Yahoo Focus – Gameweek 15

For the third time in a week, our partner game Yahoo are laying on a big-money contest for Daily Fantasy managers.

They are offering a Premier League £4k Saturday contest which takes in the seven fixtures from 3pm onwards that day.

The contest is guaranteed to run, costs £5 to enter and is a multi-entry game, which means you can select up to nine teams. The top 200 places pay out – there’s a minimum win-back of £10, with £400 going to the first place.

Driven by Opta data, the Yahoo game boasts a unique scoring system that seems tailor-made for those in our community on the lookout for a Daily Fantasy Sports game.

New players can sign up and claim a free £50 in credit to your account when you deposit just £5. Promo code: Fantasy50.

And it’s also worth having a look over our Strategy Guide before picking your starting lineup, as this gives you a better idea of the Yahoo game and the types of players who tend to benefit.

FFS Strongest XI

Jordan Pickford – £14
Sead Kolasinac – £15
Alberto Moreno – £15
Ryan Shawcross – £14
Xherdan Shaqiri – £20
Aaron Ramsey – £20
Gylfi Sigurdsson – £16
Sam Field – £12
Mohamed Salah – £27
Harry Kane – £27
Richarlison – £19

Jordan Pickford is one of two Everton players we are backing this weekend as they prepare for their first match under the stewardship of Sam Allardyce. Their visitors Huddersfield have no goals in their last five away matches, which suggests that the Toffees can replicate Wednesday’s clean sheet against West Ham. Pickford also benefits from the Yahoo scoring system, as goalkeepers earn double the number of points as defenders for a clean sheet, as well as points for wins or draws.

We keep faith in Arsenal’s Sead Kolasinac for a home encounter with Man United. All of the Bosnian’s attacking returns (one goal and four assists) this season have arrived at the Emirates and the stats underline his menace – he’s placed third among defenders for shots (14) and efforts in the box (13) and sits second for both big chances created (five) and assists (four). With just a single goal conceded in their last six at home, the Gunners could also be on for another clean sheet if Jose Mourinho opts to go into Saturday evening’s encounter on the back foot.

The away form of Alberto Moreno makes for persuasive reading as Liverpool pay visit to Brighton. On the road, he is the fourth top defender for crosses (28), third for successful crosses (seven) and second for chances created (nine). Furthermore, only four defenders have bettered the Spaniard’s seven attempts on goal away from home. After claiming a first away clean sheet of the season, the Reds will be hopeful of a repeat – their hosts have failed to score in each of the last two and sit second bottom for shots in the box (36) at home this term.

We’re prepared to take a punt on Stoke City skipper Ryan Shawcross for a home match with Swansea. Admittedly, the Potters’ run of 14 goals against in seven at the bet365 hardly makes for good reading, yet they could hardly have a better chance for a clean sheet – away from home, their visitors rank bottom for shots (41) efforts in the box (22) and attempts on target (five), scoring on just three occasions. Shawcross’ threat in the air could also prove a key weapon for Mark Hughes’ men – away from home, no side have allowed more headed attempts (22) or conceded more efforts from set-pieces (36) than the Swans.

Stoke’s set-piece taker, Xherdan Shaqiri, is also called upon as a result of Swansea’s weakness in the air. Ranked seventh in the league for both successful crosses (20) and key passes (28), the Swiss international is placed sixth among midfielders for shots on target (12). Handed a role behind the striker this season, he has scored or assisted in seven of his last ten league appearances.

Arsenal’s all-action Aaron Ramsey continued his strong Fantasy campaign with a pair of assists in the 5-0 win over Huddersfield on Wednesday evening. The Welshman has upped his consistency this term, with a goal or assist in eight of his 12 league outings. Ranked joint-top for shots in the box (23) and big chances (eight) for the Gunners, his defensive contribution could also profit from the Yahoo scoring system at home to Man United – only two team-mates have won more tackles than Ramsey’s 25.

Sam Allardyce’s penchant for set-piece situations could bring Gylfi Sigurdsson back into consideration as a Fantasy force at Everton. Overshadowed by Wayne Rooney’s midweek hat-trick, the summer signing has been slowly finding his form in recent matches – after a run of 11 straight blanks, he has scored or assisted in each of his last three league appearances. The Icelandic international has supplied more crosses (19) and fired more attempts on goal (five) than any team-mate over the last four Gameweeks.

West Brom’s Sam Field looks an ideal budget “enabler” as Alan Pardew hosts former club Crystal Palace in his first match in charge. The 19-year-old made a real impression under caretaker boss Gary Megson in the last two Gameweeks – he started each of the last two and found the net in the midweek draw with Newcastle. Sitting second for both successful tackles (eight) and interceptions (four) among team-mates during that period, he looks ideally suited to the Yahoo scoring system.

Liverpool’s top scorer Mohamed Salah needed just 23 minutes off the bench to score twice at Stoke and that midweek sub role bodes well for his pitch-time away to Brighton. A return to Jurgen Klopp’s teamsheet looks on the cards for the in-form Egyptian, who has now scored seven times in the last four Gameweeks, including a brace in each of his last two road trips.

After netting his tenth of the season away to Leicester, Harry Kane now visits a Watford defence that’s conceded more goals at home (15) than any other side. The Spurs frontman is the league’s number one player for away goals (seven) and the underlying numbers show why – on the road, he also leads the way for shots (33), efforts in the box (22) and attempts on target (12).

We’re also backing Watford’s Richarlison in the same fixture, given that Spurs have managed just one clean sheet in six and seem to lack resilience without the injured Toby Alderweireld. One of the most consistent players this season, the Brazilian has produced returns in nine of his 14 appearances. The statistics suggest he may well continue that streak on Saturday – Richarlison has fired more shots inside the box (13) than any player over the last four Gameweeks.

As Yahoo allows late swaps up until each kick-off, our listed line-up could be subject to change.

The Weekend’s Contests

In addition to the Premier League £4k Saturday contest, Yahoo also have a Premier League £1k Saturday contest on offer.

This is also guaranteed to run, costs £10 to enter and is a single-entry game. The top 27 places pay out – there’s a minimum win-back of £20, with £150 going to the first place.

Yahoo are also running a Premier League £1,000,000 Perfect Lineup Cup, which takes place over Gameweek 1-19.

It’s free to enter, with £500 in prizes and £50 for the best team every week. Over the 19 Gameweeks, there’s £40k in prizes on offer, with £30k shared among the top 5,000 and £10k going to the winner.

The Yahoo Cup also has a “£1,000,000 challenge”, which gives away £1m to any user who selects the perfect line-up in any given Gameweek to score the maximum possible points.

You can open an account and get started immediately.

If you register and deposit £5 or more, Yahoo will also give you a £50 bonus to be used as cash to enter paid contests.

Register here to claim the bonus.

You must be over 18 years of age, resident in the UK, and of legal capacity to register with Yahoo Daily Sports and open an Account. If you sign up, please always play responsibly.