The paint may still be drying on the Gameweek 23 bonus points, yet, with another set of fixtures looming, we’re already looking ahead. As always, we have altered and amended our Watchlist with a mini-update – the results follow and can be found in your sidebar to the right…
Defenders
Firstly, some notable players have finally fallen off the radar. The likes of Leighton Baines, Jose Enrique and Benoit Assou-Ekotto have enjoyed decent returns in recnet Gameweeks but their respective schedules dent the potential from this point on.
The switchover in terms of fixtures also sees some of the less fashionable options make gains on our charts. Taye Taiwo made an impression on Fantasy managers with an assist in his first QPR appearance last night. Wigan’s Maynor Figueroa also enjoys a climb as the struggling Latics look to make the most of their forthcoming run of opponents – a spell that will surely decide their Premier League fate. Angel Rangel and Robert Huth gain places – the Stoke centre-back is now established in our top five.
Midfielders
In midfield, things stay fairly static as the leading candidates continue to monopolise their positions at the top of the charts. If it was purely a fixture-based game, then Gareth Bale would no doubt be toppled but the Welshman remains untouchable. Is “must have” perhaps a step too far?
Scout favourite Victor Moses has made a leap, due to Wigan’s favourable turn on the fixture front. Swansea’s new boy Gylfi Sigurdsson continues a slow climb up the charts behind team-mate Scott Sinclair, and Joey Barton profits from strong fixtures, with QPR’s new strikers offering him a sharper cutting edge up front to convert the supply from midfield.
Slipping down to make room for the aforementioned midfielders are Steven Gerrard, Juan Mata and Rafael Van Der Vaart. A trio of costly Fantasy options with fixtures and form that provide little incentive for Fantasy investment.
Forwards
The attack is even more settled, with strikers picking themselves in recent weeks. Bobby Zamora has moved across London but remains highly placed, with QPR’s upcoming fixtures looking even more appealing than those of his former club Fulham. Sergio Aguero may have struggled of late but he holds firm in second, with team-mate Edin Dzeko enjoying a climb on the back of City’s three attractive home games in the next four.
Demba Ba’s return from the African Cup of Nations pushes him back up the rankings. The arrival of countryman Papiss Demba Cisse may well inspire the Magpies hit man to carry on where he left off at the end of 2011. Similar to City, Newcastle have a strong run of home fixtures, with Villa, Wolves and Sunderland all rolling up to the Sports Direct Arena in the next four Gameweeks. If Ba looks sharp against Villa, he could even threaten the top two in our rankings.
United pairing Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck suffer declines as fixtures toughen up and rotation beckons for the latter. Chelsea’s Daniel Sturridge continues to slowly slide as his form wavers, while Steven Fletcher and Danny Graham also tumble in the cheap seats.
Emmanuel Adebayor has also finally fallen from grace with his dry spell now compounded by stiff fixtures. Meanwhile, our main new entries this week come in the form of Sunderland’s Frazier Campbell and West Brom’s Peter Odemwingie who both feature at the lower end of our charts to challenge Wigan’s Hugo Rodallega as long-shot differentials.
