With Wildcards fluttering madly, the timing of the update to our Watchlist player rankings couldn’t be better. You’ll find our current thinking in your sidebar on the frontpage.
Arsenal’s forthcoming run of obliging opponents, coupled with a delicious double in Gameweek 27 is behind their boost to their assets this week. While Samir Nasri has strong coverage in squads across the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game, now might be the time to contemplate further Gunners investment with the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Robin Van Persie and even Johan Djourou earning attention and high placings in our tables.
Joe Hart’s showing at the Emirates that helped to fetch Man City their twelfth clean sheet of the season did little to shake his position atop our Goalkeeper rankings. Hart and City don’t benefit from any double Gameweeks but his fixtures remain favourable enough to see him hold that position. Edwin Van der Sar with two double Gameweeks, is his nearest rival with Wigan’s Al-Habsi providing the most desirable budget option with three home games in the next four to come. Arsenal’s Lucasz Fabianski is back in the Gunners goal and in form with two consecutive clean sheets – his forthcoming opponents, including that kind double in Gameweek 27, appear to offer the potential for him to go on delivering value in the mid-price bracket.
Finding five defenders to recommend at this time is a major task. With Chelsea in continuous decline, Roberto Mancini rotating heavily and Liverpool looking alarmingly frail, the options are largely cut to low and mid-price selections.
United’s Rafael holds on to top spot as he continues to offer value in a relatively solid United backline that has two doubles on the horizon. The Brazilian should be protected from rotation given Gary Neville’s recent performance at West Brom, although John O’Shea (when fit) and Wes Brown could become factors.
Below the United man, Everton’s Seamus Coleman climbs with outstanding form – damaging his team-mate Leighton Baines’ appeal in the process. Coleman now looks to have cemented the right midfield role and provides superb value at 5.0 in the FPL. Wigan’s Antolin Alcaraz is perhaps a punt in our top five, but short-term fixtures and his Bonus Point potential has him climb to third spot. Sunderland’s Phil Bardsley has form but suffers a slight drop as fixtures toughen up. City’s Kolo Toure is now the only secure option within a strong City defence in the FPL and will remain so while Mancini continues to tinker with his full-backs.
Fulham’s Brede Hangeland and the emerging potential of Arsenal’s Johan Djourou are our highest new entries and offer value further down our rankings. There’s every indication that the Swiss defender is holding the centre-back spot in Arsene Wenger’s back four – if that continues at West Ham, expect a climb into our top five in preparation for Arsenal’s continued kind run.
The midfield rankings continue to be fairly settled. The big movement sees Charlie Adam climb into our top five, with Gareth Bale dropping to sixth. We’ve gone for both Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas for Arsenal’s spell which surely promises plenty of goals and assists for the pairing.
Below the big five you can find value in the mid-price with Kevin Nolan and Chris Brunt continuing to offer a degree of consistency. Brunt will enjoy a further climb if he can rediscover form to coincide with the Baggies attractive double home fixtures in Gameweek 27.
Controversially perhaps, Dimitar Berbatov holds on to the top ranking amongst the forwards, despite a recent decline. Wayne Rooney’s fitness is a big factor to the Bulgarian’s form and with him set to return to action this weekend, we would expect Berbatov to start firing again, just in time for United’s double Gameweeks.
Carlos Tevez doesn’t benefit from extra fixtures and subsequently drops to third with Fernando Torres perhaps needing a goal at Blackpool ahead of his three Anfield games in four. Robin Van Persie is the big climber – he presents the alternative for those looking to harness Arsenal’s potential. Although yet to blink on the radar, Van Persie has shown glimpses and has been influential since his return.
