World Cup Daily Plays: June 12, 2014

by BuffloSoldier Last Updated 2014-06-12 23:22:25

Well, welcome to the world’s greatest sporting event. Yes, the NFL is great (even for a long suffering Bills fan), baseball makes one nostalgic, the Stanley Cup playoffs are possibly the best show on earth on a yearly basis at their zenith, and for college and pros, basketball is fun as hell.

But it’s the World Cup. And we invite everybody on the tent for the three ring circus this month, for the good, the bad, and for us, the ability to make a few dollars on it. So put aside your thoughts on whether to start Brandon Moss against a LHP and ponder whether it’s a good idea to put all your efforts into a Brazilian stack, whether hoping an Aussie and their park the bus (I’ll be light on the terminology, I promise!) mentality would be a good value play for your goalkeeper slot, and whether red, white and blue patriotism will get you anywhere DFS-wise.

First of all: We’re focusing on StatClash’s format today. If you haven’t seen the RotoGrinders promo yet, CHECK IT OUT! It’s awesome. On StatClash, since there’s no late change, and because of the nature of the games StatClash are running, lineup creation are even more important than in other gameplay. Your choices prior to kickoff on Thursday will have to stick the landing come Sunday, and that’s going to be incredibly difficult to pull off. Do it well, get all 11 actually playing and choose wisely, you have a built in advantage. Choose poorly…and you saw Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, right?

Soccer is notorious, for the most part, of not announcing lineups until literally a hour or 90 minutes before kickoff. There are exceptions, sure, but there’s also misdirection, incorrect press reporting of the “guaranteed” starting 11 for team X, etc. So, in the end, what do I suggest? Unless you want to be contrarian and try and shoot for the moon, go for the sure thing. The guy who isn’t carrying an injury into things—yes, specifically, guys like Luis Suarez (URU) and Yaya Toure (CIV).

As the tournament goes on, keep in mind guys playing in Europe are coming off really long seasons, domestic leagues, European games—the adrenaline and buzz only can take you so far. And while the name value in your mind may go directly to build your roster with these guys, you will need to go off the beaten path to find value.

One more overarching thing to keep in mind while building your roster: yes, goals and assists rack you up points, but look at Statclash’s scoring system. Crosses, corners, fouls won can be your strikeouts. Perhaps avoid an out and out defensive midfielder who might accumulate fouls. While you need that kind of player to actually win a World Cup, it might not help you in DFS.
This will be a real learning experience for most of us, myself included. Can’t wait for class to begin.

Goalkeeper

Looking at the pricing Statclash has put together for its first round of games, they are putting real emphasis on this position when it comes to the upper tier guys cost wise. Hugo Lloris (FRA) costs more than Leo Messi (ARG) or Neymar (BRA). Ponder that.
You have to weigh value versus the upper tier guys which are more likely to get a clean sheet and/or a win. See that a save gets you two points? That’s half a win right there, so your thoughts go towards teams and players that might see a lot of action that you can save a few dollars on.

Here’s a mix of a few names I think make sense, no matter which path you take. In my mind, there’s no real dead certain choice, a guy from a great team playing a soft opponent. It’s really even in the games from Thursday to Sunday, but I’d pay up for the right choice.

Julio Cesar (BRA) – For you out there that want to go dead certain point total, I’d go with Cesar over Lloris, Iker Casillas (SPA), Gianluigi Buffon (ITA) and so on. The real top tier guys, this is the best balance of a likely win combined with a good (but not great) opponent that will get some attempts on goal but may not score. Croatia’s without Mario Mandzukic, and while their midfield is strong Brazil should win.

Fernando Muslera (URU) and Claudio Bravo (CHI) – Both are not cheap, not even close, but both are playing for real favorites against inferior opponents. They might not see a lot of action, but a win is a win, right?

VALUE PLAYS

Charles Itandje (CAM) – Trying to determine a soft landing spot for a choice under $20 at SC is difficult and could be considered a minefield, but it could play off for you to spend on other positions. You can pick the individual that will see a lot of action, make a handful of saves, and somehow keep his favorite opponent off the scoreboard and grab an unexpected win or draw.
My best choice for this bracket is Itandje. Mexico has struggled, it’s attack is in flux other than Oribe Peralta and both teams really need a win in order to be second place in the host’s Group A.

Keylor Navas (CRC) — He’s young and talented. Uruguay’s a favorite, with our without Suarez as the tip of the attacking spear. Costa Rica’s a pretty good squad and could frustrate the Uruguayans.

Defenders

In fantasy soccer, your choices for defenders tend to be centered into two target groups: those that get you clean sheets, and the guys that regularly, for defenders, give you points for goals from set pieces (corners, free kicks) as scorer or provider. Those who have played in EPL leagues know that outside backs like Leighton Baines (ENG) can rack up the points via assists and free kick goals, while love him or hate him, Sergio Ramos (SPA) chips in goals from a central defense position. For a balanced squad, you’re going to need to spend a bit less here. If you want to bolster your midfield and forwards, you’re going to go bargain basement. As always, make sure you get guys in your lineup that play.

Rafael Varane (FRA) An utter steal at $14 on SC. A good chance of a clean sheet, a player that doesn’t take many fouls, it just makes a lot of sense to me.

VALUE PLAYS

SWISS BACKLINE (SUI) – Lots of value here. A strong, solid team versus perhaps the least of the South American countries in the tournament. Fabian Schar and Steve von Bergen could help bolster your point total while allowing you to spend in other places.

Gary Medel (CHI) – This, and the Chilean backline as a whole, is a calculated risk that should pay off. Australia has little attacking verve and should be pinned back by Chile, with the only issue set pieces for the Aussies. And, of course, Chile’s backline isn’t all that sizeable. Still, I’m willing to take the risk for the reward of a likely clean sheet. Mauricio Isla is another option as well.

Midfield

Balance is the name of the game—you can find plenty of options to spend your cap on, but it all can’t be stars, can it?

Shinji Kagawa (JPN) – This makes sense to me, especially if Toure sits out. Japan holds the ball and possession really well, and it mostly flows through Kagawa. If Japan flourishes, so will Kagawa—he’s more assists than goals, but he’ll win points through fouls won. If Toure was healthy, I’d be suggesting him.

Oscar (BRA) – Again, a choice centered around the fulcrum of attack for a team.

VALUE PLAYS

Miralem Pjanic (BOS) – A really classy player, only at $14.50. Yes, Bosnia is an underdog against Argentina, but they’ll have their chances in attack. And Pjanic is coming off a superb season at Roma and is worth your choice.

Paul Pogba (FRA) – If it’s true that young players come to the forefront at a World Cup, Pogba is one of the favorites in the mold of a guy who loves the spotlight and wants to show how good he is. Relatively inexpensive at $15.25, he’s a guy that will shoot from distance and will be constantly involved in the game.

Forwards

It’s really easy to go for the big names, but let me take the stance that at the very least pair one stud with two players $16 and under on Stat Clash. Pouring $55 to $60 million for three available striker spots makes no sense, no matter how well Neymar, Messi and a third striker can do for you. In my mind, shooting for between $40 and $45 million is the right way to go. But if you want to go top shelf, aside from Neymar, may I suggest…

Sergio Aguero (ARG) – Messi may run the table in this tournament, but for Argentina he tends to be more of a part of the whole than his Barcelona persona. I’d rather save the extra few bucks and take Aguero,

VALUE PLAYS

Hulk (BRA) – Neymar’s the easy choice. Balance your team out a bit more, and Hulk’s no chump either. At $15.75, a pretty good buy.

Diego Costa/Fernando Torres (SPA) – If Torres starts, he’s a real value choice against a possibly porous Dutch defense. If it’s Costa, it’s still a pretty decent price to include in your starting 11. Keep an eye on the news prior to roster lock, and if you feel bold and certain about an answer, roster one of these pair.

Ciro Immobile (ITA) – Akin the choice Spain must make, Italy has the temperamental but talented Mario Balotelli. His price tag and inconsistent play this season for AC Milan scares me off. If there’s news of Immobile starting against England, put him in your lineup. Even if he isn’t, and you want to be bold, he’s the prime example of a sub that could score once or twice in 30 minutes of play.

Josep Drmic (SUI) – Here’s another value play that I think could really pay off. He’s had a great season in Germany for Nuremburg, and could really torch Ecuador.

Karim Benzema (FRA) – The French could crash and burn. I just don’t think it’ll happen Sunday, and Benzema leads the attack that’s really in form.

My 11:

As of Wednesday afternoon, it’s this:

That leaves $4.25 on the table that I may use to make a late change to upgrade on a Kawaga or Varane.