DraftKings Daily Fantasy Football – Tips for the EPL Striker & Golden Boot (Week 7)

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

$20,000 Premier League Striker and $15,000 Premier League Golden Boot!

Gameweek 7 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 four fixtures to select your eight man fantasy team from, all for an entry fee of just $4 (deposits and withdrawals will be converted at a competitive rate). $4 entry can potentially scoop you a huge chunk of the $20,000 prize pool, which has a $1,000 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 $15,000 prize pool and a $2,000 top prize!

We have 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. Diego Costa (Chelsea) or Chelsea Midfielders

   Despite his theatricals, Diego Costa has been in top form under Antonio Conte as Chelsea’s lone man up front. Even when including last weeks 3-0 defeat away to Arsenal, where Costa earnt just 4 points, he still has one of the highest fantasy points per game average (17.8 FPPG) of any Premier League player under the DraftKings format. He is the third most expensive player available for Saturday at $9,200, but with Chelsea facing the out-of-form Hull City, who have conceded 10 goals in their last three matches, we feel any of Costa, Hazard or Willian should be well worth the investment.

2. Dimitri Payet or Michail Antonio (West Ham)

   Despite West Ham’s awful form of late, Dimitri Payet and Michail Antonio are more players with some of the highest FPPG’s in DraftKing’s fantasy. Payet’s style of play is generously rewarded through the DraftKing’s scoring system and even though he neither scored nor assisted in last weekend’s 3-0 defeat at home to Southampton, he earned himself 11 points from 3 shots, 10 crosses, 1 foul drawn and 1 tackle won. In the two fixtures prior to this, where he was even more dangerous and assisted three goals, Payet collected 23 and 25 point hauls which brought his average up to 16 points per match. West Ham face the out-of-form Middlesborough on Saturday and we feel their should be plenty of goals there.

3. Nacer Chadli or Salomon Rondon (West Brom)

   Though Nacer Chadli picked up just 2.5 points last time out against Stoke City, he is still averaging 15.8 points per game and is another player who’s style of play racks up points under the DraftKings system. Being involved in the play and creating chances going forward can soon add up, even when there’s no goal as a result. His price has increased to $6,400 since his debut for West Brom due to his increase in popularity, but we still feel that’s decent value for a player with such an involved role.

   Salomon Rondon’s DraftKings salary is slightly higher at $7,400, but with two goals and an assist from his last two matches, his form won’t remain secret for much longer. With West Brom on the road to face the out-of-form Sunderland on Saturday, we expect either of these players to be decent investments here.

4.  Bournemouth Players

   Bournemouth’s 1-0 win at home to Everton was a decent result and midfielder Junior Stanislas was the man who got himself on the score sheet. He was Bournemouth’s highest earning player last time out, collecting 16 points from 1 goal, 1 shot, 1 shot on goal, and 6 crosses. However, it must be noted that players such as goalkeeper Artur Boruc, who kept a clean sheet and earn 14 points against Everton, also collect points for other contributions to the match. Despite conceding four against Manchester City the weekend before last, Boruc was still able to take away 6 points for his seven saves.

Who to Avoid

1. Alvaro Negredo (Middlesborough)

   Alvaro Negredo’s and Middlesborough’s strong start to the season has somewhat overshadowed their disappointing performances over their last four matches in fantasy formats. Negredo earnt 29 points over Boro’s opening two matches against Stoke City and Sunderland, scoring one and assisting two. Since then, however, the Spaniard has collected a combined total of just 11 points and has registered just one shot on goal. Even with Middlesborough playing a West Ham side who can’t seem to stop conceding, we find his $7,800 price tag to bad value.

2. West Ham Defenders

   Though we don’t have much faith in Alvaro Negredo, we also don’t have much faith in the West Ham back four after their recent performances. West Ham have conceded 14 goals in their last 4 matches, an average of 3.5 goals per game, and none of the Hammers’ starting defenders have an FPPG higher than 5.7. Some players, such as goalkeeper Adrian, have even earnt negative points as a result of their form.

   Sunderland Defenders

   Sunderland are another side who just can’t seem to stop conceding. The Black Cat’s are yet to keep a clean sheet this season and all of their defenders, with the exception of wing-back Patrick van Aanholt, have an FPPG lower than 4.2. Though Patrick van Aanholt enjoys to get himself forward, which is often generously rewarded under the DraftKings scoring system, without the prospect of extra points from a clean sheet, we find it hard to justify his $5,900 price tag.

3. 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 Robert Snodgrass from Hull City, will often earn more points and be involved with more of the action than the best central midfielders, such as N’golo Kante.