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Brandon's DraftKings EPL DFS lineup picks for English Premier League soccer on 12/26/22 (Matchweek 17 - Boxing Day). His top daily fantasy soccer forwards, midfielders, defenders, goalkeepers.
Welcome back to “The Kick-Off”! We are finally back after a long journey through the World Cup for some of us or joy and celebration for the rest. Today's slate is a special slate that features a long-living tradition called ‘Boxing Day’ started in Britain during the early 1800s.
Unfortunately, we will not be granted juicy fixtures like we would have hoped for though. However, this slate will feature the biggest ‘favorites’, Crystal Palace at +105. This is up in the air and one could go many different ways en route to a possible GPP ship. I will guide you through this four-match slate starting at 10:00 A.M. EST.
If you have any questions on today's slate, bankroll management, GPP strategy, Cash game strategy, or anything else, don’t hesitate to email me at [email protected] or via Twitter @df_solutions or on “SLACK”.
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The Kick-Off - EPL Matchweek 17
Goalies
Alisson- DK $5.9K || FD $13
Opponent - Southampton
Pope is coming into this match hoping to replicate the form he left with prior to the World Cup – won 7 of the last 10 and 5 straight. The keeper has been a huge part of Newcastle’s success this season and he has 3 clean sheets over his last five fixtures. That is stellar play, especially considering his final match was against Chelsea. Pope provides the safest potential win on the slate as well as a few saves thanks to Leicester’s trigger finger.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): Guaita (DK $5.2K || FD $11), Sanchez (DK $5.1K || FD $12)
Forwards
Wilfried Zaha-DK $8.6K || FD $19
Opponent - Fulham
Zaha should be amped and ready to get back into things as he watched the World Cup from the comfort of his home. The striker barely missed the tournament after Ivory Coast struggled to close out the qualifications. Now he will look to continue to lead Palace in a new story as the year turns over. Over his last five matches leading up to the World Cup, he had 2 goals, 1 assist, 13 shots, 5 created chances, 4 crosses, 7 tackles, and 2 interceptions. With Fulham missing key pieces to their starting 11 heading into this match, they will be expected to sit back more, giving way for Zaha to take as many shots as he likes.
Callum Wilson- DK $8.3K || FD $19
Opponent - Leicester City
The World Cup has ended and Leicester is still in shambles. Danny Ward made two appearances in the World Cup – 1 substitute and 1 start. In those two appearances, he made 4 saves and conceded 5 goals. You cannot get much worse than that and Newcastle’s offense is as potent as they come when all cylinders are firing. Teammate Alexander Isak is still on the mend after getting an injury a few months ago, giving way to Wilson to take the reins of the Magpies attack. In Wilson’s last five matches prior to the World Cup, he had 3 goals, 1 assist, 12 shots, 4 created chances, and 1 tackle in all competitions. This looks to be an ideal spot for the striker to explode on Boxing Day.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Maupay (DK $5.5K || FD $13, Vinicius (DK $4K || FD $11)
Midfielders
Eberechi Eze- DK $7.8K || FD $14
Opponent - Fulham
Guessing Crystal Palace’s set-piece taker over the last month or two has become quite the challenging feat, albeit Eze taking the majority of them. Teammate Michael Olise has also poached his fair share of set pieces as well. However, Eze is the more consistent player of the two – set-pieces aside – and over his last five fixtures, he has 1 goal, 1 assist, 12 shots, 11 created chances, 15 crosses, 14 corners, and 7 tackles in all competitions. Aforementioned, Fulham may be playing further back in the meeting with Palace and it would provide a value boost for players like Eze who thrive on the attack.
James Ward-Prowse- DK $6.5K || FD $15
Opponent - Brighton & Hove Albion
I am quite unsure exactly what happened when DraftKings announced the roster salaries for the slate, but boy are we getting a discount on Ward-Prowse. This may be the ‘cheapest’ I have ever seen his salary before and for absolutely zero reason. Despite Southampton’s constant struggles for success, JWP is still carrying them on his back where applicable. Over his last five appearances, he missed out on double-digit fantasy points just once and he also has, 1 assist, 3 shots, 10 created chances, 38 crosses, 23 corners, 7 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 5 clearances. The midfielder is doing it all and he continues to take all of the set-pieces for Southampton. This is a ‘no-brainer’ play and one that will garner a massive amount of ownership in virtually every contest.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Maddison (DK $8.7K || FD $20), Pereira (DK $8.5K || FD $15)
Defense
Kieran Trippier- DK $8.9K || FD $15
Opponent - Leicester City
Another player that everyone will need to make a strong stance on – whether to pay salary or completely fade – Trippier is a big-time ‘chalk’ play on the slate. The wingback is one of the key cogs for the Magpies and he also takes the bulk of the set-pieces, as well as, sending in a plethora of crosses in open play. The meeting with Leicester will be one of the faster-paced matches on the slate, if not the fastest, providing a multitude of opportunities for Trippier to maintain and exceed his value. Over his last five matches, he has 2 assists, 12 created chances, 41 crosses, 20 corners, 18 tackles, 4 interceptions, 9 clearances, and 4 blocks in all competitions.
Kenny Tete- DK $4.3K || FD $12
Opponent - Crystal Palace
Although many will know of his teammate, Antoine Robinson of the United States Men’s Team, Tete has been the better wingback for Fulham this season. Over his last five fixtures, he has 2 assists, 3 shots, 4 created chances, 12 crosses, 15 tackles, 6 interceptions, and 10 clearances in all competitions. Word has also been released that Robinson may still not be 100 percent fit, making way for Tete to be the primary wingback to support on both ends of the pitch. Even if Fulham is to play a more passive style with the number of players missing, Tete will be able to maintain value thanks to his two-way playstyle.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Ait-Nouri (DK $4.2K || FD $7), Kurzawa (DK $3.2K || FD $8)
Corner Takers:
Crystal Palace: Eze/Olise
Fulham: Pereira
Everton: Gray/McNeil
Wolverhampton: Guedes/Podence
Leicester City: Maddison
Newcastle: Trippier
Southampton: Ward-Prowse
Brighton & Hove Albion: Gross
Thanks for reading The Kick-Off! Good luck in all of your contests today!
