With gameweek 33 currently dishing out blanks for an array of sides, us Fantasy Managers need to remain in a stress position when it comes to considering mid-term acquisitions. With schedules piling up and further double gameweek’s looming, the scope to lose a lead or bridge a mini-league gap is still vast.
Our Watchlist rankings have recently been updated to consider the current variables spat out by the fixture computer. You can find our current rankings in your right-hand sidebar, with the major movements chronicled below…
Ben Foster’s tenancy at the top of the goalkeeper rankings continues courtesy of fixtures that serve him up a double in gameweek 33. Kind opposition leading up to that ensure that the Birmingham keeper remains good value long after his recent rise in ownership.
Chelsea’s Petr Cech offers assured starts in a Chelsea back four which has shown improvement and looks to have opposition in front of them that promise further returns. Tottenham’s Heurelho Gomes is the big climber however. He’s gone four weeks without a clean sheet but has 4 home fixtures in 5 to come which should go some way to boosting his season tally. Blackburn’s Paul Robinson is the other name to consider – home encounters with Blackpool, Birmingham and Bolton in the next six gameweeks brings him back on our radars as a low-cost option.
Aston Villa’s Kyle Walker climbs to the top of our defender rankings. As detailed in Andy’s recent “Frisking the Fixturesâ€, Villa’s kind run-in continues and, while Gerard Houllier’s side are ravaged by injury and off-the-field intrigue, and without a cleanie in six league games, Walker’s consistent threat down the right-flank at a price tag of just 4.0 with a 1.2% ownership, make him a key pick.
We’re showing confidence in Chelsea’ s David Luiz – compounded by his ineligibility for Champions League football, we see the Brazilian cementing league starts and earning decent returns at both ends. Birmingham’s Roger Johnson, Everton’s Leighton Baines and Tottenham’s Michael Dawson with his 4 in 5 home matches, complete our top 5 defensive unit.
Blackburn’s Chris Samba and Sunderland’s Phil Bardsley offer mid-price options lower down the rankings – both have favourable runs of opponents to come which could see their Fantasy fortunes turn around after recent slumps. That pair rank above Stoke’s Robert Huth who takes a dive as a result of toughening fixtures and United’s Patrice Evra, who finds himself the only senior name fit in a United back four that has kept just a single clean sheet in the last seven league matches.
The midfield rankings remain pretty steady. Nani returns to the top spot having recovered from his leg gash to return to action last night. While his fixtures currently hand him a blank in gameweek 33, he still holds off the charge from Rafael Van der Vaart, who is back on the radar with question marks hanging over his match fitness and rotation risk during the Tottenham European adventure.
Frank Lampard and Ashley Young have the fixtures and form to keep them in our top 5, while Samir Nasri holds firm, despite the return to fitness for Cesc Fabregas which could yet dent the Frenchman’s Fantasy profits.
Further down our list, we shouldn’t forget the service provided by Blackpool’s Charlie Adam who will make his return from suspension at Blackburn this weekend. Adam’s incredible run of consecutive home matches from gameweek 32 makes him a player who will likely return to our squads in the coming weeks. Jamie O’Hara of Wolves and Marc Albrighton of Villa offer the prime budget cuts with strong fixtures and form.
Robin Van Persie makes a return to the pinnacle of our rankings up front. Carlos Tevez, who has held the spot for a good few weeks, makes way and plummets with poor form and fixtures – City have scored just 3 league goals in their last 3 outings.
Both Wayne Rooney and Darren Bent look stronger options over the weeks ahead – Rooney’ stock benefits from the doubt surrounding the starting role of both Dimitar Berbatov and Javier Hernandez in the United lineup – he now looks the only assured starter.
There are plenty of differentials available for those looking to make bold transfer moves. Liverpool’s Luis Suarez may well be a popular pick, despite a poor run of fixtures to come. Sunderland’s Asamoah Gyan and team-mate Danny Welbeck could benefit from a run of home matches to offer returns in the month ahead, while Jermain Defoe is possibly the most profitable risk out there. The Tottenham poacher finally found the net in the Premier League at Wolves and has the opponents in front of him to inflict further damage. Harry Redknapp looks set on a Peter Crouch/Rafael Van der Vaart combination in Europe, so Defoe looks secure for a run of league starts.
