DFS showdown slate: Leicester City vs. Arsenal

The English Premier League is back in action and FTN has you covered. For this Showdown slate between Leicester City and Arsenal, as well as every other slate, I’ll be offering a DFS-catered approach to help pack your bankroll with profit.

DFS UPDATE (2:15 pm. ET) — With Marc Albrighton ($7,800) starting, Youri Tielemans is more or less a fade at CPT, and less viable in utility. Albrighton himself is arguably the safest floor play on the slate, but the upside is questionable. Use him in UTIL but maybe not as a main captain choice. Assuming Albrighton subs off around 60’-75’, Tielemans should pick up some set piece duty, theoretically boosting his floor.

Update your lineups accordingly.

Leicester City @ Arsenal

3:15 p.m. ET Tuesday, July 7

Brief Arsenal outlook

Since the return of the EPL, Arsenal has played five matches. Four of which, they’ve allowed less than 1.00 expected goals, with the exception being the opener against Manchester City where they lost 3-0. Many credit that loss to David Luiz’ terrible defending, for good reason. They’ve patched things up in the defense since that day.

Brief Leicester outlook

This Leicester team that has yet to feel the aftershocks of life without James Maddison, who is a “big doubt” for the match. Leicester won 3-0 against Crystal Palace in the first game without him, but a date with Arsenal is obviously a taller task. The attack will take a hit, but they still have quality players in both the midfield and attack that can hang with the best.

Consensus

On paper, we have two teams with very similar styles fighting for the same thing. In the race for the top four, Arsenal still has ground to make up and Leicester still has ground to retain. Both defenses have looked strong since the return, while both attacks have been steadily productive. We should see a tight affair. There will be quality chances on either side, so it’s up to the likes of strike forces Jamie Vardy or Pierre Emerick Aubameyang to put a stamp on the match.

Prediction: 1-1

DFS breakdown

(Salaries and picks are per DraftKings)

High-priced tier

Rank	Player Name	Rationale
1	Pierre Emerick-Aubmayeang ($11,800)	Arsenal’s top player and goal scorer. He’s overpriced in my opinion but still a top option on the slate. Look to Alexandre Lacazette for leverage.
2	Jamie Vardy ($10,200)	Leicester’s top player and goal scorer. Will be relied upon more than usual with Maddison out, but won’t have the service the English playmaker provides. Vardy has six goals and two assists against Arsenal in their last five meetings. Look to Kelechi Iheanacho or Ayoze Pérez for leverage.

Value tier

Rank	Player Name	Rationale
1	Youri Tielemans ($6,200)	Leicester’s set piece taker with Maddison out and Albrighton looking unlikely to start. Wildly cheap for the role. CPT viable.
2	Dani Ceballos ($6,600)	Should be on set pieces for Arsenal assuming Pepe sits. Low upside but the floor is strong. CPT viable.
3	Kieran Tierney ($5,000)	Strong attacking fullback when Arsenal control the ball, which they typically do. It’s only a matter of time before a player of his caliber notches his first Premier League assist.
4	Christian Fuchs ($4,400)	Sub 5K fullback who can get forward and cross balls into the box. Definitely has value per dollar here but not a must have.
5	James Justin ($5,800)	Rates below his fellow fullback comrades Tierney and Fuchs for us, but still brings plenty of intrigue to the table.

Core four

CASH	GPP
Youri Tielemans ($6,200)	Youri Tielemans ($6,200)
Dani Ceballos ($6,600)	Alexandre Lacazette ($8,400)
Pierre Emerick-Aubmayeang ($11,800)	Kelechi Iheanacho ($7,600) OR Ayoze Pérez ($7,200)
Kieran Tierney ($5,000)	Kieran Tierney ($5,000)

The Build

CASH: We can safely lock in both set piece takers (Tielemans and Ceballos) as well as each team’s leading scorers (Emerick-Aubameyang and Vardy). Couple those names with salary savers (either the fullbacks listed above or cheap midfielders), and you should get there. Emerick-Aubameyang, Vardy, Tielemans and Ceballos are the captains viable in cash games for us.

GPP: In tournaments, especially in showdown formats, don’t be afraid to get weird. Leave salary, make unique builds. Guys like Lacazette, Pérez and Iheanacho are thrust into the conversation, even viable as captains. Goalkeepers are viable in GPPs too. Both teams to score is fairly likely (-150), so odds are in the favor of the fade, but a clean sheet likely puts a GK in the optimal. If multi-lining, I’d recommend light exposure to both keepers, while correlating the rest of the lineup carefully (i.e. do not use Vardy/Iheanacho/Pérez with Arsenal’s GK or Aubameyang/Lacazette with Leicester’s GK).