Watchlist

The Watchlist Updated – Midfielders

After analysing our preferred Watchlist picks for goalkeepers and defenders, we now check out the midfielders.

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

These rankings offer a window into our current thinking on player selection for each position, listing the factors that are contributing to the given rank.

Raheem Sterling (7.9) and David Silva (8.5) claim the top two spots as relatively kindly priced routes into the swashbuckling Man City attack.

Sergio Aguero’s injury absence boosts both options but, in particular, that of Sterling. He’s the leading midfielder for goals, having netted five times in his last five league outings.

Crucially, Sterling has started each of the last four he has been available for and played 90 minutes on three of those occasions. He’s also been benched in both Champions League ties.

Over their respective last four matches, Sterling has produced more shots in the box (14) than any Man City midfielder yet boasts a mere 6.1% ownership. That makes him an intriguing differential ahead of a kind upcoming schedule (STK BUR wba ARS lei hud).

Silva appears the more secure option.

Yet to score this season, he’s still fired a reasonable nine efforts in the box (compared with Kevin De Bruyne’s two).

Silva is second only to the Belgian for key passes (23 to 24), but leads the way for big chances created, with six. As a result, he is also the number one midfielder for assists (six), earning two bonus points on four occasions already. Sterling, by comparison, has a single bonus point to his name.

The choice of the two is a classic dilemma. Sterling is clearly the more explosive with potentially, the greater upside. However, the perception is that Silva is a more studied, long-term investment. Pairing both, even without Aguero’s firepower to feed, is also a very viable tactic given their short-term fixtures.

Despite the return to action of Philippe Coutinho, Mohamed Salah remains our go-to Liverpool option.

The Egyptian is ranked as the top midfielder for both shots in the box and efforts on target – indeed, only Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku have bettered his tallies for those metrics.

Four goals and two assists have helped him to 34.1% ownership – more than any other midfielder – though back-to-back encounters with Man United and Spurs dent his short-term appeal before the schedule turns again from Gameweek 10.

Coutinho is one to monitor, though. Since returning to the teamsheet in Gameweek 5, he’s the number one midfielder for both shots and key passes, racking up 25 points over that short spell.

From Gameweek 10 onwards, the Reds face Huddersfield, West Ham, Southampton, Stoke, Brighton, Everton, West Brom and Bournemouth in eight of their next nine.

Spurs continue to supply us with a pair of big-hitters in the shape of Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen ahead of some mixed upcoming fixtures.

Arguably, though, their appeal suffers from the captaincy potential of Harry Kane and the value offered by Ben Davies at the back as alternative routes into Mauricio Pochettino’s XI.

Home clashes with Bournemouth, Palace and West Brom in the next six look very promising, yet clashes against Liverpool, Man United and Arsenal could persuade many to look elsewhere for their premium short-term midfielders.

Alli has yet to produce the expected goal returns, while Eriksen seems to gradually surrender his monopoly on set-pieces to the aforementioned Davies. Both need to impress against Bournemouth in Gameweek 8 to keep their stock and ownership levels stable.

Chelsea’s Eden Hazard is ready to step in for the Spurs pair. His return to action for the Blues coincides with a very favourable long-term schedule.

Afforded a central role behind Alvaro Morata in recent outings, the Belgian could now emerge as our go-to route into the champions’ attack as they prepare to face just two of last season’s top six in the next 14 Gameweeks.

Hazard’s spot-kick duties, allied with the uncertainty over Morata’s hamstring injury, indicates that his ownership level of 3.5% could soar over the ensuing matches.

Lower down the price brackets, Stoke City’s Eric Choupo-Moting and Watford wide man Richarlison are our clear favourites among the budget options.

Both boast the statistics to make a mockery of their price tags and are ready-made differentials, with backing around the 6% mark.

The pair are level on 18 efforts inside the box apiece – only Salah (21) has managed more – while their tallies of 24 and 23 shots on goal are among the top three midfielders.

Priced at a mere 5.6, Choupo-Moting has two goals and an assist to his name. A trip to Man City will keep him from most managers’ radars, but following that, he has six favourable matches (BOU wat LEI bha cry SWA) to boast his points output.

Coming in at 6.1, Richarlison has already served up three goals and two assists to sit fifth in the midfield standings.

Back-to-back clashes with Arsenal and Chelsea precede a kind short-term run (STO eve WHU new) that hands him the chance to maintain early-season momentum.

It will take a substantially bigger investment to buy into Alexis Sanchez’s improving form.

His eight efforts and six key passes against Brighton harvested just a single assist for, but with a goal for Chile over the international break, he’s edging back to his brilliant best. However, an 11.9 price tag remains very prohibitive – perhaps until that first double-figure score hits home.

With mixed fixtures for Arsenal (wat eve SWA mci TOT bur), Aaron Ramsey remains just ahead of the South American due to his far kinder price tag.

The Welshman, at 7.1, is second only to Salah for big chances (four to seven) among midfielders. His total of 15 efforts on goal is just one behind Alexandre Lacazette for the Gunners’ first seven fixtures.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s allure suffers a blow as Man United prepare to face Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea over the next four Gameweeks.

With just one goal – and no assists – in his last four, the Armenian’s influence seems to be on the wane.

Lower down our ladder, Brighton’s Pascal Gross remains a factor, boosted by more favourable short-term fixtures.

The German retreated into a deeper role at Arsenal in Gameweek 7, as Chris Hughton trialled a three-man attack. That could limit Gross’ attacking potential, although, in truth, a dominance of set-piece duties remains integral to his appeal. That should remain over forthcoming fixtures and could bear fruit with Everton, Southampton and Stoke the next three due at the Amex Stadium.

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2,048 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    double soton def in the next 3 yay or nay?

    1. Magic Bean
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Never a fan of doubling up on defence

    2. VFORVANDETA
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Nope.

    3. beetlejuice
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Go

    4. Woy of the Wovers
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      No. Get some top defenders instead.

      1. Duffy Dunk
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        This.

    5. Bellerinmondo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      nah, only worked in the Clyne-Bertrand days when they had great attacking threat too

    6. AllanM
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      No defence isn't that strong. They won't keep many clean sheets.

    7. andymck
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Too many other good options to give two slots to Soton imo

    8. FER FUSCH AKE
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      it's a NO, unanimous

    9. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      I'm doing it - Forster & Bertrand. Have had them since GW1 & they've both done well, especially Forster with penalty save, lots of save points & baps. Bertrand has 3 CS's in 4 which isn't terrible. After GW11 I'm getting rid of both

      1. Boxwoods
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        This (Cedric).

      2. Homer21
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        Don't you mean 3 CS in 7???

    10. Alex_thekid
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Ye sticking with yoshi Forster for 4 more games till wildcard nxt int break done me good until now

  2. beetlejuice
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Which one will get more points in next 2 weeks;

    A-) Hazard, Vardy, Ramsey
    B-) Sterling, Jesus, Mkhi

    1. VFORVANDETA
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      B

    2. Magic Bean
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      B for me, Ramsey ruins A

    3. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      B

    4. Bellerinmondo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Sterling, jesus, ramsey ?

      1. BananaNose Maldonado
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        This.

    5. andymck
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      B. Not a fan of any of the options in A.

    6. beetlejuice
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Thanks!

    7. FantasyFootballMad
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      A for me. Not sure how it can be so unanimous against? Vardy and hazard probably the best two low ownership options in the game next two weeks looking at fixtures. Ramsey could better though

  3. offspinnersinahurry
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    How do you get onto the scoutcast please?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKxYKQ8pgJ7V8wwh4hLsSXQ

      Another 30 mins or so will show a new link.

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        or the tweet section.

        1. fedolefan
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 5 months ago

          He wants to feature in the Scoutcast. 🙂

          1. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            6 years, 5 months ago

            Long list already.

      2. offspinnersinahurry
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        Thank you

    2. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      You need to have facial hair to start with.

      1. We Will Klopp you
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        Is there a quota of facial hair? What if one were to roll up to the Scoutcast with a Darwin beard?

      2. offspinnersinahurry
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        Moron!

  4. Bald Eagle
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Kolasinac subbed off at HT, hope he’s OK.

    1. VFORVANDETA
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Hope so.

    2. Bald Eagle
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Hoping it’s tactical.

    3. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Hmm. Was considering selling anyway...

  5. Sandy Ravage
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Has Yoshida been on international duties?

    1. Man Chest Hair United
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Japan already qualified so I doubt it

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      He played 90 vs NZ
      Looks like he didn't play Haiti today.

  6. Transferred Out
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    A. Eriksen & Silva
    B. Hazard & Sterling

    1. VFORVANDETA
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      B

    2. dan_247
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      B for me, any thoughts on this WC team?

      Fab/Elliot

      Clark, Bavies, mee, Cedric, Simpson
      Hazard, sterling, eriksen Carroll, RLC
      Kane, Jesus, Litte pea.

      1. Transferred Out
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        Don’t go with Chica, I would either upgrade to Vardy by downgrading Eriksen or downgrade to Joselu/Abraham and upgrade defence

  7. We Will Klopp you
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Mkhi to Sterling will give me enough funds to get shot of Brady. But if anyone has watched Choupo at all during the first 7 gwks, has he been poor or unlucky with his lack of returns? I do know he's had some difficult fixtures which will shortly be easing up

    1. Phil Dagger ⭐
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      I have seen Choupo play. Stats and eye test suggest returns are on the way

      1. We Will Klopp you
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers mate, fixtures do too, looking forward to making the switch

  8. Phil Dagger ⭐
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Hazard goal 😉

    1. VFORVANDETA
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Thorgan 😆

      1. Phil Dagger ⭐
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        Busted 😛

        1. We Will Klopp you
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 5 months ago

          Lol

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Batsassist

  9. My Name Is Prince
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Seems straightforward, but is it really?

    1) Vardy - Eriksen
    2) Lukaku - Choupo-Moting + 1.1m

    1. My Name Is Prince
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Also need to remember that in 2 can easily get Morata in when he's fit again (for Lukaku)...

    2. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      As always, it depends what you do with the 1.1m, but I would say (1) if i had to commit to one.

      1. My Name Is Prince
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        Well I'd spend it in defense, so would turn a 5m def for a Chelsea def for instance, or Hunemeier into Maguire...

  10. Konig Luther
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Goal Portugal. Andre Silva

  11. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Portugal 2-0

  12. CRO KLOPP
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    B.silva goal

    1. Phil Dagger ⭐
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Andre

      1. CRO KLOPP
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        Yep,andre,my bad

  13. dhamphiir
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Andre Silva goal
    Portugal 2-0

    1. CRO KLOPP
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      A.silva sorry

  14. Vlad Tepes
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    What to do with this team?

    Fabianski, Elliot
    Davies, Otamendi, Jones, (Lascelles, Rosenior)
    Eriksen, D.Silva, Ritchie, Gross, (Carroll)
    Vardy, Kane, Morata

    1,9 ITB, 1 FT. Thinking of following

    A) Morata --> Jesus (Then get Morata back for GW 9)
    B) Ritchie --> Sterling (Bench Morata and play Carroll and maybe lose 0.1 if he drops in price)
    C) Save (Play Carroll and Bench Morata ) Do Gross + Ritchie --> RLC + Coutinho next GW
    D) Other?

    Thanks. Have to decide now cuz Morata will drop tonight.

    1. Garlana
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      A

    2. VFORVANDETA
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      A

  15. Sandy Ravage
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Had Hazard in my team for the first 2/3rds of last season and his returns were mildly frustrating especially compared to Alli & Eriksen at the time. Conte also tended to sub him off before the end of matches.

    1. Speédy
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Hulk this

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        Keep shtum

    2. Sickboy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Same and that was without champions league football.

  16. CRO KLOPP
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Is RLC still injured?

    1. Bellerinmondo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      can't play his parent club, don;t know if still injured

  17. FPL Maldini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Gitoud starting and Lacazette on the bench.

    Doesn’t that almost guarantee Lacazette will get most minutes at the weekend if not all of the 90?

    1. Garlana
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Nothing is guaranteed with Wenger.

    2. Speédy
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      It is guaranteed anyways

  18. sentz05
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Is Silva Sterling and Jesus too much?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Depends if they play cricket.

    2. dhamphiir
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Get Manchester City defender

    3. VFORVANDETA
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Too much points.

    4. sentz05
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Instead of Sterling?

  19. Speédy
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    JRod - Vardy
    Mkhi - Sterling
    Salah - Fab for -4???

  20. Arctic monkeys
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Netherlands need 4 more goals, right ?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      5

      1. Arctic monkeys
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers

  21. New Post
  22. ooooo
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Happy with my squad, any changes you would make?

    Ederson
    Alonso Davies Cedric Ward
    Richarlison Salah Silva
    Kane Jesus(Morata placeholder)

    pereira atsu RLC hun

    Got 0.2mil itb, thanks

  23. jbenny1107
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Would you rather have Mkhi or Salah for the next 2? Have Lukaku already.

    1. TaiwanHC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Salah easy

  24. TaiwanHC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    What's the latest on Kolasinac?

  25. LD
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Need any changes?

    DDG/Elliot
    Mee Cedric Bellerin Keane
    Mooy Mkhi Eriksen Silva
    Kane Lukaku

    Calvert-Lewin Rangel Surman

  26. xHolmesyx
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    hi guys, which would you pick:

    A) Silva, Coutinho, RIicharilson Wimmer, Otamendi, Kaku
    B) Sterling, Hazard, Richarilson, Cedric, Mbemba, Kaku
    C) Sterling, Hazard, Choupo, Wimmer, Cedric, Kaku
    D) Silva, Hazard, Richarilson, Azpilecuta, Cedric, Vardy

  27. herman murman
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Best bench fodder striker. Only looking to spend about 5 to 5.5. keeping funds to swap aguero in for jesus