If the first three days of the World Cup have taught us anything it is that underdogs are perfectly capable of scoring goals, even if they wind up losing in the end. Wednesday’s World Cup DFS slate features three heavy favorites, but the best values on the slate could very well be their opponents. Germany has conceded 12 goals in 15 games under its current manager, while Belgium’s aging backline could be vulnerable to a young and athletic Canadian side. If you do save money with attackers from Canada and Japan you may want to spend it on Spain, who figure to dominate possession against Costa Rica. Costa Rica’s strength is its defense but I doubt they will be able to hold up under 90 minutes of sustained pressure.
2022 World Cup DFS Soccer Picks November 23
World Cup Goalkeepers
Goalkeepers
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Unai Simon
ESP
CRC
5600
0
14
This may be a good time to pay up at Keeper. Spain is -240 to win and keep a clean sheet. Germany and Belgium aren't that heavily favored just to win outright. He probably won't face very many shots but so long as Costa Rica doesn't score, Simon will be just fine for fantasy.
Keylor Navas
CRC
ESP
3600
4.55
6
Spain underperformed its xG by 5.6 at the Euros, and I am fine with betting on them to fail to capitolize on their opportunities at this price. We have almost no chance at a win or a clean sheet but I will take a handful of saves and only a couple of goals.
Thibaut Courtois
BEL
CAN
5100
12.78
12
I'm not really counting on a win and a clean sheet, though at +130, there is a decent chance it happens. Courtois mostly makes this list because I think Belgium's back line is vulnerable which could lead to a few saves.
World Cup Forwards
Forwards
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Junya Ito
JPN
GER
5700
0
13
Germany did not keep a clean sheet in any of its six Nations League games this summer and in three of those games they allowed goals following crosses. Ito had the most assists, chances created and expected assists in Asian qualifying, and he is especially adept at getting behind the opposition full-back and sending in crosses.
Ferran Torres
ESP
CRC
8100
0
18
Torres was miscast as a No. 9 for Manchester City but he has 13 goals in 30 games for Spain and he led them with four goals in qualifying. He looks like a strong play on both sites.
Michy Batshuayi
BEL
CAN
6100
8.14
19
Batshuayi has 26 goals in 47 games for Germany and eight goals in 11 games for Fenerbache. He is much cheaper than Romelu Lukaku, who he is replacing at striker. Batshuayi may not provide much for fantasy if he doesn't find the back of the net but he has an excellent chance of scoring at a reasonable price.
Cyle Larin
CAN
BEL
5600
0
15
Larin led all of CONCACAF in scoring during qualifying and he is on penalties. He probably isn't as safe as Alphonso Davies but he is at least as likely to score. Belgium is the oldest team in the league and Larin should be able to get behind their line for some opportunities.
World Cup Midfielders
Midfielders
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Jamal Musiala
GER
JPN
7000
0
17
Musiala has 15 goal contributions for Bayern Munich and while he may not be as well known (or as pricey) as some of his teammates, he should be just as involved in the attack. I think his game is probably better-suited to FanDuel scoring but I will consider h im on both sites at his price.
Joshua Kimmich
GER
JPN
8700
17.69
15
Kimmich had 31 crosses and 11 chances created in three games at the 2018 World Cup and so long as he remains on set pieces, he should be safe on both sites.
Ilkay Gundogan
GER
JPN
7200
6.2
14
Gundogan isn't my first-choice Germany attacker for either site, but he might be second. He was tied for the most goals in qualifying with five, incluing three penalty kicks. He is a bit risky but we are getting a good price considering the matchup and the chances for a penalty.
Kaoru Mitoma
JPN
GER
4400
0
10
Japan goes six deep with wingers and number 10s and it is a totally viable strategy to simply play the cheapest of the starters, which could very well be Mitoma. That being said, he makes this list because he has five goals in nine games for Japan and I love his upside.
Pablo Sarabia
ESP
CRC
7400
0
16
Sarabia has nine goals in 24 games for Spain. You can pivot to Morata if you need a forward on DK but Sarabia looks like a nice value considering the matchup.
Jewison Bennette
CRC
ESP
4500
0
12
I don't expect Costa Rica to generate a whole lot of offense, but if they do steal a goal on a counter-attack, Bennette is my pick to do it. The 18-year-old has two goals and two assists in Costa Rica's last three games. He is strictly a GPP dart throw.
Kevin De Bruyne
BEL
CAN
9500
15.3
21
He is the safest player on both sites and even if we pay up for our keeper, I think De Bruyne is pretty affordable. He has a chance to be on penalties with Lukaku out which would only add to his value.
World Cup Defenders
Defenders
Player
Team
Opp.
DK $
DK FPPG
FD $
FD FPPG
Hiroki Sakai
JPN
GER
2900
5.46
7
Feel free to play Yuto Nagatomo if you have an extra $200 to spend but Sakai is four years younger and I think he is more likely to play 90 minutes. Both outside backs got forward in their friendly against the United States and while they probably won't have as many opportunities to do that against Germany, they should have enough at their prices.
Jordi Alba
ESP
CRC
6000
7.42
11
Alba led Spain with four assists in qualifying and he should send in a ton of crosses, especially if Costa Rica is content to let Spain have the possession. Alba looks like the best defender on the DK slate and I like his upside on FD as well.
Thomas Meunier
BEL
CAN
4000
11.8
12
I was surprised to see Meunier is so cheap. He is averaging a respectable 2.4 crosses and 1.0 chances created per 90 minutes for Dortmund, and he loves to jump into the attack late for Belgium.
Samuel Adekugbe
CAN
BEL
4400
0
9
Adekugbe's interplay with Alphonso Davies on the left-hand side will be crucial if Canada is going to get much on the attacking end. He might be the riskiest defender on this list but he could pay off big.
Juan Pablo Vargas
CRC
ESP
3700
0
9
Spain has had at least 59 percent possession in every game for the past two years. All three Costa Rica center backs have a chance to rack up clearances, but Vargas has the advantage of being cheaper and mostly likely playing in the middle of the back three.
Takehiro Tomiyasu
JPN
GER
3600
0
11
Feel free to pivot to Maya Yoshida, but I'll pay an extra dollar for the familiarity of Tomiyasu, who has played at a high level for Arsenal for 1 1/2 seasons. He often playes right back for Arsenal but as a center back against a strong German attack, I like his chances for defensive stats.
2022 World Cup DFS Soccer Core Plays November 22
Draftkings Core Plays
Top Tier
Kevin De Bruyne
$9,500
Ferran Torres
$18
Mid Tier
Junya Ito
$5,700
Value Tier
Hiroki Sakai
$2,900
Fanduel Core Plays
Top Tier
Kevin De Bruyne
$21
Michy Batshuayi
$19
Mid Tier
Jamal Musiala
$17
Value Tier
Kaoru Mitoma
$10
Juan Pablo Vargas
$9
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