Having looked seemingly unstoppable in the opening quarter of the season, Chelsea and their Fantasy assets fell away. As discussed in today’s “Frisking the Fixtures†however, Carlo Ancelotti’s side are about to embark on a run of opponents that provide a platform for a run of results and performances that has their key players ascending to the very top of our Watchlists.
Certainly that is the case with today’s refresh of our own player rankings. Chelsea dominate in three of four positions in our Watchlist – as can be seen in your right-hand sidebars.
It starts in goal, where Petr Cech has climbed back to the pinnacle of our rankings, overtaking the potential offered by Ben Foster, despite the Birmingham keeper’s outstanding display against Bolton. Birmingham may have a double fixture in gameweek 33, but Chelsea’s prospects look stronger. Birmingham are without a shut-out in five and have other prime assets in the back four to plunder (Roger Johnson), while Cech is a relatively cheap and secure route to Chelsea’s potential defensive returns.
Blackburn’s Paul Robinson is the notable addition to our rankings. The Rovers keeper climbs back into the reckoning with three home fixtures in four and off the back of Blackburn’s fine display at the Emirates.
There’s been very little movement at the top of the defender rankings. Chelsea’s David Luiz is still the top target – despite a less than convincing performance at Stoke. European ineligibility continues to help his cause amongst Ancelotti’s rotating back four. Behind the Brazilian we have Everton’s assist machine Leighton Baines holding second spot, with Villa’s Kyle Walker keeping third with his forthcoming run of opponents.
Like team-mate Robinson, Rovers skipper Chris Samba benefits from his display against Arsenal and the run of Ewood Park encounters that offer opportunity for boost in his points tally. Young Bonus magnet Phil Jones is another consideration – he made his return to the starting XI at the Emirates in a holding midfield role – more on him later this week.
The midfielder rankings have a new top two with Alex Ferguson’s decision to rest Nani helping to topple him from the apex. Frank Lampard and Charlie Adam are currently “most wanted†by Fantasy Managers – both have a very strong run of fixtures and the influence and set-piece roles within their respective teams to capitalise. Nani, who should make a return against Fulham in gameweek 32, has to settle for third spot.
There’s little to choose between those amongst the chasing pack – they’re all potentially devastating Fantasy targets, but all have a drawback to consider right now. Cesc Fabregas replaces the out-of-form Samir Nasri as our top ranked Arsenal midfielder, but his match fitness is still in question having been reduced to a bench role against Rovers on Saturday.
Rafael Van der Vaart, like Nasri, has been a major disappointment of late. Much has been made of his pitch time and his relationship with Harry Redknapp but, behind this smokescreen, the statistics show that the Dutchman has scored just a single goal in 6 league starts and that came from the spot against Bolton. His Fantasy stock needs a revival against Stoke this weekend – whether it gets it depends on whether Van der Vaart comes through tonight’s Madrid tie and avoids weekend rotation.
Lower down the list, Theo Walcott is perhaps the weapon of choice for those looking for a potentially powerful differential. The speedster struggled to make an impression against Blackburn, but clearly carries a major goal threat that could come to fruition over the Gunners’ run of fixture that includes the gameweek 33 double.
Robin Van Persie holds to our top spot amongst the strikers – thanks in the main to Wayne Rooney’s possible suspension that has the United man drop out of our rankings. Rooney’s absence boosts the stock of Javier Hernandez but the Mexican is still trailing both Darren Bent of Villa and the in-form Luis Suarez who will surely be a key figure over Liverpool’s tough run of opponents to come.
Further down the rankings you’ll find a whole array of quality available for a budget price. The likes of Daniel Sturridge, Junior Hoilett and Danny Welbeck all offer exceptional value over the coming gameweeks; if you’re looking to plough money into your midfield – these three look ready-made solutions to free up funds in attack.
You can add Sylvan Ebanks-Blake into that bracket too, along with Blackpool’s DJ Campbell who will return for an unusually shot-shy Blackpool, just in time for four straight home matches. Simmering below them, Bobby Zamora’s brace on Sunday has him waiting for a climb up the rankings once his fixtures improve with Fulham’s gameweek 34 double.
