The Watchlist Updated – Gameweek 29 – The Midfield

After sifting through the best options at the back yesterday, we now take a look at the latest ups and downs among the midfielders in this week’s Watchlist rankings, which offer player recommendations for the next four-to-six Gameweeks. While there is little change at the top, goals for Gylfi Sigurdsson and Sadio Mane last week see the pair return to prominence.

Eden Hazard remains at the summit after registering a double-figure haul against West Ham following the blank in Gameweek 27. The Belgian’s last three double-digit scores have all come away from Stamford Bridge, and with matches at Hull and QPR, along with the double Gameweek 34 trips to Arsenal and Leicester, he could well continue to prosper on the road. Home fixtures against Southampton and Stoke also look good opportunities for Hazard to cement his place as the top scoring player in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) this season.

Our only other non-mover in midfield this week is Manchester City’s David Silva. The Spanish international has averaged 7.58 points per appearance since Gameweek 17, and with a strong upcoming schedule (bur, WBA, cpl, mun, WHM, AVL), the prospects continue to look bright for Silva, who is the second most transferred in player this week with over 45,000 new owners.

After registering his first goal since Gameweek 21 against QPR last week, Alexis Sanchez moves up a couple of positions. The Chilean managed a team-high five goal attempts against the R’s, and also led the way with nine touches in the penalty area. Although the Gunners face tough home fixtures against Liverpool and Chelsea in the next six, further home encounters against West Ham and Sunderland, along with trips to Newcastle and Burnley should provide Sanchez with ample opportunity to shine. It’s worth noting that last night’s win over United is set to see Arsenal’s Gameweek 33 clash with Sunderland rescheduled, though if, as expected, it is shifted to Gameweek 34, this still remains without our Watchlist’s six-Gameweek window.

Having only managed a single assist in his last five league appearances, Christian Eriksen suffers a slight drop this week. Fantasy managers who drafted the Dane in for the double Gameweek shouldn’t be too concerned though, with Eriksen registering five goal attempts against QPR, the same number as Harry Kane. After this weekend’s trip to Old Trafford, matches against Leicester, Burnley and Aston Villa should give the Tottenham playmaker the platform to produce significant attacking returns.

Swansea’s Gylfi Sigurdsson is back on our radars ahead of a kind looking run of fixtures for Garry Monk’s side. After this week’s home clash with Liverpool, the Swans face five sides currently in the bottom half of the league (avl, HUL, EVE, lei, new). Sigurdsson marked his return to the starting XI with a goal against his former side Tottenham, and now priced at 6.5 in FPL, looks a strong mid-price option for the coming weeks.

After registering another blank away from the Emirates, Mesut Ozil drops a couple of places. The German international has failed to provide attacking returns in his last two road trips, and while four of the Gunners next six are at home, clashes against Liverpool and Chelsea don’t look favourable. But leading the way with five chances created in each of Arsenal’s last two Premier League matches, it is clear that Ozil remains central to the Gunners attack.

Sadio Mane rises this week after scoring the winner against Crystal Palace. The Senegal international has now netted seven league goals this season, and with Graziano Pelle having failed to find the net since Gameweek 17, is the prime Southampton attacking option right now. Following the tough trip to Stamford Bridge this weekend, the Saints have a decent enough schedule (BUR, eve, HUL, sto, TOT), which should provide Mane the opportunity to continue his good form.

A friendly fixture list and a 14-point haul against West Ham in Gameweek 27 has put Palace’s Jason Puncheon firmly in our thoughts. Somewhat surprisingly, all three of Puncheon’s double-figure hauls have come away from Selhurst Park, and with four of the next six in front of his own fans, this may deter some would-be suitors. But with some plum home fixtures against QPR, West Brom and Hull, the 5.6-valued midfielder still looks a great value pick for the coming period.

Following three double-digit hauls in his last six appearances, the case for Philippe Coutinho has proved impossible to ignore. His appearance in this week’s rankings can largely be attributed to the fact Raheem Sterling has found himself playing as a wing-back in Liverpool’s last two matches against Burnley and Blackburn. Although it seems likely this is just a short-term measure by Brendan Rodgers, it certainly gives Coutinho the upper hand as a Fantasy prospect for now. The Reds, who are unbeaten in the league since Gameweek 16, face tough trips to Swansea and Arsenal in the next three, but favourable matches against Newcastle, Hull and West Brom should bring the Brazilian, and Sterling, if he is restored to a more attacking role, onto our radars. Fantasy managers should be mindful of the possibility of the Reds Gameweek 33 trip to Hull being switched to Gameweek 34, as discussed on the site yesterday.

Two of our favoured budget midfield options for the coming weeks are Leicester midfielder Riyad Mahrez and Swansea’s Ki Sung-Yeung. Mahrez benefits from the strongest upcoming schedule (HUL, tot, WHM, wba, SWA, bur/CHE), and priced at 4.9, looks an enticing differential with an ownership of just 0.3%. Ki has form firmly on his side, having scored three goals in his last five outings. Swansea also have some favourable upcoming fixtures (LIV, avl, HUL, EVE, lei, new), so the 5.1-priced South Korean international could yet continue to be a viable Fantasy asset for some time yet.

After finding the net for the second time in three matches against Everton last week, Victor Moses has overtaken Jon Walters as our favoured Stoke attacking option. The Nigerian winger, currently on loan from Chelsea, led the way with four goal attempts in the 2-0 win against the Toffees. Although Moses has form on his side, matches against Chelsea, West Ham and Southampton in the next six may limit any potential investment.

With tough away trips to Arsenal and Man City in the next six, Stewart Downing falls to the bottom of our rankings. West Ham do play host to Sunderland and Stoke in the same period, while matches Leicester and QPR also look favourable, but with just a single assist from his last six appearances, there look to be stronger options than the 6.6-valued Downing in the mid-price bracket.