With double fixtures on offer, our Watchlist rankings are transformed this week, as Fantasy managers look to find every little advantage possible for the season climax. The status quo is broken with the former top dogs – Robin Van Persie, Antonio Valencia and Jonny Evans – all dropping off their perches to make way for double Gameweek offerings…
Goalkeepers
There’s very little between the top two in the keeper rankings, with Tottenham’s Brad Friedel holding off Everton’s Tim Howard. Both sit in the same price bracket and both have fixtures that should bring them further returns this season – including a Gameweek 36 double. While Friedel’s defence offers the likes of Kyle Walker and *Benoit Assou-Ekotto – both more expensive than the American stopper – the injury to Leighton Baines has made Tony Hibbert available as a strong budget alternative alongside Howard. At just 4.7, Hibbert looks set to play at least Everton’s two Gameweek 36 fixtures and, resultantly, finds his way into our defensive rankings.
*Today’s rumours that Assou-Ekotto could be out for the season, however, have somewhat curbed our enthusiasm here.
Chelsea’s Petr Cech and Stoke’s Asmir Begovic, also with double fixtures in their locker, rank next. Again there are alternatives in the respective defences, although in both cases, you’ll be shelling out more for a Chelsea or Stoke defender – certainly one that offers security.
Defenders
It’s a Stoke player that sits atop the defender rankings, however, with Robert Huth offering two home fixtures with significant goal threat over Gameweek 36. With Andy Wilkinson an injury doubt once more, Huth, with Ryan Shawcross as a second option, looks to be the optimum route for Stoke coverage. Given that the Potters have failed to record a single clean sheet in the last seven league games, Huth’s significant threat from set-plays is the key ingredient here.
Tottenham’s Kyle Walker gets the nod behind Huth – the right-back steps in for Assou-Ekotto on the back of today’s rumours – and could come to fruition should Spurs somehow recover their form over the remaining games. Everton’s Tony Hibbert, with starts seemingly assured whilst Leighton Baines is sidelined, sneaks into our top five as a budget option, fresh from a pair of assists at Old Trafford.
The Chelsea defensive situation is interesting – on paper they have two home fixtures to come in the Gameweek and are ripe for investment. Injuries to David Luiz and Gary Cahill have left them short and, with John Terry suspended from the Champions League final, you would expect the skipper to start both league matches. The FA Cup Final is also a factor, however, coming just three days after the home clash with Newcastle. With Branislav Ivanovic suspended for the first fixture with QPR, the Chelsea defence looks ravaged and, potentially, clean sheets will be hard to come by. Terry, with goal threat, does at least have another string to his bow, although the dubious talents of Jose Bosingwa, available at a far cheaper price, could now draw some interest.
Lower down our rankings, both Thomas Vermaelen and Jonny Evans slip, with neither player offering a double Gameweek. Both could go on to record further returns, although fixtures favour neither player. Indeed, only Ryan Taylor has seen more transfers out than Evans amongst the FPL defenders so far in the Gameweek.
Midfielders
While Clint Dempsey faces two tricky away trips to Everton and Liverpool in the Gameweek, his attacking threat is such, he leaps to the top of our rankings. The Tottenham pairing of Rafael Van der Vaart and Gareth Bale come next – despite miserable form that has seen Harry Redknapp’s side struggle. Both have continued to bristle with goal threat, without translating them into returns. With strong fixtures until the end of the season, the Spurs pairing undoubtedly offer the potential for those seeking explosive returns over the run-in. With Emmanuel Adebayor’s role uncertain following the recent speculation surrounding his relationship with Harry Reknapp, Van der Vaart, with spot-kicks in his locker, looks particularly tempting with under 6% ownership in the FPL.
The form and fixtures of Newcastle’s Hatem Ben Arfa and Everton’s Steven Pienaar has them climb into our top five, with Swansea’s Gylfi Sigurdsson holding back the charge from the likes of Martin Petrov, Jon Walters and Yohan Cabaye. The latter has seen huge investment in the FPL this week off the back of his rich returns over the last three Gameweeks.
Further down, Chelsea’s Juan Mata has seen big FPL investment this week but offers us a problem – two home fixtures with QPR and Newcastle in the Gameweek look strong, but rest and rotation is a concern. Mata, as one of the bodies able to play in the Champions League final, will surely miss at least one of Chelsea’s remaining fixtures.
Forwards
With two fixtures in the Gameweek and outstanding current form, both Newcastle’s Papiss Cisse and Everton’s Nikaca Jelavic climb to the top of the rankings. Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney are toppled, then, slipping down our ladder, with City’s Sergio Aguero also a factor, given his stunning recent form.
Emmanuel Adebayor is also in decline – injury saw him miss the defeat at QPR, while reports of a training ground bust-up with Redknapp is unsettling for those considering the striker for Tottenham’s favourable run-in.
Right now, there could be safer options available with Stoke’s Peter Crouch and even Chelsea’s Fernando Torres offering alternatives for those shopping for strikers in the double Gameweek. Following the momentous Champions League victory, Torres would seem set to start Chelsea’s next three league games with Didier Drogba perhaps being lined up for starts in both finals. With his last minute goal in the Nou Camp surely boosting his confidence, Torres looks a tempting option for those looking for a differential with the potential to deliver goals.
