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 Sniper 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 @Sniper_DFS
Starting XI Breakdown
Wolves (+154) @ Bournemouth (+172)
Draw (+221) | Total: Over 2.5 (-101)
I’m surprised Wolves are a slightly higher favorite with how bad Bournemouth have been playing and Ryan Fraser’s status has questionable. If Fraser does suit up he becomes an interesting GPP play because he’ll definitely go underowned on this slate. The total is really low and Wolves aren’t a fantasy friendly team so I won’t have a ton of exposure here. The MAJOR exception is that I’ll have a metric fuck-ton of Diego Rico in the defender spot on DraftKings where a lot of my lineups will have three defenders this week.
WOL 5-Star Plays: None.
WOL 4-Star Plays: Traore (DK Cash), Jimenez (FD or DK GPP)
GPP Note: Pretty much just suitable for one-offs as the prices aren’t great for their style of play.
BOU 5-Star Plays: Rico
BOU 4-Star Plays: None.
GPP Note: You can pair Rico with one of the strikers in GPPs, ideally Harry Wilson who is in good form.
Southampton (+493) @ Arsenal (-212)
Draw (+348) | Total: Over 3.25 (-106)
If Nicolas Pepe draws the start for Arsenal he becomes the best pay up forward option on the board for DraftKings. Pierre-Emereck Aubameyang hasn’t been great likely but this is a prime matchup for him and I’ll be mixing him in on both sites (he’s cash game viable on FD). Southampton is a huge udnerdog and on a big slate with better value options I think I’d rather eat lead paint that play anyone on this team. That being said, Arsenal’s defense isn’t great so if you want to YOLO a forward in GPP I won’t call you crazy, but it’s not a route I’m likely to take.
SOU 5-Star Plays: None.
SOU 4-Star Plays: None.
GPP Note: Like I said, just a one-off forward if you want to get super cute.
ARS 5-star Plays: Pepe (DK), Aubameyang (FD)
ARS 4-Star Plays: None.
GPP Note: Add in Lacazette if you want to go full stack, the value pieces here really don’t interest me.
Leicester (-101) @ Brighton (+259)
Draw (+249) | Total: Over 2.5 (-119)
Plain and simple…if you’re not play James Maddison on DraftKings, you’re playing DFS soccer wrong, please contact me in VIP Chat. Same applies here against Brighton and you can mix in the supporting cast in GPPs. Depending on how Brighton lines up, they are one of the underdogs I will look to for value pieces, specifically Alzate on DK could be really chalky at his price point. The issue with paying up for Gross/Trossard/March is that they don’t always play 90 minutes and that’s a risk I don’t like in cash games.
LEI 5-Star Plays: Maddison
LEI 4-Star Plays: Vardy (FD)
GPP Note: You can definitely run plenty of two-man combinations but don’t leave out Maddison.
BHA 5-Star Plays: None.
BHA 4-Star Plays: Alzate (DK), Duffy/Webster (FD)
GPP Note: No thanks…just some salary relief or a defender play on FanDuel.
Liverpool (-227) @ Crystal Palace (+572)
Draw (+340) | Total: Over 2.75 (-123)
The chalk cash lineups continue to build itself as Trent Alexander-Arnold will compete with Maddison as the chalkiest player on the slate. If he was a midfielder, he would be at least $1,500 more expensive on DK, he’s a cash game lock…period. After that, Liverpool kind of becomes a GPP team and we need to see if Salah plays. If he sits and Oxlaide-Chamberlain plays then Ox becomes viable in cash as well. The Crystal Palace players are priced way to high for me to have any interest…move along.
LIV 5-Star Plays: Alexander-Arnold
LIV 4-Star Plays: Salah / Oxlade-Chamberlain (whoever starts), Mane (GPP)
GPP Note: Prices make it hard to stack and they will be chalky…I meant try to get away from a bit in GPPs with the exception of playing a lot of Alexander-Arnold.
CRY 5-Star Plays: Cahill (FD), Tomkins (FD)
CRY 4-Star Plays: None.
GPP Note: Defenders on FD, that’s about it here.
Norwich (+606) @ Everton (-256)
Draw (+379) | Total: Over 3 (-120)
More defender chalk to eat as Lucas Digne is also significantly underpriced this week. Everton tends to rotate their lineup a bit so a variety of forwards will be in play but Richarlisson will be my favorite, especially on FanDuel. Even as an underdog who is playing badly there are a couple pieces worth mentioning for Norwich. Emiliano Buendia is a last-man in option for your lineups as a midfielder and Todd Cantwell and Kenny McClean are viable cheap pieces on DK. The central defenders are also in play on FanDuel.
NOR 5-Star Plays: None.
NOR 4-Star Plays: Cantwell (DK), McClean (DK), Tettey (FD), Godfrey (FD)
GPP Note: One-off plays only.
EVE 5-Star Plays: Digne (DK), Richarlisson
EVE 4-Star Plays: Calvert-Lewin or Kean (GPP)
GPP Note: The Digne/Richarlisson combo is going to be one of my favorite combos but I’ll also have plenty of Digne solo lineups.
Burnley (+212) @ Watford (+127)
Draw (+222) | Total: Over 2.5 (-101)
This game is not sexy but provides for the value we need on this slate. Dwight McNeil is a solid floor play for his price and Gerard Deulofeou is viable but it’s hard to trust him in cash. Troy Deeney and Ashley Westwood are the two other players that I’m willing to use and with all the injuries some value good open up when lineups are released.
BUR 5-Star Plays: None.
BUR 4-Star Plays: McNeil, Westwood
GPP Note: The forwards are cheap enough to go goal hunting in GPP
WAT 5-Star Plays: None.
WAT 4-Star Plays: Deulofeou (GPP), Deeney (GPP)
GPP Note: This is my preferred side for GPP goal hunting but they aren’t much more than that.