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
West Ham (+198) @ Burnley (+125)
Draw (+242) | Total: Over 2.75 (-116)
First off, I think this line is off…not by a ton but Burnley is just so bad I have a hard time seeing them as more than a pick’em at home against West Ham. That being said, the odds do provide some interesting pricing for DFS. Burnley’s Dwight McNeil at home becomes a solid cash play on DK while Robert Snodgrass has been absolutely on fire for West Ham and I like him again in this matchup. Ashley Westwood is also too cheap for the home side while Sebastian Haller is my top GPP play of the game.
WHU 5-Star Plays: Snodgrass (DK)
WHU 4-Star Plays: Haller (DK GPP, FD)
GPP Note: I always like picking on Burnley and I will continue to do so even if they are favored.
BUR 5-Star Plays: McNeil (DK Cash)
BUR 4-Star Plays: Westwood (DK)
GPP Note: Until they prove me wrong and that they are capable of putting up goals, I will continue using Burnley for their cheap one-offs and that’s about it.
Bournemouth (+171) @ Newcastle (+156)
Draw (+221) | Total: Over 2.5 (-101)
The current Bournemouth lineup is really straight forward for DFS and if we get it again the matchup versus Newcastle will be no exception. That formula is Diego Rico and Ryan Fraser are viable in all formats and Callum Wilson or Joshua King are your GPP options. The price has risen on the Newcastle value pieces that made us all the money last week. If Matt Ritchie is still out that Jonjo Shelvey remains my favorite mid-range play on possibly the whole slate and Allan Saint-Maximin is my GPP guy in this lineup.
BOU 5-Star Plays: Rico, Fraser
BOU 4-Star Plays: None.
GPP Note: I’m feeling a couple of Callum Wilson combos with either of the above plays this week.
NEW 5-star Plays: Shelvey (if no Ritchie)
NEW 4-Star Plays: None.
GPP Note: They are playing well and Bournemouth is nothing to be afraid of…Saint-Maximin and Joelinton will make my pool.
Everton (+142) @ Southampton (+181)
Draw (+231) | Total: Over 2.5 (-120)
I’m starting to really like the way this slate sets up because these seems like a pretty straightforward match up as well. Lucas Digne is the best DK defender play on the board. With all the usage he soaks up, it puts Sigurdsson and Richarlison into GPP only consideration. Southampton is not a team I usually get pieces of but at home in a virtual pick-em James Ward-Prowse is really under priced. Danny Ings and Nathan Redmond are viable GPP punts and with injuries to their defense I’ll be all over Cedric Soares if he returns from injury for this matchup.
EVE 5-Star Plays: Digne (DK)
EVE 4-Star Plays: Digne (FD), Richarlison (FD)
GPP Note: Very lineup dependent but Digne is in my core.
SOU 5-Star Plays: Ward-Prowse, Soares (if he plays)
SOU 4-Star Plays: Redmond, Ings (GPP)
GPP Note: This team is under priced and will be where I look for salary relief when I’m playing the big guns from the teams we are about to talk about.
Sheffield United (+459) @ Tottenham (-120)
Draw (+178) | Total: Over 2.75 (-105)
Tottenahm appear to finally be playing better but the issue here is that Sheffield is tied for the best defensive record in the Premier League. Harry Kane will have the best goal scoring odds on the slate but he’s only a GPP play for me here and Eriksen has been dicey with an elevated price tag. I have to put Eriksen in play but I’m even more interested in the fullbacks for Tottenham, probably Ben Davies. We’ve also been riding SHU’s good form but the matchup is bad and their prices are up…going to h ave to avoid them this week.
TOT 5-Star Plays: Kane (FD)
TOT 4-Star Plays: Kane (DK GPP), Son, Davies, Eriksen
GPP Note: Not a full team stack but you can run a few two-man combinations out.
SHU 5-Star Plays: None.
SHU 4-Star Plays: None.
GPP Note: Too expensive, pass.
Arsenal (+236) @ Leicester (+100)
Draw (+266) | Total: Over 3 (-119)
I know it’s scary because of uncertain lineups, but we need to attack the hammer match on Saturday. This game has the highest total on the slate and I’m expecting goals here as neither defense is very inspiring. James Maddison should be the DK chalk in cash games and I’m going to eat it while pairing him up in GPPs with Vardy, Tielemans, or Ayoze Perez. Arsenal finally has some clarity to their set pieces so Pepe is a strong play and Aubmayeng and Ceballos have price tags that interest me.
ARS 5-Star Plays: Pepe
ARS 4-Star Plays: Aubmayeng (GPP)
GPP Note: Yep, I love the hammer match.
LEI 5-Star Plays: Maddison
LEI 4-Star Plays: Vardy (GPP), Tielemeans, Perez
GPP Note: Maddison is the core piece but go ahead and build stacks with him at the heart.