With another gameweek safely tucked out of the way, I’ve updated the next five fixtures for all clubs and given some love to the player rankings for those games to come. The tables to the right currently display my current rankings then.
Click here for a full explanation of what all this is about. The already initiated meanwhile can read on for the blurb that goes part way to explaining the logic behind the current standings.
There are few changes in the keeper rankings. Stoke in Cech and Reina continues to rise with strong defensive form for both Chelsea and Liverpool and good fixtures, particularly for Reina. Van der Sar in contrast falls a little for the coming weeks with United falling behind on clean sheets – plus, there’s a new threat of rest and rotation hanging over the United keeper.
Lower down James and Howard offer decent mid price options. There’s some suspicion with Portsmouth right now under the new management of Adams, but if anything, Pompey could be tighter defensively under their new boss in the long term. Fantasy managers are more concerned with Portsmouth as an attacking force – particularly with regards to Defoe. Good fixtures (four whites and one blue in the ticker), will give James the chance to improve on his 3 clean sheets for the season so far.
Howard, as a new entry to the rankings, may provide a better option for Pompey sceptics. He comes into the next five off the back of two clean sheets and decent forthcoming fixtures.
Myhill is your budget option of choice. He comes into the next five games on the back of two defeats and seven goals conceded so form is against him. His fixtures are strong however, with three home games in five against Bolton, City and Boro.
Lower down the scale there are few climbers for the coming month – Newcastle, Sunderland, West Ham and Wigan all have “okay” fixtures and perhaps Given, off the back of his clean sheet against Villa, looks the best bet if you need a mid-price alternative right now.
In defence, the form and fixtures for Chelsea and Liverpool is reflected with Carragher and Bosingwa climbing at the top of the rankings. Alex and Agger offer budget options further down. Agger, perhaps offering more security over the five games when it comes to commanding a starting role – although both have risk compared to the top two.
Vidic and Laursen stand still then, while Traore drops a little with some doubt over his role in the Portsmouth side given the return of Kranjcar. Traore has been subbed in the last three matches, and his situation needs monitoring in the coming weeks.
Turner is the big climber behind him. Hull have very strong fixtures and Turner’s goal threat and FPL bonus potential makes him a top target over the coming months. Dawson and Zayatte don’t carry the same goal or bonus potential but provide cheaper options in the Hull defence.
The Everton duo of Lescott and Jagielka are new entries with decent form and good fixtures over the next five. Shawcross is your budget alternative to the Hull defence with his threat from Delap’s throws and improved defensive performances from Stoke. His place is by no means assured, although Pulis has praised his recent performances only today so his short-term role looks assured. Lower down, Steinsson is a climber with good form but, like Jaaskelainen in goal, his fixtures count against him over the next five.
Ronaldo climbs to the top of the midfield rankings for the first time with form that even supersedes Lampard in second. Barring injury or suspension, it’s difficult to see the United man surrendering this position over the season.
Lampard sits still then with Arteta and Young falling below him. Arteta holds in third with strong fixtures but is on the verge of a further drop should he draw a blank this weekend. Ashley Young has just one assist in five games so Geovanni, on the back of five goals this season climbs to lofty heights in the midfield rankings with Hull’s strong fixtures over the next five.
Liverpool’s Kuyt and Gerrard are just behind him with their kind-looking schedule. Everton’s Cahill is just behind, also with a decent run of fixtures but hampered by competition for starting places in Moyes lineup. Malouda follows him with consistent form, offering good mid-price value for those with a spare Chelsea slot in their squad.
Barry and Joe Cole have good form behind him, while Delap is a high new entry off the back of his strong current form. Fixtures are the best for him but he could climb further should the long-throw assists keep coming. Alonso and Marney offer good low-to-mid price options below this with good fixtures to come.
Moving to the strikers and Zaki is back on top having ended a mini goal drought at Portsmouth – his fixtures promise more goals in the coming weeks. Berbatov is just behind him with a decent run of assists and FPL bonus. Defoe falters behind them as his form and goals dry up. Watch for Torres to climb after this week if he can prove his fitness. His fixtures are strong enough to propel him up the rankings, should he look sharp on his expected return.
Fuller is your budget purchase lower down, with the Hull duo of King and Cousin also looking strong with good fixtures to come. Martins is your mid-price wildcard as a new entry with three goals in the last two. Tottenham’s Bent shows signs of a revival lower down but is hampered by a lack of security over his starting role. Miller and Ameobi provide further budget choices but are held back by their forthcoming fixtures. The Arsenal pair of Adebayor and Van Persie drop to oblivion with injury and suspension respectively.