One of the defining characteristics of Soccer DFS, for as long as I have been playing it, is how different the scoring is between FanDuel and DraftKings. Aside from offering slightly different points for goalkeeper stats or for goal involvements, the major difference is that FanDuel awards a lot of points for defensive statistics while DraftKings awards points for crosses. As of now, that is no longer the case.
When you go to create your next EPL DFS lineup on FanDuel, you will see a header to check out their updated soccer scoring. While much of the scoring remains the same, the big difference is half a point for a cross. Defensive stats and chances created should remain the most important stats on FanDuel, but their dominance may not be as complete as it once was. While I’m not adjusting my strategy drastically as of now, it does bear watching going forward. One thing I think you can expect is more overlap in which players we use on the two sites. The days of using completely different lineups on FanDuel and DraftKings may be over. With that in mind, here are the EPL DFS picks and daily fantasy soccer top plays on both sites for Saturday's English Premier League slate.
EPL DFS Soccer Picks August 12
Goalkeepers
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Wes Foderingham
SHU
CRY
4500
0
8
This is mostly about not trusting Crystal Palace on the road, though it certainly doesn't hurt that I love the name Wes Foderingham. Only Bournemouth was shut out more than Crystal Palace last season, and while I am skeptical Sheffield can score at this level, I am not particularly worried about their defense. Only Burnley allowed fewer goals in the Championship last season.
Jason Steele
BHA
LUT
5800
7.38
13
8.50
I get why Nick Pope is the second-most expensive keeper on the slate, but Newcastle isn't exactly guaranteed to win against a very good Aston Villa side. Brighton is by far the biggest favorite on the slate, and Steele is worth paying up for.
Forwards
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Said Benrahma
WHU
BOU
9200
9.2
15
13.97
Benrahma was every bit as good as Jarrod Bowen last season, if not better, though his 13 appearances off the bench kept his averages down. You can pivot to Bown on DK if you need to, but Benrahma is a good play on both sites.
Eberechi Eze
CRY
SHU
9800
11.05
19
16.93
With Wilfried Zaha gone and Michael Olise out, Eze is arguably the safest player on either site. She should be the primary set-piece taker, and if Palace manages to score any goals, Eze should be involved.
Kaoru Mitoma
BHA
LUT
8900
9.27
19
15.23
I might pivot to Danny Welbeck on FanDuel but Mitoma had more goals, assists, crosses and chances created. I have no idea why Mitoma is cheaper than Welbeck on DraftKings but I like him as an affordable way into the Brighton attack on both sites.
Jaidon Anthony
BOU
WHU
3900
4.89
11
8.64
Anthony is listed as a forward but he's probably going to start at right back and take corner kicks. I might like him better if he was listed as a defender but Anthony's forward eligibility is valuable.
Midfielders
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Willian
FUL
EVE
8800
10.14
15
15.35
In general I thought Willian was better when Aleksandar Mitrovic was out of the lineup, but Willian created at least three chances in all three games after Mitrovic returned from his suspension. Perhaps more importantly, Willian was second on the team in corners taken and with Andreas Pereira at less than 100 percent, Willian could be on corners for the majority of this game. Only Mitrovic had more goal involvement for Fulham than Willian last season.
James Garner
EVE
FUL
5300
4.51
11
7.45
Garner was better for fantasy when he was out wide or when he was on corners, and both should be the case Saturday with Dwight McNeil out. Alex Iwobi is worth considering as well but Garner has a chance to provide similar fantasy points at a discount.
Oliver Norwood
SHU
CRY
3700
0
13
Norwood took 104 more corner kicks and sent in 162 more crosses for Sheffield than any other player last season. If he is able to start, he is much too cheap on DraftKings.
Ryan Giles
LUT
BHA
3300
0
12
Giles led the Championship in crosses last season (for Middlesbrough), with 91 more than any other player. We can't be sure that he will play the same role with Luton, but I'm willing to take a chance at this price.
Defenders
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Ashley Young
EVE
FUL
4700
5.39
10
11.91
Young has a chance to show up on corners, and he should send in a few crosses from open play as well. He probably isn't a 90-minute player anymore but we don't need much at this price.
Jarrad Branthwaite
EVE
FUL
3100
0
7
10.30
Branthwaite isn't guaranteed to start ahead of Michael Keane but I think there is a decent chance it happens. Branthwaite's 4.34 clearances per 90 minutes with PSV Eindhoven last season don't quite match Keane or James Tarkowski's numbers but Everton last season, but it is close enough. Branthwaite is much too cheap if he starts.
Mads Andersen
LUT
BHA
2700
0
9
Andersen averaged 194.7 clearances per season in three seasons in the Championship with Barnsley. Last season for Luton, Tom Lockyer had 196 clearances while Amari'i Bell had 102. You can pivot to one of those guys depending on how much you have to spend but Andersen has a chance to provide great value compared to his teammates.
Issa Kabore
LUT
BHA
4400
0
10
Kabore averaged more than four crosses per 90 minutes in each of the last two seasons in France. Much like Ryan Giles, there is some risk, but he is cheap enough to make me want to take it.
Emerson
WHU
BOU
6100
5.2
9
8.89
Bournemouth allowed 113 more crosses than any other team last season. Both starting outside backs are playable but Emerson is probably safer.
EPL DFS Soccer Core Plays August 12
DraftKings Core Plays
Top Tier
Eberechi Eze
$9,800
Said Benrahma
$9,200
Mid Tier
James Garner
$5,300
Emerson
$6,100
Value Tier
Oliver Norwood
$3,700
Jaidon Anthony
$3,900
FanDuel Core Plays
Top Tier
Kaoru Mitoma
$19
Eberechi Eze
$19
Mid Tier
Willian
$15
Said Benrahma
$15
Value Tier
James Garner
$11
Jarrad Branthwaite
$7
Check out our list of the best, and most trusted sports betting and fantasy sports promo codes from the top legal sites in your state.
