This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
Welcome to Matchday 17 of the 2015-2016 Premier League season. This article is to guide you to an optimal squad for your $50,000 DraftKings salary.| Time (EST) | Home (win odds) | (draw odds) | Away (win odds) |
| 10:00:00 AM | Chelsea (1/3) | 4/1 | Sunderland (9/1) |
| 10:00:00 AM | Everton (even) | 13/5 | Leicester City (27/10) |
| 10:00:00 AM | Manchester United (4/9) | 7/2 | Norwich City (13/2) |
| 10:00:00 AM | Southampton (8/5) | 23/10 | Tottenham (7/4) |
| 10:00:00 AM | Stoke City (7/5) | 23/10 | Crystal Palace (2/1) |
| 10:00:00 AM | West Brom (7/5) | 23/10 | Bournemouth (2/1) |
| 12:30:00 PM | Newcastle (19/20) | 5/2 | Aston Villa (14/5) |
Odds from PaddyPower.com as of 3:00 p.m. EST on Dec. 17
As always, Step 1 in building a good lineup: make sure your players are starting. There is a bit of guesswork in projecting lineups until they are actually announced, and all recommendations and projections are subject to change based on this. All said, be sure to check the lineups page approximately one hour before kickoff.
Goalkeepers:
David de Gea, MUN v. NOR ($4,500): Returning to Old Trafford against Norwich, I'm fairly confident de Gea and Man United can keep a clean sheet and optimistic they can find some sort of goal-scoring form. After all, the other chalk play is Chelsea. Do you really want to trust them?
Wayne Hennessey, CRY at STK ($3,600): The matchup at Stoke isn't easy, but Crystal Palace has showcased excellent away form and Stoke has tended to be a tad impotent in front of goal. Hennessey has not given up more than one goal in seven matches.
Other goalkeepers to consider: Thibaut Courtois, CHE v. SUN ($4,400); Robert Elliot, NEW v. AVL ($4,200); Boaz Myhill, WBA v. BOU ($3,800)
Defenders:
Leighton Baines, EVE v. LEI ($3,900): This price won't last long, so get it while you can. Baines is a defender with midfielder tendencies and a free-kick specialist. It's imminent that he will eventually become the most expensive defender.
Cedric Soares, SOU v. TOT ($4,000): Soares has sort of become the default cash defender by consistently hitting double-digit fantasy points.
Guillermo Varela, MUN v. NOR ($2,300): Varela looks poised to start again at fullback with all of the injuries at the backline. He has a good chance at the three-point clean sheet bonus, and without any bonuses he hit nine fantasy points last time out.
Other defenders to consider: Daryl Janmaat, NEW v. AVL ($3,700); Danny Rose, TOT at SOU ($4,300); Joel Ward, CRY at STK ($3,200)
Midfielders:
Christian Eriksen, TOT at SOU ($6,800): With just two goals on the season, Eriksen may be considered a bit of a disappointment. So what is separating him from the 10-goal outburst he experienced last season? It's a combination of factors, including a different role with the development of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Erik Lamela pushing him into more of an accessory role (he already has seven assists), plus a bit of statistical anomaly as everything points towards goal-scoring except for actually getting on the score sheet.
Willian, CHE v. SUN ($6,600): He is possibly the top midfield option but is not priced like it. Jose Mourinho is gone and Chelsea is just a point above relegation, but Willian has been brilliant regardless of circumstance for both club and country. Oh, and Chelsea gets Sunderland at home, and even though they aren't far apart in the table, they are worlds apart in terms of talent.
James McClean, WBA v. BOU ($4,000): With the good matchup at home against Bournemouth, McClean will look to return to the superb performances he put forth before last weekend's sub-par outing at Liverpool. He averaged 14 fantasy points per game in the seven games prior.
Other midfielders to consider: Dusan Tadic, SOU v. TOT ($7,800); Dele Alli, TOT at SOU ($4,100); Erik Lamela, TOT at SOU ($4,500); Ross Barkley, EVE v. LEI ($6,800); Matt Ritchie, BOU at WBA ($6,400); Yohan Cabaye, CRY at STK ($6,300); Marc Albrighton, LEI at EVE ($6,100); Junior Stanislas, BOU at WBA ($4,500); Georginio Wijnaldum, NEW v. AVL ($4,800)
Forwards:
Memphis Depay, MUN v. NOR ($6,500): Depay may have finally gotten back on manager Louis van Gaal's good side. Manchester United looked abysmal last time out against Bournemouth, but the return to Old Trafford should help upend things. Memphis offers great ability to contribute peripheral stats from a forward position while having goal-scoring capability as well.
Gerard Deulofeu, EVE v. LEI ($5,000): The Spaniard is quickly making a name for himself, and his price continues to grow along with his notoriety. I actually wanted to mention that he IS NOT as good of a play now, however, since I have been tooting his horn over the past couple of months. The return of Leighton Baines has taken Deulofeu off of corners, and this (though he still sends in crosses through open play) takes away that great floor that made me love slotting in Deulofeu in the forward spot across cash games.
Salomon Rondon, WBA v. BOU ($4,300): The price on Rondon is good enough where I am willing to risk his inevitably low floor. The matchup at home against Bournemouth is as good as West Brom will get, and Rondon is a talented striker and their best chance to score.
Other forwards to consider: Romelu Lukaku, EVE v. LEI ($8,000); Pedro, CHE v. SUN ($5,800); Jamie Vardy, LEI at EVE ($7,900); Harry Kane, TOT at SOU ($7,400); Ayoze Perez, NEW v. AVL ($5,400); Graziano Pelle, SOU v. TOT ($6,500); Diego Costa, CHE v. SUN ($6,300); Marko Arnautovic, STK v. CRY ($4,200); Jordan Ayew, AVL at NEW ($3,900)
