EPL DFS Targets: Tuesday, March 1st
We have a midweek set of fixtures. This week the schedule makers gave us not one but TWO great DFS slates with five matches on Tuesday and five more on Wednesday. I’ll tackle each day in individual articles to allow us a chance to focus solely on one day game slate at a time.
One big takeaway from this game is that several teams have come from a short break and will be tired heading into this midweek fixture with a side-eye on the upcoming weekend fixtures as well. This means that there is potentially some value that can show up when the lineups are released an hour before lock.
Goalkeeper
Kaspar Schmeichel, Leicester City $4,400 – As always, taking the goalkeeper with the best odds to win is a good choice. In this case we have two keepers in great positions to win with Schmeichel and Courtois both being equally favored. Schmeichel gets the bump for me this week being that he is at home and Chelsea are on the road. Both have similar floors and similar upsides.
Mark Bunn, Aston Villa $3,200 – In the case of a long shot keeper that may pay off, I am going with a very long shot. Mark Bunn and Aston Villa are facing an Everton squad that has been very up and down in recent weeks and is coming off a 1-0 defeat to West Brom. Bunn should face a healthy supply of shots on target with Lukaku looking to get back on track, and this selection isn’t for the faint of heart. But if you want to load up on midfielders and forwards, some sacrifices have to be made. A goalkeeper at home against a team that could be blanked is as good a spot as any.
Defenders
Bryan Oviedo, Everton $3,000 – Selecting defenders is very difficult for this slate. Oviedo has been getting the start in recent weeks for Everton and last game he had 16 crosses en route to 22 fantasy points. The reason he got so many was Everton falling behind early to West Brom and Everton resorting to an attacking style of play and Oviedo was the most capable player on the field to swing the ball in and to take corners and free kicks. Once Deulefeu came on in the 74th minute, Oviedo didn’t take nearly as many crosses per minute (only 4 crosses in 15 minutes compared to 12 in 75 prior to the substitution. In the same span, Deulefeu managed 8 crosses). Oviedo still has value even if Deulefeu starts as Oviedo will get involved in other aspects of the game and if Everton manage a clean sheet then he gets the bonus as well.
Martin Kelly, Crystal Palace $2,300 – With Palace still facing some injury troubles, look for Kelly to maintain his starting spot this week. Kelly has some upside as he assists a bit on the attack, but the real value in Kelly is his cheap price tag.
Other defenders should show up when lineups are released who may be in a good spot as value plays.
Midfielders
Marc Albrighton, Leicester City $6,500 – I could just write down what I wrote last weekend about Albrighton, I could tell you all about how he’s become the top corner kick taker for Leicester, and how he’s surpassed Mahrez as the guy who whips in crosses. I could go on about how he’s in great form and the third best player on the current league leaders. I could also tell you to look at his week 11 matchup against West Brom on the road and realize that he had 27 fantasy points that day with 13 crosses and an assist. I’ll just tell you to make sure Albrighton is in all your teams because the floor is too high and I have a gut feeling that he is involved with some Leicester goals.
Ross Barkley, Everton $6,700 – Everton are coming off more rest than any of the teams playing on Tuesday having not played a competitive match since February 20th in the FA cup quarter final. However, over the last four weeks in the EPL Ross Barkley has been the top “shooter” in the premier league having taken 20 total shots. This trend could continue this week. But I’m a bit tepid putting him in all my teams as he could lose that production to a certain forward to be named later.
Wahbi Khazri, Sunderland $4,200 – Khazri made the highlight reel this weekend with a rabona to remember. I was worried at first that Sam Allerdyce may choose to sit his player after attempting such a flashy failed move on the goal line in Sunderland’s last attack seeking an equalizer, but Allerdyce’s comments made it seem like he was resigned to handle this internally and hopefully give Khazri a second chance. Khazri for his part has been Sunderland’s best attacking piece, he hit the bar once off a free kick for the black cats, and almost set up a goal through Jack Rodwell. If Wahbi is in the starting lineup I’m rostering him again. There are no threats on this team to take away his production, and somebody has to put up numbers for a team looking to escape relegation.
Yohan Cabaye, Crystal Palace $6,300 – Cabaye may be the single midfielder in the premier league who does not depend on crosses for fantasy success. He is top 10 in tackles won and interceptions while also delivering a healthy amount of shots and crosses every game. He routinely fills the stat sheet for Palace and when in form is probably the best player in the Palace midfield. I like Crystal Palace to score some goals this week as they’ve failed to convert reliably recently, and I think Cabaye has a hand foot in those thus giving him a high ceiling to go along with his cash-game friendly floor.
Forwards
Romelu Lukaku, Everton $7,600 – One reason I’m a bit tepid in rostering Ross Barkley in cash games is that of his 20 shots in the last 3 matches he’s played only 3 of them have been on target (resulting in 2 goals). Lukaku on the other hand only has 8 shots in that same time frame resulting in 0 goals. I think Everton can revert back to trying to feed their Belgian forward to try to give him a chance to score some goals and for Everton to win this match. If you want another forward from Everton but don’t want to spend almost $8K on him, look to Gerard Deulefeu who is a cash game option if he starts.
Charlie Austin, Southampon $4,200 – Chaz Austin started last match against Chelsea and while he had two shots, neither of them were truly threatening and he only got 2 touches inside the box thanks to Chelsea’s good defense, I expect Austin to continue to look for success with the Saints as the season continues. One thing to look for this match is if Austin and Steven Davis start near each other once again. Last match Davis started as an attacking midfielder (the number 10 role) while Austin was the number 9. The two have a history together in Burnley back in 2011-12 and Davis was among the first to welcome Austin to the Saints.
Connor Wickham, Crystal Palace $3,800 – Wickham scored two goals last time out and his price is still very low for the potential he carries. Palace could potentially control this match from the onset and Wickham could come out of this matchup with a streak of two games with goals scored. Also, if you want to roster all those $6K midfielders, you have to get savings somewhere and Wickham is a great spot for that sort of thing.