SOCCER

4 FanDuel Premier League Players to Avoid in Matchweek 14

Etienne Capoue has struggled, especially away from Vicarage Road, since starting the season in great form. Which other players should be lessen our exposure to this week?

FanDuel made their Premier League DFS games available to U.S. players starting in Matchweek 10, and this article will be geared toward the main slate for the U.S.-based FanDuel site. The main slate for Matchweek 14 features six Saturday matches, which include two of the top five clubs.

As with any sport, it is imperative to have your players, especially the high-priced studs, live up to their price tag. When making an investment into any player, it is important to determine which players will likely contribute in FanDuel's emphasized areas (goals, assists and shots on target). It's also just as important not to overspend on players in bad matchups.

We should look to take advantage of the teams -- and players -- who play especially well either home or away while also looking at Vegas favorites and over/under totals . DFS players, as always, should look at injury reports and confirmed starting XI, when they become available.

Let's take a look at four players, across the entire pitch, who should be avoided in the upcoming matches.

Forward

Jamie Vardy, Leicester

FanDuel Price: $9,000

Vardy is the fifth-highest priced forward for Matchweek 14, and his price has risen $2,000 since last being on this list in Matchweek 10. Vardy has not performed at the same level DFS players became accustomed to last season, scoring only 2 goals this year while averaging 9.02 FanDuel points per match.

Vardy and Leicester travel to the Stadium of Light Saturday to face Sunderland. The Black Cats have conceded 13 goals in six matches in front of their home fans while controlling 44.9% of the possession. The Foxes are a slight Vegas favorite over the Black Cats, and the over/under is set at 2.5 goals.


Home Away
Goals 1 1
Assists 1 1
Chances Created 5 4
Shots on Target 1 3
Average FanDuel Points 7.1 10.25


Looking at Vardy's home and away splits shows a difference or more than three points per game, although neither average has likely been helpful for DFS players. Vardy's away average is a bit deceiving, as he has only performed well in one match away from King Power Stadium. Vardy scored 32.5 FanDuel points against Liverpool in Matchweek 4 at Anfield. Vardy's other five matches away from King Power Stadium have been an extreme disappointment, never reaching 10 FanDuel points while averaging 5.8 FanDuel points. In those five matches, Vardy has produced one assist, four chances created and has taken zero shots on target.

The Foxes have struggled away from their home fans this season, losing five of their six matches while drawing once. Leicester has maintained 43.3% of the possession away from King Power Stadium, scoring only five goals. The entire Leicester squad has struggled this season, especially away from King Power Stadium, and Vardy is no different. DFS players should avoid Vardy, even against Sunderland, in favor of forwards that have consistently produced this season, including the Foxes' other forward, Islam Slimani, if he is deemed fit for the starting XI.

Midfielder

Etienne Capoue, Watford

FanDuel Price: $8,100

Capoue is the eighth-highest priced midfielder for Matchweek 14, and he has averaged 25.33 FanDuel points. Capoue entered the season under new manager Walter Mazzarri in spectacular form. Through the first five matchweeks Capoue scored 5 goals, had 1 assist and averaged 30.3 FanDuel points. Since his surprising start, Capoue has scored only one goal while taking five shots on target.

Capoue Since Matchweek 5 Home Away
Goals 1 0
Chances Created 8 4
Shots on Target 2 3
Crosses 16 8
Tackles 8 4
Interceptions 8 3
Average FanDuel Points 24.55 13.06


Capoue's production away from Vicarage Road -- compared to his production at Vicarage Road -- has dropped significantly since Matchweek 5, only producing more shots on target, which all came in Matchweek 11 against Liverpool's less-than-stellar defense. Capoue has proven that he can be productive without scoring, contributing in all aspects on the pitch --- crosses, tackles and interception --- to produce a high floor. However, in his last three away matches against squads that struggle with possession--- Swansea, Middlesbrough and Burnley --- Capoue has not taken a shot on target, while creating three chances with three tackles and two interceptions.

Capoue and Watford travel to the Hawthorns to face West Brom. The Baggies are the Premier League's worst squad at possessing the ball on their home pitch, possessing the ball 38.4% of the match at the Hawthorns. The Hornets possess the ball 44.7 % of the match away from Vicarage Road, while averaging 3.8 shots on target. The Baggies are the Vegas favorite, and the over/under is set at 2.5 goals.

The Baggies and the Hornets both struggle to control the possession, and this match will likely be a struggle for both squads. Capoue proved earlier in the season that he is capable of a putting forth tournament-winning performances, but his recent form away from Vicarage Road against squads that struggle with possession makes him a hard player to trust in this matchup.

Defender

Virgil van Dijk, Southampton

FanDuel Price: $6,200

Van Dijk is the second-highest priced defender for Matchweek 14, and he has averaged 18.79 FanDuel points. The Saints enter Saturday's match against Crystal Palace as a slight favorite. Van Dijk has been extremely consistent this season, scoring over 20 FanDuel points four times, while never scoring below 10. The defender's production this season has consisted of mostly defensive statistics -- tackles, interceptions, and clearances -- as van Dijk is not greatly involved in attack, taking only two shots on target while creating four chances.

The Saints have maintained 52.4% of the possession away from St. Mary's Stadium, while the Eagles have possessed the ball 51.7% of the match at Selhurst Park. The Eagles are in a relegation battle this season and have struggled in front of their home fans, earning four points in six matches. The Eagles' attack lost Connor Wickham to an ACL injury in Matchweek 13 against Swansea City.

Van Dijk has been a solid piece in the center of Southampton's back line and will continue to produce defensively against better squads. His ineffectiveness in the Saints' attack coupled with the Eagles' depleted attack makes him a defender who DFS players should avoid in favor of defenders with higher upside.

Keeper

Heurelho Gomes, Watford

FanDuel Price: $6,600

Gomes is tied, along with Tottenham's Hugo Lloris, as the fifth-highest priced keeper for Matchweek 14, and he has averaged 10.77 FanDuel points. Gomes and Watford travel to the Hawthorns to face West Brom. The Baggies enter Saturday's match as the Vegas favorite, and the over/under is set at 2.5 goals. The Baggies posses the ball a league-worst 38.4% of the match at the Hawthorns, while the Hornets possess the ball 44.7 % of the match away from Vicarage Road, which is the fifth-worst away possession rate in the Premier League.

Clean sheets and saves are extremely important for keeper scoring on FanDuel, and Gomes has kept three clean sheets, all against squads battling relegation --- Hull, Middlesbrough and Swansea --- while averaging 2.7 saves. The Baggies average 10.8 shots per match (3.8 shots on target) at the Hawthorns, fifth-worst in the Premier League. The Hornets, however, are not a stout defensive squad and concede 17.5 shots per match away from Vicarage Road.

Neither squad will likely take control of the possession, leaving plenty of open play. The Baggies have been held scoreless twice this season on their home pitch, but they have also scored four goals at the Hawthorns in two separate games. The Baggies are competing for a spot in Europe and should do well against the Hornets. Gomes has proven to have low upside this season, making three saves just once. Gomes should be avoided in favor of keepers who have a high upside for saves with the possibility of keeping a clean sheet.