In my years of covering EPL DFS, I don’t remember a slate in which it was so difficult to find value defenders on FanDuel. Part of the reason for that is the changing game. With more teams playing out from the back and linking play through the middle, defensive stats are harder to come by and less reliable. Part of the reason for the scarcity is the teams involved. Five of the top six teams in clearances allowed are not on Saturday’s slate. Also, the players who reliably provide clearances are all healthy and expensive. Hopefully, we will get a couple of surprise starters who will provide some value. If that doesn’t happen, you should probably be prepared to pay up for your defenders.
EPL DFS Picks March 11
EPL DFS Top Goalkeepers
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
David Raya
BRE
EVE
4700
10.01
11
15.50
Everton is tied with Wolverhampton for the fewest goals in the league, and they have been shut out in 42.3 percent of their games. That being said, they are tied for eighth in saves allowed. I don't necessarily expect a win and a clean sheet from Raya but we should get a handful of saves without too many goals.
Fraser Forster
TOT
NFO
5800
6.48
12
10.50
Forster is 2-0-0 with zero goals allowed in two home starts this season. More importantly, Nottingham Forest is 1-3-8 with three goals scored on the road this season. I like Forster on both sites though he is probably a slightly better value on FD.
EPL DFS Top Forwards
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Joao Felix
CHE
LEI
6800
12.3
19
16.08
I will have to jump off the bandwagon pretty soon if Felicx doesn't produce some attacking returns soon. In fact, I am already probably out on him on FanDuel. That being said, his price dropped $1,400 from last week. Only three forwards on Saturday's DK slate are averaging more fantasy points than Joao Felix. He is averaging exactly the same as Son Heung-Min, who costs $1,700 more. Felix is probably better for tournaments but between his price and his eligibility, he will probably be in most of my DK cash lineups as well.
Harry Kane
TOT
NFO
9700
16.37
22
25.36
I won't argue with anyone who wants to pay for Erling Haaland or Kevin De Bruyne, but Harry Kane is my favorite top-tier target, especially on FanDuel. Only Bournemouth has allowed more goals on the road than Nottingham Forest, and Kane has scored or assisted in more than half of his team's goals this season. It also doesn't hurt that Kane has two chances created in four of his last five games.
Demarai Gray
EVE
BRE
7800
11.65
15
12.25
Gray isn't as safe for DraftKings when he plays the number nine, but he should still send in enough crosses to have a reasonably high floor. He is mostly on this list, however, because he has attacking returns in four of his last five starts. He could provide a relatively cheap goal on FanDuel.
Bryan Mbeumo
BRE
EVE
7200
9.73
14
12.97
You can pivot to Mathias Jensen on either site if you need to save a little money, but I would rather pay up for Mbeumo for a couple of reasons. Mbeumo has nine chances created over his last four games, which I believe makes him just a little bit safer than Jensen on FanDuel. On DraftKings, Mbeumo has the all-important forward eligibility, which is probably worth the extra money you would have to spend.
Phil Foden
MCI
CRY
18
16.53
Foden has goals in each of his last two games and perhaps more importantly, he has 10 chances created in his last three starts. You can obviously chase Haaland or De Bruyne if you want but we are getting a good price for someone who could be on a hot streak.
EPL DFS Top Midfielders
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Mykhailo Mudryk
CHE
LEI
6200
3.42
13
2.08
Mudryk has five crosses in 33 minutes in his last two games off the bench. Mudryk should start for Raheem Sterling, and only two teams have allowed more goals than Leicester this season.
Dwight McNeil
EVE
BRE
8400
8.49
13
9.75
Feel free to pivot to Alex Iwobi on DraftKings, but McNeil is cheaper than Iwobi on FanDuel and he has been more consistent. In six games under Sean Dyche, McNeil is averaging 15.4 FD fantasy points.
Pascal Gross
BHA
LEE
7400
13.53
17
16.96
Gross is less likely to provide an attacking return than his more expensive teammates, but I don't think any of those players are particularly likely to score, either. I'm content to save money and bank the high floor in cash games.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
CHE
LEI
3900
4.75
10
6.23
Loftus-Cheek was disappointing against Leeds, managing just one cross and one chance created despite starting on the right side. That being said, he is awfully cheap, and he should have more fantasy value playing out wide. We may not get much but this is a worthwhile punt play.
EPL DFS Top Defenders
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Ben Davies
TOT
NFO
4400
5.7
10
11.62
We touted Davies last week only to see Ivan Perisic return to the lineup and move Davies to center back. Perisic started Spurs' Champions League game on Wednesday with Eric Dier ineligible but based on manager Antonio Conte's comments, Perisic will probably be on the bench. That would move Davies back to wing back, which would make him a must-play on DraftKings. If Davies starts at center back, we can pivot to Perisic or Pedro Porro.
Joachim Andersen
CRY
MCI
2500
4.64
14
16.89
Only two teams have allowed more clearances than Manchester City this season, and Andersen has 24 clearances in his last three games. He hasn't been super consistent in 2023 but I can't ignore his production or the matchup.
Rico Henry
BRE
EVE
4300
6.5
10
10.61
Sean Dyche has always been known to sit back and invite crosses, and I think Henry will oblige. He had five against Fulham Monday to go along with a chance created and a shot on goal. Aaron Hickey is probably safer but Henry looks like the better value.
Ricardo Pereira
LEI
CHE
3200
1.64
10
1.73
This is a bad matchup, but this could also be your last chance to get Pereira so cheap. He had three crosses last week in his first start in nearly 11 months, and that is really all we need from him at this price. Any shots or chances created are just a bonus.
Felipe
NFO
TOT
3100
4.95
13
17.50
Felipe is averaging more FPPG than defenders who cost more like Joachim Andersen and James Tarkowski. Felipe is safer than them, too.
EPL DFS Core Plays March 11
DraftKings Core Plays
Top Tier
Dwight MeNeil
$8,400
Harry Kane
$9,700
Mid Tier
Joao Felix
$6,800
Bryan Mbeumo
$7,200
Value Tier
Ben Davies
$4,400
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
$3,900
FanDuel Core Plays
Top Tier
Harry Kane
$22
Phil Foden
$18
Mid Tier
Demarai Gray
$15
Pascal Gross
$17
Value Tier
Dwight McNeil
$13
Fraser Forster
$12
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