Gameweek 16 – Best Punts

Last week delivered pleasing returns for my three punts. Christian Benteke managed an assist against Leicester, rewarding his owners. I reckon his points total will start to rack up in the coming weeks. My midfield punt, Sone Aluko, failed to make the most of his rare starting role for Hull City, whilst Vlad Chiriches was ruled out for last weekend’s clash shortly after the article was published. Spurs, however, did keep a clean sheet as I predicted, so the points would have been there had he played. With a plethora of players injured or suspended this week, here are this Gameweek’s punts to tempt you. Ownership figures are correct as of December 9.

Jonny Evans

Club: Manchester United

Position: Defender

Price: 5.2

Ownership: 0.3%

Last Gameweek eight teams managed clean sheets. It didn’t make for great viewing and produced one of the season’s lowest scoring Gameweeks for most. It did, however, prove to be a profitably week for those who invested well in defence, highlighting the importance of squad depth across the positions. I see far fewer clean sheets this week, though one side whose defence has the potential to muster a shut-out is Man United. The Red Devils have finally adapted to Louis van Gaal’s style of play and they have found a new defensive solidity. They have conceded a couple of cheap goals in the past Gameweeks but the return of the experienced Jonny Evans will help address this. United return to Old Trafford this weekend after their away clash with Southampton on Monday night and welcome a Liverpool side who have been in poor form of late and were knocked out of the Champions League this week. Pressure is piling on their manager Brendan Rodgers, and with his four forwards only scoring two goals between them in the Premier League this season, a United clean sheet looks in the bag.

Jonny Evans’s threat from set pieces is well known among veteran Fantasy managers. He was a little disappointing last season, not scoring at all in the league, but the year before that he netted three times and gained two assists. He is a threat and what David Moyes couldn’t get out of him I think Van Gaal will. In only four appearances this year Evans has managed two clean sheets. That is a brilliant ratio and shows how much of a difference he makes to the United defence. A lacklustre Liverpool provides Evans the perfect opportunity to get his season back up and running.

Stephane Sessegnon

Club: West Brom

Position: Midfielder

Price: 5.7

Ownership: 0.3%

In my opinion, Stephane Sessegnon is one of the most exciting players to watch in the Premier League. He looks to make things happen and is a livewire for his side. Disappointingly, his final product can be a little rushed and wasted. He has a tendency to squander easy chances and misplace final balls. However, I think he will prove to us that he can do both of those well this weekend. Alan Irvine’s men face Aston Villa at home this Gameweek. It is the meeting of two struggling managers and both will be desperate to win. West Brom ended their goal drought in Gameweek 14 and after failing to score last weekend the Baggies will be keen to make sure they avoid another goalless run.

Stéphane Sessegnon’s creativity has propelled him to this week’s selection.  He has fantastic underlying statistics for dribbling and beating his man, creating 14 goalscoring chances this season. Defence-splitting through balls are another of his specialities as is his ability to cut in and challenge less mobile centre-backs with his pace. I believe that Jore Okore and Ciaran Clark, the likely centre-back pairing of his opponents Aston Villa, lack experience and will struggle to cope with Sessegnon.  He also carries a proven goal threat, having scored 23 goals since arriving in the Premier League in 2010. When on his game, Sessegnon is nearly impossible to stop and as West Brom look for someone to start scoring he could be their man.

Steven Fletcher

Club: Sunderland

Position: Forward

Price: 5.3

Ownership: 0.7%

It was very tempting to go for Edin Dzeko this week as the injury to Sergio Aguero leaves the Manchester City striker role gaping. I for one am considering bringing the Bosnian in for Aguero but at 4.8% ownership I decided to go for someone who proved to be more of a differential. Last weekend Steven Fletcher was on the bench for Sunderland following injury and the Black Cats missed him as they failed to score against Liverpool. However, he is back to fitness and set to grace the starting eleven this weekend. Sunderland face West Ham at the Stadium of Light on Saturday. The Hammers have been in good form lately and they sit fourth in the table. However, they are much better offensively than they are defensively, only keeping three clean sheets so far this season. Sunderland manager Gus Poyet will be keen to exploit this defensive fragility.

Steven Fletcher has been involved in nearly half of Sunderland goals when he has been on the pitch. Therefore if Sunderland score more than two goals this weekend he is likely to bring home the points. What Steven Fletcher specializes in is big hauls. His four goals this season have come in two braces, with a total of 15 and 13 points on each occasion. Out of his 15 goal attempts he has had nine on target, which is an average of 60%. This is the most accurate any striker who has played more than 95 minutes this season has been. He is a threat in the air as well as with his feet, connecting with a couple set pieces with his head this season. Fletcher is a deadly striker who, when on his game, brings in a big haul of points.