The Watchlist Updated – Gameweek 35 – The Defence

Although double Gameweek 34 is still in progress, we’re already turning our thoughts to the coming weekend and beyond in the first of our Watchlist articles, which offer player recommendations for the remainder of the season. Arsenal’s defensive assets are on the rise thanks to a particularly friendly run-in which includes a double in Gameweek 37, while the form of Everton’s rearguard sees confidence in Tim Howard and Leighton Baines continue to soar.

GOALKEEPERS

With Arsenal facing five matches in the last four Gameweeks (hul, SWA, mun/SUN, WBA), David Ospina looks a great option between the sticks. The Colombian international is priced at just 4.9 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), and has been a regular in the starting XI since ousting Wojciech Szczesny in January. With three shut-outs in his last five appearances and such a friendly run-in, Ospina is staking a strong claim for one of our three Arsenal spots for their double in Gameweek 37.

Having been transferred in by over 27,000 FPL managers in the last two weeks, Kasper Schmeichel has rewarded his owners with 18 points even before tomorrow’s home clash with Chelsea. The 4.4-priced keeper now looks a strong option for the remainder of the season, with Nigel Pearson’s side playing three of their final four fixtures (NEW, SOT, sun, QPR) at the King Power Stadium.

Everton’s Tim Howard moves up a couple of places after registering a fourth clean sheet in the Toffees last six matches in the 3-0 win against Man United. With Roberto Martinez’s side looking so impressive at the back over the past month, their final few fixtures (avl, SUN, whm, TOT) offer hope their in-form backline can continue to prosper as key differentials in FPL as the season draws to a close.

Simon Mignolet drops a couple of places on our ladder despite registering a fourth clean sheet in six in the 0-0 draw at West Brom. That’s largely due to the tough trip to Chelsea the Reds face in Gameweek 36, while the final two fixtures (CPL, sto) could also prove to be tricky. For those who brought in the 5.4-valued Belgian international before double Gameweek 34, further rewards could be on offer when Brendan Rodgers’ men face struggling QPR at Anfield this weekend.

Wins against Leicester and Crystal Palace in the next six days would see Chelsea crowned champions, so with concerns that Petr Cech could be handed a start before the end of the season, Thibaut Courtois sees his stock fall in our latest refresh. The long-serving keeper could depart Stamford Bridge in the summer in a search for first-team football, and there’s a feeling that a farewell appearance will be on the cards. Despite Courtois bagging a third consecutive clean sheet in the draw against Arsenal, then, the possibility that he could fail to feature in at least one of the Blues final three matches (LIV, wba, SUN) lessens his appeal going forward.

Costel Pantilimon is a former Fantasy favourite, revived by double Gameweek prospects. Sunderland’s fixture list is nothing short of evil but, despite that, the giant Romanian remains a prospect off the back of his propensity to draw save points. Trips to Everton, Arsenal and Chelsea appear to guarantee that Pantilimon is kept busy and, while clean sheets look unlikely, home ties with Southampton and Leicester offer some hope. It’s that double in Gameweek 37 which really mainly boosts his appeal.

With the fourth best fixtures according to our Season Ticker (BUR, avl, EVE, new), West Ham’s Adrian remains in our thoughts. The Spanish keeper incredibly notched his third penalty save of the campaign in the Hammers’ goalless draw against QPR. That was only the second shut-out in their last nine league encounters, though, so further investment in the 5.1-rated keeper looks unlikely at this point.

After conceding twice against Tottenham at the weekend, Southampton’s Kelvin Davis slips down our ladder with three away fixtures on the horizon. Davis’ modest 4.5 price tag will probably ensure his owners stick but new investors will think twice with the Saints returning just four shut-outs on the road this term.

Newcastle have now gone seven matches without keeping a clean sheet, so despite a friendly run-in (lei, WBA, qpr, WHM), Tim Krul falls this time around. Perhaps a ray of light for the Dutchman’s 13% ownership is the fact he registered shut-outs against three of those next four opponents in the corresponding fixtures earlier this season.

Burnley’s Tom Heaton is another who keeps his place on the Watchlist by virtue of some decent fixtures (whm, hul, STO, avl). The 4.6-priced keeper has only kept one clean sheet away from Turf Moor this season, though, so with three of the Clarets final four matches on the road, the former United keeper may have to rely on saves (where he ranks fourth, with 111) to pick up Fantasy points.

DEFENDERS

Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny jumps to the top of our defender rankings thanks to a particularly friendly looking run-in (hul, SWA, mun/SUN, WBA), including the double in Gameweek 37. The Frenchman will set you back 6.0 in FPL, 1.1 more than Ospina, but with three goals in what has been an injury-hit campaign, Koscielny does offer that ability to deliver a double-digit haul. The centre-back has also bagged bonus points in the Gunners’ last three shut-outs, taking all three in the draw against Chelsea on Sunday.

After spending several weeks at the summit, Branislav Ivanovic slides down to second in our latest update. The Serbian has been part of a rearguard which has kept three consecutive clean sheets, but he has only registered two goal attempts and created just one chance in that period. While Jose Mourinho may throw off the shackles once the title is sealed, his cautious approach in recent weeks has undoubtedly hurt Ivanovic’s attacking potential, which makes the 7.7-valued defender look overpriced right now.

Having averaged ten points per appearance in his last two outings, Wes Morgan replaces Jeffrey Schlupp as our preferred Leicester defensive option. Back-to-back clean sheets have shown his ability to garner defensive points, while the former Nottingham Forest defender has also registered four shots from inside the box in the last four Gameweeks. That was bettered by team-mate Robert Huth with six, but with Morgan (4.4) coming in at 0.3 less than the German (4.7) in FPL, we’re backing the Foxes captain ahead of what looks to be some very favourable fixtures (NEW, SOT, sun, QPR).

West Ham’s Aaron Cresswell enjoys a small climb in our latest refresh, with the Hammers facing a pretty friendly set of fixtures (BUR, avl, EVE, new). The clean sheet picked up at Loftus Road on Saturday offers hope Sam Allardyce’s side could provide defensive points over the coming weeks, while the 5.6-priced defender’s share of set pieces and attacking raids down the left always look capable of adding to the two goals and four assists to date.

Leighton Baines leaps up to fifth in our ladder thanks to Everton’s resurgence. The Toffees have kept four clean sheets in their last six matches, while the England international leads all defenders for chances created (14) over that period. Baines bagged his ninth assist of the season in the 3-0 win against United and, having also collected six bonus points in his last six outings, the 7.1-rated defender looks set for a strong finish to the season.

Despite delivering an impressive nine points against West Brom on his return to Premier League duties following a three-match ban, Martin Skrtel falls this time around. The Reds face a fairly tricky run-in (che, CPL, sto) after the home clash with QPR this weekend, so while the 6.0-valued centre-back looks a solid option for the rest of the season, clean sheets may be slightly harder to come by.

Patrick van Aanholt benefits from Sunderland playing five fixtures (sto, SOT, eve, LEI/ars, che) over the final four Gameweeks. While the fixtures promise little by way of defensive returns, coming in at just 4.1 in FPL, the Dutch international looks worthy of consideration as we head towards double Gameweek 37, given that he is second amongst defenders for goal attempts (eight) over the last six Gameweeks. Van Aanholt ranks third for chances created over the same period – again with eight to his name.

With Ryan Bertrand only picking up a single assist in his last eight appearances, we’re making Toby Alderweireld our favoured Saints defensive option. Price is the major contributing factor, with the Belgian international valued at just 4.8 in FPL, compared to 5.9 for Bertrand. Alderweireld has played the last two matches in centre midfield, but with Victor Wanyama returning from a two-match suspension, he is likely to revert to centre-back for the rest of the season, which sees Ronald Koeman’s side play three of their final four matches on the road (sun, lei, AVL, mci). The former Ajax defender did play through the pain barrier against Tottenham on Saturday with a shoulder injury, but is expected to line up at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

Daryl Janmaat keeps his place on the Watchlist due to Newcastle’s favourable schedule (lei, WBA, qpr, WHM). The right-back should shrug off the illness which forced him to be substituted in the 3-2 defeat to Swansea on Saturday, and having scored once and provided eight assists this season, could prove a source of attacking returns, particularly against West Brom and West Ham, who have allowed the most shots from inside the box out of all 20 teams over the last six Gameweeks.

With tough away fixtures against Chelsea and Everton out of the way, United’s Chris Smalling is back on our radar. Louis van Gaal’s men face a reasonable run-in (WBA, cpl, ARS, hul), which should give the 5.3-priced defender the chance to provide points at either end of the pitch, having already scored four goals in a campaign hit by injury and suspension. The England international managed two shots from inside the box against Everton on Sunday, so with an ownership of just 1.5%, he looks a differential with significant upside for those looking to roll the dice in the final few weeks.

At 4.3, Villa’s Ron Vlaar earns a spot lower down ahead of three home matches (EVE, WHM, BUR) in the final four. Tim Sherwood’s side have chalked up two clean sheets in the last six, though bearing in mind that both arrived on the road, our faith in their skipper is somewhat diminished.

With Burnley failing to score in their last five matches, attack-minded right-back Kieran Trippier sees his stock fall. The 4.8-rated defender has supplied four assists this season, but with the Clarets struggling in front of goal, his potential for attacking returns is diminished. Three away trips in their final four fixtures (whm, hul, STO, avl) make clean sheets look unlikely.