FanDuel Soccer: EPL DFS Under-the-Radar Plays for 9/25/21

If you have played daily fantasy sports for a while, you know the importance of being contrarian in large-field tournaments. Recognizing which players are going to be popular and finding others who you think have a similar point projection but will be much less popular can separate you from your opponents.

The same goes for DFS EPL. Even though the large-field tournaments aren't quite as large as they are for other sports, there is still value in identifying quality under-the-radar plays.

This article will discuss FanDuel's main Saturday slate, which starts at 10:00 a.m. EST and features five matches.

Slate Overview

West Ham (+120) at Leeds (+210)
Over 2.5 Goals: -164 | Most Likely to Score: Michail Antonio (+130)

Norwich (+490) at Everton (-165)
Over 2.5 Goals: -120 | Most Likely to Score: Salomon Rondon (+120)

Burnley (+500) at Leicester City (-165)
Over 2.5 Goals: -116 | Most Likely to Score: Jamie Vardy (-115)

Newcastle (+250) at Watford (+115)
Over 2.5 Goals: -112 | Most Likely to Score: Joshua King (+190)

Liverpool (-220) at Brentford (+550)
Over 2.5 Goals: -132 | Most Likely to Score: Mohamed Salah (-140)

Matchweek 6 features one big-six side, with Liverpool on the road against Brentford. Leicester City is also in action, at home against Burnley, while Everton, who currently sit sixth in the league table, hosts Norwich.

At -220 to win, Liverpool is the largest favorite on the slate, while Mohamed Salah ($23) has the best odds to score at -140.

Leicester City (-165 to win) trail behind Liverpool, tied with Everton (-165 to win). Watford (+120 to win) and West Ham (+125 to win) round out the slate.

This slate centers on Liverpool, but their odds to win are far from secure. Brentford has suffered just one defeat in their first five league matches, but Liverpool enters this match off back-to-back three-goal victories. Liverpool is likely to be more popular than their odds dictate they should be, but given their recent form, they remain a risky fade.

With that in mind, here are three players to consider on this slate -- especially for tournament formats -- who may fly under the radar.

Joshua King, FWD/MID, Watford

FanDuel Salary: $19

King has slowly worked his way back into consistent minutes for Watford after starting the season on the bench with a groin injury. He made his first start on August 29th, playing 65 minutes, and then followed that up with a 53-minute start against Wolves and finally a full 90-minute performance last weekend versus Norwich. Barring any changes, he should lead Watford's attack this weekend, operating as the central striker with Emmanuel Dennis ($17) and Ismaila Sarr ($21) on the wings.

King has struggled since leaving Bournemouth in 2020 but has a history of scoring goals in the Premier League. Last weekend, he recorded an assist, created two chances, and put one shot on target en route to an 18.0-FanDuel-point performance. Understandably, all eyes this weekend are likely to be on Dennis and Sarr after their impressive starts to the season, but King is well-positioned to take advantage of a questionable Newcastle defense while likely not being popular.

At a salary of $19, King is very likely to go overlooked relative to the options available both above and below him in the player pool. His odds to score of +210 are the second-best in his fixture and better than both Dennis' and Sarr's (+240). Newcastle has conceded 13 goals so far this season, the second-most in the Premier League, and there should be plenty of opportunities for King to get his first EPL goal since leaving Bournemouth.

Alex Iwobi, FWD/MID, Everton

FanDuel Salary: $13

After a solid start to the season, things have taken a turn for the worse for Everton. After suffering a three-goal defeat to Aston Villa last weekend, they were eliminated from the EFL Cup in a penalty shootout loss to Queens Park Rangers. They will remain without several of their starters this weekend -- including strikers Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin -- due to injury

The good news for Everton is that they are facing Norwich, a side that leads the Premier League in goals conceded with 14 through five fixtures. Despite the Toffees' injuries and recent struggles, the matchup has Everton positioned as the third-largest favorite on the slate. Even with two of the Toffees' strikers sidelined, several of Everton's expected starters will enter Saturday with high averages in FanDuel points per game, including Demarai Gray ($18), Andros Townsend ($18) , and Abdoulaye Doucoure ($17) .The trio is all averaging more than 18.5 FanDuel points per game.

That should allow Iwobi to fly completely under the radar in an excellent matchup. Iwobi started the season well, with an assist in his first appearance followed by an 11.2-point performance in a start against Leeds, but then he suffered a hip injury in an EFL Cup game in late August. He rejoined the starting lineup last weekend and should remain there on Saturday due to Everton's injuries. He's riskier than Everton's other midfielders, but he provides exposure to a home favorite facing a bad side and should go overlooked.

Youri Tielemans, FWD/MID, Leicester City

FanDuel Salary: $15

As a key midfielder on the second-largest favorite on the slate, Tielemans won't fly completely under the radar this weekend. That said, he is likely to be less popular than he should be for his salary in this matchup due to Leicester's sluggish start to the season.

The Foxes have picked up just six points from their first five matches despite facing only one big-six side. At first glance, it's cause for concern, but their losses have come to sides in excellent form. West Ham and Brighton both sit inside the top eight of the table and provide some optimism that Leicester's slow start has been caused, at least in part, by a difficult schedule.

They will have every chance to turn things around on Saturday, facing a Burnley squad that's winless so far this season, with an average of 1.8 goals conceded per game. His team's struggles aside, Tielemans has been productive so far this campaign, with FanDuel point totals of 19.7, 22.6, 13.4, 3.9, and 18.2. Last weekend he took five of Leicester's eight corner kicks, a role that, if it continues, could provide him additional opportunities in a game the Foxes should control.