The Watchlist Updated – Gameweek 3 – The Midfield

Following yesterday’s look at the risers and fallers among the goalkeepers and defenders, this afternoon we turn our attention to the latest movements among the midfielders on our Watchlist, which offer player recommendations for the next four-to-six Gameweeks. The perfect blend of form and fixtures means both David Silva and Yaya Toure find a place in our latest rankings, while the out of sorts Eden Hazard continues to slide down our ladder.

With three assists in two appearances so far this season, along with the most favourable upcoming schedule according to our Season Ticker (eve, WAT, cpl, WHM, tot, NEW), David Silva looks set to continue his fine start to the new campaign. The Spain international seems to be flourishing in the “number ten” role in the 4-2-3-1 formation used by Manuel Pellegrini so far, although the former Valencia playmaker has only managed four goal attempts, which is a slight concern given his 10.0 price tag in Fantasy Premier League (FPL).

Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez proved his 15-point haul in Gameweek 1 was no fluke with another double-digit haul at West Ham last weekend, and with further favourable fixtures (bou, AVL, nor) to come in the next six, along with decent match-ups against Tottenham and Stoke, the Algerian still looks the best budget option available right now. Over 284,000 FPL bosses have drafted the currently 5.7-priced Mahrez in already this week.

Alexis Sanchez grabbed an assist on his first start of the new campaign against Crystal Palace on Sunday, and leads all midfielders for shots in the box (nine), despite having only played 104 minutes so far. The 11.0-rated Chile international doesn’t have the most favourable fixtures coming up (LIV, new, STO, che, lei, MUN), but with the midfielder also leading the way for touches in the box (25), his fixture-proof appeal and potential for attacking returns looks sky high.

A goal and an assist in his first two outings has placed West Ham’s Dimitri Payet firmly on Fantasy managers’ radars. The former Marseille man has already seen his price rise to 7.6 in FPL ahead of the plum home fixture against Bournemouth on Saturday, while Slaven Bilic’s side also face three more favourable matches (NEW, NOR, sun) in the next six.

Another Premier League new boy to have immediately found his feet is Swansea’s Andre Ayew. The Ghanaian attacker has scored in both his appearances so far, and has tallied six shots from inside the box, the third best among midfielders behind Sanchez and Mahrez. The Swans face a reasonable upcoming schedule (sun, MUN, wat, EVE, sot, TOT), so it’s no surprise to see that 122,000+ FPL bosses have snapped up the 7.1-rated midfielder so far this week.

While Sadio Mane has blanked in both matches so far, the Southampton attacker has managed to register six goal attempts (four from inside the box), and perhaps shouldn’t be written off quite yet. Ronald Koeman’s side have favourable fixtures at Watford and at home to Norwich in the next two Gameweeks, so we’re still backing the 8.0-priced midfielder to make an impact in the short-term, although the schedule thereafter (wba, MUN, SWA, che) could trigger a fire sale.

With two goals (albeit it the first of those was later awarded to Silva by the dubious goals panel) and an assist so far this season, along with a generous looking price tag of 8.6 in FPL, Yaya Toure earns his first appearance of the season on our Watchlist. As already mentioned, City’s fixtures are very favourable for the upcoming period, and with Raheem Sterling (8.9) still settling in at the Etihad, the Ivorian looks a worthy candidate for one of our three City slots, as indicated by the 241,000+ transfers in he’s received already this week.

The big faller this week is Eden Hazard, who has yet to register any attacking returns, and has worryingly only managed two shots and four key passes. The fixtures (wba, CPL, eve, ARS, new, SOT) are also not in the Belgian’s favour, so it’s not a great surprise to see the 11.5-valued midfielder second in the transfers out this week, with over 167,000 FPL bosses selling last season’s PFA Player of the Year.

After last night’s dazzling display against Club Brugge, Memphis Depay has been retained on our Watchlist. The Dutch international produced two brilliant finishes, while he also provided a superb cross to assist Marouane Fellaini’s last-gasp header. The 8.5-rated midfielder has looked more at home having been switched to the left flank in United’s last two matches, as illustrated by his seven goal attempts against Aston Villa, compared to just three against Tottenham in Gameweek 1. After Saturday’s home fixture against Newcastle, the difficult schedule (swa, LIV, sot, SUN, ars) may limit any potential investment in the former PSV attacker.

A non-mover in our latest update is Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen, who produced the goods in the 2-2 draw against Stoke last weekend, bagging an assist and full bonus. Priced at 8.5 in FPL, the Dane may be a tad too expensive for some people’s tastes, but with four pretty kind fixtures coming up (lei, EVE, sun, CPL), he could justify that outlay, at least in the short-term.

Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho is kinder on the budget at 8.1 in FPL, and does hold an edge over Eriksen in terms of goal attempts in the box (2.0 to 1.5) and penalty area touches (3.5 to 1.5) per appearance, although the Tottenham man is superior when it comes to chances created, by five key passes to one. The Reds playmaker does, however, face difficult fixtures at Arsenal and Man United in the next three matches, although Brendan Rodgers’ men do have three favourable home clashes (WHM, NOR, AVL) in the coming weeks.

Bournemouth’s Matt Ritchie and Norwich’s Nathan Redmond have had contrasting starts to the new season, with the former already suffering a price drop to 5.9 on the back of two blanks, while England U21 international Redmond has already found the back of the net twice. The Cherries fixtures over the next six Gameweeks (whm, LEI, nor, SUN, sto, WAT) are the primary reason we’re sticking with the Scotland international, while he has registered more goal attempts than Redmond (seven to four) so far this term.

Redmond has been a more creative force than Ritchie, laying on five opportunities for his team-mates. The Canaries’ schedule (STO, sot, BOU, liv, whm, LEI) isn’t as kind as Bournemouth’s, but those home matches should provide the former Birmingham midfielder, available at 5.5 in FPL, with good opportunities to add to the 17 points he’s accrued so far this season.

The final position on this week’s ladder is filled by Everton’s Ross Barkley, who has perhaps gone slightly “under the radar” this season, given he’s collected 20 points in FPL from his first two outings. The reason for that is primarily the Toffees fixture list (MCI, tot, CHE, swa, wba, LIV), which is rated the second toughest over the next six Gameweeks, according to our ticker. Nonetheless, over 148,000 FPL managers have drafted the England international in so far this week, seeing his price rise to 6.6, amid the hope his rising confidence playing in the “number ten” role will continue to translate into attacking returns, despite the difficult tests to come.