We take one final look back at Gameweek 11 as the rush to acquire Chelsea’s brilliant Belgian gains momentum, whilst West Brom hint at form ahead of some very kind fixtures.
The Player
With nine days still remaining until domestic action resumes, Eden Hazard’s latest bandwagon has already accumulated 205,000+ new Fantasy Premier League owners.
Back-to-back double-figure hauls of 14 and 19 points – his two highest of the season – triggered the Chelsea winger’s unstoppable rise to the top of the FPL standings as we scramble for his signature in time for a Gameweek 12 trip to Middlesbrough.
Five goals and two assists in five matches since the move to 3-4-3 indicate a player transformed.
The underlying numbers back this up as Antonio Conte’s new formation affords Hazard the opportunity to move into central areas and dictate the Blues’ attack.
As we’ve mentioned previously, it’s difficult to pinpoint any downside to Hazard’s acquisition.
The only premium midfielder who is guaranteed spot-kicks, Chelsea’s lack of European duties keeps him relatively refreshed and devoid of rest and rotation.
Already, Hazard has scored seven times – more than last year’s five-goal tally – and is one assist shy of equaling a total of four from the previous campaign.
Incredibly, he’s also produced more shots inside the opposition box that he managed in 2015/16.
Last year’s anomaly aside, there’s no doubt that Hazard has been proven Fantasy royalty since arriving at the Bridge.
Yet Conte’s change of tactics looks to have unleashed new and improved version of the Belgian – a scary thought for opponents and one that Fantasy managers can surely ill-afford to ignore.
The Team
After ending Leicester City’s 20-match unbeaten home run in the Premier League, West Brom will be relishing the upcoming schedule.
Tony Pulis’ side now seem ripe for investment, with home encounters against Burnley, Watford and Swansea City in the next five, allied with a trip to Hull City. Only a Gameweek 15 trip to Stamford Bridge puts the dampeners on a run that could promote investment at both ends of the pitch.
It’s in defence, as always, that our faith is resolute.
Pulis’ rearguard has to be backed in all four of those promising clashes, with Gareth McAuley boasting the underlying numbers and ownership (24%, the fourth most popular FPL defender) to do the most damage.
While last year’s four-goal hero Craig Dawson has failed to offer the same threat and sits one booking short of suspension, our attentions have turned to Chris Brunt as an intriguing alternative.
Finally free of injury, the Irishman was handed two second-half sub appearances before playing the full 90 minutes in each of the last two Gameweeks.
Brunt was stationed in central midfield against Man City before shifting onto the flank away to the Foxes last time out.
Classified as a defender in FPL after being utilised at left-back in 2015/16, Brunt’s delivery from set-pieces could be vital to a side that are second only to Chelsea for attempts from crossed corners.
The only concern is that in each of those fixtures, Pulis was devoid of key players through injury or suspension and it is yet uncertain as to where Brunt fits in the pecking order once the Baggies boss has a full quota of players to choose from.
With 14 assists over the previous two seasons, though, Brunt’s potential for FPL points is obvious.
Certainly, Matt Phillips did himself no harm by plundering a goal and assist at the King Power stadium. Dropped to the bench for the previous Gameweek, he was reinstalled to the first XI due to the absence of James McClean and Nacer Chadli.
While McClean has served out his ban, he is troubled by a back problem and along with Nacer Chadli, Salomon Rondon and Saido Berahino – remains a doubt ahead of the home encounter against Burnley on Monday 20 October.
Again, this may limit many managers’ interest to the Baggies’ backline, yet if Chadli can recover from minor knee surgery, his 75% goal involvement is set to turn heads.
Back down to 6.5 in price, the Belgian’s four goals and two assists in seven appearances indicate that there may be value in the Hawthorns attack this time around, offering an option as a cheap fourth midfielder or even as a fifth player in the centre of the park for those keen on the 3-5-2 set-up.
The Talking Point
The race to acquire Hazard has already earned the Belgian a price rise of 0.2 since the weekend.
For many, Alexis Sanchez’s injury scare in training for Chile has been reason enough to make the move – the Arsenal attacker is second only to Raheem Sterling for transfers out in midfield in the Gameweek.
Clearly, if Sanchez is ruled out for any period, then the trade makes sense but, if passed fit for Gameweek 12, his role up top for the Gunners could punish those who choose to get rid at this point.
There’s also the spectre of Olivier Giroud to consider.
The Frenchman started in the Champions League last week and his introduction during the north London derby forced Sanchez back to the flank.
Overlooking Hazard looks perilous at this point, particularly with the fixtures swinging in Chelsea’s favour from Gameweek 15.
Perhaps Pep Guardiola’s rotation policy may also play a part in our thinking.
The City manager’s decision to omit Sterling from the squad to face ‘Boro last weekend has proved the catalyst behind the winger’s exodus and as the schedule continues to pick up pace, some may even cite Sergio Aguero as dispensable if Pep plots a “horses for courses” approach.
Kevin De Bruyne’s average of 6.2 points per match to Aguero’s 6.8 offers some solace for those eyeing up the Belgian as City “coverage” but the underlying numbers suggest that his team-mate simply looks far too dangerous right now.
It may be that it is Hazard’s fellow Blue Diego Costa whom many choose to overlook in order to acquire the winger.
Yes, he’s stepped up in consistency under new manager Antonio Conte, yet Costa remains one booking shy of a single-match ban, with a penchant for getting on the wrong side of referees the one constant during his time at the Bridge.
The likes of Jermain Defoe and Charlie Austin offer excellent value for money up top and may even be the second-striker solution for those with a 3-5-2 formation, thus freeing up the cash to spend big in midfield to accommodate Hazard and at least one, or both, of Liverpool’s in-form Brazilians Philipp Coutinho and Roberto Firmino.
It’s a circling debate and there are several configurations and solutions being pursued – all of which carry a potential risk.
However, a decision to proceed without Hazard appears to the biggest gamble of all.
