game from McNeil. He is safer on DraftKings thanks to all the crosses he sends in, but I think he is a strong play on both sites.
Phil FodenMCITOT860011.51715.08
Foden can get it done a number of different ways, whether it is sending in crosses from the wing, hitting shots from inside the box or playing as a false nine and finding his teammates in space. If I had to pick the one City attacker I trust the most, I think it would be Foden, and his ceiling is as high as anyone's.
Ilkay GundoganMCITOT850013.341819.85
He's still pretty reasonably priced for someone who has nine goals in his last 11 games. He created more chances against Burnley and Sheffield but even so, he has been quite goal-dependent. He may be taken off penalties after a bad miss against Liverpool, which I don't love, but you're fading him at your own risk at this point.
        
Defenders
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
James TarkowskiBRNCRY30004.561315.35
No team has allowed more headed shots than Crystal Palace, and Tarkowski is second on the team in shots from headers. He is safe on FanDuel thanks to his clearances, but he is a GPP play on both sites thanks to his ability to get his head on the end of corners and set pieces.
Matthew LowtonBRNCRY43005.51011.56
Burnley have looked much better going down the right-hand side of late, and Lowton is a big part of that. I would rather play Charlie Taylor if he returns, but Lowton is a fine cash play at his price.
Dan BurnBHAAVL34003.2178.41
I think Burn is a GPP play on DraftKings if he starts at wing back, but he is playable on FanDuel if Adam Webster cannot go. Brighton manager Graham Potter described Webster as doubtful for Saturday, but since this is the late game, you may be better off not waiting to see how Brighton line up at the back.
Scott DannCRYBRN26003.63810.80
Dann was not good against Leeds, but the same could be said for most of his teammates. He had double-digit FD fantasy points in both of his starts before that, and that's all we're really looking for at his price. It also helps that he had 10.8 FD fantasy points at Burnley back in November.
Oleksandr ZinchenkoMCITOT48005.3298.43
Only two teams have allowed more crosses per game than Tottenham, and whil Zinchenko didn't have any crosses against Liverpool, he had nine in his two previous starts. City did not have a single corner in that game, but I doubt very much that will happen again.
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Joel VeltmanBHAAVL41006.19910.51
I was disappointed he only managed two crosses against Burnley, but he is much cheaper than he was last week. Aston Villa have allowed the third-most crosses in the league, and Veltman has 13 crosses total in his last three games.
Matthew CashAVLBHA47008.721117.31
Cash may be the rare player who is good, and perhaps underpriced, on both sites. He is averaging 3.4 crosses per game in his last five games, and he has at least 16.7 FD fantasy points in seven of his last nine games. Cash does a little bit of everything, and I don't understand why he is so cheap on FanDuel.