RADIO
Welcome back to “The Kick-Off” and welcome to 2023! The Winter Transfer Window has come and gone and some clubs have made massive changes, while others are looking at the Summer to make moves. The Starting XI will be fluid for a few gameweeks as clubs get used to their new players and it is imperative that you watch closely for last-minute scratches prior to kick off
The top two favorites this weekend are Arsenal -490 vs AFC Bournemouth and Chelsea -155 vs Leeds United. 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] or via Twitter @df_solutions or on “SLACK”.
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The Kick-Off - EPL Matchweek 26
Goalies
Aaron Ramsdale- DK $5.9K || FD $14
Opponent - AFC Bournemouth
There should be zero surprises that Arsenal is highlighted so much in the article for this gameweek. Arsenal is the top club in the league still and Bournemouth is the second-worst club in the league, separated from Southampton by only three points. Over Bournemouth’s last five away matches, they have been outscored by the opposition 8-1 and it will not get any easier going against Ramsdale who is coming off of back-to-back shutouts – 1-0 win against Leicester and a 4-0 win over Everton –. Ramsdale is fully expected to see north of 20 percent ownership in virtually every contest.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): Arrizabalaga (DK $5.6K || FD $13), Meslier (DK $3.9K || FD $8)
Forwards
Leandro Trossard-DK $8K || FD $20
Opponent - AFC Bournemouth
Trossard is no stranger to being a menace to opposing defensive lines and he has shown it over his last five matches where he got a few chances as a starter. In his last five appearances – three starts – in domestic play, he has 1 goal, 2 assists, 5 shots, 5 created chances, 14 crosses, 8 corners and 3 tackles. The Cherries are the worst club in the league in Shots Against Per 90 – 16.29 –, Chances Created Per 90 – 11.87 – and Goals Against Per 90 – 1.87 –. This is a ‘lock’ in most contests in this gameweek due to the sheer amount of ownership that Trossard will garner and the ceiling that he has the potential to hit.
Kai Havertz- DK $6.4K || FD $17
Opponent - Leeds United
Do with this as you will, but Chelsea is the second-best option on the slate this gameweek thanks to the matchup at home against Leeds United. As I have stated before, Leeds’s defense is not as awful as many think – middle of the table in Shots Against Per 90 and Chances Created Against Per 90 –. However, they are the fourth-worst club in Goals Against Per 90 – 1.58 –. Over Leeds’s last five away fixtures, they have been outscored 6-3, meanwhile, Chelsea has been outscored in their last five home fixtures 4-3. This is a pickem matchup at best due to Chelsea being inconsistent and Leeds being awful. Havertz will be the focal point of the attack.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Gnonto (DK $6.7K || FD $14), Jimenez (DK $5.5K || FD $14)
Midfielders
Bukayo Saka- DK $10.2K || FD $22
Opponent - AFC Bournemouth
Once again we visit the Gunners at Emirates Stadium. Saka is on fire with 3 goals, 2 assists, 19 shots, 7 created chances, 19 crosses, 15 corners, 10 tackles and 2 interceptions through his last five matches in domestic play. Furthermore, he has started to take the majority of the set-pieces for Arsenal, further boosting his value. If there is one player that will see north of 50 percent ownership in ‘CASH’ games, it is Saka. This is undoubtedly the biggest ‘lock’ on the slate.
Joao Felix- DK $8.2K || FD $19
Opponent - Leeds United
Chelsea’s set-piece situation has been muddled with the healthy additions of Ben Chilwell and Reece James to the starting XI. However, Felix is still taking the bulk of the set-pieces and he is expected to sit underneath Kai Havertz in what should be a big blowup match. Over Felix’s last five appearances in domestic play, he has 1 goal, 19 shots, 4 created chances, 23 crosses, 16 corners and 8 tackles. Felix is expected to be one of the higher-owned options from Chelsea and one of the top options for ‘CASH’ contests this gameweek.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): March (DK $8.8K || FD $19), Olise (DK $7.9K || FD $14)
Defense
Oleksandr Zinchenko- DK $5.6K || FD $10
Opponent - AFC Bournemouth
To finish things off with Arsenal we will look at Zinchenko. Zinchenko has been performing on both ends of the ball in more than one way lately. Through his last five matches in domestic play, he has 1 goal, 1 assist, 9 shots, 6 created chances, 9 crosses, 7 tackles, 6 interceptions and 3 clearances. In a match against the worst club in Crosses Against Per 90 – 25.41 –, this is the perfect spot for Zinchenko to terrorize the opposing defense.
Ben Chilwell- DK $5.2K || FD $9
Opponent - Leeds United
As stated, Chilwell is healthy and he has dipped into the set-piece share for Chelsea in the last few matches. In Chilwell’s last five fixtures – 3 starts – in domestic play, he has 3 shots, 6 created chances, 15 crosses, 8 corners, 6 tackles, 7 interceptions and 5 clearances. In the last two wingbacks I mentioned in a matchup against Leeds, one of them scored a goal – Seamus Coleman –. Chilwell plays a very similar style to that of Coleman with more offensive upside. It is possible that Chilwell could become a must-own to ship a ‘GPP’ this gameweek due to his performance against a weak opposing backline.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): Dunk (DK $3.3K || FD $9), Kilman (DK $2.8K || FD $10)
Corner Takers:
Arsenal: Saka/Martinelli/Odegaard
AFC Bournemouth: Traore/Anthony
Aston Villa: Luiz/Bailey
Crystal Palace: Olise
Brighton & Hove Albion: Gross/March
West Ham United: Bowen/Rice
Chelsea: Felix/Chilwell
Leeds United: Harrison/Roca
Wolverhampton: Moutinho/Bueno
Tottenham: Perisic/Son
Thanks for reading The Kick-Off! Good luck in all of your contests today!
