The Digest – Gameweek 12

Kane’s second coming, Sunderland’s unexpected cutting edge and yet another Aguero dilemma combine to end our retrospective of Gameweek 12.

The Player

We needed the Harry Kane revival.

Treated to a wealth of big scoring options in midfield, our forward lines seemed bereft of challengers capable of breaking up the accepted template.

Two of Sergio Aguero, Diego Costa and Romelu Lukaku were the accepted route, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s alarming dip in form leaving the path clear for that trio to dominate.

But Kane’s recent run of goals and Fantasy points has prompted a rethink.

While his sharpness and Spurs’ form and confidence remain in doubt, the short-term fixture list goes a long way to balancing these concerns and heightening the current hype.

As illustrated in Saturday’s late 3-2 victory, Kane is a striker who can find a way to score and with Swansea City, Hull City and Burnley due at the Lane in three of the next four following Saturday’s derby with Chelsea, it seems inevitable that he will maintain current scoring form.

More significantly, with both Sergio Aguero and Romelu Lukaku disappointing as captains with blanks in Gameweek 12, Kane looks a strong prospect to return on the armband in those home fixtures.

Still found in just 6.6% of squads, he’s shaping up to be a powerful differential, with the potential to shake up many a mini-league.

The Team

Sunderland rarely spring to mind as a source of Fantasy talent.

While we’ve visited in the past to acquire the services of Jermain Defoe and Patrick van Aanholt, we’ve approached with caution and looked to convincing fixtures or even a double Gameweek before committing.

But the Black Cats’ form over the past two Gameweeks has stopped us in our tracks.

Back to back victories, although admittedly against beatable opponents, have transformed David Moyes men from relegation certainties to an attacking force bristling with potential Fantasy returns.

Defoe and Van Aanholt remain factors. The former continues to thrive and belie his modest mid-price valuation and, over the recent transformation, has even developed further, adding assists to his game as he buzzes around the muscular presence of strike partner Victor Anichebe.

The player in the spotlight in last week’s Digest, Anichebe took things to another level in the 3-0 win over Hull City, claiming a brace in a barnstorming display of centre-forward play.

Priced at just 4.6, he may just prove one of the most vital bargains of the season. Maybe, just maybe, he could remain fit and continue to score goals.

Alongside the twin strikers, Duncan Watmore has taken his opportunity to shine, lending his tireless running and industry to Moyes new attacking mix. Priced at 4.9 in midfield, he’s returned three assists in his last six, with a first goal of the season surely imminent.

Van Aanholt is a bigger risk than the attacking assets: he’s perhaps unlikely to go on adding to a first clean sheet claimed in the Gameweek 12 victory. Even so, in a Sunderland side boasting a greater attacking threat, the Dutchman has the opportunity to justify his 5.0 price tag.

Behind him, Jordan Pickford continues his outstanding campaign, earning a first clean sheet to add to the 13 points gathered from saves so far.

Priced at just 4.1, Pickford has cemented a starting role ahead of fit-again Vito Mannone and is on hand to offer an alternative to Burnley’s Tom Heaton, rivalling his ability to produce save points even when Sunderland’s shaky defence give way.

The Talking Point

Kane’s ascent has us asking questions of our big hitting forwards and, with Gameweek 13 approaching, we’re wondering if they will have the answers.

The pressure mounts on Sergio Aguero in particular.

Having disappointed 29% of FPL managers who handed him the Gameweek 12 armband, we’re now looking expectantly at Manchester City’s trip to Turf Moor this weekend.

An early Saturday kick-off, following Champions League exertions against a side that boast one of the strongest home defensive records is hardly a perfect scenario to judge the Argentine.

But many will doubtless decide his fate once the whistle blows at Burnley.

With Kane’s fixtures tempting, and the form of both Diego Costa and Defoe seemingly relentless, Aguero needs to return to a scoring rate that keeps our faith and earns our armband.

No Fantasy manager wants to show Aguero the exit – it’s an act that will always come packaged with a substantial risk. But there can be circumstances that conspire to make it a viable strategy.

Aguero’s price, City’s rotating roster and their toughening fixtures all build a case for selling on.

Furthermore, the fact that a Gameweek 16 home fixture with Watford represents not only Aguero’s best opportunity for big returns but also a hotspot for potential rotation, sums up our predicament.

The Aguero decision is on a knife edge and the 90 minutes at Turf Moor will go a long way to guiding our next move.