Welcome back, RotoBallers! Our first international break of the year is complete, and now we return to our regularly scheduled EPL action. There's a full weekend of EPL action! We have an awesome seven game slate for main on FanDuel, and you can play the all day slate if you're looking for an even larger slate. I have another full breakdown for you all here. Keep reading this breakdown for my DFS soccer picks on RotoBaller and see how to have success on Saturday's slate.
The very large majority of my DFS content will be EPL-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!
In this article, I will be providing you with my English Premier League daily fantasy soccer lineup picks for FanDuel on 9/11/21 for the slate that locks at 10:00 am 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
Arsenal vs Norwich
Arsenal (-205) are one of three teams with zero points through three games this season in the Premier League. They've been awful to begin the new season, but hopefully, they used the international break to get right. They host another point-less squad in Norwich, so somebody will be coming away from this team with points. The over/under of 2.5, 3 is actually one of the higher ones of the slate.
Brentford vs Brighton
Through the first three games, both of these teams sit in the top half of the table. The spread is 0.0, and the money line favors Brighton (+175) by a very small margin. This will not be a great game to target fantasy-wise with both teams struggling to score and two good defenses. The goal total over/under is also a slate-low 2.0.
Leicester vs Manchester City
This will be one of the elite matchups of the weekend. Manchester City (-165) travels to the King Power to take on Leicester in a matchup of two of the league's top five squads from last year. Manchester City are favored by a goal, but this should be a close game. This game will have some good fantasy plays I will discuss later. The goal total over/under is 2.5, 3.
Manchester United vs Newcastle
All eyes will be on this game Saturday. The legend Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Manchester where his European soccer career really took off spending six seasons there. He has long been one of the best - and most chalky - attackers in UCL slates on FanDuel, and now we'll start to see that in EPL action. Manchester United (-500) are massive two-goal favorites at home, and they have all the hype with them on this slate. They're taking on a Newcastle defense that has already allowed eight goals in three games (2nd worst), so go ahead and fire United attackers up. The goal total over/under is a slate-high 3, 3.5.
Southampton vs West Ham
West Ham (+140) looks primed to challenge for another European qualifying spot this year. They have yet to lose this year in three games and are favored this week against a winless Southampton team. They have some strong fantasy pieces and will make for some good pivots off Manchester United even on the road. The goal total over/under is 2.5, 3.
Watford vs Wolverhampton
Along with Norwich and Arsenal, Wolverhampton are the third team in the league who have not gained a point yet. To be fair, they have not gotten to full strength yet this season. Watford have not been all that much better this year either. Wolves (+135) are slight road favorites on the money line, but this should be a fairly even game that could go either way. This is also one of the games we won't be focusing on as much from a fantasy perspective especially with a goal total over/under of only 2, 2.5 with the under at -120.
Chelsea vs Aston Villa
Chelsea (-300) are our second-largest favorite Saturday at home against Aston Villa. Chelsea have three strong results, and Villa have been about as consistent as they were last season - which is not at all. Chelsea attackers might go slightly overlooked on this slate with both Manchester teams taking a lot of ownership. The goal total over/under is 2.5, 3.
FanDuel DFS Forwards / Midfielders
This is one of the largest slates we will have all season with seven games. There is a long list of good plays and an even longer list of viable plays, but I'll only be able to get to some.
Cristiano Ronaldo ($23) has insane anytime scoring odds at -205 for his return to Old Trafford. He's going to be the highest-owned player on the slate for the hype alone, however, Manchester United has a really good matchup anyways. They're taking on a Newcastle defense that has allowed at least two goals in all three of their games. Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes ($22), Mason Greenwood ($19), and Paul Pogba ($17) are all viable on this slate. United beat Newcastle by an aggregate score of 7-2 last season, and more big performances could be coming this year. There is going to be some incredible energy in the stadium on Saturday, and I would recommend not missing out and getting at least two United attackers on this slate especially in cash games.
Romelu Lukaku ($22) is on a goal-scoring tear right now. He scored in his first game with Chelsea two weeks ago and just scored three goals in two games with Belgium over the break. He has a good matchup in this game at home against a soft Aston Villa defense. He's one of the better pivots off chalky United attackers.
Michail Antonio ($22) and Jamie Vardy ($19) are two other top-tier strikers to consider as GPP pivots off Manchester United.
Arsenal attackers deserve some love on this slate. They have the best matchup to score on Saturday against Norwich's garbage defense. They've already conceded 10 goals which is the most in the league through three games. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ($20) is a little more expensive than you'd like to see given his current form, but you have to love the matchup regardless. Martin Odegaard ($16) is the next place I'd get some Arsenal exposure unless Emile Smith-Rowe ($14) is healthy enough to start.
Some good attackers you can get for low ownership on this slate that I like are Pascal Gross ($17), Jarrod Bowen ($17), and Adama Traore ($16).
The value attackers on this slate are really, really disappointing. Joao Moutinho ($9) is one of the better options from a floor/ceiling combination standpoint. He can definitely get some chances created in this game against a weaker Watford team and his defensive stats will help boost his floor some.
FanDuel DFS Defenders
Everyone will be scouring the position list for value defenders with the crazy amount of elite pay-up options we have at FWD/MID.
Valentino Livramento ($9) has been really strong for Southampton in his first three games. The defensive stats he gets are good but not great. However, with a price tag like that on a slate like this, he's a good value at the position. I like Adam Masina ($9) at the same price point.
Andreas Christensen ($10) and Kurt Zouma ($10) are two other cheap value guys I like at defense. Zouma recently completed a transfer to West Ham where he's set to make his first start Saturday. He's underpriced for the defensive peripherals that he can get. Plus, he has a decent chance at a clean sheet. Chelsea centerback, Christensen, also has a nice shot at a clean sheet at home. He's been getting consistent defensive stats and is a nice value play at this price range.
I'm not going to stop writing up Vladimir Coufal ($11) anytime soon. He's an elite attacking wingback on one of the better teams in the league. He's also way too cheap right now (about $2-3 cheaper than he was last season). He has another nice matchup for attacking upside against a weak Southampton team. If he's going to continue to be overlooked and underpriced, I'm going to keep playing him.
Jacob Murphy ($12) and Luke Shaw ($12) - for additional Manchester United exposure - are two of the higher-end DEFs I'll be considering on this slate if you have the cash.
FanDuel DFS Goalkeepers
David de Gea ($14) has the best chance at getting both bonuses on this slate. However, he's pretty expensive for this slate considering his salary will likely prohibit you from getting another stud in your lineup. If you want to play him though and have the cash, he's a good play.
Daniel Bachmann ($9) has a nice floor/ceiling combination here for a pretty cheap price tag. Wolves have not scored yet this year and they could struggle to do so on the road here. Watford's defense has been respectable in their first three games. Watford is not favored to win the game, but there is definitely no reason why they can't win at home. Bachmann has potential for both bonuses and some saves if he's on his A-game Saturday.
Kasper Schmeichel ($8) is too cheap in my mind. City have beat down two terrible opponents (Arsenal and Norwich) so far to score 10 goals this year. They got shut out by their only respectable opponent in week 1 against Tottenham. I'm not saying they're for sure getting shut out again here, but Leicester has a strong home defense. City will also still likely be without Kevin de Bruyne in their starting lineup, and their starting striker is in poor form and on short rest. Schmeichel will definitely be able to make plenty of saves and he has a giant ceiling with one of both bonuses.
Thanks for reading my EPL DFS lineup picks breakdown on RotoBaller and good luck!