RADIO
Welcome back to “The Kick-Off” and welcome to the 23-24 season! Finally, a new season is here and we can welcome back our beloved Futbol. Many clubs have made big moves this offseason to help bolster their cup chances and chances of getting a European spot for next season. Will we see a new title winner this season or will Liverpool and Manchester City continue to battle it out for the top spot?
The top favorite for this weekend is Manchester City -270 vs Brighton & Hove Albion +600. I will guide you through this five-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], via Twitter @df_solutions, or in our Discord chat rooms.
EPL DFS Goalies
Goalies
Jose Sa - DK $4.5K || FD $10
Opponent - AFC Bournemouth
Goalies will be harder than typical to find value this weekend with numerous ‘pickem’ matchups on the slate. Although, Jose Sa may meet the minimum requirements. The Wolverhampton keeper has been the main reason the club has stayed afloat thus far. In eight domestic appearances, he has only conceded three or more goals three times. Furthermore, in his last five domestic starts, he has 23 saves and 9 goals conceded. The Cherries are the seventh-worst in Shots For Per 90, however, they are the worst in Goals For Per 90. This opens up a small window for Sa to hit value and more. With the defensive style of play Wolverhampton runs and the lackluster at best offense Bournemouth possesses, the case for Sa to be a top goalie on the slate is growing.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Pope (DK $5.7K || FD $12), Turner (DK $5.5K || FD $12)
EPL DFS Forwards
Bryan Mbeumo - DK $8.8K || FD $20
Opponent - Burnley FC
If Mbeumo’s salary is too pricy on the slate, the option to drop down to expected starter and teammate, Neal Maupay is always an option. The major difference between the two is that Mbeumo provides plenty of open-play value and takes a share of the set-pieces, whereas, Maupay is a striker through and through and his only value will come from shots. Over the winger’s last five domestic appearances, he has 1 goal, 10 shots, 9 created chances, 27 crosses, 14 corners, 7 tackles, 2 interceptions and 2 clearances. Burnley has not changed since their last trip to the Premier League and through their first ten matches, they are the second-worst club in both Goals Against Per 90 and In-the-Box Goals Against Per 90. After Burnley lost at home 4-1 to Chelsea before the International Break, Mbeumo and the rest of Brentford are expected to score a few goals of their own.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Wilson (DK $8.7K || FD $19), Wood (DK $3.6K || FD $16)
EPL DFS Midfielders
Pedro Neto - DK $6.8K || FD $19
Opponent - AFC Bournemouth
Hopping back to Wolverhampton, Pedro Neto is the next man up. Believe it or not, Neto is the heartbeat of the offense for the Wolves. In his eight appearances this season and ten goals scored by the club as a whole, Neto has contributed 60 percent of that total. That is 60 PERCENT! Sure that number could drop and even out over the long-term, however, that is not what is being focused on. It is the here and now and Neto has a prime matchup against the Cherries who continue to struggle week over week despite their additions over the off-season. In Neto’s last five domestic matches, he has 1 goal, 4 assists, 6 shots, 10 created chances, 31 crosses, 9 corners, 2 tackles, 2 interceptions and 2 clearances. Neto is doing it all and he is the optimal ‘lock’ of the slate on both platforms.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Gibbs-White (DK $8.5K || FD $17), Hughes (DK $5K || FD $13)
EPL DFS Defenders
Kieran Trippier - DK $7.5K || FD $16
Opponent - Crystal Palace
Another slate with Newcastle United means another slate with Kieran Trippier. What is the best part about Trippier this weekend though? First off, he has an excellent matchup at home against Crystal Palace who is missing arguably their two best players – Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze –, plus, his salary doesn’t matter this weekend with a lack of ‘big guns’ to pay up for. Throughout his last five domestic matches, he has 5 assists, 2 shots, 18 created chances, 42 crosses, 18 corners, 11 tackles, 2 interceptions, 4 clearances and 3 blocks. On the other end of the pitch, Crystal Palace has improved their defensive woes, although there are still gaps. They are in the bottom ten in both Shots Against Per 90 and In-the-Box Shots Against Per 90. This bodes well for Trippier who whips crosses in from left, right and center. As the top option at defense, Trippier will have every opportunity to meet value and more.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Doherty (DK $4.2K || FD $9), Toffolo (DK $3.4K || FD $13)
Corner Takers
- AFC Bournemouth: Tavernier/Cook
- Wolverhampton: Neto
- Brentford FC: Mbeumo/Jensen
- Burnley FC: Brownhill
- Manchester City: Alvarez/Foden
- Brighton & Hove Albion: Gross/March
- Newcastle United: Trippier
- Crystal Palace: Hughes
- Nottingham Forest: Gibbs-White
- Luton Town FC: Doughty
Thanks for reading The Kick-Off. Good luck in all of your contests today!
