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Richard's DraftKings DFS lineup picks for EPL Matchday 34 on July 8th, 2020. Read his daily fantasy soccer advice, matchup breakdowns and DFS sleepers.
Welcome back, RotoBallers! The English Premier League is back! This is a competition that I know a lot about, in fact here across the pond we just call it the Premier League!
In this article, I will be providing you with my English Premier League daily fantasy soccer lineup picks for DraftKings on 7/8/20 for the slate that locks at 1:00 pm ET. Be sure to also check out our other DFS lineup picks for other active sports.
The DraftKings DFS slate is for three games, and below I'll give a quick preview of each of them (so you know what to expect) and then move onto some names to consider for your lineups. If you aren't familiar with how players score in soccer on DraftKings take a look at their scoring methodology. And to submit a lineup you need to select one goalie, two defenders, two midfielders, two forwards and a utility player (most likely a midfielder/ forward). You can always find me on Twitter @RichKingFF if you have any questions. Good luck RotoBallers!
English Premier League DFS Lineup Picks - Overview
Manchester City v Newcastle United
Manchester City is the clear favorite here. They are likely to be without Sergio Aguero again, meaning that Gabriel Jesus will be the starting striker for the team. Jesus isn't as effective in the box as Aguero, but the number of chances that the team will create means they should be able to breakdown Newcastle's defense.
Sheffield United v Wolves
This game is interesting to watch, with both teams pushing for European competition. They both have a similar style in that they like to move the ball quickly, and work hard throughout the 90 minutes. The key difference is that Wolves have far more quality in the final third. However, Sheffield United's defense should be able to limit the chances Wolves' attacking players will create.
West Ham v Burnley
Burnley have been hit with injury, and lack depth. However, if there was a manager that can get a result from nothing it is Sean Dyche. Meanwhile, West Ham has been inconsistent all season, but they have an outside chance at getting a result in this game and taking another step towards safety from relegation.
DraftKings DFS Midfielders / Forwards
You'll see as we go through the slate that there are lots of players that have dual eligibility to be in your midfield or forward slot. Here you are looking for players that are constant scoring threats, as well as players that get involved in wide areas where they can put in crosses.
Manchester City is on the slate, meaning there are a bunch of options that you can consider. Kevin De Bruyne ($11,700) is the clear top option and is in the middle of everything that the team does in attack. There are a bunch of other options that are more affordable, with Raheem Sterling ($8,900) and Gabriel Jesus ($8,500) both dangerous in the final third of the field. However, I'm happy with nearly all of the options the team has and could make an argument for any of them to be good plays this week. If you are playing multiple lineups, then mixing in a few combinations would be a great move.
Wolves have been an effective attack, but in a matchup against Sheffield United, I'm avoiding a lot of them. Sheffield United have a great defense and could limit the space that Wolves have in attack. However, Adama Traore ($8,600) is always worth consideration due to his pace.
In the West Ham v Burnley game, I'd consider the likes of Jarrod Bowen ($9,500), Chris Wood ($8,000), and Jay Rodriguez ($7,100). Bowen has become an important part of the West Ham lineup, and really effective in the wide channels. Wood and Rodriguez are both goalscoring threats, and West Ham has been inconsistent at best in defense. That being said, there is a risk associated with all three of these players due to the way the game is likely to play out.
DraftKings DFS Defenders
Defenders are where it starts to get interesting. In an ideal world, you want a defender who has a good chance of keeping a clean sheet while getting involved in attacking play. This slate doesn't have a team that looks like it will have a good chance to keep a clean sheet, so it's a case of looking at wing-backs.
As with previous slates, we are targeting players that get forward and put in crosses. It's hard to ignore Benjamin Mendy ($5,200) who has been getting forward more often in recent games, as well as being effective at the back. It's also hard to look past Jonny ($5,000) who has been one of the better fantasy defenders in recent weeks. The Wolves wing-back gets forward often and gets crosses into the box, so could have a great points haul this week. Enda Stevens ($4,400) has also been effective at working in wide areas for Sheffield United. Sheffield United does have a tough matchup against Wolves, meaning there is a far narrower opportunity of keeping a clean sheet than other games, but he should have a decent floor.
If you are looking for a bargain option. Then you could consider James Tarkowski ($3,800) who has a great chance of keeping a clean sheet for Burnley. As well as being the team's rock in defense, he brings the ball forward from the back, often starting his team's attack.
DraftKings DFS Goalkeepers
A three-game slate gives a few more options for owners. The clear choice is Manchester City's Ederson ($5,900) who has a great chance of keeping a clean sheet against Newcastle, behind a great defense. Rui Patricio ($5,200) has a good chance of keeping a clean sheet too, but that's more the ineffective nature of Sheffield United's attack. If you want to spend down at the position, then you should consider Nick Pope ($4,300) who has a decent opportunity to keep a clean sheet, with how ineffective and inconsistent West Ham has been on the attack.
And that's it! Any questions, you know where to find me otherwise Good Luck RotoBallers.
