DraftKings & FanDuel Fantasy Soccer Picks: Best EPL DFS Plays & Lineups Today Matchday 34 | 4/23/22

The Saturday EPL DFS slate returns to the new normal of three matches on DraftKings. Manchester City comes in as a massive favorite at -1,000 (BetMGM). They play host to Watford and will garner all the ownership. Watford is significantly better on the road with 1.52 expected goals allowed. At home they are dead last in expected goals allowed with 1.84. Manchester City has the second-best home offense and should have no issues finding the back of the net against Watford.

The two games with evenly matched sides are Leicester City playing host to Aston Villa and Norwich taking on Newcastle. Leicester allows 1.67 expected goals at home, which is bottom three in the EPL. Aston Villa has a bottom-tier offense on the road, but their defense ranks fourth in the EPL in expected goals allowed with 1.22. The two sides split their previous meetings with each taking a 2-1 victory. The focus would look to be goal hunters at salary discounts much like the Leicester – Everton meeting mid-week. The final match is between Newcastle and Norwich and the odds see an even split on the totals. Norwich has improved, and there are value plays for GPP salary relief in this match due to home-field advantage.

EPL DFS Picks Today: DraftKings & FanDuel Fantasy Soccer

Below are the top EPL DFS picks today on DraftKings and FanDuel for Matchday 34, which consider all aspects of the slate, from Awesemo’s expert fantasy soccer projections to pricing to popularity for DFS fantasy soccer. These EPL DFS soccer picks should help with creating highly projected lineups in DraftKings and FanDuel fantasy soccer tournaments and cash games.

Forwards/Midfielders

Riyad Mahrez (DraftKings: $10,800, FanDuel: $20)

Ilkay Gundogan (DraftKings: $6,600, FanDuel: $15)

The Manchester City offense has to start once again with Riyad Mahrez. Mahrez is handling the majority of set shares. He averages 3.54 shots per match and is tied for the team lead in goals with Kevin De Bruyne. De Bruyne always gathers massive ownership, and on this slate both will be easily over 60% owned regardless of contest size and format. The Watford side is better on the road, but the volume of Manchester City with shots, created chances and crossing volume is enough to build a floor. The scoring upside is still the key, and Manchester City knows it needs to come away with 3 points in this match.

The pieces to pair with the volume attackers up top depend on the starting rotation, with Raheem Sterling looking to get back into the starting 11. Sterling is a GPP goal-hunting option, but the price is high for anything outside an MME run of lines. Jack Grealish comes in under $6,000 salary and by default will get into heavy ownership. His role is not the Aston Villa Grealish of the past. Ilkay Gundogan is a pivot who can handle some set shares if one of Mahrez or De Bruyne see the bench to start this match. He creates 3.41 scoring chances per match and averages 2.54 shots per match. His volume points to the same goal contribution upside of Phil Foden and Sterling with a discount over $1,000.

Harvey Barnes (DraftKings: $7,500, FanDuel: $14)

Ollie Watkins (DraftKings: $6,400, FanDuel: $15)

Leicester City and Aston Villa have the volume attackers with James Maddison and Philippe Coutinho. The prices on the two require goal contribution to overtake the Manchester City attackers. In cash games it is hard to fit them in, but they are viable in GPP if trading one of these for a Mahrez or De Bruyne. Maddison’s volume also does not bold well if Marc Albrighton sees the starting 11. Aston Villa’s defense is tough on the road, so do not target Leicester in cash. For GPPs, Harvey Barnes is still a solid selection. His salary will keep his ownership low, and the matchup is not tempting to attack. Barnes averages 2.61 shots per match and ranks in top two in open-play crossing volume. His even split of goal contribution offers upside through a goal or assist.

Aston Villa has offensive woes on the road. The Leicester defense has one-off options, especially Ollie Watkins, who is one of the cheaper attackers. His 2.18 shots per match are among the team leaders, and his on-target rate is 40%. Watkins leads Leicester in goals scored, and the matchup bolds well for a club that need points as they continue to drop near relegation zone in the EPL table. Danny Ings comes in at a similar salary and offers a low owned scoring threat in GPPs. The concern with Ings is his inability to surpass 70 minutes of play in all but two of his previous 10 matches. Ings handles the penalties when he is on the pitch, so he would make the cut for MME entries. Watkins still takes the spot with a few dollars in savings and a slight bump on the floor.

Other Options: Kieran Dowell (DraftKings: $5,200, FanDuel: $12), Kevin De Bruyne (DraftKings: $10,00, FanDuel: $22), Milot Rashica (DraftKings: $7,300, FanDuel: $14), Teemu Pukki (DraftKings: $7,600, FanDuel: $16). Chris Wood (DraftKings: $4,600, FanDuel: $17), Emmanuel Dennis (DraftKings: $5,400, FanDuel: $15), Kelechi Iheanacho (DraftKings: $6,500, FanDuel: $16), Son Heung-Min (FanDuel: $21), Harry Kane (FanDuel: $20), Christian Eriksen (FanDuel: $16).

Defenders

Matt Targett (DraftKings: $6,000, FanDuel: $11)

Matt Targett continues to post consistent marks, and his price still drops. His set shares make him hard to ignore at the defender spot. He averages 3.91 crosses per match and north of five won tackles/interceptions. Regardless of which side has the ball, he is able to produce a 1.5x to 2x value on the floor alone. The clean sheet is in play despite Norwich’s recent run of scoring form because Newcastle have their own defense in impressive form. Targett does not take many chances at the net, but the contribution upside comes if his teammates can connect on his creations.

Other Options: Kiko Feminia (DraftKings: $4,400, FanDuel: $9), Matthew Cash (DraftKings: $4,900, FanDuel: $13), Max Aarons (DraftKings: $3,400, FanDuel: $8), Joao Cancelo (DraftKings: $7,100, FanDuel: $15)

Goalkeepers

Emiliano Martinez (DraftKings: $4,800, FanDuel: $10)

Ederson (DraftKings: $5,900, FanDuel: $14)

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Author
Jovanni Vidal is accountant and finance analyst, with lifetime passion for fantasy sports. He has provided content and player analysis for season-long fantasy sites. He joined Stokastic to help new and current DFS soccer players learn new approaches to the game and how to succeed, with an overall goal to grow the DFS soccer sport and various league content offerings. You can reach him on Twitter @fluff_marsh.

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