The Watchlist Updated – Gameweek 5 – The Forwards

Our final look at this week’s updated Watchlist rankings, which offer player recommendations for the next four-to-six rounds of fixtures, sees us delve into the movements among the forwards. West Brom’s Salomon Rondon makes his first appearance on the Watchlist after netting his first goal for the Baggies against Stoke, but Christian Benteke drops a few places after a disappointing blank at home to West Ham.

While Sergio Aguero failed to register any attacking points for the second successive match last time out, City’s very favourable run of fixtures (cpl, WHM, tot, NEW, BOU, mun) means the Argentine just about clings on to top spot ahead of the in-form Callum Wilson and Bafetimbi Gomis. The 13.2-priced forward has managed 12 shots from inside the box so far this season, the third highest among forwards, and will surely reward his 32% ownership in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) with some goals over the next few weeks.

Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson is the budget forward option of choice at this point, having scored four goals in his last two matches, while the Cherries next four fixtures (nor, SUN, sto, WAT) should give the 5.7-valued striker further opportunities to add to his tally. The England U21 international did score from his only goal attempt against Leicester, though, and has registered more shots from inside the box (four) in his two away appearances, than he has against weaker opposition at home (three), indicating he may be more of a threat on the road when Eddie Howe’s side have more space to play, and can also hit the opposition on the counter-attack.

The incredible goalscoring form of Swansea’s Bafetimbi Gomis continued in Gameweek 4, with the France international netting for the fourth time this season in the 2-1 win against Man United. The former Lyon striker is the third most transferred player in this week, with over 162,000 new owners, which has seen his price rise to 7.4 in FPL. The Frenchman also has a pretty kind run of fixtures (wat, EVE, sot, TOT, STO, avl) in which to continue his red-hot form.

Although Stoke striker Mame Biram Diouf (6.6) failed to add to his two goal-haul against West Brom last weekend, he remains towards the top of our ladder by virtue of the Potters favourable upcoming schedule (LEI, BOU, avl, swa, WAT) after the Gameweek 5 trip to Arsenal. The Senegal international has totalled a respectable eight shots from inside the box this term, and should provide some decent attacking returns over the next month or so.

One of the fallers in our latest update is Liverpool’s Christian Benteke, who only managed two goal attempts in the surprise 3-0 home defeat to West Ham last weekend. The Belgian international also picked up a minor thigh injury, but is expected to recover in time for the Gameweek 5 clash at Old Trafford. The Reds then face two plum home match-ups against Norwich and his former side Aston Villa, fixtures in which the 8.5-rated forward will surely have to deliver in, or face losing many of his 37.2% ownership ahead of three tougher encounters (eve, tot, SOT).

Diego Costa keeps his place around halfway up our ladder, although with Chelsea’s fixtures (eve, ARS, new, SOT, AVL, whm) still mixed over the coming period, his 11.1 price tag in FPL looks unlikely to attract any further investment. The Spain international has blanked in three of his four appearances so far, and like his Blues team-mate Eden Hazard (11.4), doesn’t look worth the extra outlay over his Spanish compatriot Pedro (9.5) if Fantasy managers are keen to have some Chelsea attacking coverage.

Another one of last season’s leading front men, Harry Kane, is also finding the going much tougher so far. The England striker has yet to register any attacking points, while only three of his 13 goal attempts have been on target. Tottenham have two more favourable fixtures (sun, CPL) in which the 9.4-priced forward can prove his worth, with the schedule thereafter (MCI, swa, LIV) looking much more difficult. Kane does lead all forwards for chances created so far this season, however, with eight.

After netting his first goal of the season against Liverpool, and with four favourable fixtures (NEW, mci, NOR, sun, cpl) over the next five Gameweeks, West Ham’s Diafra Sakho moves up a couple of places in our latest refresh. The 6.5-valued striker does now face some competition for his place from new signing Nikica Jelavic (6.0), but his pace and clever movement should ensure he is still the main man in attack for the Hammers as they look to find some consistency, with two outstanding wins on the road countered by a pair of disappointing home defeats.

The only new entry in our rankings this week is West Brom’s Salomon Rondon. The Venezuela international grabbed his first goal for the Baggies last time out, and has some great upcoming fixtures (SOT, avl, EVE, cpl, SUN, nor) in which to really announce himself on the Premier League stage. The only slight concern, given his 7.0 price tag, is that Tony Pulis’ side have only registered 24 shots from inside the box this season, the sixth lowest total in the top flight.

Leicester’s Jamie Vardy has managed to register attacking returns in three of his four appearances, and looks worthy of consideration priced at 6.1 in FPL. The England international has totalled eight goal attempts this term (six from inside the box), and has also created seven chances. With confidence high at the King Power Stadium after a great start to the campaign, Vardy should continue to offer good value for the upcoming period (AVL, sto, ARS, nor, sot, CPL).

On the back of a goal and assist in the 3-0 win against Norwich, Graziano Pelle is perhaps slightly unlucky to find himself towards the bottom of our ladder. With the upcoming fixtures (wba, MUN, SWA, che, LEI, liv) not looking favourable for Southampton, there do look to be several better options than the 8.0-rated Saints striker, although he has registered more shots from inside the box (17) than any other forward this season.

Troy Deeney has slumped all the way to the bottom our of rankings on the back of three consecutive blanks, with Watford’s next four fixtures (SWA, new, CPL, bou) meaning we’re just about keeping faith with their skipper. The 5.4-priced forward will have increased competition for his place at Vicarage Road from new signings Victor Ibarbo and Mamadou Oulare (both 5.5), but Deeney, who has registered an impressive 11 goal attempts this term, is expected to continue up front for the Hornets.