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The Watchlist Updated – Forwards

This evening, we conclude our series of Watchlist articles assessing targets to consider over the next four-to-six Gameweeks.

With the goalkeepers, defenders and midfielders already featured, we end with analysis of the forward options.

That’s quite fitting on the day that Harry Kane’s hamstring injury was revealed, shifting the landscape for this position once again.

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

These highlight our current thinking on player selection for each position, listing the factors behind each player’s given rank.

With Kane’s injury, it’s fair to say that we enter another mini-crisis when it comes to viable heavy-hitter options in attack.

The Spurs striker had clearly emerged as the undisputed front-runner until today’s revelation.

Sunday’s goals against Liverpool were his fourth brace in the last six Gameweeks and, having banished his Wembley league hoodoo, he had climbed to the summit of the Fantasy Premier League standings.

Kane remains head and shoulders above the chasing pack for almost every key statistic – he’s top for shots (57), efforts in the box (38), attempts on target (21) and goals, having found the net on eight occasions.

However, we obviously have to re-assess our options in light of today’s news.

The injury is described as minor at this stage, with a potential return for Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League tie with Real Madrid mooted. If this is the case, we would expect Kane to be present and correct for a Gameweek 11 home fixture with Crystal Palace.

That remains crucial to his prospects and it’s the reason why we have not only kept him preserved in our rankings, we also award him a high placing in our ladder. We will certainly revise that following a pessimistic update from Mauricio Pochettino ahead of the Madrid tie on Tuesday.

The Kane setback ensures that, against the odds, Romelu Lukaku returns to top spot in our reckoning.

No goals in the last two ahead of back-to-back matches with Spurs and Chelsea has persuaded over 270,000 to part company with the Belgian.

And yet the Manchester United striker remains a very consistent source of points, delivering returns in seven of the first nine Gameweeks.

His security of starts and pitch-time – as one of only two forwards to have played every minute so far – is surely the key factor behind his appeal. It may well convince many of his owners to retain his services until fixtures turn back in his favour from Gameweek 12 (NEW BRI wat) onwards.

Lukaku’s stock is boosted not only by Kane’s injury but, perhaps more significantly, the uncertainty surrounding Manchester City’s striker options. Quite simply, Pep Guardiola’s rotation policy has us in a spin.

The most transferred-in (540,000+) player in the Gameweek, Sergio Aguero started at home to Burnley on Saturday and played 120 minutes in the midweek cup clash with Wolves.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Jesus – the second most sold player (290,000+) in the Gameweek behind Kane – was a brief sub against the Clarets and played 82 minutes on Tuesday.

In terms of FPL output, Aguero – with an average of 8.4 points per match to Jesus’ 6.0 – has the clear advantage.

One, or both, could thrive from a schedule that sees them square up to West Brom, Arsenal, Leicester, Huddersfield, Southampton and West Ham in the next six Gameweeks.

But with the never-ending uncertainty over their manager’s teamsheets, they remain behind Lukaku and even the injured Kane in our thinking.

Investment currently comes packaged with a degree of uncertainty that looks likely to outlast Kane’s absence or Lukaku’s dry spell and testing fixtures. That will hopefully change when we can build a clearer picture of Guardiola’s intentions.

Elsewhere, Arsene Wenger’s decision to field Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil in the same XI as Alexandre Lacazette (10.3) for the first time proved telling on Sunday.

Having scored four times at home, the Frenchman subsequently netted his first away goal of the campaign in the weekend hammering of Everton with his fellow big-hitters on board.

While the return to form of Sanchez, in particular, may dent Lacazette’s allure, Wenger’s recent Europa League and Carabao Cup teamsheets shows that he’s determined to rest his main men for league duties.

And with penalty duties also in hand, the summer signing could be set for a reappraisal if Arsenal can profit from an admittedly mixed upcoming schedule (SWA mci TOT bur HUD) in the next five.

Chelsea’s Alvaro Morata still has the fixtures to flourish, though his withdrawal on the hour-mark at home to Watford is something of a worry.

Nonetheless, his six goals and two assists in eight appearances equate to an average of 6.3 points per match – identical to Lukaku, for example.

The Spaniard has played a part in 67% of his side’s goals when on the pitch and with Eden Hazard mustering just a single assist in six since returning from injury, Morata is surely their likeliest source of goals.

Between now and Gameweek 21, Antonio Conte’s side entertain Swansea, Newcastle, Southampton, Brighton and Stoke and also pay visit to the likes of Bournemouth, West Brom, West Ham, Huddersfield and Everton.

Leicester’s Jamie Vardy (8.6) has taken a slight tumble after a run of blanks across three favourable fixtures.

It remains to be seen whether the departure of manager Craig Shakespeare will affect Vardy’s prospects, with the Foxes facing Everton, Stoke, West Ham, Burnley and Newcastle in the next seven.

Visits from Man City and Spurs over that period dent his appeal, as does the improving form of Riyad Mahrez (8.4) as an alternative. The Algerian has a goal and two assists in the last two Gameweeks and was also on the scoresheet in Tuesday’s EFPL Cup win over Leeds.

There are a number of cut-price options in our updated list, though Swansea City’s Tammy Abraham (5.7) remains our weapon of choice.

The loanee has Brighton, Bournemouth, West Ham and Crystal Palace as four of his next five visitors (along with Man City), handing him the platform to add to his four goals so far.

Trips to Arsenal, Burnley and Chelsea are far less convincing, encouraging us to seek out a rotation option either in midfield or defence. However, Abraham also has visits to Stoke and Everton between now and Gameweek 18 – fixtures that could provide further profit.

Elsewhere, Stoke City’s Mame Biram-Diouf has scored in three successive matches and has recently been shifted from a right wing-back role to the central attacking berth by manager Mark Hughes ahead of six promising (wat LEI bha cry LIV SWA) fixtures.

However, midfield team-mate Eric Choupo-Moting is similarly priced at 5.7 to Diouf’s 5.5 and betters him for shots (27 to 17) and efforts in the box (17 to 15) for those reluctant to hand a Stoke striker a place a valuable place in their three-man frontline.

We’re also backing Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin to profit from the departure of Ronald Koeman.

Priced at a mere 5.0, the youngster has started each of the last four Gameweek, firing more shots (12) and efforts in the box (nine) than any team-mate in that period.

Premier League 2 boss David Unsworth has been handed the reins on at least a temporary basis and could turn to the squad’s more youthful players to inject some much-needed pace to their XI.

One look at the fixtures highlights the Toffees’ potential.

Between now and Gameweek 21, they enjoy ten kind match-ups (lei WAT cry sot WHU HUD new SWA wba bou), with only head-to-heads against Liverpool and Chelsea in Gameweeks 16 and 19 seen as major tests.

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1,784 Comments Post a Comment
  1. KLOPPTOMANIA
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Is Eriksen really with the love? He's not really explosive but pops up with one or two occasionally.

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

      a steady eddy type of player but he's improved a lot in the last couple of seasons. a gem of a player who racks up BPS too.

  2. AD2110
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Best captain choice
    A) Aguero
    B) Salah
    C Morata

    I’m stuck I don’t really trust Liverpool, Morata got taken off at 60 min and Aguero might not start?? Slightly edging toward taking a risk and going with Aguero?

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Tough.. since aguero is a risk I would go for the man playing a striker.. so prolly Morata. Im in the exact same boat as you

      1. panda07
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        I'm going for Salah myself but you could go for Aguero (C) and Salah (VC)

  3. UKG
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Kun or Salah (c) ?

    Not taking a hit for Kane so who plays instead, Jones or RLC?

    1. AD2110
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      I can’t decide between Kun or Salah either but I’d go with Jones

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

      Jones

  4. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Keep or sell Coutinho?

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

      Sold.

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

      I'm deliberating over the same thing. 100k short for straight swap to Salah.

      Don't want to as not 100 certain he won't start, but looks likey he won't

  5. BobbyPies02
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Evening gents. Captaining Sanchez this GW. Which one from the these three would you team him with?

    Hazard lacazette
    Morata lacazette
    Hazard morata

    1. BobbyPies02
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      I have taken the free hit chip fyi

    2. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      B

  6. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Who to captain?

    a) Jesus
    b) Lac
    c) Salah
    d) Richarlison

    1. BobbyPies02
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Out of those four, Salah

    2. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Lacazette

  7. MFPL
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    What to do with my team?

    Pope (Elliot)
    Alonso Otamendi Cedric (Ward Simpson)
    Salah Silva Richarlison Choupo-Moting (Carrick)
    Kane Jesus Vardy
    2FT 0.1ITB

    1. RomeluAndJuliet
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Downgrade Alonso, upgrade Choupo

  8. Ibracadabra
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Any thoughts? Need to bring in a captain. 1 FT.

    A) Sterling -> Salah (free)
    B) Kane -> Morata/Laca (free)
    C) both (-4)

  9. FC Hakkebøf
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    I just dont trust Salah with the armband... he has been.consistent, but liverpool without mane and coutinho will struggle.. narrow win imo..

    But who would you pick?

    A) Aguero
    B) Jesus
    C) Morata
    D) Salah

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

      I have 3 out of those 4 and am going with D)
      Huddersfiled away from their tight little compact haven

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        Who dont you own? Im leaning towards morata

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

          I don't own Kun.Had to sell Cout for Salah and originally had the armband on him so sraight swap.

          I captained Morata last week so maybe I have had my fingers burned somewhat.

  10. The Royal Robin
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    GTG?

    Lossl
    Cedric Maguire Alonso
    Zaha Sterling Eriksen Brady
    Kun Abraham Morata

    Foster Bavies Carroll TFM

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Who do you captain?

      1. The Royal Robin
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        Morata or Kun.

  11. G00LI0
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Whats the likelihood that Sterling will feature this weekend?

    1. The Royal Robin
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      50/50 really. Just got to hope and pray.

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

      I think he'll start

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

      Sold him on a free for Silva, Sterling will be on the bench a lot this season

  12. purple.emu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Got Salah and Morata but thinking of captaining Sane......the power of city!

  13. G00LI0
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    How long is everyone playing fantasy football? I remember having Julian Dicks in my team and he scored a hat trick...

    Ah that was a good weekend! 🙂

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

      1st season

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

      2 3/4 years for FPL , longer for the SKY game , longer still with the Mirror years ago before i had the internet and used to send my entry fee off by post :p

      1. G00LI0
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        I used to play the Star years ago. Could make two transfers once a season. That was when it got fancy. Had to ring by phone to make the transfers 🙂

    3. Pariße
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      My 7th season 🙂

  14. Triple J
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Is captaining Richarlison crazy?

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

      Mad genius

    2. Rik Waller
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Nah, he's a genuine option.

      1. Triple J
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        Let's do it! 😉

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

      He's yet to score at home, isn't he?

  15. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    A) Kane ---> Morata (-4)
    B) Play Mariapa (STK)

  16. BobbyPies02
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Salah Kolasainac Jesus

    Or

    Sane Metersacker Aguero ?

    1. GST
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      First one - minutes and attacking better

    2. KLOPPTOMANIA
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Mertesacker over Monreal or Kola?

  17. Francescoli
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    On free hit,

    Gomez, Moreno or Dunk?

    1. GST
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Gomez for me

  18. GST
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Right lads, help me make the final free hit decision please, so i can finally go to bed !!

    Team A 442

    Pope
    Monreal Walker Azpi Gomez
    Sane Sanchez Richarlison Salah
    Morata Jesus

    Team B 343

    Pope
    Mee Dunk Gomez
    Sane Sanchez Rich Salah
    Morata Jesus Laca

    First to 3 wins..........

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

      B

    2. CFC96
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      B

    3. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      B

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

      B easy

  19. KLOPPTOMANIA
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Got a whopping 6.3m in the bank on a WC.

    A. Abraham to Morata
    B. Surman/Gross to Pricey mid (?)

    Elliott/Pope
    Otamendi Ward Duffy Jones Hunemeier
    Surman Sane Salah Richarlison Groß
    Laca Kun Abraham

    Keeping enough funds to get Kun back. Thanks!

  20. Alexis Nonsense
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Why no Morata love for this GW?

    1. G00LI0
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      He was horrible last gameweek. Was miserable. Falling over and moaning at everything

      1. Alexis Nonsense
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        Oh, he got the Ronaldo syndrom...

        1. G00LI0
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 5 months ago

          Big time. I was getting angry just watching him

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

      This, he was shocking last gw

  21. G00LI0
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Sane for captain here. And Hazard as vice

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

      I'm fed up with risking the city boys for captain and Hazard has already let me down this season.

  22. The Royal Robin
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Andy took a hit on Kane > Aguero for -4, interesting.

  23. Paris Ganja Man
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Many people here holding onto Kane? Any guesses as to whether he will be back for Palace?

  24. CFC96
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    kane dropped by like 10% ownership in a day lol

    1. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Yeah, with prices not rising a lot this year it's easy to sell him and buy him back next gameweek

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

        More of a risk not to sell him imho. Hamstring injuries can be lengthy. If the injury is indeed minor, then easy to get him back in.

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

      Casuals hate a flagged player.

      1. CFC96
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 5 months ago

        Though this makes no sense at all I couldn't help but laugh anyway

  25. panda07
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Would you do Kane to Lacazette (-4) for a one week punt?

    1. G00LI0
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      No chance

    2. Alexis Nonsense
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      I would

      And I did

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

    Kane to Jesus for free? Yay or nay?

    Elliot
    Bavies | Cedric | Jones
    Salah | Richarlison | Choupo | Sterling
    Kun | Morata | Kane*

    (Foster | TC | Naughton | Mbemba)
    1FT, 0.1m ITB

    1. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      I'm thinking of doing Kane to Lacazette as I already have Jesus. I will swap Kane straight back in when he's fit. The rest of your team looks good so I think it's worth a punt

  27. mcrayeps
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    for the third striker

    A) Vardy
    B) Firmino

    1. Alexis Nonsense
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 5 months ago

      Firmino if your not afraid to loose 0.1m

  28. Alexis Nonsense
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Salah in a side without Cout & Mané...really?

    Thats our captain?

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

      Doesn't sound like that's your captain.

  29. WVA
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    G2G?

    Elliott
    Ward Simpson Dunk
    SanChez Hazard Salah Silva
    Lukaku Vardy Abraham
    Pereira Cameron McCarther Rangel

  30. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 5 months ago

    Whom to captain ?
    Jesus vardy richarlison salah hazard