After a couple of smaller Saturday morning slates, Matchweek 3 of the 2026-27 English Premier League season brings a bigger five-game slate that gives fantasy managers lots of options to consider in this week’s DraftKings DFS fantasy soccer contests. All five of the games in this week’s EPL DFS Picks kick off at 10 a.m. ET on Saturday, September 5.
The heaviest favorite of the 10 teams on the board is Manchester City. Man City is 2-0-0 as it hosts Coventry City, which is 0-0-2. Man City is -650 to get the win, according to the current odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The second-heaviest favorite on the board is Brentford, which is at home against Sunderland. That matchup at Etihad Stadium also has the highest goal total on the board with over 3.5 goals at -115.
This article was written before starting lineups were announced, so check back once lineups are set and adjust your squad as needed. With plenty of high-priced superstar options and some great value plays, it should be a great Saturday morning start to the season for these top EPL Cup DFS picks this Saturday.
Make your DraftKings World Cup DFS picks here: EPL $30K Chip Pass [$10K to 1st]
Forward
Stud
Erling Haaland, Manchester City, $11,000 — Since City is the heaviest favorite on the slate, it makes sense to build around the team’s top offensive option — especially one as prolific as Haaland. Last season’s Golden Boot winner with 27 goals has gotten off to a strong start this season as well. He had five shots on goal in each of his first two games. He didn’t get on the scoresheet against Bournemouth, but he scored twice last week against Crystal Palace on his way to 29 FPTS.
Haaland doesn’t typically get extremely involved in the passing and build-up. Still, his finishing prowess makes him a fantasy option to build around, especially at home in a favorable matchup like this one. Even in that first game where he didn’t score, he continually pressed forward and got opportunities, and the Norwegian is a key piece to consider since he brings such a high ceiling on Saturday’s slate.
Haaland will be working alongside City’s new addition, Iliman Ndiaye ($8,100), who is also a strong play in his debut after transferring from Everton earlier this week. While both players have plenty of upside, Haaland is a safer and more established play, while Ndiaye’s creativity could set up even more opportunities for Haaland against Coventry. I expect City to rack up goals in this one, with plenty of fantasy points for many of their key players.
Value
Dan Ndoye, Nottingham Forest, $4,600 — Ndoye had a strong World Cup with Switzerland and has rejoined Nottingham Forest for his second season with the Premier League club. Last year, he had just one goal in 24 league appearances, but he has been much more involved and productive through Forest’s first two games of this campaign.
The 25-year-old scored his first goal of the season on three shots against Liverpool last week and finished with 17.3 FPTS. He was even more involved than just his goal, though, with three shots total and a pair of chances created. He was quiet in the opener but showed a solid connection with Morgan Gibbs-White ($8,800) in the team’s impressive 2-2 draw last week. Ndoye and Gibbs-White are in a much more favorable spot this week as they host Tottenham, who are 0-0-2, having conceded five goals in losses to Newcastle and Brentford.
Midfielder
Stud
Rayan Cherki, Manchester City, $10,400 — Cherki has been outstanding in the first two games of the season for City, doing most of the creative work in the attacking midfield that fuels Haaland’s brilliance up top. Cherki had two assists and 18.4 FPTS in the opener and followed that up with an even stronger performance with 28.8 FPTS against Crystal Palace, scoring two goals of his own.
Cherki could lose a little time and work to Ndiaye in the middle, but the 23-year-old from France has been so effective that he’s sure to remain involved to some degree after earning player of the month for the squad last month. Building around him and Haaland in Matchweek 3 is tough at their elevated salary, but in this matchup, it’s an option that could pay off if The Sky Blues go off against Coventry. With 10 teams in the player pool, plenty of bargain values are available if you choose to build around the Man City studs.
Value
Vitaly Janelt, Brentford, $4,600 — Brentford started the season with a 3-0 trouncing of Tottenham, and Janelt contributed his first goal of the year in that win, finishing with 21.7 FPTS. He didn’t find the back of the net in the team’s 1-1 tie with Leeds United in Matchweek 2, but he still had four crosses and two chances created for 6.6 FPTS.
Janelt has been taking corners and set pieces for the team, and his nine total crosses have helped him post two chances created in each of his first two games. The 28-year-old German has been a key part of the Bees’ defensive midfield support. He should continue to create chances and hit crosses enough to bring a high floor with a good ceiling if he picks up an assist or two against Sunderland. While his Brentford squad isn’t quite as heavily favored as Man City, they are the second-heaviest favorite on the slate and will also be at home looking to post a statement victory.
Getting a key piece in the middle of the offense in such a good spot at under $5,000 makes Janelt a solid value play in this week’s EPL DFS picks. In somewhat similar roles, Yeremy Pino ($4,600) of Crystal Palace and Malick Yalcouyé ($4,100) of Brighton are other values to consider in this week’s Premier League DFS picks.
Defender
Stud
Maxim De Cuyper, Bright and Hove Albion, $6,900 — As a pay-up option from the back line, De Cuyper brings the prototypical ability to press forward and get heavily involved in his team’s offense. He had a goal and four shots in his team’s Matchweek 1 dismantling of Aston Villa, racking up 25.7 FPTS. He also had one of his early efforts result in an own goal in that contest.
In Matchweek 2, De Cuyper again pressed forward and had one shot to go with eight crosses on his way to 8.9 FPTS in his team’s 4-3 loss to Chelsea. While the team’s defense looked shaky in that defeat, the offense remained high-powered, and with De Cuyper continuing to press forward on the left side, he brings a very high ceiling if you can afford his hefty salary under your cap space this week against Leeds. Both teams are near the middle of the table heading into what should be a fascinating match to see which squad could emerge as an early contender.
Value
Nathan Collins, Brentford, $2,800 — Collins is another defender who gets involved in the offense. However, he is a little less traditional from his center-back spot than on the wing, like De Cuyper and many defenders. He has pressed forward effectively in both the Bees games, though, and he comes at such a bargain salary that he’s an excellent value that can help you afford stars in other spots.
Collins had 8.1 FPTS in the opener and followed that with 7.4 FPTS in the second week against Leeds United. He had multiple shots in each game and put one on goal against Leeds. He is very involved in set pieces, which have been a key part of Brentford’s offense early on.
Based on his role, he has a high floor to go with his goal-scoring upside, and getting him under $3,000 is a great way to fill a defender or utility spot if you’re short on salary as you round out your EPL DFS picks.
Goalkeeper
Stud
Gianluigi Donnarumma, Manchester City, $6,000 — Since City is the heaviest favorite, their keeper is the most expensive play on the board. He did give up a goal in each of his first two games of the season, but Donnarumma is still seen as one of the best keepers in the league and should be able to keep Coventry City off the board.
After each team played two games this season, Coventry City was one of three clubs in the Premier League still looking for its first goal of the year. They have the third-lowest xG in the league, and Manchester City has the second-lowest xG against them, which should set Donnarumma up for the double-bonus of a clean sheet and a win on Saturday.
Value
James Trafford, Leeds United, $4,200 — Trafford has bounced around the last few seasons and spent last year with Manchester City before the arrival of Donnarumma. He started mostly in domestic competitions for Man City, but he’s the main man for Leeds this season, and he has looked up to the task so far with two strong outings.
Trafford had three saves in a great shutout of Nottingham Forest to start the season with 16.4 FPTS. He followed that up by holding Brentford to just one goal in last week’s draw with four more saves and 6.6 FPTS. He’ll face a banged-up Brighton squad that is missing several key players. Still, the Seagulls have been very productive on offense, which should present Trafford with plenty of chances to make some saves and be an excellent value play if you don’t want to pay up for a top keeper in this week’s EPL DFS picks.
