Welcome to the DFS Army Soccer Starting XI! This is the place to start your research as we’ll go game-by-game breaking down every match-up. For this week, the game-by-game breakdown is for VIP members along with coaches notes from both theDFSniper and TreyJ989, complete with player picks, confidence ratings, and in-depth advice for each slate. If you’re not a VIP member, join today and use code SNIPER for 20% off!
If you’re new to DFS Soccer and want to get a better handle on the basics, watch this introductory video as we get you ready to start cashing in your soccer contests. I also put together a five-step guide to constructing cash game lineups, give it a quick read before heading into head-to-heads and double-ups.
One last thing before we get rolling, Follow me on Twitter @theDFSniper
Starting XI Breakdown
Southampton (+215) @ Brighton (+145)
Draw (+220) | Total: Over 2.5 (+115)
Not a bad game to start off the slate but I would have much more interest in it if they were playing at Southampton. That said, Brighton is off to a good start to the season at 1-0-1 and is favored against at home. I’m going to keep throwing darts at Glenn Murray in GPP, especially as his price keeps falling as a center forward. Pascal Gross is Brighton’s play maker and while by itself it’s not a bad price, it’s tough for some constructions. Ward-Prowse seems really under priced on DK and he’s viable on FD as well but on FanDuel, Nathan Redmond is a really solid value play.
SOU 5-Star Plays: Ward-Prowse (DK), Redmond (FD)
SOU 4-Star Plays: Redmond (DK GPP), Valery / Bertrand (DK)
GPP Note: Won’t full stack this side but I like the one off pieces and will build a couple of two-mans based on the defender / attacker combinations.
BHA 5-Star Plays: Murray (GPP only)
BHA 4-Star Plays: Montoya (DK)
GPP Note: There are a couple of 3-star plays as well and as a home favorite, I couldn’t call you crazy for stacking but don’t go too crazy and ignore Manchester United and Liverpool.
Crystal Palace (+750) @ Manchester United (-275)
Draw (+400) | Total: Over 2.5 (-130)
There’s a lot to dissect here at Manchester United is the biggest favorite on the slate and isn’t priced up as high as the Liverpool players. Manchester United has burned us before but the analytics and odds say this is the spot to load up and I have no reason to doubt them. Martial is stupid cheap on FanDuel and isn’t outrageous on DraftKings though he’s a better GPP play. Daniel James is a stone cold lock if he gets the start at those prices and Rashford, Pogba, and Lingard (in that order) should be considered for your player pool. Wan-Bissaka is a little priced up but fire away in your stacks. The only interest I have in the Palace side is maybe a share of Luka Milivojevic nipping a penalty as well as the central defenders on FanDuel.
CRY 5-Star Plays: Dann (FD)
CRY 4-Star Plays: Kelly (FD)
GPP Note: Nope. No Thanks. Nyet. Nine. Pass.
MUN 5-Star Plays: James (DK), Rashford, Martial (GPP)
MUN 4-Star Plays: Pogba, Lingard (GPP)
GPP Note: Stack them every which way, this team should be priced higher than they are (especially on DraftKings) but keep in mind they will be fairly chalky come Saturday morning. My favorite combinations are James to Rashford and James to Martial.
Leicester (+125) @ Sheffield United (+245)
Draw (+235) | Total: Over 2 (-145)
Sheffield United is at home and is off to a good start as a promoted team with 4 points while Leicester is sitting on two after back-to-back draws. James Maddison will always be in play when Leicester is not playing a top-6 club the issue is how do you fit him in with Manchester United and Liverpool pieces in better spots (he’s actually more affordable on FanDuel). Norwood is interesting for SHU as a mid-range midfielder but this game as one of the lowest totals on the slate so I won’t be jumping to use it.
LEI 5-Star Plays: None.
LEI 4-Star Plays: Maddison
GPP Note: Low total, don’t think I want ton here but I’ll have some shares of Maddison and the full backs.
SHU 5-Star Plays: None.
SHU 4-Star Plays: None.
GPP Note: Despite not being four or five stars plays, there are some viable pieces here, specifically in Norwood, Baldrock (DK D), and McGoldrick as a one-off GPP play.
West Ham (+255) @ Watford (+110)
Draw (+260) | Total: Over 2.5 (-140)
Two teams that can play open, are sitting towards the bottom of the league, and offer the best total on the board outside of the hammer match. There are quite a few attractive targets on both sides and honestly this is where I’ll be plugging in a lot of my one-offs as well building some team stacks. Holebas on DK is probably priced about $1,000 to low in this match-up so sign me up there and then mix in any of the attackers as a stack…I always like Deeney the most in GPPs because he’ll take penalty kicks. West Ham offers Snograss in cash games and Lanzini or Chicarito in GPPs but being on the road makes me take them down slightly.
WHU 5-Star Plays: None.
WHU 4-Star Plays: Snodgrass (DK), Chicarito (GPP)
GPP Note: They will be one of my sneakier teams to target for one-off goals and small two-man stack combinations. Antonio also a strong play if he draws the start.
WAT 5-Star Plays: Holebas (DK)
WAT 4-Star Plays: Holebas (FD), Deeney (DK GPP)
GPP Note: Not as sneaky but sign me for tons of Holebas (which can be scary) and pair him with Deeney or even one of the centerbacks for a set piece goal.
Arsenal (+500) @ Liverpool (-200)
Draw (+385) | Total: Over 3.5 (+120)
Holy goals, Batman. Historically this game has seen plenty of goals and the line backs it up with Liverpool being a healthy favorite as well. The problem is Liverpool’s elevated price tags against one of the better teams in the Premier League. Obviously, Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are the cash plays and you have Mane and Firmino lurking in GPPs. You can also play either Milner or Oxlaide-Chamberlain but the issue is we wont know the starting lineup. Our dilemma is do we pay up for Salah or go to Manchester United…I lean towards the later but it will depend on the first set of lineups being released on Saturday morning.
ARS 5-Star Plays: None.
ARS 4-Star Plays: Sokratis (FD)
GPP Note: I’m not totally ignoring Arsenal but they are way, way, way down my list of priorities for Saturday and it’s on the defensive side with the centerbacks on FD and punting with the goalie
LIV 5-Star Plays: Alexander-Arnold, Salah, Mane (GPP)
LIV 4-Star Plays: Oxlaide-Chamberlain or Milner (both could sit)
GPP Note: I’m making the tough to decision to put them behind (slightly) Manchester United in my list of priorities. They have the sexier names and are in the hammer match with a higher total, but they are also more expensive with less odds to win.