Welcome to our regular lunchtime article looking at FanDuel’s games and key picks.
Each round we’ll be putting forward a proposed XI who we think should prosper in the Gameweek’s action, according to FanDuel’s unique scoring system.
There are three deadlines on FanDuel for entering line-ups into contests this weekend. The 12.30pm early Saturday afternoon kick-off at Old Trafford marks the start of the games that cover all 10 fixtures of the round.
The Saturday only contests begin at 3pm, while a two-match slate covering the next day’s Liberty Stadium clash between Chelsea and Swansea and the Monday night encounter between Sunderland and Everton must be joined by 1.30pm on Sunday.
This Gameweek FanDuel have introduced a ‘late swap’ feature for their contests.
This allows players to be swapped right up until their match deadline. For example, players in your line-up for the Saturday 3pm kick-offs will lock in at the time but it is now possible to change any players you’ve selected in the later match up to the 5.30pm kick-off, giving you a chance to check the team sheet and react accordingly to non-starters.
To get started register for a free account via this link. When you sign up, enter the promocode “SCOUT” and FanDuel will refund your first paid entry fee, up to £10, as free entry credit if you don’t win cash.
There’s also a strategy guide available that examines which players to target in the various positions based on the average scores they would have accrued if the scoring was applied to last season.
My Team
Adrian £7.9m
Jordi Amat £5.6m
Curtis Davies £7.6m
Scott Dann £8.8m
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg £5.5m
Santi Cazorla £10.2m
James Milner £10.9m
Eden Hazard £13.5m
Michail Antonio £9.7m
Romelu Lukaku £9.2m
Diego Costa £10.2m
Key Picks
West Ham keeper Adrian looks primed for clean sheet points at home to Watford but he comes with a slight FanDuel health warning as he is unlikely to rack up significant save points against shot shy Watford. For a fraction more Burnley’s Tom Heaton (£8.2m) offers both the possibility of a shut out as well as save points when Hull visit. He’s caught, parried and punched away 18 shots so far this season.
All three of our defender picks this Gameweek come with form on their side, featuring in the top six for average points for their position. Curtis Davies has registered 67 clearances, blocks and interceptions (CBI) so far this season, more than any other defender. Davies will be integral to Hull’s chances of success against Burnley at Turf Moor.
Jordi Amat’s should also accrue plenty of CBI points when resurgent Chelsea visit. Remember in FanDuel there are no clean sheet points for defenders so a busy, under fire centre back is perfect for this format. The Swans defender has made 16 clearances over his first three outings and a budget price tag makes him a perfect enabler.
Crystal Palace’s Scott Dann is our third CBI specialist. He visits a ‘Boro side that is far more attacking at home so should be kept busy. Middlesbrough averaged 7.5 goal attempts in their two away fixtures this term but in their Gameweek 1 home clash with Stoke they boasted a far more impressive 12 shots. Take note of Dann’s attacking threat, too. Against Bournemouth in Gameweek 3 he racked up 10 FanDuel points from his two shots on target, in addition to finding the net.
Defensive alternatives to consider include West Brom assets. Both Gareth McCauley (£7.3m) and Craig Dawson (£7.5m) should be kept busy picking up CBI points at Dean Court.
Defensive midfielders facing tough sides are stellar picks in FanDuel, due to the tackling and interception points on offer. Southampton’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is a case in point. He was the best value midfielder in Gameweek 2 in terms of points per million thanks to a combative display away to Manchester United. He’ll be up against it again this weekend when the Saints travel to Arsenal.
If you have more to spend on a similar type of player, Manchester City’s Fernandinho (£7.2m) is another to consider. The Brazilian should be the main enforcer for Pep Guardiola’s side in the Manchester derby, affording him the chance to bring in a sizeable haul of points for tackling, which are worth two apiece in FanDuel.
Penalty takers look key this season and has helped in our selection of Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla. He’s already scored one penalty this season and has two assists to his name. In his first 90-minute outing, in Gameweek 2, the Spaniard racked up an excellent score of 32.
Liverpool’s penalty taker James Milner may be fielded at left-back this season but has still registered a 29.88 point average over his two run-outs.
We’ve also gone for Michail Antonio. Goals in his previous two appearances shows the Hammers midfielder is getting in the right positions and should be a threat once again, when Watford visit East London.
Eden Hazard has the highest average in FanDuel for midfielders this term, and a huge score of 47.25 points in the 3-0 victory over Burnley shows why the Belgium is worth his hefty price-tag. Six chances created suggests an assist is imminent as well, to add to the pair of goals he’s notched so far. He is also joint top of the shots on target table this term with six accurate attempts so far.
We’ve doubled up on the Chelsea attack with Diego Costa’s form earning the Spanish international a slot in the frontline. The forward has scored twice and assisted another goal to help contribute to a solid average score of 26.17 FanDuel points this term.
We complete the line-up with Everton’s Romelu Lukaku. The Toffees frontman is yet to score this season but has created five chances and had three attempts on target in two outings, which bodes well for the trip to Sunderland on Monday night.
Olivier Giroud (£7.3m) is another option here. The Gunners forward looks set to earn a first start of the season for the visit of Southampton.
This Week’s Games
The all-weekend time-frame has the biggest pot of the weekend, the £7,500 Fan Favourite contest which has a £5 buy-in and a £750 first-place prize.
Our own contest, the Fantasy Football Scout Challenge is £1 to enter with a guaranteed pot of £250 available – this contest also starts at 12.30pm on Saturday and includes all ten fixtures.
There’s a £25 free game on offer as well which is ideal for newcomers to test out the format.
The main game that covers the Saturday only slate is the £1500 special.
It has a £3 entry fee, with £200 going for first place – the deadline is 3pm, though late swap is available for players you select in the 5.30pm kick-off at Anfield.
On Sunday there is a big game starting at 1.30pm. The Special has £777 guaranteed in winnings with a £7 entry fee.
You can register for a free account at FanDuel via this link.
When you sign up, enter the promo code “SCOUT” and FanDuel will refund your first paid entry fee, up to £10, as free entry credit if you don’t win cash.
