RADIO
Welcome back to “The Kick-Off” and welcome to the 23-24 season! Finally, a new season is here and we can welcome back our beloved Futbol. Many clubs have made big moves this offseason to help bolster their cup chances and chances of getting a European spot for next season. Will we see a new title winner this season or will Liverpool and Manchester City continue to battle it out for the top spot?
The top favorite for this weekend is Chelsea -175 vs Wolverhampton +470. I will guide you through this three-match slate starting at 9:00 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 Twitter @df_solutions, or in our Discord chat rooms.
EPL DFS Goalies
Djordje Petrovic - DK $5.6K || FD $13
Opponent - Wolverhampton
There is not a ‘safe’ club on this small slate in terms of recording a clean sheet, however, Chelsea is the closest thing to it. Over the season, Wolverhampton are being outscored 14 to 17 when playing away and in their last five domestic away fixtures, they are 1-1-3 with their only win coming at Gtech Community Stadium, which proved to be an outlier more than anything. Chelsea are not playing to their level by any means, but they are starting to gain form and will prove a hard defense to crack for the Wolves. The ex-Revolutions keeper of the Major Soccer League, has had a bumpy start to his career with Chelsea, recording 25 saves, 9 goals conceded and 1 clean sheet in his last five domestic starts. As the most expensive keeper on the slate, it is imperative that Petrovic records a clean sheet to maintain value.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Neto (DK $5.4K || FD $12), Areola (DK $4.1K || FD $9)
EPL DFS Forwards
Morgan Gibbs-White - DK $6.8K || FD $17
Opponent - AFC Bournemouth
No matter the slate size, it is always best to find strikers with a consistent floor. Morgan Gibbs-White is exactly that. The striker/attacking-midfielder is the heartbeat of Nottingham Forest and he happens to take the majority of the set pieces. Over his last five domestic appearances, he has 1 goal, 1 assist, 11 shots, 8 created chances, 22 crosses, 15 corners, 10 tackles, 1 interception and 2 clearances. The Cherries are in the bottom five in every meaningful metric, besides Big Chances Created Against Per 90. For under $7K on DraftKings, despite playing away, MGW is expected to maintain value at a minimum.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Solanke (DK $8.8K || FD $22), Nkunku (DK $7.8K || FD $19)
EPL DFS Midfielders
Cole Palmer - DK $8.6K || FD $21
Opponent - Wolverhampton
There are a handful of floor midfielders on the slate, however, Cole Palmer offers the highest ceiling. The midfielder/winger has been the key to Chelsea’s surge in form over the past month. Palmer has 4 goals, 2 assists, 15 shots, 8 created chances, 11 crosses, 7 corners, 5 tackles and 5 clearances throughout his last five domestic matches. Since coming into the starting XI, he has been in charge of the bulk of the set pieces. Unfortunately, teammate and wingback, Ben Chilwell is expected to return for this match and he may eat into Palmer’s floor. Nevertheless, Chelsea has the highest goal odds and Palmer will be at the forefront of any attack the Blues generate. Wolverhampton have their moments of brilliance, although, will it be enough to keep Chelsea at bay?
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Ward-Prowse (DK $8.2K || FD $20), Neto (DK $8.1K || FD $20)
EPL DFS Defenders
Ben Chilwell - DK $4.7K || FD $12
Opponent - Wolverhampton
To cap off the Chelsea stack on this small three-game slate, is returning and aforementioned wingback, Ben Chilwell. Chilwell is expected to play the majority of this match after subbing off the bench in his return two matches ago and his last match playing 45 minutes. In those two appearances, he had 1 created chance, 3 crosses, 2 corners, 3 tackles and 3 clearances. Fortunately, Chilwell has not ramped up to 100 percent yet and neither has his salary. In a very winnable match with a potential clean sheet and an expected share of the set pieces, Chilwell is fully expected to exceed value.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Shaw (DK $5.1K || FD $12), Kerkez (DK $3K || FD $11)
Corner Takers
- AFC Bournemouth: Cook/Tavernier/Scott
- Nottingham Forest: Gibbs-White
- Chelsea: Palmer/Chilwell
- Wolverhampton: Neto
- Manchester United: Fernandes
- West Ham United: Ward-Prowse
Thanks for reading The Kick-Off. Good luck in all of your contests today!
