DraftKings Daily Fantasy Football – Tips for the EPL Striker & Golden Boot (Week 17)

DraftKings are daily fantasy sports giants in the US and they’ve now launched in the UK for the new Premier League season!

For those who don’t know how the DraftKings 1-day fantasy format works, find out all you need to know by following the link below:

DraftKings Daily Fantasy Football Explained

$14,000 Premier League Striker and $20,000 Premier League Golden Boot!

Gameweek 17 of the Premier League is almost upon us and DraftKings have plenty of competitions for those who like a quick return on investment through a 1-day fantasy format.

DraftKings “Premier League Striker” gives you five fixtures to select your eight man fantasy team from, all for an entry fee of just $3 (deposits and withdrawals will be converted at a competitive rate). $3 entry can potentially scoop you a huge chunk of the $14,000 prize pool, which has a $700 top prize!

DraftKings “Premier League Golden Boot” follows exactly the same format, just at a higher buy in. $27 is the entry for that competition, which has a $20,000 prize pool and a $1,500 top prize!

We’ve put together the following article to help give you an edge over the rest of the field when deciding who should make the cut in your team. See our lineup and read more below!

Who to Buy

1. Dimitri Payet (West Ham) – Price: $9,100

   Dimitri Payet has not been as prevalent as at his peak last season, but he’s still one of the best players to choose under the DraftKings format for a reason. His modest two goals and seven assists for West Ham are not the only things contributing towards his 16.1 FPPG (Fantasy Point Per Game) average – the highest of any player available this Saturday. Payet’s average also stems from grinding points via crosses (144 total this season), shots (48 shots and 13 on goal), fouls drawn (35), tackles won (6) and interceptions (8). Payet is world class when at his best and a fixture against Hull on Saturday has to be one of the more favourable fixtures for him to perform in.

2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United) – Price: $8,800

   Manchester United have been one of the quieter sides when it comes to scoring goals in recent weeks. As such, Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s return to form has gone somewhat unnoticed. Zlatan has scored five and assisted one over his last five Premier League appearances for Manchester United, making him one of the most in-form forwards in the Premier League. His current “under the radar” status sees him available at $8,800 (down from his peak of $9,800) and a favourable fixture against West Brom this weekend should be ample opportunity for the Swede to continue his form.

3. Jermain Defoe (Sunderland) – Price: $8,800

   Jermain Defoe had a hard time seeing much action against a solid Chelsea defense on Wednesday, however, a fixture at home to Watford is a prime opportunity for him to get back on track. Defoe has scored 8 goals so far this season, four goals in the six matches prior to Wednesday’s match against Chelsea, and at this pace the veteran striker is on target to better last season’s 15 goal mark. Defoe thrives against weaker Premier League sides and Watford have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last six matches.

4. Viktor Fischer (Middlesborough) – Price: $6,200

   Danish winger Victor Fischer hasn’t featured a whole lot since signing for Middlesborough from Ajax (24 goals in 79 appearances) over the summer. He has started in each of Boro’s last three Premier League matches and was most impressive against Hull City – he led in shot attempts and assisted from a corner (his second assist of the season) for Gaston Ramirez’s decisive header in their 1-0 win. Middlesborough are at home to Swansea on Saturday, who have conceded three or more in four of their last five away matches, so he should prove to be a decent (and much lesser known) selection.

5. Lee Grant (Stoke City) – Price: $4,900

   It’s important to spend your budget where it matters in the DraftKings format. Goalkeepers have, simply put, the lowest potential of all player types to take away high points totals. Hence, you should be using less of your budget on them. Stoke City’s Lee Grant is, admittedly, only $500 cheaper than Manchester United’s David de Gea, but he has a higher FPPG average for a reason. Stoke have been in decent defensive form, keeping clean sheets in three of their last four matches, and all credit has to be given to Grant, who was forced to make a couple of decent saves as Stoke played for over 65 minutes with 10-men against Southampton last Wednesday.

Who to Avoid

1. Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)

   Jamie Vardy has seen his price plummet – from $8,800 to $6,800 – as a season-long set of disappointing performances has seen him fail to score in thirteen of Leicester’s sixteen Premier League matches so far. Excluding his performance against Man City last weekend, Vardy hasn’t been playing with the same flare and momentum as he did last season. Leicester haven’t won in any of their away matches so far this season (D1 L7) and Vardy is sure to have a hard time against a Stoke City defense who have kept a clean sheet in three of their last four matches.

2. Marco Arnautovic (Stoke City)

   Marco Arnautovic’s wreckless challenge on Southampton’s Sofiane Boufal earnt him a straight red card last Wednesday. Arnautovic will miss out on Stoke’s next three matches against Leicester, Liverpool and Chelsea, but he’ll remain available for selection (unmarked) in the DraftKings format. Arnautovic will earn you exactly 0 points, so avoid at all costs.

3. Watford Defenders

   Excluding Watford’s Jose Holebas ($5,300), who has been one of the better defensive options in recent weeks due to his ability to pump in crosses, claiming two assists in the process, Watford’s defenders are mostly unappealing. Watford have been far from solid at the back, failing to keep a clean sheet in any of their last six Premier League matches, and opponents Sunderland have won in two of their last three home matches.

4. Swansea Defenders

   Swansea are another side who have really struggled on the road this season, taking just one point from their last seven away matches (D1 L6). Swansea have conceded three or more in four of their last five away matches, including a 5-0 defeat to Spurs at the start of December, which analysts are calling the most “one-sided” Premier League match in recorded history. Based on their form, Swansea’s defenders simply don’t warrant attention.

5. Defensive Midfielders

   Defensive midfielders are simply the lowest point earners in DraftKings fantasy. Though their cheaper price tag may be tempting, players who’s sole responsibility is to reclaim possession and pass it onwards will earn you very few points. Any winger from a weaker side, such as, Wayne Routledge from Swansea, will often earn more points and be involved with more of the action than some of the best central midfielders, such as N’golo Kante from Chelsea.