With seven games on the Premier League schedule for Boxing Day and over $100K in prizes up for grabs it will be fun to celebrate the holidays with a big pay day when it comes to Saturday’s DraftKings Daily Fantasy Leagues. With so many options to choose from we have delivered an early Christmas gift with our optimal lineup for this weekend’s action. Here is a look at some excellent options for Saturday’s DraftKings Premier League Daily Fantasy Leagues.
GK: Boaz Myhill, West Brom
Salary: $3,300
West Brom has earned at least a point in four of its last five games but what stands out the most about Myhill is the favorable matchup versus a Swansea side that has scored the fewest goals in the Premier League this season. West Brom will be focused and playing with a sense of urgency as they battled an opponent that currently sits below the relegation line and that makes Myhill an excellent value bargain play as the goalkeeper that should be plugged in to this Saturday’s lineup.
D: Joel Ward, Crystal Palace
Salary: $3,300
Crystal Palace’s march towards the top of the table continued in last week’s 2-1 win over Stoke City and they have now earned at least a point in four straight games including three wins. Ward is a solid defender option available at a very reasonable price so it only makes sense to plug him in here.
D: Jonny Evans, West Brom
Salary: $2,400
It only makes sense to go back to the West Brom lineup for one of our defender positions. Evans fits the criteria of everything that we need as a smart player with the potential to produce a solid stat line at a very reasonable price tag.
D: James Collins, West Ham
Salary: $2,400
West Ham United hasn’t won many games of late but they have produced four straight draws including the last three in which they have produced clean sheets. It makes sense to go back to them for one of their better bargain defender options heading in to this week’s match-up with Aston Villa.
M: Riyad Mahrez, Leicester
Salary: $8,600
Jamie Vardy is dealing with a hamstring injury, but it was Mahrez that stepped up big time as the hero in last week’s win over Everton and he will be counted on for another big performance this weekend. Leicester needs Mahrez at his best for this week’s clash with Liverpool so bank on that he will deliver another strong performance as the top midfield option on the board for Saturday’s games.
M: Erik Lamela, Tottenham
Salary: $4,600
Lamela isn’t nearly as big of a lock for a strong performance as Mahrez but he also isn’t nearly as expensive either as a strong midfield option available at a very reasonable price. Lamela should put up a strong stat line on Saturday and his price tag leaves us with money to spend on other positions of need up front.
M: Jason Puncheon, Crystal Palace
Salary: $4,800
Puncheon isn’t as strong of an option as Mahrez or Lamela, but he is a quality midfielder available at a very reasonable price. With Crystal Palace getting a favorable matchup versus Bournemouth this weekend, that makes him worth plugging in to our lineup in this spot.
F: Odion Ighalo, Watford
Salary: $6,900
With Vardy dealing with a hamstring injury it only makes sense that we turn to the hottest striker in the Premier League right now in Ighalo, who also happens to be available at a much lesser price than Vardy. Ighalo has scored in four straight games, including two goals in Watford’s 3-0 win over Liverpool and is now up to 12 this season so it’s somewhat surprising that his price tag isn’t higher than it is right now.
F: Diego Costa, Chelsea
Salary: $6,000
It’s a surprise that Costa isn’t available for cheaper than he is listed at right now as he has gotten off to an absolutely terrible start, especially when compared to last year’s campaign. That said, Costa is still a world-class talent and perhaps this week’s match-up with Watford brings out the best in him as he finally breaks through opposite Ighalo.
FLEX: Jordan Ayew, Aston Villa
Salary: $4,200
Ayew is another strong bargain option with the potential to perform above the level of his price tag, so we won’t hesitate to plug him in to this FLEX spot.
FLEX: Nyom, Watford
Salary: $3,500
Nyom has been as consistent as they come on the back end. Considering Chelsea’s struggles this season it isn’t a bad idea to plug him in to our final FLEX position with the hope that he can deliver as the player with the highest potential among those that we can still afford.
