The Watchlist Updated – Gameweek 23 – Midfielders

Our second instalment of this week’s Watchlist articles sees us turn our attention to the latest movements among the midfielders. West Ham’s Dimitri Payet once again illustrated his potential with a goal and assist in the Hammers’ 3-1 win at Bournemouth last week and, with four home fixtures in the next six, climbs all the way to the top of our ladder. Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino is the significant riser in this week’s update, though Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez is on the slide after losing his role as the Foxes’ number one for penalties.

The return to fitness of Dimitri Payet, coinciding with a favourable part of the schedule for West Ham (MCI, AVL, sot, nor, SUN, TOT), was always going to see the former Marseille playmaker return to the forefront of our thoughts, so it’s little surprise to see him take over at the summit. The France international represents great value at 8.0 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) having scored six goals and provided five assists in 15 appearances this season, although it is a slight concern he has only registered three penalty box touches since his return from injury. Payet’s assist potential remains intact, though, with seven chances created in the 206 minutes he’s played over the last three matches.

With Swansea and Newcastle visiting Goodison Park over the next two Gameweeks, we’ve moved Everton’s Ross Barkley all the way up to second spot on our ladder. The England international has bagged three assists in his last trio of home matches, so while his underlying statistics (three key passes and five shots inside the box over the last four Gameweeks) are slightly underwhelming, the 7.3-priced midfielder has a proven track record of delivering attacking points. The rest of the Toffees’ schedule over the next six Gameweeks (sto, WBA, liv, avl) is mixed, though.

Having missed Arsenal’s goalless draw with Stoke due to a foot injury, Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil drops a few places in our rankings. The German international has been passed fit to return in time for Sunday’s home clash against Chelsea, though, while Arsene Wenger’s men do face three more home fixtures over the coming period (SOT, bou, LEI, mun, SWA). Most of the 10.0-valued schemer’s 53% ownership in FPL will likely keep faith, then, although Fantasy managers have plenty of options from the Gunners’ midfield, with Alexis Sanchez close to a return from injury, while Aaron Ramsey has three sets of double-figure hauls in the last eight Gameweeks.

Another big name falling down a couple of places on the Watchlist this time around is Man City’s Kevin De Bruyne. This is partly due to the return to fitness of Sergio Aguero, with the Argentine now probably looking the best route into the City attack, though De Bruyne’s form – six blanks in his last eight appearances – is a real concern for an outlay of 10.8. The Citizens also face four away matches over the next six Gameweeks (whm, sun, LEI, TOT, new, liv), and given none of the Belgian’s four double-figure hauls have come on the road, points could continue to elude him.

Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez (7.2) continues to slide down our ladder. Devoid of spot-kick duties and having drawn blanks in each of his last five appearances, the 65%-owned Algerian will be hoping to take advantage of four home fixtures in the next six (STO, LIV, mci, ars, NOR, WBA). Mahrez is still posting reasonable attacking statistics, with seven goal attempts (five from inside the box) and six chances created over the last four Gameweeks. The concern is the goals have really dried up for the Foxes of late, managing just two in their last five matches.

Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino makes a huge move up the Watchlist this week ,with the Brazilian currently being favoured as the most advanced central attacker by Jurgen Klopp. Coming in at just 7.8 in FPL, Firmino looks a prime differential option with his current ownership standing at 2%. No midfielder has registered more penalty box touches (24) over the last four Gameweeks, and with three favourable fixtures over the next four (nor, lei, SUN, avl), the Reds’ big summer signing could be worth a roll of the dice for those looking to make up lost ground.

After attracting plenty of investment following his 12-point haul against Everton in Gameweek 19, the subsequent return of a single assist in Stoke’s next three matches means Marko Arnautovic drops a couple of positions in our latest update. The Austria international now faces two difficult away fixtures at Leicester and United before another favourable stretch on the Potters’ schedule (EVE, bou, AVL, NEW). Given he’s still managed a respectable five shots from inside the box and seven chances created over the last four Gameweeks, patience in the 6.7-priced midfielder may be rewarded, then.

Dele Alli is another midfielder who has gone off the boil of late, but the England international stays around halfway up our ladder as he still represents strong value priced at just 5.5 in FPL. The former MK Dons player also leads all midfielders for total goal attempts (14) over the last four Gameweeks, and is still playing in the number ten role for Spurs, so it is likely to only be a matter of time before he is back among the attacking points. His next six fixtures (cpl, nor, WAT, mci, SWA, whm) are also pretty reasonable.

Alli’s team-mate Christian Eriksen has moved up to just two spots behind the England youngster on the back of a brace in the 4-1 victory over Sunderland. The Dane’s inconsistency can be frustrating, particularly given his 8.3 price tag in FPL, but as he’s created 11 chances over the last four Gameweeks, we can perhaps expect him to add to the seven assists he’s accrued already this season in the coming weeks. Eriksen’s goalscoring potential is generally limited to shots from outside the box, though, with just two of his 10 shots over the last four Gameweeks coming from inside the area.

Newcastle’s Georginio Wijnaldum splits the Tottenham pair, with the Dutch international moving up a couple of places having scored twice and provided an assist in his last two outings. The former Feyenoord playmaker is the most transferred in player so far this week, with over 120,000 new owners, though the Magpies face away trips to Watford and Everton over the next two Gameweeks. The rest of Newcastle’s upcoming schedule (WBA, che, MCI, sto) is also fairly tricky, but having registered 11 shots from inside the box over the last four Gameweeks, more than any other midfielder, Wijnaldum may be able to remain among the goals. He is, however, still searching for his first league goal away from St James’ Park.

The value offered by Chelsea’s Willian means he also moves up a couple of spots in our rankings, with the Brazilian’s return of three goals and seven assists this season pretty respectable for a 7.2 price tag. With three difficult matches (ars, wat, MUN) up next for the Blues, now might not be the time to invest in the former Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder.

Another new face on the Watchlist this week is Sunderland’s Adam Johnson (5.8), who has quietly racked up four assists in his last three appearances. The former Man City midfielder has created nine chances over the last four Gameweeks, and looks a nice differential option for Saturday’s crucial home clash against Bournemouth with his ownership at a meagre 0.1% in FPL. The Black Cats’ fixture list thereafter (MCI, liv, MUN, whm, CPL) is pretty treacherous, though.

After finally picking up his first goal of the season in the 4-0 win against Crystal Palace on Saturday, while also picking up an assist, David Silva climbs back up our rankings. The Spaniard, priced at 9.9 in FPL, is 0.9 cheaper than Kevin De Bruyne, and with little to choose between the pair for both shots from inside the box (both three) over the last four Gameweeks and chances created (16 to 14 in favour of De Bruyne), the former Valencia playmaker could be worth siding with.

While Dimitri Payet is undoubtedly the stand-out West Ham attacking option, we’ve inserted Michail Antonio to the foot of our ladder this week, given the former Nottingham Forest wide man has racked up an impressive two goals and four assists over the last five Gameweeks. Over that period only Georginio Wijnaldum (14) has managed more shots from inside the box than Antonio’s 10, although he has been lucky to notch four assists given he’s only created five chances over the same period. Victor Moses’ return to fitness could also mean his place in the starting XI could come under some threat, but at a price of 5.2, the Hammers winger does look a viable budget option.

Having failed to garner any attacking points in his last five matches, Arsenal’s Theo Walcott slides all the way to the bottom of the Watchlist. The England international’s game time could also be reduced once Alexis Sanchez returns to first-team action, so the prospects for the 8.3-valued attacker don’t appear particularly bright.