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
Wolves (+338) @ Arsenal (-136)
Draw (+397) | Total: Over 2.75 (-114)
We are starting off with a game that I honestly just don’t have that much interest in for DFS. Arsenal is definitely the better side but Wolves are good enough to hang around and none of the prices on either side get me excited compared to their counterparts in more favorable match ups. I guess you can take some Arsenal forwards as low-owned one-offs but personally if I use any piece of this game it will be value pieces on DK and maybe a Wolves center back on FD. Adama Traore is the most noteworthy Wolves player but again the match up is rough while on the Arsenal side my favorite value play is probably Matteo Guendozzi for DK only.
WOL 5-Star Plays: None.
WOL 4-Star Plays: None.
GPP Note: Maybe a Traore one-off but not worth it unless you’re MMEing.
ARS 5-Star Plays: None.
ARS 4-Star Plays: None.
GPP Note: I don’t mind Aubmayeng or Lacazette, mostly the former, but it’s a one-off and I’d rather just getting more Man City or Liverpool exposure as my top tier options.
Liverpool (-285) @ Aston Villa (+670)
Draw (+397) | Total: Over 3.25 (-102)
As good as Liverpool are, they are clearly choice 1-B this week behind Manchester City. That being said, there are some really interesting GPP pieces here as pivots away from MCI and Trent Alexander-Arnold will be my favorite cash play on the slate for DK if he draws the start. On the Villa side, I don’t hate either Hourihanne or El-Ghazi as a value option IF McGinn sits. Villa plays open and those guys at their prices are worth a look on DK and the Villa center backs are top plays on FD.
LIV 5-Star Plays: Alexander-Arnold (DK), Mane (FD & DK GPP)
LIV 4-Star Plays: Salah, Firmino (GPP)
GPP Note: Yes sir, and while I think most people will go to City & Salah, I plan on pivoting and having a fair amount of Mane.
AVL 5-Star Plays: Engels (FD), Mings (FD)
AVL 4-Star Plays: Hourihanne / El-Ghazi (DK – only if McGinn sits)
GPP Note: Not much interest other than the above.
Norwich (+326) @ Brighton (-136)
Draw (+291) | Total: Over 2.75 (-128)
We have a situation where we need to see the lineups come Saturday morning as both Aaron Mooy and Leandro Trossard could be back in the lineup for Brighton. If Trossard is back it drastically hurts the value of Gross who immediately becomes overpriced while Trossard becomes a great value for his price. On the other side, Emiliano Buendia will always be in consideration for cash games but the pricing makes it difficult to get him in.
NOR 5-Star Plays: None.
NOR 4-Star Plays: Buendia (DK Cash)
GPP Note: Maybe a one off on Pukki but I’ll be mostly fading this team unless there’s a cheap fullback.
BHA 5-star Plays: Trossard (If He Starts)
BHA 4-Star Plays: Maupay (GPP)
GPP Note: I’ll have a lot more interest in this team if Trossard is back.
Southampton (+2235) @ Manchester City (-1250)
Draw (+860) | Total: Over 4 (-113)
I really with they would have left this game off the slate. Welcome to another edition of Manchester City roulette as you have to roster at least two pieces of this high powered offense that is projected to score a crap-ton of goals. The difficult thing is they are all priced way up and force you into decisions in the rest of your lineup. I’ll list my preferences for the MCI lineup in order below but they could change come Saturday morning. On Southampton you could potentially play James Ward-Prowse as a mid-range play on DK but it’s a bit of a reach and he’s their best option.
SOU 5-Star Plays: None.
SOU 4-Star Plays: None.
GPP Note: Hahahahaha, no.
MCI 5-Star Plays: Cancelo (DK), Sterling, Aguero, De Bruyne, Mahrez
MCI 4-Star Plays: D. Silva, Cancelo (FD)
GPP Note: It’s hard to get more than 3 pieces including a defender but getting City right will be the key to winning a GPP this week.
Newcastle (+313) @ West Ham (-120)
Draw (+257) | Total: Over 2.5 (-123)
There are definitely things to like from both sides of this game. If Matt Ritchie somehow comes back for Newcastle he will definitely be in play but if not A. Saint-Maximin is a nice value while the West Ham defense can be had and a one-off on the cheap striker is interesting. For West ham, we need to see a lineup but Robert Snodgrass will again be interesting or whoever starts in his place as the set piece taker. There are also plenty of one off goal scorers as West Ham is a team I generally like to roster.
NEW 5-Star Plays: Ritchie (DK, If he plays)
NEW 4-Star Plays: Saint-Maxim, Yedlin, Joelinton (GPP)
GPP Note: No stacks, but like the one-offs above
WHU 5-Star Plays: Snodgrass (DK),
WHU 4-Star Plays: Haller (FD or DK GPP), Yarmolenko (GPP)
GPP Note: Really good source of one-off plays.
Burnley (+340) @ Sheffield United (-125)
Draw (+247) | Total: Over 2.25 (-129)
This game has a low total but the prices are just too low across the board to ignore. The primary target on the Burnley side will be McNeil has we expect his set piece monopoly to continue. The favored home side has an array of cheap options, with the safest appearing to be John Fleck. The attackers are cheap but often don’t play 90 minutes, that being said, one goal at their price is enough to pay off value.
BUR 5-Star Plays: None.
BUR 4-Star Plays: McNeil
GPP Note: They just don’t score enough to get me real excited.
SHU 5-Star Plays: Fleck
SHU 4-Star Plays: Norwood, Stevens (DK), Robinson / McGoldrick / Mousset (depends who starts)
GPP Note: They are so cheap that as favorites I’ll have more than my fair share as one-offs in GPPs and maybe even some two-mans paired up with heavy City exposure.