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
Sheffield United (+330) @ Arsenal (-123)
Draw (+250) | Total: Over 2.5 (-106)
Sheffield United is probably the best defensive team in the Premier League and Arsenal is a team that is hard to pin point where the production is coming from. There are just more sure options just about everywhere so I’ll probably be limiting myself to Alexander Lacazette in GPPs for Arsenal. My interest in Sheffield United is also limited with some of these prices. Go ahead and play one of the center backs on FanDuel and Norwood is a serviceable on DraftKings.
SHU 5-Star Plays: None.
SHU 4-Star Plays: None.
GPP Note: Nope. Nothing here is really interesting, the forwards don’t play 90 minutes.
ARS 5-Star Plays: Lacazette (GPP)
ARS 4-Star Plays: None.
GPP Note: Sure go ahead and play some of the other pieces as everyone is going to be focused on Man City.
Aston Villa (+376) @ Brighton (-161)
Draw (+312) | Total: Over 3 (-101)
The line on this game is really surprising, I know Villa isn’t good but wow Brighton is a much bigger favorite than I expected. The issue here with the mid-week breakdown is that we aren’t really sure what lineup Brighton is going to roll out. But whoever they do, I have to have some shares because of the line. I would prefer Leandro Trossard start with Pascal Gross on the bench but both guys will be a solid play. Neal Maupay also becomes a GPP contender with a total over 3. The fun part is that the line makes Jack Grealish affordable and he’s a double digit machine on DK. A game with this kind of total cannot be ignored.
AVL 5-Star Plays: None.
AVL 4-Star Plays: None.
GPP Note: This is a one-off spot only
BHA 5-star Plays: Trossard (if Gross Sits)
BHA 4-Star Plays: Gross, Maupay (GPP)
GPP Note: Cheap pieces with this kind of team total is super interesting, just need to know what the lineup is Saturday morning. Make sure you’re in VIP Chat.
Crystal Palace (+2023) @ Manchester City (-1111)
Draw (+821) | Total: Over 3.75 (-108)
I wish they would have left this game off the slate. Look, Manchester City is the chalk that you have to eat. I’m going to have at least two Man City players in all of my lineups, it’s just about getting the roulette wheel right. Aguero is red hot after a hat-trick and Kevin De Bruyne is the distributor so those are my favorite plays but they are also expensive. This comes down to lineup construction but yeah, look for some of the nearly four goals in this game. The only interest I have in Crystal Palace at all is in the center backs on Fan Duel…they are going to face a shit ton of shots and have plenty of clearances.
CRY 5-Star Plays: Kelly (FD), Cahill (FD)
CRY 4-Star Plays: None.
GPP Note: I’ll also mix in the forwards but I’m much more interested in Villa
MCI 5-Star Plays: De Bruyne (DK), Aguero, Mahrez
MCI 4-Star Plays: Sterling, D. Silva, Mendy, Cancelo
GPP Note: These odds…load up. I’ll have some of the defenders to hopefully a little sneaky but this is mega chalk but I’m not seeing much of a choice other than eating it.
Bournemouth (+211) @ Norwich (+118)
Draw (+312) | Total: Over 2.75 (-104)
This game is just weird because it’s two teams that have struggled scoring but also both suck at defense. The total indicated we should see some goals and for me that would favor Norwich. I don’t mind grabbing a cheap piece of either side but it’s hard to justify any kind of pay up when I can just grab a Man City piece or Arsenal piece. Buendia would be my guy on DK and if Diego Rico is back for Bournemouth, I’ll give him a look to. Mostly this game is decent for a potential goal from a cheap forward as a one off.
BOU 5-Star Plays: None.
BOU 4-Star Plays: None.
GPP Note: One offs only…Callum Wilson would be my favorite.
NOR 5-Star Plays: None.
NOR 4-Star Plays: None.
GPP Note: Pukki in GPP is the play or whoever starts for him if he sits again.
Wolves (+197) @ Southampton (+135)
Draw (+225) | Total: Over 2.5 (-102)
The last few weeks have been weird because apparently Southampton is good now? Even game with viable pieces on both sides. James Ward Prowse is the mid range DK cash guy for Southampton while Joao Moutinho has that role for Wolves and is slightly cheaper. Danny Ings is fine but just too expensive as he needs two goals on a slate I think blows out. Neto for Wolves is good value and underpriced while the fullbacks on both sides are all too cheap and that’s where most of exposure to this game will come from.
SOU 5-Star Plays: None.
SOU 4-Star Plays: Ward Prowse, Soares, Bertrand
GPP Note: I still don’t trust this team, but I’ll use plenty of one off pieces.
WOL 5-Star Plays: None
WOL 4-Star Plays: Moutinho (DK), Neto, Doherty
GPP Note: I really like the Moutinho / Neto combo but I’ll mix in Jimenez as well.
Everton (+136) @ West Ham (+187)
Draw (+235) | Total: Over 2.5 (-121)
Welcome to the land of injuries. Holy shit. This breakdown wooo be hard because I’m not positive who’s playing. No Gylfi Sigurdsson or Richarlisson for Everton should make Digne and Sidibe excellent options that also fill a forward spot. The prices on West Han are also higher than I want but I suppose Fornals would be my favorite target there. This is a spot where we need to pay attention to the lineup Saturday morning and make our money then.
EVE 5-Star Plays: Digne, Sidibe
EVE 4-Star Plays: None.
GPP Note: I’ll pair either of the above two with whoever draws the start at the front of the formation.
WHU 5-Star Plays: None.
WHU 4-Star Plays: Fornals (DK)
GPP Note: Pretty blah, not much here to like.