PlayON Player Picks – Gameweek 22

Once again, the Player Picks for our weekly Fantasy Football game, PlayON, are rolled out this Friday lunchtime. As always, we’re on the lookout for potential bargains in our assessment of this week’s PlayON Price List:

If you’re new to PlayON, it is weekly Fantasy Football so you can dip in and out of playing throughout the season. Once your starting XI is built you can compete for cash. Entering a multiplayer game for a set stake, you’ll have a chance of winning your share of the pot should you finish high enough in the rankings.

Similarly, you can challenge other players to one-on-one games, selecting the amount at stake. The likes of Robbie Fowler, Les Ferdinand and OptaJoe are all playing the game and are there to be challenged for free or for £1. The Fantasy Football Scout team is also available to be challenged and has a 52% win rate up to this point.

For a more in depth introduction to PlayON, take a look at this season’s introduction article.

FREE ENTRY, £100 GUARANTEED POT for NEW SIGN-UPS

This week PlayON is running a game for new users – Free Entry, £100 Guaranteed pot. Only people who sign-up to www.playon.co.uk before 10.45 tomorrow morning can win the pot so if you haven’t tried PlayON yet, it’s worth a look this week. If you have already signed up, why not share / tweet / email your friends so they can take the cash.

This Week’s Picks

Goalkeeper – Jack Butland
Confirmed as a definite starter by Mark Hughes for Stoke’s trip to Crystal Palace, Butland looks the perfect budget “enabler” this weekend. The Potters stopper sets you back a mere 6.0m in the PlayON Price List for the Selhurst Park showdown against a goal-shy Eagles side that have found the net just twice in the last five Gameweeks. Alternatively, Southampton’s Artur Boruc comes in at just 7.7m for a trip to Sunderland. The Pole registered a clean sheet upon his return from injury last weekend and will be optimistic of another shut-out, given that the Wearsiders have scored just once in their last three home matches. West Ham’s Adrian (8.0m) ousted Jussi Jaaskelainen last time around and earned a clean sheet in the 2-0 win at Cardiff – he looks likely to retain his place for tomorrow’s visit of Newcastle.

Defender – Pablo Zabaleta
Rested for the midweek FA Cup replay win over Blackburn, the Manchester City defender is expected to make an immediate return for a home clash with Cardiff. Manuel Pellegrini’s side have conceded a mere six goals at the Etihad all season, whilst the Argentine has already served up four assists in front of his own fans – at 8.5m, his points potential at both ends of the pitch makes him strong value. If you reckon Liverpool can keep out Aston Villa at Anfield, Aly Cissokho could be worth considering. Available for 8.3m, the left-back picked up an assist in the previous Gameweek and looks nailed on until the injury worries lessen in defence for Brendan Rodgers. Norwich’s home game against Hull brings Ryan Bennett onto the radar. With Michael Turner nursing a hamstring injury, the 7.9m-priced centre-half squares up to a Tigers attack that has scored three times in their last six road trips.

Midfielder – Serge Gnabry
There’s no doubt the Arsenal youngster is a punt this week but it is one that has the potential to pay-off in style. Having started back-to-back matches in all competitions as a replacement for the injured Theo Walcott, Gnabry looks poised to keep his place in Arsene Wenger’s XI ahead of a home clash against Fulham. Setting you back a bargain 6.9m, his direct play down the right looks likely to torment a Cottagers defence that has conceded 20 goals in their last six games under Rene Meulensteen. Last week’s midfield headline act, Steven Gerrard, is still very favourably priced – the Liverpool skipper can be snapped up for 8.4m for the visit of Villa and has scored or assisted in 10 of his last 11 starts. If you have budget to spare, Manchester City’s Jesus Navas looks set to benefit from Samir Nasri’s knee injury. The Spanish wide-man takes up 9.8m of your budget and has produced an assist in six of his previous seven home appearances – the hosts’ irresistible current form could see him plunder the points against Cardiff tomorrow.

Forward – Daniel Sturridge
Back with a bang in last week’s demolition of Stoke, Sturridge needed just 25 minutes to grab a goal and assist off the bench. He looks set to be handed a first start since Gameweek 11 against Villa this weekend and a price of just 9.6m looks hugely enticing – with the midlands outfit managing a single clean sheet in eight, he’s likely to continue the form that has now produced attacking returns in 10 of 13 appearances for Liverpool. Sergio Aguero is also kind on the budget this weekend. The Man City forward is priced at 10.4m for the home game against Cardiff and, as he showed against Blackburn in the cup on Wednesday, is more than capable of producing even if Manuel Pellegrini decides to use him as a substitute. Finally, we opt for another fit-again front man, as Andy Carroll welcomes former club Newcastle to Upton Park. The West Ham forward made his first appearance of the season last weekend and grabbed an assist after emerging from the bench – at 8.2m, he’ll be looking to take advantage of the Magpies’ under-strength backline this Saturday.

The Fantasy Football Scout Game

We’ve also got a £2 multiplayer game, dedicated to our community, which is now open and the prize pot is building.

Challenge Your Mates

You can also set up your own multiplayer games with your mates to play for bragging rights only or for cash. Create your own game at www.playon.co.uk.

Finally, a reminder that we have published a strategy guide, offering some tips for getting the most from your PlayON lineup, right here.

You have to be over 18 to enter cash games at PlayON. If you do wager some cash, please remember to gamble responsibly. PlayON is licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission.