RADIO
Welcome back to “The Kick-Off,” and welcome to the 24-25 season! Fixture congestion is here to stay! Rotation will continue to be a factor until fixtures start spreading out again. Let’s kick off Matchweek 25!
The top favorite for this today is Aston Villa -240 vs Ipswich Town FC +600. I will guide you through this five-match slate starting at 10:00 A.M. EST on Saturday, February 15.
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
Matz Sels - DK $4.4K || FD $10
Opponent - Fulham FC
There are multiple options when searching for value at the goalkeeper position this weekend. However, Matz Sels tops the chart. In Per 90 metrics against, Nottingham Forest over the season, is a bottom-10 club in Shots and a top-ten club in Goals. In expected starter Matz Sels’s last five starts in all competitions, he has produced 20 saves, conceded eight goals, and recorded one clean sheet.
Fulham is middle of the top flight in both Shots Per 90 and Goals Per 90. As long as Sels can lock in early, he has the potential to be the top goalie of the slate.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Flekken (DK $4.5K || FD $9), Ramsdale (DK $3.8K || FD $8)
EPL DFS Forwards
Ollie Watkins - DK $10.2K || FD $20
Opponent - Ipswich Town FC
Ollie Watkins and the rest of Aston Villa arguably have the best matchup on the slate. The visitors, in Per 90 metrics against, are fourth-worst in Goals, third-worst in Big Chances Created, In-the-Box Goals, and Penalty Area Defense, and fifth-worst in both Shots and Created Chances.
Watkins is expected to return to the starting XI for Villa after missing the FA Cup fixture against Tottenham. In his most recent five matches in all competitions, he has two goals, three assists, 12 shots, six created chances, two crosses, and three clearances. As the fifth most-expensive salary on DraftKings, Watkins is expected to still maintain value against one of the worst defenses in the top flight.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Elanga (DK $9K || FD $16), Semenyo (DK $7.4K || FD $20)
EPL DFS Midfielders
Bryan Mbeumo - DK $11K || FD $22
Opponent - West Ham United
After posting four goals and one assist in five matches, Bryan Mbeumo has since cooled off. In his most recent five fixtures in all competitions, he has one goal, 14 shots, nine created chances, 34 crosses, 16 corners, two tackles, three interceptions, and eight clearances.
West Ham United is another defensively underperforming club in the English Premier League. In Per 90 metrics against, they are the third-worst in Created Chances, the fourth-worst in Shots, Big Chances Created, and In-the-Box Shots, and the fifth-worst in Goals.
Furthermore, the hosts are the third-worst in Crosses on the slate. As the leading set piece taker and one of the primary goal creators for the Bees, it is expected that Mbeumo will maintain value.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Pereira (DK $6.6K || FD $14), Ramsey (DK $6.1K || FD $14)
EPL DFS Defenders
Aaron Cresswell - DK $3.4K || FD $8
Opponent - Brentford FC
Aaron Cresswell has re-entered the starting XI for West Ham United. He has also eaten into the set pieces too. In his last five appearances–three starts–in all competitions, he has three shots, two created chances, 17 crosses, eight corners, one tackle, two interceptions, and seven clearances.
Brentford FC will not be an ‘easy’ matchup despite it being at London Stadium. However, Cresswell’s salary and his potential role on set pieces offer a much-needed floor to afford the higher-salaried players.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Digne (DK $6K || FD $13), Kerkez (DK $4.6K || FD $13)
Corner Takers
- Aston Villa: Tielemans/Digne
- Ipswich Town FC: Enciso/Davis
- Fulham FC: Pereira
- Nottingham Forest: Elanga/Anderson
- Manchester City: Foden/Savinho
- Newcastle United: Gordon/Hall
- Southampton: Fernandes/Manning
- AFC Bournemouth: Christie/Cook
- West Ham United: Cresswell/Bowen
- Brentford FC: Mbeumo
Thanks for reading The Kick-Off. Good luck in all of your contests today!
