SOCCER

DraftKings Soccer: EPL DFS Helper for 1/15/22

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is back and in a great spot for Everton against Norwich. Who else should we target on Saturday in the Premier League?

It's been a crazy month in the Premier League with postponements, but we are left with three games on this main slate on Saturday. Here are the games, with odds from EPL odds:

Home Draw Away
Wolves (+125) +210 Southampton (+240)
Norwich (+270) +240 Everton (+105)
Newcastle (+105) +250 Watford (+250)

Forwards to Target

Dominic Calvert-Lewin ($9,100): The season started off so well for Dominic Calvert Lewin.

He bagged a goal in each of Everton’s first three Premier League games. Then, he picked up an injury that saw him not make his return until January 2nd. He missed a penalty in that game but has a good chance to avenge that this week.

Calvert-Lewin and Everton will be away against Norwich on Saturday. Despite being away, they are the biggest favorites on the slate. That’s because Norwich still sit at the bottom of the table, having lost their last six league games. Their 44 goals conceded are the most in the league.

DCL has the second-best anytime goal-scoring odds on the slate and makes for a great tournament play.

Cucho Hernández ($7,300): Hernández has had some impressive performances for Watford this season. He scored a goal and had eight crosses against Manchester City. He should step into a bigger role in this game.

With Imran Louza away at the African Cup of Nations, Hernández could inherit his set-piece role. He has used this to put up some impressive crossing numbers, averaging 5.38 crosses per 90 minutes. In this relegation battle, both teams will be looking for all three points, which could see it as a more open game than normal. Newcastle have allowed the third-most shots per game, so Hernández should have chances to get shots and create chances in this match.

Chris Wood ($4,800): The cheat code on this slate is Chris Wood, now of Newcastle. DraftKings initially had him as still a Burnley player and left his salary at just $4,800. Wood’s goal-scoring odds are the best on the slate, so obviously the value is there.

The only thing we have to worry about is Wood getting in the starting lineup, but if he does, he's a strong play against a Watford side that has conceded the fourth-most goals in the league.

Others to Consider: Che Adams ($7,400), Teemu Puuki ($6,000), Raúl Jiménez ($5,100)

Midfielders to Target

James Ward-Prowse ($9,500): Our favorite Southampton player to roster has been on a heater of late. He has a goal or an assist in four consecutive league games. His 11 goals direct from free kicks have him moving up the all-time ranks in the Premier League, as he only trails legends like David Beckham, Gianfranco Zola, and Thierry Henry in that department.

The dead balls are the reason we love playing JWP. He leads the Premier League in corners taken and is second in crosses. He also has taken all three of Southampton's penalties in the league this season, so if they get a chance from the spot, he will step up and take it.

The matchup isn't the best for scoring against a Wolves team that has been stellar defensively, but the good news is that Ward-Prowse doesn't need a goal involvement to have a good game. Wolves have allowed the fourth-most crosses per game this season, so JWP can rack up points that way. There isn't another player like him on this slate, making him worth the $9,500 salary.

Anthony Gordon ($7,800): Gordon had a breakout game against Brighton in Everton's last Premier League game. He had two goals on five shots and had seven crosses. With Everton desperate to get something going, Gordon should be put in the same role to keep up his form from last game.

He can be utilized in a few different ways on this slate. You can roster him as a leverage play instead of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who will likely be popular. Or you can pair them and hope they can combine on a goal. Either way, Gordon is a good play this week in a matchup against Norwich.

Trincão ($4,600): It had been a while since Trincão had a good game, but that ended in Wolves' last Premier League game. Last time out against Manchester United, he had four crosses and six shot assists. He got a split of corner kicks in that game, as well.

Wolves have struggled to score this season, and that's reflected in Trincão's zero league goals this season. However, playing in a front three against Southampton should give him some opportunities. If he has a share of set pieces, he's worth the $4,600, and he's unlikely to be a popular play.

Others to Consider: Jonjo Shelvey ($5,800), Tom Cleverley ($5,500), Ken Sema ($3,700)

Defenders to Target

Matt Ritchie ($6,000): Ritchie has been one of the defenders we've liked to roster this season. He's fourth in the Premier League with 103 crosses this season. A lot of those would have come in games in which Newcastle are overmatched, but that won't be the case this week.

Newcastle are home favorites in this game, taking on a Watford team that struggle in many areas. One of them is allowing crosses, as they allow the second-most per game in the league. Ritchie will look to target Chris Wood with his crosses, as the new signing is very good at scoring with his head.

Ritchie is probably a better play than any midfielder in this salary range, so he's worth the $6,000 at defender.

Ryan Fraser ($5,200): Fraser has been given new life at Newcastle under new manager Eddie Howe. He is listed as a defender but is really playing more like a midfielder. He's had at least four crosses in three of his last four starts despite a tough run of fixtures for Newcastle.

In this game, Newcastle need to push forward to try to win, as Watford are one of the teams they are chasing to climb out of the relegation zone. This makes Fraser and Ritchie both in play, and playing them in the same lineup is acceptable.

Vitaly Mykolenko ($4,900): Mykolenko is a new signing for Everton, who could make his debut with Lucas Digne no longer with the club. They'll need a left back to play in this game, and he'll get a good matchup against Norwich.

He played five times in the Champions League this season for Dynamo Kiev and had nine crosses, but keep in mind those were games in which his team were huge underdogs against Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Benfica. In this game as a favorite with Everton, he's worth taking a shot on.

Others to Consider: Marçal ($5,000), Romain Perraud ($5,000), Seamus Coleman ($4,600)

Goalkeepers to Target

Martin Dúbravka ($5,200): Dúbravka has been a solid keeper for Newcastle, and gets a dream spot this week. He is at home and favored against Watford, who will be without one of their best attacking players in Ismaïla Saar. They should be able to limit Watford in this match, making $5,200 a reasonable salary for Dúbravka.

Fraser Forster ($4,400): Forster is unbeaten in his three Premier League starts this season. Even though he is on the road and an underdog in this game, he gets an interesting spot. Wolves will be his opponents, and they have scored the second-fewest goals in the league, with just 14. Southampton have been pretty solid defensively this season, so if you're looking to save at position, Forster makes sense.


Nicholas Vazquez is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Nicholas Vazquez also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username hbyanksman. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his/her personal views, he/she may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his/her personal account. The views expressed in his/her articles are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.