RADIO
Happy Match Day 17, RotoBallers! We are here for the last two games of the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup. So far, we've seen the Netherlands, Argentina, France, England, Croatia, and Brazil qualify for the quarter-finals. That's a steady stream of favorites. Fortunately, the final day of this knockout round has the potential for memorable upsets as Portugal meets Switzerland and Spain battles Morocco.
Spain and Portugal are the favorites in their respective ties. This Spanish squad sports a 1.70 implied goals total, and their Iberian neighbors rock a 1.52 mark. Few folks will believe in the upset capabilities of Morocco and Switzerland, but that would not be smart. Morocco topped their group with fantastic performances, and the Swiss needed to do what they had to as they look to advance to the quarter-final round for the first time since 1954.
The DraftKings World Cup DFS Soccer contests lock at 10:00 am ET for the 12/6/22 slate. Make sure to get your lineups in early. Also, don't forget to check out the rest of our World Cup coverage on Rotoballer with team and match previews, along with our betting and DFS advice. If you have any further questions or want to chat about the World Cup, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter @EuanOrYouOut.
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DraftKings DFS Goalkeepers
Yassine Bouno - $3,900
Munir Mohamedia - $3,800
Opponent - Spain
Spain created a chance every 8.1 minutes in the group stage, the fifth-best mark among the team's still in the competition. They've also converted 25 percent of their shots into goals, the third-highest mark at the World Cup. That second number is unsustainable over the long term. So we are banking on save points from either keeper to make this play work. Still, any keeper at this sub-$4,000 price point is worth a look. DFS managers shouldn't go here in cash games, however.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): Unai Simon ($5,600), Diogo Costa ($5,300)
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Dani Olmo - $9,400
Alvaro Morata - $8,700
Opponent - Morocco
Spain is the heaviest favorite in this final batch of the round of 16 knockout games. As a result, plenty of DFS managers will build a stack with the Red Fury. Dani Olmo is the preferred cash play, as he was on the pitch for 90 minutes in every group game. During that time, the 24-year-old had a goal and an assist in the Costa Rica match but totaled 10 shots (five on targets) with nine crosses. His 11.29-floor points are the third-highest mark among all players on this slate.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is Alvaro Morata. The Atletico Madrid forward hasn't played more than 57 minutes in any game in Qatar and has two substitution appearances under 40 minutes. Yet, the 30-year-old has three goals, one assist, and averages 16.8 FPPG. So if you want the GPP play of all GPP plays, go with Morata. He has the best goal-scoring odds among the four teams, and we shouldn't bet against him grabbing another super-sub strike off the bench against Morocco.
Cristiano Ronaldo - $7,800
If you combine the safety in minutes of Olmo with the goal-scoring prowess of Morata, you'll end up with Cristiano Ronaldo. He doesn't have the floor of Olmo with free kicks or corners, but he is a lock for 80-plus minutes. And, like Morata, the veteran striker has the best odds of finding the net thanks to his 3.45 shots per game. Of course, his lack of floor lowers his appeal in cash games, but you can't count him out in tournaments.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): Ferran Torres ($8,200), Youssef En-Nesyri ($5,400)
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DraftKings DFS Midfielders
Bruno Fernandes - $9,200
Opponent - Switzerland
A lot of fans were down on Bruno Fernandes entering the World Cup. Since his countryman Cristiano Ronaldo joined Manchester United, Fernandes' production has dipped. However, that didn't carry over to Qatar, and the 28-year-old midfielder is in spectacular form. He collected two assists, two goals on six shots, and 10 crosses in the group stages as the Portuguese breezed through an otherwise tricky draw.
Now, he'll face a Swiss side that's barely shown any interest in playing attacking (or attractive) football. Instead, they will invite and soak up Portugal's pressure and hope for a counterattack. This will give Fernandes a floor filled with crosses and shots aplenty. He's as close to a lock as they come on a two-game slate and a fantastic Showdown Captain option.
Hakim Ziyech - $8,000
Opponent - Spain
Spain is a heavy favorite in this clash of nations separated by the Straight of Gibraltar. As a result, rostering Hakim Ziyech in cash games is a no-go. Instead, he's a fine tournament play as the leading man for Morocco and a catalyst for a seismic upset at this World Cup. Morocco has been extremely impressive in the first three games of this tournament, and there's a reason they topped their group filled with Belgium, Croatia, and Canada.
Ziyech was one of those reasons and played a big part in his country's success. In three games, the Chelsea star has a goal, an assist, six shots taken (two on target), and is the primary creator with 11 crosses. For Morocco to progress, the Wizard must pull out every trick in his book. However, the Atlas Lions will fancy themselves in this tie and will come out to win and show the world what they can do to astonish the Spanish.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): Xherdan Shaqiri ($7,700), Marco Asensio ($6,800), Ruben Vargas ($4,900)
DraftKings DFS Defenders
Raphael Guerreiro - $4,800
Opponent - Switzerland
Overall, defenders have been a disappointment for DFS at the World Cup. The high-flying wingbacks we are used to in the English Premier League are being asked to hang back and play more defense. As a result, there are fewer and fewer points to go around the defensive line. So, as the tournament moves along, DFS managers should transfer their funds upfront and be a little more punt-oriented at the back.
Therefore, getting below $5,000 and saving the cash is fine for these two-game slates. Raphael Guerreiro took seven corners across the first two World Cup games for Portugal, and that's good enough for me. This Switzerland team is also lacking in attacking options, so rostering Guerreiro couldn't come with a clean-sheet bonus to boot.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): Jordi Alba ($6,500), Achraf Hakimi ($6,100), Cesar Azpilicueta ($4,400)
