4 FanDuel Premier League Players to Avoid in Matchweek 32

The main slate for Matchweek 32 features seven Saturday matches with both of the top-two clubs in action while two of the three clubs currently in the drop zone will feature on the slate.

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

We should try to take advantage of the teams -- and players -- who play especially well either home or away, while also looking at oddsmakers' favorites and over/under totals. Due to the international friendlies over the layoff, DFS players, as always, should check out injury reports and confirmed starting XI's when they become available since some players may be rested.

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

Forward

Jamie Vardy, Leicester City

FanDuel Price: $10,000

Vardy is the fifth-highest priced forward on the slate, and he has averaged 16.21 FanDuel points this season -- the lowest average among all players priced $10,00 or above. He has scored seven goals in his last 11 league matches, averaging 18.86 FanDuel points in that span but scoring more than 30 FanDuel points just once in the stretch.

The Foxes are a slight favorite on the moneyline, and the over/under is set at 4.0 goals -- which is the largest on the slate. Both squads struggle to maintain possession, with the Seagulls averaging 47.6% possession at Falmer Stadium while the Foxes maintain 46.1% of the possession away from home.

Brighton have lost only three Premier League matches at home this season, and all three losses have come to clubs currently in the top five of the table. The Seagulls have won four straight home matches -- across all competitions -- while allowing just one goal in each of those four games. On top of that, Brighton have recently played well against forwards, giving up the ninth-fewest chances created (1.23) and fourth-fewest shots (1.76) per 90 minutes to forwards over their last five matches.

Vardy is extremely goal-dependent as he has scored more than 10 FanDuel points without scoring a goal in just three matches this season -- once while recording an assist. Despite the high over/under in Leicester-Brighton match, Romelu Lukaku ($11,000) is likely the top option at the forward position while three of the players listed at $9,500 seem to have good matchups, including Ashley Barnes, who has scored in three straight EPL matches.

Midfielder

Manuel Lanzini, West Ham

FanDuel Price: $9,500

Lanzini is tied with three other players as the fourth-highest priced midfielder, and he has averaged 18.11 FanDuel points in 21 EPL appearances this season. Lanzini has failed to reach his season-long average in five of his last six starts.

Saturday’s match is listed as a pick’em. West Ham are the slight underdog on the moneyline, and both clubs have an implied team total of 1.25 goals.

Lanzini has failed to place a shot on target in seven starts while producing more than one shot on target in just three matches this season. In all, he has found the back of the net in just two matches.

Despite facing a Saints squad that has allowed the fourth-most shots (2.61) and most chances created (1.89) per 90 minutes to forwards/attacking midfielders this season, Lanzini -- at his price -- does not offer great value compared to the other midfielders on the slate. Lanzini is priced only $1,000 cheaper than David Silva and is more expensive than Kenedy ($9,000), Leroy Sane ($9,000), Johann Berg Gudmundsson ($8,000) and Bernardo Silva ($7,00) -- all of whom are more appealing than the Argentinian.

Defender

Ashley Young, Manchester United

FanDuel Price: $7,500

Young is the top-priced defender on slate, and he has averaged 18.12 FanDuel points in 23 appearances this season. He has failed to reach his season-long average in four of his last five starts while scoring less than 10.0 FanDuel points twice over that span.

The Red Devils enter Saturday’s match as a 1.5-goal favorite -- tied for the biggest favorite on the slate -- and have an implied team total of 2.0 goals. United should be able to dominate the possession battle as they maintain 53.2% of the possession while the Swans averaged only 46.1% possession.

Young has lined up as a defender in 17 league matches this season but is outside the top-15 in all the defensive categories among defenders. Despite allowing the most tackles (2.0) per 90 minutes to defenders this season, the Swans have been fairly stingy in the other defensive categories -- allowing the ninth-fewest interceptions (1.41), fifth-fewest blocked shots (0.48) and fewest clearances (3.83) per 90 minutes.

Young’s DFS allure is his ability to be involved in the attack -- sending in crosses and creating chances --- but he has not created more than one chance in an EPL match since the beginning of the new year, totaling just three chances created over that eight-match span. Young has the potential for a high ceiling -- a tournament-winning performance -- but he also has a scary floor, and there are plenty of cheaper defenders who offer decent floors this weekend, making Young an unnecessary risk.

Goalkeeper

Ederson, Manchester City

FanDuel Price: $5,000

Ederson is tied with four other keepers as the fourth-highest priced player at his position, and he has averaged 11.8 FanDuel points this campaign. Ederson has kept three straight clean sheets but has only topped 15 FanDuel points once over that span.

Everton are a 1.5-goal underdog to the Citizens, who are tied with the Red Devils as the largest favorite on the slate, and the Toffees have an implied team total of 0.75 goals.

The Citizens are tied with Manchester United for the most clean sheets this season (15) and have allowed the fewest goals (20). Ederson is in a nice spot for a clean sheet -- and it may occur -- but the Brazilian has proven, especially recently, that even with a clean sheet, he doesn't offer a big ceiling because City doesn't allow many shots on goal.

Despite forcing the second-fewest saves (60) to opposing keepers this season, the Toffees have been held scoreless in only four league matches at Goodison Park, and all four matches have come against clubs currently in the top-seven. The Citizens are the top club in the Premier League for a reason -- and a clean sheet is a possibility every match -- but the Toffees struggle to place shots on target, and the other keepers in Ederson's price range should offer more value.