Gabby Agbonlahor’s goal and assist in Aston Villa’s win over Wigan yesterday laid down the gauntlet for his fellow low-priced Fantasy forwards and this afternoon saw three more players step up with some double figure returns.
Daniel Sturridge was first out the traps in Chelsea’s Reebok rout. When available, Sturridge has started every league game for Andre Villas-Boas’ side and further-cemented his place in his manager’s first-team thinking with two goals and an assist at old club Bolton.
Firing the Blues into the lead within two minutes, Sturridge added another goal and assist to put his side into a 3-0 lead before the half-hour mark and is already his side’s top-scoring Fantasy forward, despite appearing in just three games. Chelsea are clearly clicking under Villas-Boas and look full of goals right now, with a 5-1 final score perhaps even kind on the home side, such was their total dominance. At 6.5, the fortnight’s break will surely see his bandwagon pick up pace ahead of a gameweek eight home clash with Everton.
The three o’clock kick-off at Craven Cottage saw Andy Johnson continue the form that has seen him grab six goals in nine appearances on the European stage. Johnson-starting his first league game since gameweek two- helped end QPR’s unbeaten run as Martin Jol’s side picked up their first league win of the campaign in emphatic fashion.
Echoing Sturridge’s early goal, Johnson netted within a couple of minutes but went one step further than the Chelsea player with a hat-trick and assist in the 6-0 rout, though with his game time definitely less guaranteed, it’s fair to say that Fantasy suitors may be deterred. At 5.1, however, he’s presented a strong case as Fantasy managers’ cut-price striker option, though with Moussa Dembele and Bryan Ruiz vying for a place alongside Bobby Zamora, Johnson has plenty competition- if he can force his way into Jol’s starting eleven on a more permanent basis, Johnson looks ripe for investment.
Zamora returned to action after being sidelined with illness last week and again proved pivotal for Jol’s side. His goal and two assists may well have been overshadowed by Johnson’s display but the 6.7 FPL forward continued to show that, when fit, he offers a consistency that is often overlooked- currently, he’s owned by just 3% of Fantasy managers. Zamora has now appeared in four games for Fulham this season and has either scored, assisted or picked up bonus in every game.
Today’s (pre-bonus) twelve point return means Zamora has scored in his third game in a row and has returned three goals, three assists and four bonus in those four games. The gameweek eight Britannia clash may dent that record but it’s clear he’s looking a real solid performer under the guidance of Jol and if he can stay match-fit, looks like a real value for money option as the season unfolds.
