This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EDT)
- 12:30 pm: RB Leipzig vs. Hertha BSC Berlin
- 2:30 pm: 1899 Hoffenheim vs. 1. FC Köln
- 2:30 pm: FC Augsburg vs. SC Paderborn
- 2:30 pm: Fortuna Düsseldorf vs. FC Schalke 04
- 2:30 pm: Union Berlin vs. FSV Mainz 05
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS
There's a decent chance lineups will look different on a short week, so be prepared to change your squads once starting XIs come out. In addition to this being the third match following the league suspension, most of these sides have had just two full days of rest.
Timo Werner, RBL v. HB ($23): Werner is five dollars more expensive than everyone else on the slate, so he will likely decide GPPs. He doesn't have a high floor, but he has the best odds to score by a wide margin and is coming off a hat trick. Even if he doesn't score, he may not hurt that much in cash games because of how popular he'll be. Already with 24 goals in 26 starts, including two goals and an assist in the last meeting against Hertha Berlin, there aren't many reasons not to use him. However, he's an easy fade in GPPs for ownership purposes, and you could still go heavy on Leipzig with guys like Christopher Nkunku ($16) and Patrik Schick ($14). I'm most intrigued by Schick, who will likely start for the injured Yussuf Poulsen. Despite being cheap, he
MATCHES (EDT)
- 12:30 pm: RB Leipzig vs. Hertha BSC Berlin
- 2:30 pm: 1899 Hoffenheim vs. 1. FC Köln
- 2:30 pm: FC Augsburg vs. SC Paderborn
- 2:30 pm: Fortuna Düsseldorf vs. FC Schalke 04
- 2:30 pm: Union Berlin vs. FSV Mainz 05
For detailed stats and odds, check out the
FORWARDS/MIDFIELDERS
There's a decent chance lineups will look different on a short week, so be prepared to change your squads once starting XIs come out. In addition to this being the third match following the league suspension, most of these sides have had just two full days of rest.
Timo Werner, RBL v. HB ($23): Werner is five dollars more expensive than everyone else on the slate, so he will likely decide GPPs. He doesn't have a high floor, but he has the best odds to score by a wide margin and is coming off a hat trick. Even if he doesn't score, he may not hurt that much in cash games because of how popular he'll be. Already with 24 goals in 26 starts, including two goals and an assist in the last meeting against Hertha Berlin, there aren't many reasons not to use him. However, he's an easy fade in GPPs for ownership purposes, and you could still go heavy on Leipzig with guys like Christopher Nkunku ($16) and Patrik Schick ($14). I'm most intrigued by Schick, who will likely start for the injured Yussuf Poulsen. Despite being cheap, he has the second-best odds to score to go with averaging 0.69 goals and 1.49 shots on goal per 90 minutes. Maybe the lone reason to not back Leipzig is that Hertha Berlin have yet to allow a goal under their new manager, winning the last two matches 7-0. Of course, neither of their opponents are in the top eight.
Mark Uth, KLN at HOF ($18): Uth is one of the better floor plays on the slate and also provides a bit of upside with five goals and four assists in his last nine starts. He missed a penalty last match, but he remains a threat because of set pieces, averaging 4.04 shots and 6.81 crosses per 90 minutes. This match has the second-highest over/under and Hoffenheim are barely favored after giving up four goals to Hertha and Paderborn in the last two contests. Hoffenheim also allow the third-most crosses and fourth-most shots in the league, which means Koln are a reasonable stacking candidate. Jhon Cordoba ($17) is the main guy up front and Florian Kainz ($17) works more from the outside with 14 crosses the last two matches. I'd be heavier on the Hoffenheim attack because of Koln's shaky back line, but without a healthy forward who can rack up opportunities, they aren't the safest bet. Sure, Hoffenheim could score a couple, but goals could come from anywhere.
Erik Thommy, DUS at S04 ($17): Surprisingly, you can still fit in another one of the top attacking players on the slate in Thommy. He's more of a cash option because of set pieces, while Kenan Karaman ($16) is simply there to score, with four goals in his last four starts. I'd be all over the cheaper Karaman, but Thommy also has decent upside no matter his position. He has four goals in his last six starts from 17 shots and five chances created. After serving as more of a wing-back, he's played as a forward the last two matches and that should continue. Even better, Schalke have allowed seven goals the last two matches and will now be without central midfielder Suat Serdar. It kind of says it all that Weston McKennie ($17) is Schalke's most-expensive player despite being a defensive midfielder with almost no upside. This match has the lowest implied goal total on the slate, but I wouldn't look too much into that number since it likely has to do with Schalke's lack of scoring. If you want the full Dusseldorf stack, Kevin Stoger ($11) and Steven Skrzybski ($11) are undervalued for their roles, assuming both start again.
Robin Quaison, MAI at UB ($14): There will be goals in the Union-Mainz match, it's simply about picking between two teams that have almost no floor. Sebastian Andersson ($16) has the best odds to score and scored a brace last meeting, but he also has 0.5 fantasy points from 90 minutes over the last two matches. There is a route to stack Andersson and Marcus Ingvartsen ($15), but neither should be used in cash games. The same goes for Quaison, but he at least touches the ball a little more and has three shots and three chances created the last two matches. I think there will be goals between these teams and Quaison may have the most upside of anyone in this match, partly because he already has two hat tricks this season to go with another one-goal, one-assist performance. Karim Onisiwo ($15) is the other option in the Mainz attack or you can hope for one of the wing-backs to make the score-sheet, though Ridle Baku ($16) is oddly overpriced compared to Aaron ($10).
DEFENDERS
Robert Skov, HOF v. KLN ($15): This is a rare slate where it makes sense to spend up at defender even if that's a loose description for Skov because he hasn't been a defender since February and started at forward last match. His floor is often below 10 fantasy points, but it's hard to ignore his five shots and five chances created last match, especially since he plays another sketchy back line. He's also tied for the third-best odds to score on the slate, which is slightly ridiculous for a player listed at defender. With guys like Schick coming at a discount at forward, Skov should be in a lot of lineups. Then again, you can also get attacking upside from numerous others like Angelino ($14), Christopher Trimmel ($14), Marvin Plattenhardt ($14) and Maximilian Mittelstadt ($14).
Ken Reichel, UB v. MAI ($6): Union need someone to start at left-back and that job will either go to Reichel or Julian Ryerson ($8). You can't trust either player, but given the other cheaper defenders available, not many provide floors above 10 fantasy points. Reichel is at least a left-back who can get up the field, and if this match is as high-scoring as expected, an appearance on the score-sheet isn't out of reach. If you want to back the biggest underdog, Peter Pekarik ($11), Jordan Torunarigha ($12) and Dedryck Boyata ($15) have provided decent floors for Hertha. The problem is that outside of interceptions, Leipzig don't force much defensive action. If you want more punts, Kaan Ayhan ($9) is back from suspension and Dayot Upamecano ($9) has clean-sheet upside.
GOALKEEPER
Florian Kastenmeier, DUS v. S04 ($10): Schalke haven't scored in four of their last five league matches, and they just lost their top scorer for the season. Kastenmeier has been fine the last couple matches and was even on a clean sheet against Koln in the first 87 minutes. On one end, you can't really rely on a win from Kastenmeier, but paying $15 for Peter Gulacsi will be tough, especially if you have Werner in the squad. Andreas Luthe ($13) is in a similar situation as Kastenmeier, but he's surprisingly expensive. Kastenmeier is at least favored going against a team that is struggling. Leopold Zingerle ($8) is the cheap option and has provided decent value the last couple matches, but I wouldn't bet on a win from Paderborn.
