Gameweek 7 – Attacking Punts

The three differentials below are my pick of the attacking punts for this weekend’s fixtures. They all have great potential to catapult you up the rankings, and hopefully they’ll do just that if you take a punt on them this week.

Jamie Vardy

Ownership: 1.8%

Position: Forward

Team: Leicester City

Price: 5.0m

Fixture: Burnley (home)

Jamie Vardy came back from injury with a tremendous performance in his first Premier League start for Leicester City. The Foxes forward scored a goal and managed four assists in his first start of the season, picking up a whopping 21 points in Gameweek 5, after claiming all three bonus points against Manchester United. The Englishman has gone under the radar since his Gameweek 5 haul, with team-mate Leonardo Ulloa attracting more suitors. Vardy’s ownership has remained very low at 1.8% in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game, whilst Ulloa’s has soared to 19.7%, with the most transfers in this week. Vardy seems to be a very creative forward, having made seven chances in the past two weeks – this is the highest amongst forwards and second highest for all positions. He also possesses great goal threat alongside his creativity – he has kept pace with Ulloa for shots on target and also managed a decent number of touches in the penalty area.

This week Leicester face a Burnley side that are still wincing from their 4-0 loss to West Brom. The game will be played at the King Power Stadium where Leicester have been fantastic, scoring eight goals in three games on home ground this season. A home fixture against a side that has just conceded four goals in their last away game presents a good opportunity for Leicester forwards, and any of them are great picks for Gameweek 7. With Vardy’s ownership remaining so low and Ulloa’s doing the complete opposite, I’ve decided to go for Leicester’s number nine who remains a fantastic differential and one who looks to be an excellent alternative to the popular Argentine. I back Vardy to shine alongside Ulloa this Gameweek, if not outscore him. He looks like a top option for a punt this week.

Abel Hernandez

Ownership: 0.3%

Position: Forward

Team: Hull City

Price: 6.9

Fixture: Crystal Palace (home)

Abel Hernandez has scored twice in his first three games for Hull City. The forward has only managed 206 minutes out of a possible 270 in those three games, making his two goals in that time all the more impressive. The Uruguay international had a great record at his previous club with 14 goals and three assists in 28 appearances in his last season there, whilst also impressing on the international stage with eight goals in 15 matches for his national side. Hernandez clearly has the ability to score goals and has shown early signs that he’s capable of doing just that in the Premier league for Hull City this season. He is owned by a meagre 0.3% of FPL managers and looks like a nice differential for those willing to take a punt on him.

Crystal Palace roll up to the KC Stadium this weekend but they are a whole different side to the Palace team we saw last season. This new Palace side have scored 10 times this term, but have conceded just as many so far. Since Tony Pulis’ departure, Crystal Palace have been anything but solid at the back, especially away from home, where they have let in seven of those 10 goals conceded. This makes Abel Hernandez an excellent prospect this week, with the forward in fine form coupled with an opportunistic fixture to score once again for his new club. Hernandez also seems to have been handed spot-kick duties, with him stepping up and scoring from the spot against Man City last weekend. He looks like another great punt for this week, with form, fixture and penalties on his side.

Diafra Sakho

Ownership: 0.7%

Position: Forward

Team: West Ham

Price: 5.5

Fixture: QPR (home)

The Senagelese international is looking like an astute signing by West Ham, with three goals in his first three starts. The forward has provided consistent returns since he was awarded his first start in Gameweek 4, and looks like a bargain at a price of 5.5m. In a new-look West Ham side that have notched 10 times already this season, Sakho looks a fantastic short-term punt with them facing QPR and Burnley in their next two games.

In Gameweek 7, Sakho faces an incredibly porous QPR defence at Boleyn Ground. The R’s defence have conceded 14 goals so far this season – the second highest in the league. They are also third for goal attempts conceded in the box, which bodes well for Sakho who is tied fourth for shots inside the box in the past three Gameweeks. He is even with Aguero and only one behind Diego Costa. Gameweek 7 looks like a golden opportunity for Sakho to reward his new owners this week and continue his three-week goal streak. An in-form forward in an attacking side against a hopeless QPR defence at home? Sakho looks like a top punt for this week.