RADIO
Welcome back, RotoBallers! Many of the Premier League teams played a Carabao Cup game during the week, and there was a lot of rotation in the squads. But at the same time, a good number of regular starters played in those games. We'll see if there's more squad rotations with some bench guys getting starts that could open up some value for us on this slate. We have a normal six-gamer Saturday with the three best teams in the league all in action and 5/6 of the Big 6 clubs. Keep reading this breakdown for my DFS soccer picks on RotoBaller and see how to have success on Saturday's slate.
The very large majority of my DFS content will be EPL-related, however, there is more soccer than just what is being played in England. If you want to chop it up with myself and other RotoBaller writers about non-EPL leagues or other sports, consider becoming a premium member and joining our ever-growing community of DFS and fantasy sports enthusiasts!
In this article, I will be providing you with my English Premier League daily fantasy soccer lineup picks for FanDuel on 10/30/21 for the slate that locks at 10:00 am ET. Be sure to also check out our other DFS lineup picks for other active sports. You can always find me on Twitter @vdray5 if you have any questions. Good luck, RotoBallers!
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EPL DFS Lineup Picks - Overview
Burnley vs Brentford
Burnley (+170) is still one of the three winless teams in the league, but they are favored at home. They host Brentford who are coming off two straight losses, but overall, have been a solid squad this year. Both teams have scraped out some draws this year, and the draw is actually +220 in this game which is fairly good odds. Brentford are the better team, but away games at Turf Moor are tough. This game is not going to be one of the main places to target for DFS reasons. The goal total over/under is only 2, 2.5 which is a slate-low.
Liverpool vs Brighton
I thought Brighton's defense might be able to contain Manchester City a little bit last week, but they got rolled 4-1 at home. They have another brutal matchup at Anfield against Liverpool (-400). Liverpool sit just one point behind Chelsea in second place. They've won four straight in all competitions and are one of the slate's largest favorites. The goal total over/under is 3.0 with the over at -118. With the way Liverpool has been scoring, we can definitely target them here. More on that to come soon down below.
Manchester City vs Crystal Palace
Manchester City (-575) are the slate's largest favorite at home against Crystal Palace. They cruised to a 4-1 win last weekend against Brighton, but lost on PKs to West Ham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday. They are favored by two goals against a Palace defense that is allowing 1.8 goals on average in their last five league games, and they have not kept a clean sheet in about a month. Manchester City attackers are one of the stackable spot on this slate. The goal total over/under is a slate-high 3, 3.5.
Newcastle vs Chelsea
Chelsea (-260) are the third Big 6 club in action on this main slate, and they're also the third of the three large favorites. Chelsea are currently sit in first place in the league. They're on a three game win streak in the league, and they have won five straight in all competitions. Last weekend, they demolished Norwich 7-0. This week, they take on the league's second-worst defense in Newcastle. Newcastle have been very poor this season even at home. Chelsea should win this game and keep their spot atop the table. They're another group of stackable attackers - and with some of their top attackers dealing with injuries - this is a spot we can find some value. The goal total over/under is 2.5, 3.
Watford vs Southampton
Another one of the games that won't have much fantasy involvement is Southampton @ Watford. It's a matchup of two teams that are likely headed towards a bottom half finish this season. Watford pulled off a wild comeback win 5-2 against Everton where they scored four goals in the last 15ish minutes of the game. Southampton have not been good this year either with just one win. There aren't going to be many players to target for fantasy purposes from this game. The goal total over/under is 2.5.
Tottenham vs Manchester United
The "prime time" game is a matchup of two of the weaker Big 6 clubs this year. Both teams are coming off a loss, but Tottenham have been better recently, and they'll have the luxury of playing at home. Manchester United (+140) are surprisingly favored on the road coming off three straight losses in all competitions. Tottenham have been strong at home over the last several seasons. The goal total over/under is 2.5, 3.
FanDuel DFS Forwards / Midfielders
Mo Salah ($23) is unstoppable. He has 10 goals in nine EPL games this year including three last weekend against Manchester United. Manchester City just rolled through Brighton's defense scoring four times last weekend. Liverpool is in a good spot for multiple goals in this game at home, and Salah is right at the center of it all. He's is -160 to score in this game which are extremely high scoring odds. He's one of the elite plays on any slate at this point. I have not been stacking Liverpool often this year, especially on big slates, and I'm not going to start now with loads of over expensive attackers to consider on Saturday.
Let's talk Manchester City next. They're at home as big favorites against a Palace team that, overall, have been better defensively this year, but they have been weak over the last five games or so. Gabriel Jesus ($19) might finally be starting to play like the striker he can be. He has a goal, two assists, and some solid peripheral stats over his last three league games. He shares the best anytime scoring odds on City at +115 with Phil Foden ($20) who is another solid play. Bernardo Silva ($16) continues to provide some "value" as one of the cheaper guys in City's attack. He has two straight 22+ fantasy points games, and he has another good matchup Saturday.
Chelsea is the third attacking group I would love to get some exposure to on this slate. They have an elite matchup against Newcastle with the only downside being that they're on the road. They're allowing 2.22 goals per game in the league through the first nine games, and Chelsea are coming off a seven goal game last weekend against Norwich. Mason Mount ($19), Kai Havertz ($18), and Callum Hudson-Odoi ($18) are all near the top of my player pool on this slate. Mount had an incredible game against Norwich with a hattrick and an assist. He leads the squad in goals since Tuchel took over and is a priority play on this slate. Havertz has not been on his best this season, but he got a goal against Southampton Tuesday to hopefully boost his confidence. Mount is the clear top option here with Hudson-Odoi and Havertz following in that order.
The value attackers on this slate are disastrous. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg ($14) is a decent play, though. He has a nice matchup against Manchester United to collect some defensive stats which he does well.
His former teammate, Oriol Romeu ($11), is another viable cheap option for the same reasons. He has been getting good defensive stats, and this is a nice game environment for him to do just that.
For even a few dollars cheaper, you can roster Jorginho ($10) or Jordan Henderson ($9). They are inexpensive ways to get some exposure to two of the top teams on the slate.
FanDuel DFS Defenders
You can spend up on defenders in multiple ways on Saturday. Ben Chilwell ($15) is on a heater for Chelsea with goals in three straight games. He and Reece James ($12) - if he starts - both have awesome matchup for wingbacks. Chelsea should control a lot of possession in this game which will give them many opportunities to get involved. Both Chelsea wingbacks scored last weekend in a similar matchup against Norwich and are in prime spots for good floor/ceiling games. Thomas Tuchel likes to rotate his defenders often and has the capability to do so as well. Cesar Azpilicueta ($9) is an expected starter for Chelsea right now on FanDuel, and he would be an incredible value play if he does indeed start. He's far too cheap, has good attacking upside, good defensive peripherals, and a possible clean sheet bonus. Marcos Alonso ($14) and Trevoh Chalobah ($10) are also good plays if they end up on the starting eleven.
Trent Alexander-Arnold ($14) is also a top-notch pay-up spot on Saturday. He provided an assist last weekend in Liverpool's big win on his way to another 30+ point game. TAA is always someone to target when Liverpool is at home, and he has a nice matchup on top of that against Brighton. He's a nice way to get some additional Liverpool attacking exposure without paying up for a FWD/MID. A clean sheet bonus is also likely here.
Joao Cancelo ($13) is viable as a pivot off Chelsea/TAA, plus he will save you some money. Cancelo has 13 fantasy points in all nine of his EPL games this year which is tremendous consistency. He is averaging 20.15 fantasy points in his last four games, so he's playing well right now. He has a good matchup against Palace and can be a cheaper way to get some exposure to City's attacking group. A clean sheet bonus is also likely here.
If you're not paying up for a top defender, it makes sense to skip down to some cheaper guys like Matthew Lowton ($10). He is averaging 16.4 fantasy points in his last five games for Burnley with some consistent attacking upside.
Emil Krafth ($10), Kyle Walker ($7), and Adam Webster ($7) are also nice value plays.
FanDuel DFS Goalkeepers
Alisson ($13) is a top play on this slate for GKs. He and his defense take on a Brighton team that only has nine goals in nine league games this season. Liverpool has one of the top defenses in the league, and they have been even stronger at home where they have allowed just three goals in four games. Alisson looks like one of the strongest candidates for both bonuses on this slate.
Another GK with a good shot at both bonuses is Ederson ($14). He costs $1 more, but he has a great home matchup as well. Palace have 11 goals in nine league games, but City have allowed only four goals all season. All four of those goals allowed have been on the road as they are yet to concede at The Etihad. Ederson should be able to finish with a clean sheet and a win which will be a nice fantasy day for him.
You can keep going down the list to find good GKs to play on this slate. Edouard Mendy ($12) is a third GK in a nice spot for both bonuses. Chelsea's defense has been the best in the league so far with three goals allowed in nine games. Mendy has more clean sheets for Chelsea than goals allowed which is an insane stat. Newcastle's attack is not anything to worry about with just 11 goals in nine games. Mendy is the "value" option of the three top GKs.
David Raya ($10) suffered an arm injury recently that will keep him on the sideline for a while. Alvaro Fernandez ($5) will jump into the starting lineup this weekend for minimum price. Raya had a good matchup to begin with, and now we get Brentford's backup in the same good matchup for just $5. Brentford's defense has been stronger than expected this year, and now they take on a Burnley side that has struggled to score for a long time. Fernandez likely won't be needed to make many saves which can make his fantasy floor a little risky if he concedes, but you can't argue with this spot for minimum price.
Thanks for reading my EPL DFS lineup picks breakdown on RotoBaller and good luck!
