RADIO
Welcome back to “The Kick-Off”! We are here for MatchDay 1 of the World Cup! The slate only consists of three games- England v. Iran, Netherlands v. Senegal & USA v. Wales. With so few games on the slate, I'm going to be selecting players from all of the games. The World Cup being played in the winter is a little odd, and to be honest, it's thrown me a little, but World Cups are always great! The early games of the tournament tend to bring some strange results because some teams just get no coverage, generally. This is where you see players put their hands up and put themselves in the shop window, ahead of the January transfer window. This slate kicks off at 8:00 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 reach out to me on Twitter @RichKingFF.
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The World Cup Matchday 1
DraftKings DFS Goalkeepers
Jordan Pickford - DK $5.9k
Opponent - Iran
Pickford has a great chance of keeping a clean sheet, the best on the slate, and England should win this game- giving a decent potential points total. The thing is, if Iran were to steal a goal from a corner, for example, there just aren't going to be enough shots from Iran to help Pickford replace those points.
Others To Consider (Cash/ GPP): Alireza Beyranvand ($3.5k)
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Christian Pulisic - DK $9.7k
Opponent - Wales
Pulisic is the poster boy for the USA team, and it's clear to see why. The Chelsea forward has bags of ability and is an important part of the team, taking penalties and set pieces. That floor is nice, and if the USA does score, it's likely to come from Pulisic (either directly, or via an assist).
Raheem Sterling - DK $7.8k
Opponent - Iran
Sterling is significantly a nice cheap option on the slate. He has a good chance at scoring, combined with his playmaking ability with a solid floor. Sterling has long been used effectively as an important part of England's attack and is likely to be looked at to do the same in the World Cup. As part of an inconsistent Chelsea attack, he has had 18 shots this season- hitting the target seven times for three goals in total. That might not sound great, but he has always performed for England on the big stage.
Others To Consider (Cash/ GPP): Harry Kane ($10.2k), Steven Berghuis ($9.4k)
DraftKings DFS Midfielders
Ismaila Sarr - DK $5.0k
Opponent - Netherlands
For Senegal, Sadio Mane's absence throws players that would have been overlooked previously into consideration. One of those players is Sarr. He is my most favored selection, as he is going to be looked upon to kick the team forward. His importance out-wide, combined with his likely penalty duty and combined with corners, makes him an interesting selection.
Frenkie de Jong - DK $3.9k
Opponent - Senegal
The Netherlands midfielder is one of my favorite salary-savers on the slate. He is used as a deep playmaker, which on the face of it doesn't look great. But the way that Holland plays, he is a key part of their build-up play, which leads to plenty of completed passes and also the opportunity for an assist or two. With de Jong also being used at times for free kicks, he has a good opportunity to save you some salary.
Others To Consider (Cash/ GPP): Dan James ($5.2k), Aaron Ramsey ($4.4k) & Pape Sarr ($4.1k)
DraftKings DFS Defenders
Kieran Trippier - DK $7.3k
Opponent - Iran
England has a good chance of keeping a clean sheet in this one, so I'm kind of okay with playing any of the defenders in this one. Obviously, if you can afford him, Trippier is the top option. He has performed well for England in the past and has started the season well for Newcastle. With his ability with set pieces combined with the amount of work that he will get going forward, he is a massive threat to be the leading scorer for defenders.
Jeremie Frimpong - DK $6.6k
Opponent - Senegal
The Netherlands is likely to go with three at the back, using Frimpong ($6,600) and Daley Blind ($6,400) as wingbacks. Of the two, I'd opt for the more dynamic Frimpong, who is great at taking the ball forward in attack (those crosses and tackles out wide can really add up quickly). Frimpong has even managed to get on the score sheet with some regularity- scoring five goals this season in the Bundesliga. Senegal could struggle without star Sadio Mane, giving Frimpong an opportunity to keep a clean sheet in this one.
Others To Consider (Cash/ GPP): Neco Williams ($5.8k), Antonee Robinson ($4.8k) & Harry Maguire ($3.9k)
And that's it! Any questions, you know where to find me otherwise Good Luck RotoBallers.
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