4 FanDuel Premier League Players to Avoid in Matchweek 37
The main slate for Matchweek 37 features five Saturday matches with 4 of the top 10 clubs -- and just 1 club in the top 5 -- in action
| Matchweek 37 |
|---|
| Saturday, May 5th |
| Tottenham at West Brom |
| Swansea at Bournemouth |
| West Ham at Leicester |
| Newcastle at Watford |
| Southampton at Everton |
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. 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
Ayoze Perez, Newcastle United
FanDuel Price: $10,000
Perez is tied with Cenk Tosun as the second-highest forward -- and third-highest priced player overall -- on the slate. From Matchweek 30 on, Perez has recorded three goals and two assists, averaging 25.58 FanDuel points -- which is the highest average among forwards on the slate.
The Magpies have an implied team total of 1.25 goals, and the Hornets have allowed two or more goals in eight matches at Vicarage Road this season. The Hornets should be able to win the possession battle as they maintain 49.5% of the possession while the Magpies are the Premier League’s second-worst club in that category, maintaining just 43.5%.
Although his FanDuel average is ahead of every other forward since Matchweek 30, Perez has only averaged 1.17 shots on target (seven total) over that span and is behind multiple players on the slate in that category. And he now faces a Watford squad that does not relinquish a high number of scoring opportunities to attackers. The Hornets have allowed the fourth-fewest shots (1.85) per 90 minutes to forwards/attacking-midfielders this season and that number has dropped to 1.60 per 90 minutes since Matchweek 30.
Despite his current form, Perez has struggled in his previous two matches, averaging 13.12 FanDuel points. And, to make matters worse, he is priced higher that Jamie Vardy, Marko Arnautovic and Salomon Rondon, who have all averaged more shots on target than Perez.
Midfielder
Riyad Mahrez, Leicester City
FanDuel Price: $9,000
Mahrez is the fourth-highest priced midfielder on the slate, and he has averaged 20.92 FanDuel points this season. He has failed to score over 22 FanDuel points in his last five matches while averaging 13.4 FanDuel points over that span -- which is well outside of the top-20 for midfielder scoring in those five weeks.
The Foxes are a 0.5-goal favorite over the Hammers, and have an implied team total of 1.5 goals. The Foxes hold the slight in advantage in the possession battle as they maintain 49.8% of the possession at King Power Stadium while the Hammers control 45.1% of the possession in road matches.
Mahrez has averaged 1.52 chances created this season -- 25th among all midfielders -- but that number has dropped to 1.4 chances created since Matchweek 31, ranking 30th among midfielders over that span.
Mahrez’s appeal is his ability to find the back of the net, which can occur in any match, especially with his skill from set pieces. However, Mahrez’s -- and the Foxes’ -- recent form has not been great and there are other midfielders, both priced above and below Mahrez, that can offer more value.
Defender
Leighton Baines, Everton
FanDuel Price: $6,500
Baines is tied with six other defenders as the top-priced player at his position, and he has averaged 15.39 FanDuel points through 20 matches, which is the lowest average among the top-priced defenders. Baines has failed to reach 20 FanDuel points in his previous six matches and has only reached that total in three matches this season.
Saturday’s match is listed as a pick 'em, and the Saints are the slight favorite, according to the moneyline. The Saints have the slight edge in the possession battle as they maintain 51.6% of the possession compared to the Toffees’ 46.6% possession.
Baines has recorded more than five clearances in just one match this season while recording three or more statistics in any other defensive category just six times this season. And, this week, he faces a Southampton squad that does not relinquish a large number of defensive actions. The Saints have allowed the eighth-fewest interceptions (1.32), sixth-fewest clearances (2.74), fourth-fewest blocked shots (0.18) and fewest tackles (1.21) per 90 minutes to defenders on the left side this season.
Baines always has the ability to create scoring chances, but for a defender that has not scored more than 20 points in six straight matches -- even while tallying an assist -- his price seems too expensive.
Goalkeeper
Hugo Lloris, Tottenham
FanDuel Price: $5,500
Averaging 13.10 FanDuel points this season, Lloris is tied with Jordan Pickford as the top-priced keeper on the slate. He has failed to reach 14 FanDuel points in five of his last six matches while keeping just one clean sheet over that span.
According to the odds, the Baggies are likely to score at least one goal, which is something they have done in 7 straight matches and 9 of their last 10 -- including 8 straight -- matches at the Hawthorns. If they are able to find the net, Lloris will likely have a hard time providing value as West Brom have forced the sixth-fewest saves (81) from opposing keepers this season.
As usual, the keepers on the slate are all priced quite evenly, so you should be able to find a keeper who checks more boxes than Lloris does.
