DraftKings advice February 12: the points scorers you should pick to win cash
If you haven’t yet got acquainted with DraftKings, the newest fantasy football game in town, then head here for a quick briefing.
If you can’t be bothered, on your head be it – but the premise is simple. With a $50,000 budget you select 11 players you think will rack up the most points on a given matchday. But to separate yourselves in DraftKings, you’ll need to think carefully: extra points are awarded for tackles, interceptions and fouls won (among other areas), while goalkeepers earn points for victories.
Got it? Excellent. Now read on for FFT’s advice for the next Premier League weekend:
Saturday
In goal, there are few better shouts than Fraser Forster ($3,900) right now: the Southampton shot-stopper has kept five consecutive clean sheets since returning from injury – and they’ll earn you 5 points. Forster made two stops (+2pts each) in the win (+5pts) over West Ham last weekend and now faces a Swansea team that have been outscored by all but two sides this season.
Defensively, Manchester United look sensible here – Sunderland have failed to score in eight of their last 12 Premier League matches against them for starters. Youngster Cameron Borthwick-Jackson is cheap at $3,000 but has shown promise going forward since breaking into Louis van Gaal’s team. He grabbed an assist (+6pts) in the 3-0 win over Stoke, then earned 7.5 points at Chelsea last weekend having flung in five crosses (crosses, shots = 1pt each).
Everton’s Bryan Oviedo could also be an interesting call at $3,000. The Costa Rican has started the Toffees’ last four league matches, and Roberto Martinez may be unwilling to change a team that won 3-0 in its last game. Against a defensive West Brom he’ll be keen to get forward: in his last game he won four tackles (+4pts total), made as many interceptions (+2pts) and put in three crosses (+3pts).
In DraftKings, goals really do pay – to the tune of 10pts apiece, in fact. Dimitri Payet has six for West Ham this season, which won’t rest easily with a leaky Norwich side that have lost five on the spin. Corners count as crosses in this game, meaning Payet racked up 12 against Southampton; as a bonus, he drew three fouls too (+3pts). He’s not cheap at $7,700, but worth your wonga. Similarly, Ross Barkley ($6,600, vs West Brom) is a constant goal threat and will always get away point-boosting shots, while Oscar ($5,500, vs Newcastle) has started Chelsea’s last three games and could find joy against an unreliable Toon.
Up front, you’ll almost definitely want to save some dollars for Romelu Lukaku ($7,600). No great explanations necessary: he’s at home against a team out of form and potentially weary after midweek cup action. Wayne Rooney is in similarly fine fettle, but at $7,100 you may have to make a judgement call between him and the Belgian.
Sunday
Eek! A proper Super Sunday, this. Kicking us off are leaders Leicester (nope, still doesn’t sound right) at Arsenal, who did a number on the Foxes at the King Power Stadium earlier in the campaign with a 5-2 romp. But times have changed. Leicester have been sensational since, and lead the way deservedly after a magnificent campaign.
Jamie Vardy ($7,200) and Riyad Mahrez ($7,800) are two of the four players to have had a hand in 20+ goals in the Premier League this season, but Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil ($8,200) is another.
Should you wish to squeeze all three into your side, you’ll need some smarter choices around them. Like the lung-busting N’Golo Kante for instance, who won’t get you goals but will do his best to make up for it in defensive work. No player has made as many tackles or interceptions, and the French midfielder will have his work cut out again here. For a lower-cost goal threat, meanwhile, Theo Walcott isn’t a terrible shout: the England man has netted in both of his top-flight appearances against Leicester.
Sandwiching Liverpool’s trip to Villa is the mammoth Manchester City vs Tottenham tussle. Goals are a given in this fixture – there’s been 41 in the last nine meetings – with Sergio Aguero ($8,800) having plundered 10 in eight against Spurs. In midfield, Dele Alli ($6,100) is fresh and firing, having racked up 9pts in only 29 minutes against Watford. In his last three matches he’s grabbed as many assists and two goals.
Can Yaya Toure step up for Man City, meanwhile? With Kevin De Bruyne and now David Silva crocked, the Ivorian is going to need to. At $5,500 he’s relatively inexpensive here, but that’s for a reason (8.7pts averaged this season). Still, his quality has won countless games for his side in the past – now he must do it again.
For Liverpool, the fine news is that the $5,700 Philippe Coutinho and $4,200 Daniel Sturridge are both back in action – and how they’ve been missed. The latter might just be the best gamble worth taking this weekend.
Fancy a crack yourself? Be sure to sign up to DraftKings with FourFourTwo, download the app to play and see if you’ve got what it takes to win real cash. Then challenge your mates and beat them too…