This article focuses on 12/26 EPL Picks for DraftKings and FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel and DraftKings Daily Fantasy. We consider tournament tactics, statistics, pricing, and attempt to tackle this highly variable Daily Fantasy format so we can gain an edge on the field at large.
Saturday 12/26 EPL Slate and DFS Gameplan
It is time for EPL Matchweek 15/38 and the annual Boxing Day slate. This slate is bigger than we have been accustomed to so far this season on Saturdays.
There are five games starting at 10am ET lock. DraftKings is only including the first three games on their main slate. However, FanDuel will have all five.
The slate begins with a pair of games at the 10am ET lock time.
First, Southampton (+128) heads to Craven Cottage to square off with Fulham (+225). Fulham has been playing relatively well as of late, by their standards. Danny Ings will be out for Southampton, in what should be a tight affair.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa (-108) hosts a struggling Crystal Palace (+275). More on this game below under Best Odds.
Afterwards, we have a single game in the 12:30 ET timeslot, as Chelsea (-108) travels to Arsenal (+310). As the odds suggest, the Blues are at the advantage here as they look to stay in the winning column.
Finally, the slate finishes with another pair of games at 3pm ET. Manchester City (-910) sits as the biggest favorite on the slate, at home against Newcastle (+2200). Unfortunately, because this game is so late we will not have lineups before three other games play out. However, it is probably worth the wait so I would suggest saving some lineup flexibility for the late games.
The other late game features Everton (-114) on the road against Sheffield United (+325). James Rodriguez is unlikely to start, but Everton have held up thus far without him and they should have few issues here.
Notable Goal Scoring Odds
Note: Many of these players will not end up starting, but their goal odds are listed just in case. If they do not end up starting, disregard them. All odds listed +300 or below and projected starters are listed in bold.
Southampton at Fulham – Aleksander Mitrovic (+190), Che Adams (+225), Shane Long (+265), Daniel N’Lundulu (+265), Aboubakar Kamara (+280), Theo Walcott (+300), Michael Obafemi (+300), Ivan Cavaleiro (+325), Bobby De Cordova-Reid (+325), Ademola Lookman (+340)
Crystal Palace at Aston Villa – Ollie Watkins (+138), Keinan Davis (+195), Anwar El-Ghazi (+210), Christian Benteke (+245), Wilfried Zaha (+255), Jack Grealish (+250), Michy Batshuayi (+255), Jordan Ayew (+280), Bertrand Traore (+300), Ross Barkley (+300), Trezeguet (+300)
Chelsea at Arsenal – Olivier Giroud (+180), Timo Werner (+180), Tammy Abraham (+188), Christian Pulisic (+235), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (+235), Alexandre Lacazette (+275), Kai Havertz (+320), Eddie Nketiah (+325), Gabriel Martinelli (+325), Callum Hudson-Odoi (+400), Nicolas Pepe (+440), Willian (+475), Mason Mount (+480)
Newcastle at Manchester City – Sergio Aguero (-157), Gabriel Jesus (-107), Raheem Sterling (-104), Kevin De Bruyne (+118), Riyad Mahrez (+132), Ferran Torres (+143), Felix Nmecha (+150), Phil Foden (+160), Cole Palmer (+180), Bernardo Silva (+245), Ilkay Gundogan (+310), Callum Wilson (+360)
Everton at Sheffield United – Dominic Calvert-Lewin (+116), Cenk Tosun (+175), Richarlison (+215), Oliver McBurnie (+275), Lys Mousset (+275), David McGoldrick (+290), Rhian Brewster (+290), James Rodriguez (+295), Billy Sharp (+300), Gylfi Sigurdsson (+340)
EPL Best Odds
* Aston Villa ML (-104) “DraftKings Sportsbook”
The Betting Game Plan
It’s right back to the well on the Aston Villa train. They are coming off a 3-0 win over West Ham and will look to carryover momentum at home. Anwar El-Ghazi looks like a completely different person over the last few games since entering the starting lineup.
On the other side, Crystal Palace enters this game following an embarrassing 7-0 loss to Liverpool and has some bad losses over the last month or so. A draw against Tottenham and a big win over West Brom does not obscure losses to Newcastle and Burnley.
12/26 EPL FanDuel Rankings “Set pieces less important on FanDuel”
Forward/Midfield
- 1. Anwar El-Ghazi – Aston Villa – $15 “Some set pieces
- 2. Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City – $23 “Set pieces”
- 3. Raheem Sterling – Manchester City – $22
- 4. Jack Grealish – Aston Villa – $19 “Some set pieces”
- 5. Phil Foden – Manchester City – $13 “Not currently projected to start”
- 6. Gabriel Jesus/Sergio Aguero – Manchester City – $20
- 7. Riyad Mahrez – Manchester City – $18
- 8. Dominic Calvert-Lewin – Everton – $19
- 9. Timo Werner – Chelsea – $21
- 10. Olivier Giroud – Chelsea – $18 “Not currently projected to start”
- 11. Tammy Abraham – Chelsea – $19
- 12. Ollie Watkins – Aston Villa – $17
- 13. Mason Mount – Chelsea – $16 “Set pieces”
- 14. Bertrand Traore – Aston Villa – $16 “Some set pieces”
- 15. Ferran Torres – Manchester City – $16 “Not currently projected to start”
- 16. Christian Pulisic – Chelsea – $15
- 17. Ademola Lookman – Fulham – $17 “Some set pieces”
- 18. Richarlison – Everton – $18
- 19. Che Adams – Southampton – $16
- 20. Ilkay Gundogan – Manchester City – $12
Defense
- 1. John Egan – Sheffield United – $8
- 2. Matt Ritchie – Newcastle – $6
- 3. Jack Stephens – Southampton – $7
- 4. Emerson – Chelsea – $9
- 5. Emil Krafth – Newcastle – $6
Goalies
- Ederson – Manchester City – $14
- Emiliano Martinez – Aston Villa – $11
- Edouard Mendy – Chelsea – $12
- Vicenta Guaita – Crystal Palace – $7
12/26 EPL DraftKings Rankings
Forward
- Ollie Watkins – Aston Villa – $7,200
- Anwar El-Ghazi – Aston Villa – $8,700 “Some set pieces”
- Timo Werner – Chelsea – $7,800
- Olivier Giroud – Chelsea – $7,900 “Not currently projected to start”
- Tammy Abraham – Chelsea – $7,500
- Bertrand Traore – Aston Villa – $8,200
- Eberechi Eze/Andros Townsend – Crystal Palace – $6,800/7,600 “Set pieces”
- Christian Pulisic – Chelsea – $7,000
- Willian/Nicholas Pepe – Arsenal – $6,200/$5,800 “Set pieces”
- Ivan Cavaleiro/Bobby De-Cordova Reid – Fulham – $5,400/$4,800 “Some set pieces”
Midfield
- Jack Grealish – Aston Villa – $10,000 “Some set pieces”
- Mason Mount – Chelsea – $7,700 “Set pieces”
- Anwar El-Ghazi – Aston Villa – $8,700 “Some set pieces”
- James Ward-Prowse – Southampton – $8,000 “Set pieces”
- Timo Werner – Chelsea – $7,800
- Bertrand Traore – Aston Villa – $8,200 “Some set pieces”
- Eberechi Eze/Andros Townsend – Crystal Palace – $6,800/7,600 “Set pieces”
- Christian Pulisic – Chelsea – $7,000
- Ademola Lookman – Fulham – $6,600 “Some set pieces”
- Willian/Nicholas Pepe – Arsenal – $6,200/$5,800 “Set pieces”
Defense
- Kieran Tierney – Arsenal – $4,000
- Emerson – Chelsea – $4,700
- Cesar Azpilicueta – Chelsea – $4,900
- Ryan Bertrand – Southampton – $4,000
- Patrick Van Aanholt – Crystal Palace – $4,400
Goalies
- Emiliano Martinez – Aston Villa – $5,300
- Edouard Mendy – Chelsea – $5,400
- Vicente Guaita – Crystal Palace – $4,200
Make sure to hop in our Expert Discord Chat for FREE! Rich will be there answering questions all day and all night! Follow Rich on Twitter @JFan303 and be sure to be on the look out for future articles at https://windailysports.com/daily-fantasy-soccer/