Our weekly focus on player recommendations for the next four to six Gameweeks is rolled out once again today. We analyse the main movers and shakers in this week’s update, with the upcoming blank Gameweeks playing a significant part in our thinking. The full listings per classification are available on the sidebar on your right:
The Defence
With home games against Southampton and Hull (subject to FA Cup results) supplemented by a trip to Stoke in the next four, West Ham’s Adrian retains his spot in the top three for keepers after an incredible run of five clean sheets in six. James Collins also climbs the defender standings and, if he holds onto his starting berth, looks a bargain at 4.2, though Winston Reid’s return to fitness may be enough to deter some investors.
John Terry’s current muscle injury allows Chelsea team-mate Branislav Ivanovic to jump to the top of the defender standings, though the Serbian has more than merited his climb after racking up three successive double figure hauls. Petr Cech is also one to consider, with Jose Mourinho’s backline proving virtually fixture-proof in recent weeks on the back of just three goals conceded in the last 10 Gameweeks. Chelsea have a full quota of matches over the next four, with home games against Everton and Spurs in addition to trips to Fulham and Villa.
Three home games in the next five (TOT, STO, SUN) elevate Norwich pair John Ruddy and Martin Olsson in this week’s refresh. Chris Hughton’s side have notched three successive clean sheets at Carrow Road, including a shut-out against City – Ruddy is now up to third in the FPL keeper standings whilst Olsson, at 4.2, offers guaranteed game time at a budget price.
Everton pair Tim Howard and Seamus Coleman face an upcoming trip to the Bridge but after that, expect their stock to rise The subsequent five fixtures (WHM, (blank) CAR, SWA, ful) suggest the Toffees look primed for significant investment – a single clean sheet in 11 somewhat tempers our enthusiasm over defensive returns, though Coleman’s eye for goal could well come to fruition as the Merseysiders go on the attack.
Cardiff’s David Marshall and Steven Caulker will be buoyed by a clean sheet last time around and have home games against Hull and Fulham in the next three to boost their appeal, whilst, addition to facing the Bluebirds, the Tigers budget duo Allan McGregor and Curtis Davies also have Newcastle, West Ham (depending on the result of their FA Cup replay with Brighton) and West Brom on their agenda over the next five.
It’s fair to say Newcastle’s form hasn’t been the best but the upcoming schedule brings Tim Krul and Mike Williamson into our thoughts again. Alan Pardew’s side entertain Villa and Palace in the next five, whilst trips to Hull and Fulham somewhat atone for a Gameweek 29 blank, with Williamson, at 4.4, offering a decent short-term budget option for our five-man backlines.
Home games against Hull and Cardiff, allied with trips to Swansea and Hull in the next six, suggest West Brom duo Ben Foster and Gareth McAuley could be set for an upturn in fortunes as Pepe Mel looks to remedy a run of a single clean sheet in 16 matches. Elsewhere in the midlands, Villa pair Brad Guzan and Ron Vlaar remain relatively low but have a trip to Newcastle and home games with Norwich and Stoke in the next five Gameweeks to boost their appeal. At 4.3, Vlaar’s propensity for picking up bonus is another factor worth considering.
The Midfield
Eden Hazard holds steady at the top of the midfield rankings in this week’s refresh – Chelsea’s FA Cup exit has ensured he now has a fixture in every Gameweek from here on in. Yaya Toure and David Silva, however, take a temporary tumble as a result of City’s upcoming Gameweek 28 and 29 blanks.
Southampton skipper Adam Lallana climbs up to second, with form and fixtures firmly on his side. The 8.0-priced midfielder has produced returns in eight of the last 10 Gameweeks and now has West Ham, Palace, Norwich and Newcastle in the next six to continue his ascent up the Fantasy standings.
A goal and assist in his last four suggests Robert Snodgrass is starting to find his form. The Norwich playmaker comes in at just 5.9 and may well be poised to take advantage of the above-mentioned run of fixtures. Kevin Nolan is a non-mover as we await the fate of West Ham’s Gameweek 29 clash with Hull but, with two braces in his last three appearances, the Hammers skipper’s form merits his climb, even if he may be poised for a blank.
Steven Gerrard’s relentless consistency ensures he remains in the mix. The Liverpool skipper has now served up a goal or assist in 14 of his last 17 appearances and has a plum home clash with Swansea up next before he makes his way to St Mary’s to face Southampton. Raheem Sterling offers a cheaper alternative to his captain (5.6 to 9.0) as a route into Brendan Rodgers’ free-scoring side and has now started each of the last 14 Gameweeks to dispel any fears over the threat of rotation.
Tom Ince and Wilfried Zaha rival Sterling in the mid-price bracket. Crucially, both have Gameweek 29 fixtures – whilst Zaha has the kinder short-term schedule, Ince’s role in “the hole” produced a goal and assist on his debut for the Eagles, though games against United and Southampton in the next three may deter would-be investors.
Fit-again duo Pablo Hernandez and Paulinho are back on the radar after making impressive returns for Swansea and Spurs respectively. The former has three assists in his last two appearances and has home games with Palace, West Brom and Norwich in the next six, whilst Paulinho has scored twice in the three appearances and now looks the best route into Tottenham’s midfield, with Christian Eriksen dropped last time around.
The Forwards
Daniel Sturridge knocks Liverpool team-mate Luis Suarez off the summit after racking up seven goals in six appearances since returning from injury. At 10.1 to the Uruguayan’s 13.4, Sturridge is not only proving better value but is now outperforming his fellow forward and has eclipsed Suarez’ scores in four of their last five starts together in Brendan Rodgers’ 4-3-3.
An average of 7.7 points per game under Tim Sherwood ensures Emmanuel Adebayor remains high in our thinking, whilst Southampton duo Rickie Lambert and Jay Rodriguez, like the Tottenham frontman, also have a Gameweek 29 match after their cup exit to Sunderland. With two goals, a pair of assists and five bonus points in the last three, Lambert’s form sees him climb above his team-mate in the reckoning, with free-kick and penalty duties also heightening his appeal.
Having scored in three of his four appearances since returning from injury, Robin Van Persie has wasted little time in finding his form. At 13.6, though, the Dutchman hasn’t been explosive enough to justify his price tag, with just three sets of double figures all season – nonetheless, with Wayne Rooney toiling, he looks the best bet up top for United, though a trip to Palace, followed by a blank Gameweek 28, is hardly enticing.
Newcastle’s Loic Remy is back in contention after serving a three-match suspension. Having scored in just two of his last 11 appearances, he’s hardly in the best of form but the Magpies above-mentioned schedule could prove profitable for the 8.0-priced Frenchman. Both Olivier Giroud and Christian Benteke are similarly-priced but a lack of form forces both down the rankings this week, despite their guaranteed game time.
Norwich forward Gary Hooper and Stoke’s Peter Crouch are your options further down the price bracket. Priced at 5.8, Hooper certainly has the fixtures to remedy the form which has harvested a single strike in 10 Gameweeks. Crouch, at 5.5, has notched a reasonable five times in the last 12 and whilst games against City and Arsenal suggest the short-term schedule is somewhat against the Potters forward, he then has Norwich, West Ham, Villa and Hull in the subsequent four to take advantage of.
