DraftKings
21 September 2016 3441 comments
Tom Fenley Tom Fenley
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Welcome to our latest visit to the Weekly Shop, where we will help guide your selections for daily and weekly Fantasy Football squad building. For this round we’re looking at both FanDuel’s and DraftKing‘s player lists.

As always, we divide the player analysis into two parts: I’ll assess the key targets that no squad can do without in “Better Buys”, before seeking out those one-shot “Poundstretcher” prospects that can provide us with points and liberate precious funds.

For those new to FanDuel our recent strategy guide will help familiarise yourself with their scoring model and key strategies for success.

We also have a player selection guide for DraftKings newcomers, that provides some tips on building the eight-player line-ups for their contests.

If you’re yet to register with these games, you can do via the link to FanDuel here .

Register and deposit £10 or more and you will qualify for the FanDuel ‘Second Shot’ offer of your money back as a free entry if your first paid-for contest is settled as a loss, up to a maximum £10.

You can sign up for a DraftKings account via this link and if you join the Fantasy Football Scout League, you’ll get notification of all our contests heading into the weekend.

Better Buys

Immediately we find ourselves heading back to Claudio Bravo (FanDuel £7m, DraftKings $5,700) for our premium stopper.

He has settled in quickly at Manchester City with back-to-back clean sheets in the league and Europe. Further defensive returns appear to beckon for the Chilean this weekend when City travel to a Swansea City side which has failed score in two of their five league outings.

With save points awarded in both FanDuel and DraftKings, Tom Heaton (FanDuel £7.5m) is another attractive prospect between the sticks. The Burnley keeper has the most saves in the Premier League, registering 24 over five appearances, and also has strong clean sheet potential for the visit Watford.

While the Hornets have scored seven in their last two league games, Burnley have proved resilient at home, conceding just twice at Turf Moor; they certainly demonstrated a steely resolve in the 2-0 home win over Liverpool.

In defence, our priorities differ between the two games with various criteria informing which players we target.

FanDuel defenders, for example, won’t pick up points for clean sheets but are rewarded for defensive actions such as clearances, blocks and interceptions.

This scoring system tends to favour centre-backs, especially those playing for teams that will face waves of pressure from the top sides or those playing away from home who could be under the cosh.

Conversely, in DraftKings, we look for defenders that get forward and serve up crosses from wide positions, this usually means finding full-backs from more attack-minded teams.

Only three points are awarded for a clean sheet and 0.5 points for interceptions so central defenders in DraftKings are best utilised as cheap enablers in the utility slot, and only when funds are tight.

With this in mind, Hull’s Curtis Davies (FanDuel £10.1m, DraftKings $3,800) has been a magnet for CBI points, with 95 so far.

As FanDuel rewards all three attributes, this makes him a near essential purchase each week. The Tigers’ centre-back has seen his price steadily rise so consider Andrew Robertson (FanDuel £6.4m, DraftKings $4,100) if you need to save some of your budget. The full-back has averaged 22.5 FanDuel points in his two away matches, creating three chances and should be busy again at Anfield.

We also like the look of Leicester’s Wes Morgan (FanDuel £7.4m). The centre-back should provide plenty of defensive contributions while attempting to keep Zlatan Ibrahimovic quiet at Old Trafford.

In FanDuel, Seamus Coleman’s (FanDuel £6.2m, DraftKings $4,800) price tag provides a keenly priced route into the Everton rearguard.

The right-back scored and picked up 8 CBIs in the ‘Boro win to build a score of 38 FanDuel points and looks to be the Toffees defender of choice ahead of their trip to Bournemouth.

But we favour Leighton Baines (FanDuel £8.1m, DraftKings $5,900) in DraftKings; the left-back has created seven chances and supplied 13 crosses so looks geared for picking up attacking points.

James Milner (FanDuel Mid £11.4m, DraftKings Def $6,600) looks to be an appealing DraftKings selection after being classified as a defender. The versatile Red is growing into his left-back role, providing 25 crosses and an assist in four appearances, whilst his spot-kick duties add value ahead of the Anfield meeting with Hull.

After scoring a fourth goal in five outings in the 3-1 over Manchester United, Etienne Capoue (FanDuel £9m) maintained his ridiculously strong start to the campaign.

The Frenchman also has a combative streak, with 17 tackles so far, and his versatility makes the Hornet a pick to consider in FanDuel as Walter Mazzarri’s side make the trip to Turf Moor.

Andros Townsend (FanDuel £9.9m, DraftKings $8,800) scored an outstanding first goal for Crystal Palace in Sunday’s rout of Stoke City.

In an impressive performance for his new side, Townsend also created two chances and had two shots on goal to earn a 39 point score in FanDuel. The midfielder equally stood-out in DraftKings, registering ten crosses against for a score of 24.5 points.

The ex-Spurs player looks a strong pick in both formats for the trip to Sunderland.

At Stamford Bridge, Liverpool picked up a third win of the campaign and looked particularly dangerous in the first half against Chelsea.

Roberto Firmino (FanDuel £10.7m, DraftKings $7,600) was rested due to an injury concern but, having started in the EFL Cup, should now return to the starting line-up against Hull. The Brazilian notched a brace in the Reds’ last home match.

Sadio Mane (FanDuel £9.5m, DraftKings $7,500) was also a major threat in the previous home win over Leicester City, after scoring and assisting against the Champions. The Senegalese midfielder is another promising option from Jurgen Klopp’s vibrant Liverpool attack.

Goals against Bournemouth from Kevin De Bruyne (FanDuel £16.3m, DraftKings $10,100), Raheem Sterling (FanDuel £12.1m, DraftKings $8,000) and Ilkay Gundogan (FanDuel £8.1m, DraftKings $5,600) demonstrated the weapons that Pep Guardiola has at his disposal.

Fitting in at least one of those City assets in our line-ups looks sensible if not vital; doubling or even tripling up is also likely to pay off bearing in mind their current form. You have to fancy more City goals at Swansea.

That inevitably leads us to Sergio Aguero (FanDuel £16.3m, DraftKings $10,500) who is set to return to the starting XI at the Liberty Stadium.

Romelu Lukaku (FanDuel £10.1m, DraftKings $8,800) followed up his hat-trick against the Black Cats with another influential performance, scoring and setting up another in the 3-1 win over ‘Boro.

A toe injury meant an early withdrawal last weekend, so look out for team news on the Belgian’s availability.

We’re expecting him to start and also continue his run of form as the Toffees travel to the Vitality Stadium – only Stoke City and West Ham have conceded more goals than Bournemouth.

Poundstretchers

West Brom’s Ben Foster (DraftKings $4,700, FanDuel £7.3m) has made 18 saves over five outings and looks to be a value pick in DraftKings as the Baggies travel to a struggling Stoke City.

We reckon there’s a good chance of the win bonus with a clean sheet for Foster at the bet365 Stadium.

His opponents Stoke provide us with a pair of cheap defensive options.

Glen Johnson (FanDuel £5.3m, DraftKings $3,600) looks suited for both formats if you’re looking for a budget enabler in defence. The right-back returned from the sidelines at Selhurst Park and with Mark Hughes surely targeting defensive improvement, he could be in for some surprise profit.

Centre-back Bruno Martins Indi (FanDuel £6m, DraftKings $3,200) also posted some encouraging numbers (18 CBIs) over his first two matches for the Potters. The Dutchman will be jostling with West Brom forward Salomon Rondon, so should prosper as a bargain FanDuel pick as he looks to mop up the long balls played up to the Baggies striker.

For similar reasons, Lamine Kone (FanDuel £6.6m, DraftKings $3,700) looks to be the Sunderland defender to go for in FanDuel; the centre-back will be tasked with keeping Christian Benteke’s aerial threat to a minimum.

Swansea City’s Jordi Amat (FanDuel £6.5m, DraftKings $2,700) recorded eight clearances to help earn a score of 25 FanDuel points against Southampton. The centre-back should pick up plenty of CBIs for the visit of Manchester City and looks a sound defensive selection in FanDuel.

If your budget won’t stretch to fit in James Milner in your DraftKings line-up, then consider Nathaniel Clyne (DraftKings $4,500, FanDuel £7.6m) as an alternative from the Reds back-line.

The full-back has created more chances (eight) than any other defender this season and should have more opportunities to register returns against the Tigers.

We name-checked Nacer Chadli (FanDuel £5.3m, DraftKings $5,700) as an enabler last week and the Baggies midfielder duly delivered.

A brace and a pair of assists indicate that the ex-Spurs player has already emerged as a serious goal threat and has to be considered in both formats as a budget friendly option for West Brom’s visit to take on the Stoke defence.

Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi (FanDuel £7.5m, DraftKings $5,000) features at a tempting price in both games, the midfielder created three chances in the victory at Hull, setting up two goals and could retain his place for the visit of Chelsea.

If you can’t afford Andros Townsend, but still want some cover for the Eagles’ trip to Sunderland then Jason Puncheon (DraftKings $6,400, FanDuel £8.8m) looks a viable replacement. The midfielder’s 35 crosses so far this campaign makes him a particularly compelling pick in DrafKings.

After impressing from the bench against Stoke, Heung-Min Son (DraftKings $5,900, FanDuel 9m) deserved a starting spot against Sunderland and used that match to cement his place.

A potential asset in DraftKings, the South Korean delivered 15 crosses (worth 0.75 points each in DraftKings) against the Black Cats and has a much kinder price-tag on that platform than in FanDuel.

Harry Kane’s injury not only increases Son’s chances of improved pitch time but also brings summer signing Vincent Janssen (FanDuel £6m, DraftKings $8,100) onto our radar.

The Dutch striker is expected to deputise for the England striker and will be eager to prove himself a capable replacement.

Janssen could emerge as a key asset over the coming weeks, both in the season-long and weekly Fantasy games.

3,441 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Jamie_GAWA
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    ADVICE for those going without Aguero:

    Find a quiet place.
    Sit down.
    Think long and hard about your life.
    Log in to FPL.
    Buy Aguero.

    1. t4thomas
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Good advice.

    2. Bubz
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Are there really people that are going without Aguero?

      1. Jamie_GAWA
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        People going with Ibra over Aguero

        1. Bubz
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          Oh

    3. Jamie_GAWA
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Credit goes to fplgeneral

    4. KingNidge
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Stick your advice up your hole 🙂

    5. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Let them go without.

    6. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      It is indeed a terrible idea.

    7. Polaris - The Mortal Coil
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      ADVICE for those worrying about other peoples teams/decisions:

      Worry about your own team and let others pick theirs.

      1. KingNidge
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Well said Pug

      2. Jigger & Pony
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        +1

    8. Kante Be Bothered
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Instructions weren't clear. I ended up with Welbeck in my team 🙁

  2. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Ibra would have been given an assist for that too.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 17 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Rashford*

    2. Woy of the Wovers
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      It's all about the intent.

  3. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Rashford assist. Essential

  4. Lone Wolf FPL
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Best choice is:

    A) Shaw + Ozil + Lukaku --> Lovren + Bolasie + Kun
    B) Heaton + Ozil + Lukaku --> Pickford + Bolasie + Kun
    C) Ozil + Sterling + Benteke --> Townsend + Bolasie + Kun

    1. Prøfeßör …
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      A

    2. Prøfeßör …
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Btw, who is your other keeper?

      1. Lone Wolf FPL
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        yes, it's Jaku

    3. Oscarman
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      A

  5. You've got red on you.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Sorry for the constant reposts but I am at my wits end! 😛

    a) Costa - Antonio - Firmino/Sterling - Capoue

    b) Deeney/Defoe/Ighalo - Firmino - Sterling - Townsend/Redmond

    1. Cracked Egg
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      A

    2. MTPockets
      9 years, 9 months ago

      I think I've settled on non-costa option, so B.

    3. ZombieEaten
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      rest of team. from that list a with Firmino assuming you have Ageuro

      b is ok too with Deeney and perhaps Townsend or Snoddy

    4. Lone Wolf FPL
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      A

    5. Monkey Hanger
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      A

    6. Oscarman
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      A, but Costa > Lukaku

  6. Chucky
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Janssential

  7. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Best MF combo for the next few GWs

    Sanchez and Bolasie
    Cazorla and Mane

    Any ideas would be welcomed

    1. Cracked Egg
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Sanchez and Bolasie. No brainer

    2. andymck
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Sanchez and Bolasie for sure.

      1. andymck
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Definitely try to get a Liverpool mid in too though, doesn't have to be Mane.

        1. Oscarman
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          ^ this

  8. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    antonio on

    west ham getting desperate

  9. ZombieEaten
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Janssen on pens then 🙂 Rip up our Deeney WCs? Well, that is excuse/justification for Deeney too

    1. Woy of the Wovers
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      I think people are looking at Rashford now. #rashtransferdecisions

      1. MTPockets
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Hunting for a not-deeney.

    2. Garth Marenghi
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Looking more at Son than janssen.

  10. KingNidge
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

    1. Robe Wan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      A win to be proud of

      1. KingNidge
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Wouldn't go that far

  11. Iain Dowies Love Child
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Considering this:
    Foster
    Walker - Baines - Lovren
    Sanchez - Sterling - Firmino - Capoue
    Kun (c) - Lukaku - Rashford
    Jako - Snoddy - Holebas - Amat

    Thoughts?

    1. MTPockets
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Similar to mine (below). Looks good although not sold on Lovren.

      1. Iain Dowies Love Child
        • 16 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Yeah could backfire but some decent home fixtures so I'm willing to gamble!

    2. Oscarman
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Solid. G2G.

  12. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    lol @ the northampton keeper

  13. MTPockets
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Rashford wc gamble, with kdb -> sanchez next week?

    Foster - Pickford
    Coleman - Dann/5.5m - McAuley - Holebas - Amat
    KDB - Sterling - Firminho - Antonio - Capoue
    Aguero - Lukaku - Rashford

  14. BadgersBoys
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Oh dear, oh dear.

  15. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Kun > Rashford for a hit?

    1. BadgersBoys
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Surely now.

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Haha! Class

  16. KingNidge
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Goal and assist for Rashford

    Gamechanger

  17. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    There have been over 2 goals in an Arsenal vs Chelsea fixture only ONCE in their last 8 meetings

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 17 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Sells Hazard

      1. Chucky
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Hazard 1-0 win 11 points 🙂

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 17 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          At least you weren't greedy with 2-0

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Panicks and brings in Luiz

  18. KOLASINA(C)
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    This Rashford kid is good

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      incredible finish

      1. KOLASINA(C)
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Ye

    2. Guru Mediation
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Moanrinho will love that, think he starts now

    3. t4thomas
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Deeney to Rashford is proper tempting.

  19. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    zaza straight into the keepers arms from 6 yards 😆

  20. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    What's he point of this cup even? 😆

    1. BadgersBoys
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Money.

      1. George Sillett
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        To give the top clubs second teams a chance of winning something.

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 17 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      A trophy.

        1. BadgersBoys
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          🙂

  21. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Arsenal have only scored ONE goal in their last 8 fixtures vs Chelsea

    1. Lawrø
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      No Mourinho this time though

      1. Kante Be Bothered
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Hiddink was manager during the 2nd match last season

    2. Kante Be Bothered
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      3 red cards in last 2 games as well 😉

    3. Vedas
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Sells Sanchez

  22. EmreCan Hustle
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Northampton keeper looked so relaxed until screwed up 😆

  23. PvA
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Hate my team now

    1. Lawrø
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Delete

    2. Bubz
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Just triple captain Capoue

    3. PainInDiaz
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Ownership dropped for any of your players?

  24. Jigger & Pony
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Ibra + Benteke > Kun + Rashford?

    1. Oscarman
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Yep and yep!

  25. My Name Is Prince
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    I was thinking Rashford even before tonight but I think this just seals it!

    1. BadgersBoys
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      And Carp was wondering what the point of these cups are? There you go.

  26. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    nacho subbed for city

    1. Lawrø
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      😯

  27. Fischy
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Lineup GW 6 - 8 points ( Redmond - Ozil )

    Boruc
    Baines
    Valencia
    Collins
    Sánchez
    Pereyra
    Hazard
    Barkley
    Deeney
    Lukaku
    Ibrahimovic

    1. Fischy
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Sanchez (c) ?

    2. Robe Wan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      What's going on here?

      1. Fischy
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        # mindgames #

    3. BadgersBoys
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      So hard to distinguish between wind ups and genuine posts now.

  28. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    mcnair bandwagon

    1. t4thomas
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Tempting to be honest. No?

  29. TorresMagic™
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 17 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    McNair double 😯

  30. Kante Be Bothered
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    So since it looks like Man Utd are going through this joke wont be as great but here it is anyway.

    Q: What is the difference between [Insert team name] and a cup a tea?

    A: The tea stays in the cup longer.

    1. Robe Wan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Hmmm