The Watchlist Updated – Zaha Topples Out

Our Watchlist player rankings – listing would-be mid-term targets – were revised earlier this week following Gameweek 1.

These can be found in your sidebar on desktop, or via your slide-in menu on mobile or tablet.

They effectively collate our current thinking on player selection for each position, listing the factors that are contributing to the given rank.

When viewing, it’s important to bear in mind the “rules” at play, particularly when it comes to “coverage”. While Harry Kane sits high in the forward rankings, this can dent the appeal of both Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli as midfield options. Similarly, if a goalkeeper looks to be the go-to method of covering a defence, this will be reflected in the ranking assigned to their defenders.

As a rule, we try to force ourselves to commit to one player per position per club. However, in some circumstances – when we consider it viable, and maybe even advisable, to double up – two players will be listed.

Right now, with just a single Gameweek to consider, form has not played a major role in the rankings. This will kick in once we have three to four Gameweeks to analyse. However, in some cases – should a striker score a hat-trick for example – we will start reflecting this in the factors shown.

In general, there have been few seismic changes following the opening weekend.

In goal, we’ve promoted West Brom’s Ben Foster to the summit in light of Newcastle United’s defensive injuries that limit Rob Elliot’s budget potential.

Huddersfield Town’s Jonas Lossl is the biggest climber on show after his impressive haul in the shut-out of Crystal Palace.

West Ham’s Joe Hart also experiences a slight climb, despite the Hammers’ Old Trafford drubbing. Their fixtures improve radically very soon, with their prospects gradually improving as each of the first three away matches are ticked off. Hart, at just 4.5, is currently the cheapest secure route into Slaven Bilic’s backline.

In defence, we have chosen to topple Manchester United’s Antonio Valencia, with Phil Jones currently offering strong value at just 5.0.

Victor Lindelof is clearly set to be eased into action by Jose Mourinho, so Jones looks destined for a run in the United rearguard – while he remains fit, of course.

He ranks high, though Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand – with his ridiculously favourable early schedule – is elevated to top spot.

Lower down, Arsenal’s Sead Kolasinac is a climber following his impressive Gameweek 1 debut, while John Stones is our current candidate in Man City’s defence – at least while we can assess how Pep Guardiola intends to rotate at wing-back.

In midfield, we’ve elected to keep faith with Kevin De Bruyne for now, although he is under real threat from the buoyant Mo Salah, along with the Spurs pair Eriksen and Alli, who both recorded returns in Gameweek 1.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is a climber and gets the nod over Paul Pogba as our weapon of choice in the Man United midfield. The option to double on Jose Mourinho’s attack looks far more favourable following Sunday’s impressive dismantling of West Ham.

Mkhitaryan’s lot is improved by the injury to Wilfried Zaha, with the Crystal Palace winger reportedly set to be sidelined for up to four weeks. We await confirmation from Palace, although as it stands, Zaha’s transfer traffic is only heading one way.

A dearth of obvious replacements – with Willian likely to come under threat from a fit-again Eden Hazard – also boosts Mkhitaryan’s prospects.

Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey is another 7.0 option who is yet to establish steady stock. Benched against Leicester City, the Welshman is not assured of his start at Stoke City in Gameweek 2.

Gylfi Sigurdsson makes his first appearance in our thinking following confirmation of his move to Everton. He enters low thanks to the Toffees’ abhorrent set of fixtures over the next four Gameweeks. However, clearly, the Icelander is set to rise up our rankings as those next four encounters are ticked off.

In attack, Romelu Lukaku’s explosive Premier League debut for United saw him leapfrog Harry Kane at the top.

The Spurs striker needs to find a response against Chelsea in Gameweek 2 to hold off the claims of Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus; the Brazilian is preferred to the Sergio Aguero option, despite his blank at the Amex Stadium.

Under this, there are climbs for Roberto Firmino, Jamie Vardy and Alexandre Lacazette after impressive Gameweek 1 performances.

However, they seem likely to struggle to break into the top three, unless Kane and Jesus continue to falter.

Huddersfield Town’s Steve Mounie is promoted as our budget option of choice, though Burnley’s Sam Vokes also climbs having matched his opening day brace.

The likes of Javier Hernandez, Jay Rodriguez and Jermain Defoe are yet to fire, but will have their opportunity to climb in our reckoning following Gameweek 2.