Daily Fantasy Premier League 2015: EPL Week 23 DraftKings Matchups to Exploit
The Premier League is back in action entering Week 23 after a break for cup competitions, and the weekend slate brings plenty of enticing matchups for fantasy experts to exploit.
Along with some key injuries and suspensions, the African Cup of Nations has also taken some impact players from certain squads and opened up playing time for other less heralded players. Here's the latest installment of Daily Fantasy Soccer for the weekend's EPL matches, with DraftKings pricing and statistics.
Juan Mata, M, Manchester United ($7,300)
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Manchester United are set to get back on track in the EPL with a favorable home tilt against last-placed Leicester City, and midfielder Juan Mata should be helping to lead the charge.
Mata will come in rested after him and Wayne Rooney were held out of the FA Cup draw against Cambridge. He hasn't scored or assisted in his last five matches, but he promises to get back to giving defenses fits when they line up against Leicester.
Only two clubs have a worse goal differential than Leicester, and they rank fourth-to-last defensively on the road, according to WhoScored.com. The Red Devils did fall to Leicester earlier this season, but they still scored three times and will be intent on setting the tempo this time around.
Victor Moses, M, Stoke City ($5,500)
Stoke midfielder Victor Moses proved to have all of the rust off from his eight-week absence in their FA Cup win, scoring once and assisting once in a comprehensive win. He's been hard-pressed to keep that same form up in league play, but he should be able to shine against reeling QPR.
Consistent play has eluded Moses at Chelsea and Liverpool, but with his second goal he's already topped his goal output at those two stops and in half the matches. His latest was perhaps his best, wowing NBC Sports' Joe Prince-Wright:
No club in the EPL has conceded more goals than QPR (39), and somebody will have to pick up the scoring slack with Mame Diouf helping Senegal in the African Cup of Nations and Bojan Krkic out for the season with a knee injury. Look for Moses to link up with Peter Crouch and create plenty of attacking chances.
| 9.7 | 10th |
| $5,500 | 28th |
Moses' value stands out more than anything. While he has DraftKings' 10th-highest points-per-game average among Saturday's midfielders, he's cheaper than 27 other midfielders.
Jermain Defoe, F, Sunderland ($5,100)
The 2014-15 season has been another tough one for Sunderland, but perhaps the arrival of attacker Jermain Defoe from Toronto FC could help springboard them to prominence. A Week 23 matchup against 17th-placed Burnley suggests this could be the weekend that unfolds.
Sunderland's ineptitude offensively at home raises questions, but Defoe's veteran ability to generate scoring chances should be an immediate boost. The club has even shifted its attacking game plan to suit Defoe, as per The Guardian's Louise Taylor:
"We need to adapt to Jermain and we'll try to change," Sunderland manager Gus Poyet told Taylor. "We're going to develop something different. In the past we found it easier to be organized with one striker up front and the other working hard out wide. Now it's a big possibility we'll start playing with two up front."
Defoe ended an incredible run of six straight club debuts with a goal when Sunderland fell 2-1 to Tottenham, but his dangerousness was still on display. He has a much better chance to do so against a Burnley side that has conceded 36 goals.
Outside the top 40 of most expensive forwards for Saturday's matches alone, Defoe's Week 23 value is huge.
Calum Chambers, D, Arsenal ($4,300)
Arsenal defender Calum Chambers is slowly getting back into the fold after a short holiday break, and should continue building off improving form as his Gunners face Aston Villa.
He looked dominant defensively in Arsenal's FA Cup win over Brighton last weekend, and he also showcased his offensive ability by assisting on one of his squad's three goals.
Aston Villa don't figure to threaten the Arsenal goal on Sunday, having scored an unthinkable 11 goals in 22 matches. Chambers will play a big role in shutting down the Villa attack, and if things open up on the other side of the field, Chambers' aggressive mentality could result in him adding to the scoresheet.
Sadio Mane, F, Southampton ($6,600)
There aren't many players in the EPL hotter in league play entering Week 23 than Sadio Mane, and he's looking like the best buy for a light Sunday slate of matches.
Mane has the second-best average of points per game among forwards playing Sunday, yet he is cheaper than six notable names. His recent tear should have fantasy owners tripping over themselves to lock him up, as shown below—and notice how the last two came against high-quality foes:
| 1/1: Arsenal | 1 | 0 | 2 | 15 |
| 12/28: Chelsea | 1 | 0 | 2 | 14 |
| 12/26: at Crystal Palace | 1 | 1 | 2 | 26 |
| 12/13: at Burnley | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 |
Swansea have been outscored 8-1 in their last two competitions, while Southampton have the fourth-best offensive rating at home according to WhoScored.com. Mane has scored in each of his last three EPL matches, and he has a great chance to make it four in a row against Swansea.
