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Welcome back, RotoBallers! Matchday 28 starts off with one game Friday, so we have a nice single-game EPL slate to get us to the weekend. I will be breaking down that game in full for you here. Keep reading this breakdown for my DFS soccer picks on RotoBaller and see how to have success on Friday's slate.
The very large majority of my DFS content will be EPL or UCL-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! There was some great conversation over the four UCL slates we had this week, and the Premium Slack chat is as full as ever!
In this article, I will be providing you with my English Premier League daily fantasy soccer lineup picks for FanDuel on 3/12/21 for the slate that locks at 3:00 pm 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
Newcastle vs Aston Villa
The gap closed on Newcastle's bid to avoid relegation last weekend when Fulham pulled out an unlikely win over Liverpool. Now just one point separates Fulham, Newcastle, and Brighton for the last relegation spot. Newcastle have an opportunity here as they host an Aston Villa (+100) team who have just one league win in their last seven games. Aston Villa won the first meeting between these two 2-0 at home. This game could go a lot of different ways depending on which teams show up Friday. The goal total over/under is 2.5.
FanDuel DFS Forwards / Midfielders
Aston Villa's striker, Ollie Watkins ($15), had several good chances at a goal last Saturday against Wolves, but he was unable to convert. He is goalless in his last five EPL games, but he again leads the game in anytime scoring odds at +135 and has a nice matchup to get back on the scoresheet.
Newcastle concede 1.7 goals per game at home and also give up the fifth most SOGs and third most chances created in the league. That being said, getting exposure to Aston Villa's attacking group will be important. Without Jack Grealish, Anwar El Ghazi ($12) becomes the best secondary option for Villa. He has solid goal upside at +250, but more importantly, he has a good floor with his chances created and other peripherals. In a game between two teams that are not scoring much right now, peripherals will likely be more important than your average single-game slate.
Trezeguet ($11) is a decent mid-tier play, but John McGinn ($7) is the better value play for similar reasons to El Ghazi.
Attempting to pick a Newcastle attacker at this point in the season is just a mess. Three of their top goal scorers - Callum Wilson, Miguel Almiron, and Allan Saint-Maximin - are all injured. That leaves Joelinton ($14) to run the show up top, but that is a brutal price to pay for a guy who has one goal this season. Jonjo Shelvey ($8) and Joe Willock ($7) are your best bets with their floors and fair price tags.
FanDuel DFS Defenders
Newcastle hardly allow any defensive stats, so Ezri Konsa Ngoyo ($7) and Ahmed El Mohamady ($6) are the only Aston Villa defenders worth considering with their price. They also have a decent shot at a clean sheet bonus here even on the road. Newcastle have just two goals in their last four games and are without three of their normal attackers.
Federico Fernandez ($9) is a good option for Newcastle. Aston Villa force the third most clearances in the league, and Fernandez is the team leader in clearances at 6.7 per 90. Fernandez is also in good form with 17.7 fantasy points on average over his last four league games.
If you can't quite get to Fernandez, Jamaal Lascelles ($8) is second on the team in clearances and has been playing well lately too.
Thanks for reading my EPL DFS lineup picks breakdown on RotoBaller and good luck!
