PlayON Player Picks – Gameweek 31

Once again, we roll out our player picks for PlayON, the weekly Fantasy Football game, this Friday lunchtime. Scouring the PlayON Price List for potential bargains ahead of the weekend’s 10 matches, we’ve one eye on the Etihad tomorrow afternoon, as Man City prepare to welcome struggling Fulham:

If you’re new to PlayON, it is weekly Fantasy Football so you can dip in and out of playing throughout the season.

This week PlayON have two special offers: 1) A competition on Facebook and Twitter where you can £25 FREE CREDIT – view the competition on Facebook here or on Twitter here; 2) a FREE ENTRY, £250 POT game – enter on the multiplayer page here.

Once your starting XI is built you can compete for cash. 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. You can also create an open challenge against anyone else on the site – just click the amount you want to play for and the number of slots (number of people who can accept your challenge) on the one-on-one page .

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

Goalkeeper – John Ruddy
The Norwich number one can be picked up for just 7.5m in this week’s PlayON Player Price List ahead of a home clash with Sunderland. The Canaries have conceded just once in their last five at Carrow Road, and with Gus Poyet’s side netting just three times in their last six in all competitions, a shut-out could be on the cards for Ruddy tomorrow afternoon. Newcastle’s Tim Krul is also kind on the budget. Available for a mere 7.2m, the Dutchman entertains a Palace side with a single goal in their last five road trips, whilst Everton’s Tim Howard comes in at 8.1m for the visit of Swansea – Roberto Martinez’ men have conceded just twice in their last four at Goodison.

Defender – Joleon Lescott
With Vincent Kompany suspended and Matija Nastasic still stuck in the Etihad treatment room, Lescott looks set to get the nod for tomorrow’s home game against basement-dwellers Fulham. Setting you back 7.4m, he looks a real budget-friendly route into a backline that has now racked up three successive clean sheets. Newcastle’s young defender Paul Dummett (8.4m) has started four of the last five at left-back and has a share of corners and free-kicks to boost his attacking potential for the Magpies home game with Crystal Palace, whilst Daniel Agger will set you back just 8.8m for Liverpool’s trip to Cardiff. Brendan Rodgers’ side have registered back-to-back clean sheets since switching to a midfield diamond and will fancy their chances of another shut-out against a Bluebirds side that have drawn blanks in six of their 10 matches under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Midfielder – Christian Eriksen
Tottenham’s classy playmaker is available for a bargain 7.7m in this week’s PlayON Player Price List ahead of Sunday’s home game against Southampton. With both sides currently nursing many injury doubts, Eriksen’s contribution and set-piece ability could be key as the north London club attempt to earn their first win in five across in all competitions. Stephane Sessegnon is an out-of-position option as West Brom travel to Hull tomorrow afternoon. The Benin international was handed a role up front as Pepe Mel switched to 3-5-2 and subsequently found the net in last week’s win at Swansea – priced at 8.3m, he faces a Tigers side that have conceded in each of the previous five at the KC. Samir Nasri comes in at a budget-friendly 7.7m for Man City’s home clash with Fulham and has scored in two of his last four appearances since returning from a knee injury last month.

Forward – Edin Dzeko
With Sergio Aguero likely to remain sidelined, the big Bosnian looks set to continue up top for Manchester City’s plum home game against struggling Fulham. Dzeko – who comes in at 10.3m – has scored in four of his last seven in the league and looks the one frontman capable of delivering for Manuel Pellegrini’s men against a backline that has shipped 34 goals on their travels already. We’re sticking our necks out and opting for Chelsea’s Samuel Eto’o for their Stamford Bridge tussle with Arsenal. The Cameroon international has scored all 10 of his goals for the club in front of his own fans and, at 10.5m, his big-game appetite could prove the undoing of Arsene Wenger’s visitors. With just two goals in his last 12 league appearances, there’s no doubt Romelu Lukaku remains a little inconsistent but, priced at just 10.1m, the big Belgian looks worth a flutter this weekend as Everton welcome a Swansea side that have picked up just two points in their last four under new boss Garry Monk.

The Fantasy Football Scout Game

We have 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.