The Watchlist Updated – Gameweek 9

Our Watchlist rankings, which offer player recommendations over the next four to six Gameweeks, have been updated over the last 24 hours.

At the back, Tottenham’s upturn in fixtures affords Hugo Lloris and Younes Kaboul the chance to climb in our rankings. The former sits six points clear at the top of the FPL keeper standings and, at 5.6, his save point potential strengthens his claim as a legitimate option for those willing to splash the cash between the sticks. With Newcastle, Stoke, Everton and Palace rolling up to the Lane in the next seven, in addition to trips to Hull and Villa, Kaboul’s kinder 5.0 price tag may turn some heads – he’s earned bonus in two of the three occasions his side have delivered a clean sheet.

Elsewhere in north London, Calum Chambers is available for selection after serving a one-match suspension. Whilst his budget 4.6 price tag is very much in the summer signing’s favour, his lack of discipline (five yellows in six league starts) and the Gunners’ poor defensive displays – one clean sheet so far – somewhat negates his appeal. At that cost, though, he could be a bargain if Arsene Wenger’s side can rediscover the resilience that racked up 17 clean sheets last season – they now have Sunderland, Burnley, Swansea and West Brom in the next five.

With Burnley, Swansea, Sunderland, West Ham and Hull in the next six Gameweeks, Everton stopper Tim Howard is on the up. The Toffees served up a second clean sheet of the season against Villa last time around and with the likes of Seamus Coleman back, their defensive prospects look enticing – at 5.4, though, Howard isn’t cheap and with Phil Jagielka (5.5) offering an alternative for those unwilling to fork out on Coleman and/or Leighton Baines, Howard’s appeal is a little diminished.

Villa pair Brad Guzan and Ron Vlaar tentatively edge up the rankings. With a horrendous set of fixtures finally behind them, Paul Lambert’s side will be hoping to return to the form that saw them concede just once in the first four Gameweeks – at 4.6 and 4.5 respectively, they could prove decent value as the midlands side face QPR, West Ham, Burnley, Palace and Leicester in the next few rounds of fixtures.

Having conceded nine times in the last three, Burnley’s defence are looking a far cry from the side that racked up a trio of successive shut-outs between Gameweeks 3-6. Clearly, with Sean Dyche’s side needing goals, they’re leaving themselves open to opposition attacks and back-to-back matches against Everton and Arsenal look daunting for owners of Tom Heaton and Kieran Trippier. The schedule from Gameweek 11-15, however, (HUL, sto, AVL, NEW, qpr) should persuade owners to hold, though.

In midfield, Alexis Sanchez is the main climber after taking his tally to three goals and an assist in his last four starts last weekend. The Arsenal man is far from budget friendly at 10.3 but he’s starting to motor now and with fears over rest and rotation diminishing, looks at excellent differential at 11% ownership.

Tottenham pair Nacer Chadli and Christian Eriksen come into contention. At 6.4 to the Dane’s 7.8, Chadli remains the best value route into Mauricio Pochettino’s midfield and whilst Eriksen has produced more returns in recent matches – three goals in five – Chadli still offers a greater threat from inside the area as he looks to add to his four goals for the season.

A fourth blank in five last weekend means our faith in Gylfi Sigurdsson is starting to wane. Granted, a home clash with Leicester will persuade his 46% owners keep the faith but the following three (eve, ARS, mcy) may persuade some to part company with a player who has managed just two shots in the last five Gameweeks.

David Silva’s standing also takes a fall. Despite being handed the role in “the hole” last weekend, the Spaniard blanked for the sixth time in seven Gameweeks – City may be scoring for fun right now but the Spaniard is having little influence on our Fantasy seasons and is offering little to suggest he’s worth the 9.1 outlay.

Up front, budget pair Diafra Sakho (5.6) and Saido Berahino’s (5.7) superb value enables both to clamber up the rankings. After scoring in the last six in all competitions, Sakho has now averaged eight points per start for West Ham – whilst this weekend’s home clash with City is a deterrent, he has just one tricky fixture in the subsequent eight to bring in the points. Berahino’s strike against United took his tally to six for the campaign and with Palace, Leicester and Newcastle in the next three, has the platform to produce yet again.

Newcastle’s Papiss Cisse edges into consideration after delivering four goals and an assist in four appearances. Impressively, the Senegal international has averaged 7.5 per match despite featuring in the first XI on just two occasions as he recovers from injury – at 5.9, he’s now played a part in all five of his side’s goals from Gameweek 4 onwards.