These are our final Premier League DFS picks week 8, built for a round that opens on Saturday 24 October at 14:00 UTC. The Fanteam contest covers eight matches with a 114.0 budget and a limit of three players per club. DraftKings, FanDuel and Yahoo all run Saturday slates, and each gets its own section further down.
The shape of the week is clear. Chelsea host Spurs with a 55.62% win chance and 2.05 projected goals, and three Chelsea attackers fill our safe captain list. Arsenal at home to Everton carry the best clean sheet chance on the board at 45.99%. Hanging over both is a single question: whether Bukayo Saka plays.
Fanteam captains: our Premier League DFS picks week 8
Bryan Mbeumo tops our projections at 5.14 and captains our best lineup. Manchester United host Bournemouth, and his 21.4% chance to score is the highest of any midfielder we rate highly. We know United have looked fragile and the mood around the club is poor. Our view is that his role keeps him central to whatever United create, so we accept the team risk for the individual output.
The safe options are all Chelsea. Cole Palmer (4.92, on penalties), João Pedro (4.65, a 32.0% chance to score) and Morgan Rogers (4.56) all carry a 0.89 start probability. João Pedro is the popular captain this week, and we understand why. He leads the line against a Spurs defence that has looked loose. Our numbers still put Palmer ahead, because penalties and creative volume give him more ways to score. Palmer is our vice-captain behind Mbeumo.
For big-swing picks, look at Alexander Isak (ceiling 9.9), Bradley Barcola (9.71) and Keane Lewis-Potter (9.3). Lewis-Potter is the unusual one: a defender with a 7.3% chance to score whose best games come from attacking returns as well as a clean sheet against Hull.
Captain options, week 8
| Type | Player | Team | Opp | Salary | Proj | Ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safe | Cole Palmer | CHE | TOT | 12.9 | 4.92 | 11.1 |
| Safe | João Pedro | CHE | TOT | 13.2 | 4.65 | 10.8 |
| Safe | Morgan Rogers | CHE | TOT | 13.1 | 4.56 | 10.3 |
| Upside | Alexander Isak | LIV | BHA | 11.5 | 3.82 | 9.9 |
| Upside | Keane Lewis-Potter | BRE | HUL | 9.8 | 3.60 | 9.3 |
| Upside | Bradley Barcola | LIV | BHA | 10.5 | 3.84 | 9.7 |
Fanteam stacks
Two pairs dominate our 15 lineups. Palmer and João Pedro appear in 7 of 15, costing 26.1 for a combined 9.6. Bruno Fernandes and Mbeumo appear in 6 of 15 and project slightly higher at 9.8 for 25.3. Chelsea pairs with Rogers show up less often, but the three-per-club limit leaves room for a full Chelsea front line if you want maximum exposure to one game. Just remember that a triple stack falls flat together if Chelsea are held.
The cheaper pair is Harvey Barnes and Yoane Wissa at 21.1 for 8.5, in 3 of our lineups.
Best stacks, week 8
| Stack | Team | Salary | Proj | In our lineups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cole Palmer + João Pedro | CHE | 26.1 | 9.6 | 7 of 15 |
| Bruno Fernandes + Bryan Mbeumo | MUN | 25.3 | 9.8 | 6 of 15 |
| João Pedro + Morgan Rogers | CHE | 26.3 | 9.2 | 3 of 15 |
| Harvey Barnes + Yoane Wissa | NEW | 21.1 | 8.5 | 3 of 15 |
| Cole Palmer + Morgan Rogers | CHE | 26.0 | 9.5 | 2 of 15 |
On defence, Arsenal tempt you to load up. Riccardo Calafiori (4.56), Gabriel (4.22) and Ben White (3.72) all project well. The stacking penalty applies when several defenders or goalkeepers from one team all earn clean sheet points, so a single Arsenal defender, or one defender plus David Raya at most, is the sharper build. Our best lineup takes Calafiori only.
Fanteam value plays
Our best lineup projects 51.1 points and spends almost the full budget. It works because a handful of cheaper players carry real projections.
- Goalkeeper: Carl Rushworth (Coventry, 6.6) projects 3.07 at home to Fulham. Jordan Pickford (4.4, 2.69) and Antonín Kinský (4.8, 2.78) are the floor options if you need every coin.
- Defence: Jayden Bogle (8.4, 3.52) gives Leeds exposure for the trip to Sunderland. Lewis-Potter at 9.8 doubles as a big-swing pick.
- Midfield: Anton Stach (8.4, 3.9) takes Leeds corners and free kicks. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (4.9, 3.68) has the best points per salary on the slate.
- Forward: Dominic Solanke (7.8, 3.61) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (8.7, 3.66) are the cheap strikers we trust.
Our cheapest value list is almost entirely Everton, which tells you how low their prices are. Everton have a 12.72% win chance and 0.81 projected goals at Arsenal, so this is about salary relief rather than upside. Thierno Barry (4.8, 18.7% to score) has been missing chances, but at that price he only needs one. Kinský faces a strong Chelsea attack and many will avoid him, yet a busy afternoon brings saves, and at 4.8 that is enough for a budget slot.
Underdogs and set-piece takers
Brighton at Liverpool is the game most people skip. We see a 30.9% Brighton win chance and 1.47 projected goals, which is not a lost cause. Pascal Gross (9.6, 3.71) takes penalties, corners and free kicks, and a midfielder cannot lose points for goals conceded. Our projections rank him outside the top 25, so we see him as a lineup filler with set-piece upside rather than a core play. Charalampos Kostoulas (9.4, ceiling 9.02, 23.3% to score) is the more aggressive Brighton angle.
Elsewhere, Mohamed Belloumi (7.3, 3.51) is a cheap route into Hull, and Anan Khalaili (8.7, 3.75) carries the better floor for Palace. Ismaïla Sarr is only listed as a possible starter.
Bruno Fernandes is the standout set-piece name, on penalties, corners and free kicks. Igor Thiago (3.97) takes Brentford’s penalties against Hull, and Declan Rice and Alex Iwobi handle dead balls for Arsenal and Fulham. If Saka misses out, Arsenal’s penalty duty shifts, most likely to Martin Ødegaard, which lifts his appeal.
DraftKings Premier League DFS: Saturday slate
DraftKings runs a two-game Saturday slate: Arsenal v Everton and Coventry v Fulham. The Classic format asks for 8 players (1 GK, 2 D, 2 M, 2 F, 1 UTIL) under a $50,000 cap. Value here means projected points per $1,000 of salary. Our tables show 0 for anyone with less than a 50% chance of starting.
Kai Havertz leads at $9,300 with 8.49 points and a 26.6% chance to score. Just behind him, Martin Odegaard ($6,400, 8.3) and Noni Madueke ($6,600, 8.13) offer nearly the same projection for far less, which is where this slate is won. David Raya at $6,000 (7.51) is the natural goalkeeper given Arsenal’s clean sheet chance.
Eberechi Eze at $4,600 projects 7.32 for a value of 1.59, though his 74% start probability needs confirming. From the other game, Jack Rudoni ($7,400, 7.81) and Antonee Robinson ($5,400, 6.76) are solid. For salary relief, Coventry’s Caleb Yirenkyi ($3,000), Milan van Ewijk ($3,100) and Matt Grimes ($3,600) all project above 5 points.
DraftKings top projections, Saturday 24 Oct slate
| Player | Pos | Team | Opp | Salary | Proj | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kai Havertz | F/M | ARS | EVE | 9,300 | 8.49 | 0.91 |
| Martin Odegaard | M | ARS | EVE | 6,400 | 8.30 | 1.30 |
| Noni Madueke | F/M | ARS | EVE | 6,600 | 8.13 | 1.23 |
| Jack Rudoni | M | CVC | FUL | 7,400 | 7.81 | 1.06 |
| Declan Rice | M | ARS | EVE | 6,500 | 7.59 | 1.17 |
| David Raya | GK | ARS | EVE | 6,000 | 7.51 | 1.25 |
| Eberechi Eze | M | ARS | EVE | 4,600 | 7.32 | 1.59 |
| Alex Iwobi | F/M | FUL | CVC | 7,900 | 6.96 | 0.88 |
| Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall | M | EVE | ARS | 8,100 | 6.83 | 0.84 |
| Antonee Robinson | D | FUL | CVC | 5,400 | 6.76 | 1.25 |
FanDuel Premier League DFS: Saturday slate
FanDuel adds Chelsea v Spurs to Arsenal v Everton and Coventry v Fulham. Lineups are 7 players (1 GK, 2 DEF, 4 FWD/MID) under a $100 cap with a maximum of 4 per team. Value is projected points per salary point.
Chelsea own the top of the board. Cole Palmer projects 17.82 at a salary of 20, and Joao Pedro 16.73 at 23. Pedro Neto (19, 15.19) is the cheaper Chelsea route, and Morgan Rogers (21, 14.46) rounds out a possible four-man Chelsea build. Havertz (18, 14.39) leads the Arsenal options.
With only four FWD/MID slots, value matters. Noni Madueke at 14 projects 12.51, and Caleb Yirenkyi at 9 (8.74) and James Garner at 12 (11.05) free up room for two premium Chelsea names. Grimes (11) and Eze (13) are the next tier.
FanDuel top projections, Saturday 24 Oct slate
| Player | Pos | Team | Opp | Salary | Proj | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cole Palmer | FWD/MID | CHE | TOT | 20.0 | 17.82 | 0.89 |
| Joao Pedro | FWD/MID | CHE | TOT | 23.0 | 16.73 | 0.73 |
| Pedro Neto | FWD/MID | CHE | TOT | 19.0 | 15.19 | 0.80 |
| Morgan Rogers | FWD/MID | CHE | TOT | 21.0 | 14.46 | 0.69 |
| Kai Havertz | FWD/MID | ARS | EVE | 18.0 | 14.39 | 0.80 |
| Martin Odegaard | FWD/MID | ARS | EVE | 17.0 | 13.05 | 0.77 |
| Noni Madueke | FWD/MID | ARS | EVE | 14.0 | 12.51 | 0.89 |
| Josh King | FWD/MID | FUL | CVC | 18.0 | 12.09 | 0.67 |
| Jack Rudoni | FWD/MID | CVC | FUL | 16.0 | 11.74 | 0.73 |
| Declan Rice | FWD/MID | ARS | EVE | 19.0 | 11.62 | 0.61 |
Yahoo Premier League DFS: Saturday slate
Yahoo uses the same three games: Arsenal v Everton, Coventry v Fulham and Chelsea v Spurs. You need 11 players (1 GK, 3 D, 4 M, 2 F, 1 UTIL) under a cap of 200, with up to 6 from one team. Value is projected points per salary point.
Cole Palmer at 19 is the clear anchor with 7.66 points. Joao Pedro projects 7.43 but costs 30, giving him the weakest value among the top names. Kai Havertz is the standout: 6.51 points at 13 for a value of 0.5, the best on the slate.
On defence, Chelsea’s Levi Colwill (13, 5.09) costs far less than Arsenal’s Gabriel (19, 5.46) for a similar projection. Josh Acheampong (10, 3.92) is a cheap third defender if his 74% start holds. Matt Grimes at 10 and Martin Odegaard at 15 fill midfield efficiently.
Yahoo top projections, Saturday 24 Oct slate
| Player | Pos | Team | Opp | Salary | Proj | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cole Palmer | M | CHE | TOT | 19.0 | 7.66 | 0.40 |
| Joao Pedro | F | CHE | TOT | 30.0 | 7.43 | 0.25 |
| Kai Havertz | F | ARS | EVE | 13.0 | 6.51 | 0.50 |
| David Raya | GK | ARS | EVE | 19.0 | 6.10 | 0.32 |
| Martin Odegaard | M | ARS | EVE | 15.0 | 5.88 | 0.39 |
| Pedro Neto | F | CHE | TOT | 25.0 | 5.60 | 0.22 |
| Morgan Rogers | M | CHE | TOT | 23.0 | 5.60 | 0.24 |
| Gabriel | D | ARS | EVE | 19.0 | 5.46 | 0.29 |
| Eberechi Eze | M | ARS | EVE | 14.0 | 5.10 | 0.36 |
| Levi Colwill | D | CHE | TOT | 13.0 | 5.09 | 0.39 |
Fades and pivots
Bruno Fernandes is the big disagreement. He has looked poor in a struggling side and many are steering clear. We rank him fourth overall at 4.71, largely because he takes every set piece United get. We would not fade him entirely, and his pairing with Mbeumo is our second most used stack.
Yoane Wissa is falling out of favour as Newcastle’s attack stalls, but we still rank him 20th at 3.94 with a 22.4% chance to score at Palace. That makes him a sensible contrarian forward, especially paired with Barnes.
The pivots run the other way. Calvert-Lewin is widely liked and our projection agrees on value, though we rank him 32nd overall. Newcastle’s Lewis Hall gets attention for his attacking threat, yet he sits well outside our top 100, so we pass. Forwards facing Arsenal or Liverpool are best avoided, which is why Barry stays a budget play only.
Final checks before lock
Projections update until lock, so check late team news before the deadline. The items that matter most:
- Bukayo Saka: listed with a thigh injury and a 50% chance of playing. On Fanteam the safety net only swaps in a cheaper starting teammate in the same position if he does not start, so avoid him unless news is positive. If he sits, Eze and Madueke gain minutes and Ødegaard likely takes penalties.
- Calafiori: heavy recent minutes bring a small risk of rest or an early exit.
- Arsenal’s back line: Ben White’s role is unclear and Myles Lewis-Skelly is only a possible starter.
- Spurs defence: fitness worries around Destiny Udogie and Andrew Robertson would only strengthen the Chelsea case if confirmed.
- Possible starters: Eze, Sarr and Mikkel Damsgaard, with James Maddison not expected to start.
- Elsewhere: Sunderland’s forward doubts and Palace’s goalkeeper situation are worth a final look.
Lock in Mbeumo or Palmer as captain, keep one Arsenal defender, and let the cheap Everton and Coventry pieces pay for it.
Full, sortable projections for every player, with a CSV download for your own optimizer, are on our Premier League DFS projections page, for Fanteam, DraftKings, FanDuel and Yahoo.