The Digest – Gameweek 33

Chelsea’s weekend match-winner, Everton’s continued rise up the table and Fantasy managers’ plans for the upcoming double Gameweek 34 are the main focus of this week’s Digest piece.

The Player

When it comes to consistent attacking returns, there’s no question that Eden Hazard has been a cut above his peers. Only twice this season has the Belgian gone more than one match without producing a goal or assist and with attacking returns in all but four of his last 17 starts, he’s head and shoulders above any other option as Chelsea close in on the title.

As a result, it’s perhaps surprising that the Hazard’s 44% ownership isn’t higher, particularly when you factor in the vacillating form of other Fantasy Premier League’s (FPL) high-scoring midfielders this term. Although Alexis Sanchez and David Silva sit in the top three midfield options, both have accumulated points in bursts and been in and out of our squads as a consequence.

As the season started, the likes of Chelsea new boys Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa threatened to outshine the Belgian but both have failed to replicate his stunning ability to rack up the points with regularity. Hazard has now delivered 211 FPL points and has left his competitors for dead after extending his lead to 31 points over Sanchez (180) following the latest round of fixtures. Significantly, that’s his highest ever FPL haul, and with six more matches left to wreak havoc, he’s threatening to pass Yaya Toure’s 241 points from 2013/14.

In light of Hazard’s form and impeccable injury record, the PFA Player of the Year favourite is the standout armband candidate in the Blues’ upcoming double against Arsenal and Leicester – already, he’s earned over 63% of the votes cast in our Captain Poll. With a kind set of fixtures to see out the season, Hazard has the potential to keep on delivering and, subsequently, elevate his price across the Fantasy games for next term. Starting this term at 10.0, he will surely be moved to 11.0 (Toure’s starting price this term) or beyond, though if he can retain the same sort of returns, it’ll be difficult to look beyond the Belgian when the new campaign gets underway.

The Team

Everton are finally clicking into gear following months of insipid football that saw them record a woeful six goals in 12 league ties. The Toffees’ 1-0 victory over Burnley on the weekend means they’ve now matched their longest undefeated streak this term, winning four and drawing one in the last five Gameweeks.

Roberto Martinez is still tinkering with personnel and shape, prompting the adoption of a 4-1-4-1 set-up in their last two matches. With Gareth Barry snuffing out attacks behind a four-man midfield that boasts pace (Kevin Mirallas, Aaron Lennon), creativity (Ross Barkley) and excellent ball retention (James McCarthy), Everton are finally harnessing their talents in a cohesive fashion. This improvement is manifest in the underlying statistics from the last two Gameweeks, with no side mustering more shots on target (16) and only two teams conceding fewer shots inside the box (10) than the Toffees.

Having been used sparingly by former club Tottenham before his loan switch to Goodison Park in January, Lennon is playing with a renewed purpose under Martinez’s tutelage. The diminutive winger has already surpassed the one goal he tallied in over 2000 minutes last season, notching two strikes in his previous four starts, with an assist also thrown in for good measure.

The Merseysiders’ recent upturn in form has harvested three clean sheets in five outings, which has some managers weighing up a move their attacking full-backs, Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman, as Roberto Martinez’ men belatedly remind us why they were such favoured Fantasy assets in his debut campaign at the Goodison helm. Whilst a weekend visit of United is no easy task, showdowns against Villa, Sunderland, West Ham and Spurs in the final four Gameweek afford Everton further reason for optimism and with no European duties to dent their appeal next season, Martinez’ men could be back on our radars once again.

The Talking Point

As we brace ourselves for the third double Gameweek of the season, many Fantasy managers will be more inclined than ever to load up on the main teams on offer.

Not only is this perhaps a by-product of double Gameweek 31, where those who chose to ignore Christian Benteke (23 points), Charlie Austin (21) and Matty Phillips (20) were stung badly, it’s down to the fact that three of the four sides- Chelsea, Liverpool and Leicester – have favourable fixtures to see out the season.

The Blues have three home matches in the final four Gameweeks (CPL, LIV, wba, SUN), whilst Liverpool host QPR and Palace in the three rounds of fixtures directly after their double.

Leicester, meanwhile, approach their pair of matches on the back of three successive wins and, like Chelsea, still have a trio of showdowns (NEW, SOT, sun, QPR) in front of their own supporters to follow. Given that Nigel Pearson’s side have notched ten times in their last four, there’s every reason for optimism here – as we’ve seen time and again, those near the bottom of the table can provide an unlikely source of points at this time of year.

Whilst Hull look devoid of form and have dire fixtures for the run-in, the numerous options from the other three candidates could be more than worth the investment. With Chelsea, Liverpool and Leicester still having plenty to play for, loading up on the double and taking a four, or even eight-point hit, may ultimately prove the canniest move as a means to climbing the rankings, as Benteke and co. so emphatically reminded us earlier this month.