RADIO
Welcome back to “The Kick-Off” and welcome to the 2024-25 season! We are back after another Champions League matchweek. Despite clubs participating in the midweek fixtures, there is expected to be very little rotation. Let’s kick off Matchweek Thirteen!
The top favorite for this week is Brentford FC -160 vs Leicester City +400. I will guide you through this four-match slate starting at 10:00 A.M. EST.
If you have any questions on today's slate, bankroll management, GPP strategy, Cash game strategy, or anything else, don’t hesitate to email me at [email protected], via X @df_solutions, or in our Discord chat rooms.
EPL DFS Goalies
Arijanet Muric - DK $3.8K || FD $8
Opponent - Nottingham Forest
Value at the goalkeeper position will be a fine line this weekend with the risk of tanking quickly. Therefore, the most viable option without paying up for a keeper is to pay down, taking Arijanet Muric of Ipswitch Town FC. He has 25 saves and nine goals conceded in his last five domestic starts. The save volume is critical, and at his salary, his potential floor far outweighs his potential risk.
Considering Nottingham Forest struggles at converting chances, Muric’s chance of surpassing value is high. The hosts are in the top ten in Shots For Per 90 but the bottom ten in Goals For Per 90. Expect Muric to make four saves.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Flekken (DK $5.6K || FD $12), Pope (DK $5K || FD $11)
EPL DFS Forwards
Matheus Cunha - DK $10.8K || FD $23
Opponent - AFC Bournemouth
Matheus Cunha offers the floor at the forward position needed when playing ‘CASH’ contests. The striker and playmaker is the primary set-piece taker for the Wolves, and he has been flying lately, too. He has four goals, three assists, 14 shots, 11 created chances, 12 crosses, nine corners, five tackles, three interceptions, and two clearances in his most recent five matches. AFC Bournemouth has been struggling defensively lately, conceding at least two goals in their last two fixtures. They conceded one goal in the five fixtures before this poor run.
Cunha is currently on a four-match point streak, failing to register a point in the 2-1 loss against Manchester City. With Wolverhampton’s offense picking up and the addition of Pablo Sarabia (DK $7.1K || FD $) back into the lineup, expect Cunha to keep his point streak alive in this home match against the Cherries.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Gordon (DK $9.8K || FD $19), Elanga (DK $7.4K || FD $15)
EPL DFS Midfielders
Bryan Mbeumo - DK $10.4K || FD $22
Opponent - Leicester City
Bryan Mbeumo gets another optimal matchup at home against Leicester City. The visitors are a bottom-five club in all meaningful metrics against Per 90. They are also the second-worst in Big Chances Created Against Per 90 and the worst in In-the-Box Shots Per 90. When looking at their last five home and away matches, they are 0-4-1 in all competitions, being outscored 14 to 5 in that stretch.
Mbeumo has two goals, one assist, six shots, six created chances, 18 crosses, six corners, seven tackles, one interception, and ten clearances in his most recent five domestic fixtures. As the primary set-piece taker for the Bees, he will remain busy against a poor Leicester defense. There should also be little to no caution regarding their new manager appointment of Ruud Van Nistelrooy, as he has yet to get a string of practice sessions with the first team. Expect Mbeumo to produce one point, three shots, three created chances, four crosses, and four corners.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Eze (DK $8.9K || FD $18), Buonanotte (DK $7.1K || FD $18)
EPL DFS Defenders
Lewis Hall - DK $6.7K || FD $13
Opponent - Crystal Palace
In ‘CASH’ contests, Lewis Hall and Leif Davis, mentioned in ‘Others to Consider’, will be the two most sought defensemen. Hall and Davis are their respective club’s acting primary set-piece takers, providing an instant floor. However, Hall has the better or more optimal fixture, traveling to Selhurst Park.
The hosts are playing better defensively, boasting a 2- 1- 2 record in their last five home and away fixtures in all competitions. However, they have conceded two goals in their previous three matches. A level of caution can be used when playing Hall this weekend if teammate and winger Anthony Gordon, mentioned above in ‘Others to Consider’, starts as well. Gordon would potentially take a few of the set-pieces. Nevertheless, Hall also has open-play value and is expected to produce on both sides of the pitch.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Davis (DK $6K || FD $14), Kristiansen (DK $4.6K || FD $11)
Corner Takers
- Brentford FC: Mbeumo/Jensen
- Leicester City: Buonanotte/Winks/El Khannouss
- Crystal Palace: Eze
- Newcastle United: Hall/Barnes
- Nottingham Forest: Elanga/Ward-Prowse
- Ipswitch Town FC: Davis
- Wolverhampton: Cunha/Sarabia
- AFC Bournemouth: Tavernier/Cook
Thanks for reading The Kick-Off. Good luck in all of your contests today!
