The Watchlist Updated – Gameweek 26 – The Defence

Leicester’s perfect blend of form and fixtures from Gameweek 27 onwards sees their chief protagonists marching up our Watchlist refresh. Southampton are also on the rise on the back of five straight shut-outs, whilst our faith in Bournemouth’s penalty-taking left-back is also boosted by a friendly upcoming schedule.

GOALKEEPERS

The return to form of Fraser Forster has been nothing short of sensational, with the former Celtic goalkeeper racking up 36 points over the last five Gameweeks. Southampton also face a pretty favourable run of fixtures (swa, CHE, bou, SUN, sto, LIV) over the next month or so, and setting us back just 4.9 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), the England international should continue to attract significant investment. The Saints’ number one has been subject to over 70,000 transfers in over the last two Gameweeks and with a mere 2% ownership he remains an excellent differential.

Having conceded nine goals over the last three Gameweeks, Stoke’s Jack Butland slips in our latest update. The 5.3-priced goalkeeper remains towards the top of our rankings though by virtue of the Potters reasonable fixture list (bou, AVL, NEW, che, SOT, wat) over the next six Gameweeks, although the continued absence of captain Ryan Shawcross is a concern, given his influence on the backline.

With five clean sheets in his last seven appearances, and with a really favourable upcoming schedule after Sunday’s difficult trip to the Emirates (NOR, WBA, wat, NEW, cpl), Leicester’s Kasper Schmeichel continues to move up the Watchlist. The Danish international is still available at a bargain price tag of 4.5 in FPL, though his appeal is somewhat dented by Leicester’s other options in defence – given that many Fantasy managers will be looking to have both Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy on board for those fixtures, Schmeichel faces a tough task to win the race for our third Foxes player.

Another climber this week is Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois, who should be able to accumulate some decent defensive returns over the next few weeks given the Blues’ upcoming fixture list (NEW, sot, nor, STO, liv, WHM). The Belgian may struggle to attract significant investment, though, given he comes in at 5.2 in FPL, with the value offered by Forster and Schmeichel perhaps more appealing.

Bournemouth’s Artur Boruc (4.5) is a non-mover this time around with his appeal as a budget option maintained due to the Cherries favourable run of fixtures (STO, wat, SOT, new, SWA) over the next five Gameweeks. Eddie Howe’s side have only managed two shut-outs in their last seven matches, though, so while owners of the Poland international may be happy to hold, it’s unlikely he’ll see much investment at this point.

Favourable short-term fixtures (WAT, wba, sun) mean Crystal Palace’s Wayne Hennessey enjoys a slight rise up the Watchlist in our latest refresh. The Eagles have been struggling of late, though, particularly at the back, conceding 14 goals in their last six matches. The Wales international, priced at 4.2 in FPL, still offers solid value, though, and should stand a good chance of registering defensive points over the coming weeks.

Arsenal’s tough run of fixtures over the next month or so (LEI, mun, SWA, tot, WBA, eve) means Petr Cech is a non-mover this week. The Czech Republic international’s form can’t be questioned, having registered five clean sheets in his last seven appearances, but maintaining that output could be difficult for the 5.9-rated stopper over the coming period. The favourable home matches against Swansea and West Brom will likely earn the former Chelsea keeper a stay of execution, though.

While Swansea face a pretty tough run of matches over the coming weeks (SOT, tot, ars), the favourable run of fixtures they face thereafter (NOR, bou, AVL) sees Lukasz Fabianski move up a couple of spots on our ladder. The Welsh side look a reasonable bet to pick up a few clean sheets over the next six Gameweeks, then, making the former Arsenal goalkeeper, rated at 4.7 in FPL, a viable option for our 15-man squads.

David de Gea keeps his place towards the bottom of our ladder with Man United facing four favourable match-ups (sun, WAT, wba, CPL) over the coming period. Clashes at home to Arsenal and away to Man City prevent the Spaniard from rising up the Watchlist, along with the fact Louis van Gaal’s side have only managed two clean sheets over the last six Gameweeks, which isn’t a great return for the 5.6-priced goalkeeper.

West Ham’s Adrian (5.0) clings onto the final spot on the Watchlist with favourable clashes away to Norwich and at home to Sunderland over the next two Gameweeks. The rest of the Hammers schedule (TOT, eve, WAT, che) is pretty unfavourable, though, so there are undoubtedly better options currently available.

DEFENDERS

While Robert Huth’s goals have caught the eye in recent weeks, it’s Christian Fuchs who remains our preferred Leicester option at the back. The Austrian moves to the summit this week having registered five clean sheets, two assists and nine bonus points over the last seven Gameweeks. He also leads all defenders for chances created over the last four Gameweeks with seven, with a share of corner kicks heightening his appeal. That attacking threat, along with what look to be decent opportunities to garner further defensive points against the likes of Norwich and West Brom over the coming weeks, makes the 4.8-priced left-back a great option for our five-man backlines.

Virgil van Dijk moves up to second spot this week with the Southampton defence in irresistible form of late. Bearing in mind the afore-mentioned favourable run of fixtures through the rest of February and March, the 5.4-valued Dutch international is likely to be back on Fantasy managers’ radars as we look to freshen up our defences. The former Celtic defender has failed to register a goal attempt over the last four Gameweeks, though, which is a worry given his fairly expensive price tag.

One defender who offers that attacking threat at a cheaper price is Bournemouth’s Charlie Daniels. The Cherries left-back, available at just 4.6 in FPL, moves up to third position this time around with those favourable upcoming fixtures (STO, wat, SOT, new, SWA) firmly in mind. Given his two double-digit hauls have come against strugglers West Brom and Norwich, he could well add to his two goals and four assists against some of the sides towards the bottom of the table.

After netting his fifth goal of the season against Swansea last weekend, Crystal Palace’s Scott Dann remains one of the stand-out defensive options. The centre-back, still available at 5.8 in FPL, is now the second-highest scoring defender this season with 105 points, and given he leads all defenders for shots from inside the box (seven) and penalty box touches (19) over the last four Gameweeks, there looks to be no reason why he can’t continue his goal scoring form.

Branislav Ivanovic is a non-mover in our latest refresh with the Serbian still holding plenty of upside due to his attacking potential. The right-back has registered three shots from inside the box over the last four Gameweeks, and created a trio of chances. Those numbers aren’t overly impressive, but with a goal and three assists over his last nine appearances, the 6.6-rated defender looks to be finding some form in the final third. Defensive returns could also be on the cards against Newcastle, Norwich and Stoke in the champions’ next four matches.

Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld is also a non-mover this week with Spurs facing tough matches against Man City, West Ham and Arsenal over the next four Gameweeks. Fixtures against Aston Villa and Bournemouth are very favourable, though, while the home clash against Swansea in Gameweek 27 could also yield plenty of points for the Belgian.

Hector Bellerin stays around halfway up our ladder based on the form of the Gunners backline over the last month or so. He’s also bagged two bonus points over the last seven Gameweeks, but tough upcoming fixtures and a lack of attacking output does limit the appeal of the 6.1-valued right-back over the coming period.

Stoke’s favourable fixtures over the coming period (bou, AVL, NEW, che, SOT, wat) are firmly behind our decision to promote Glen Johnson up the Watchlist. The right-back has racked up three assists so far this term, although he has only managed to produce six crosses in his last four appearances. Setting us back 5.3 in FPL, attacking returns may be needed along with clean sheet points to justify that outlay.

Having grabbed full bonus points in the last two matches West Ham have managed to keep a clean sheet, Aaron Cresswell keeps his spot on our ladder, with defensive returns looking possible against Norwich, Sunderland and Watford over the coming period. Difficult matches against Tottenham, Everton and Chelsea may limit any interest in the 5.6-priced left-back, though.

Having scored four goals in his last six appearances, the goal threat of Sunderland’s Patrick van Aanholt sees the Dutchman rise a few places this week. Only the home encounter against Crystal Palace looks favourable in the Black Cats’ next six fixtures (MUN, whm, CPL, sot, EVE, new), though, so further investment in the 4.7-rated left back appears unlikely right now.

Goal threat and Ashley Williams have not been uttered in the same sentence too often in recent years, but with the Swansea defender totalling five attempts from inside the box over the last four Gameweeks, he is now holding some added Fantasy appeal. The Wales captain, priced at 4.8 in FPL, remains a viable option then, with defensive returns also looking a possibility against Southampton and, in particular, Norwich and Aston Villa over the next month or so. Williams’ propensity for earning bonus when Swansea grab a clean sheet also plays a major part in our assessment.

Four favourable fixtures (sun, WAT, wba, CPL) in the next five mean Man United’s Chris Smalling jumps back up a few spots in our rankings. The fact the England international has only mustered one assist in terms of attacking points does make investment unlikely, though, given his price tag of 6.7 in FPL.

Following his 13-point haul in the 3-0 win at Stoke, Everton’s Seamus Coleman enjoys a slight rise up our ladder this week. Significant investment in the Republic of Ireland international is probably still unlikely though, given his attacking statistics (one chance created and three shots from inside the box over the last four Gameweeks) aren’t overly impressive bearing min mind his 5.8 price tag in FPL. The Toffees also face a blank in Gameweek 27, although their upcoming fixtures (WBA, blank, avl, WHM, sun) are pretty friendly.

West Brom’s Craig Dawson drops towards the bottom of the Watchlist in our latest update, with the Baggies only looking to have two favourable match-ups in the next six (eve, CPL, lei, MUN, ars, NOR). The 5.1-valued defender is also a slight injury doubt for Saturday’s trip to Goodison Park with an ankle injury.

Difficult fixtures also mean Liverpool’s Alberto Moreno continues to slide down our rankings, with the Reds also facing a blank in Gameweek 27 (avl, (blank), MCI, cpl, CHE, sot). With his reasonably impressive underlying statistics (five chances created and six goal attempts over the last four Gameweeks) still failing to translate into attacking returns, the 4.9-priced Spaniard looks one to avoid for the time being.

Aleksandar Kolarov takes the final spot on our ladder, with the Serbian seeing his stock plummet even further having averaged two points per appearance over his last seven outings, while there is a big rotation risk with Gael Clichy also competing for the left-back berth at the Etihad. Priced at 6.1 in FPL, and with a poor upcoming schedule (TOT, blank, liv), Kolarov looks unlikely to turn his fortunes around any time soon.