With Chelsea skipping the Gameweek, the early season form of Swansea and Everton ensures that their Fantasy assets hold firm in our Watchlist rankings. Up front, both Carlos Tevez and Robin Van Persie continue to stand out as the heavyweights of choice…
Goalkeepers
Two clean sheets in two, it’s little wonder that we see Michel Vorm retain top spot in the keeper rankings. Tim Howard climbs to second off the back of Everton’s superb start to the season – his fixtures also improve in the coming weeks, and with Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin in such strong form, further clean sheets seem likely. Howard looks a good option in goal for those without the funds to stretch to the raiding Leighton Baines.
Joe Hart’s lack of clean sheets will be a concern but with Vincent Kompany now seemingly the only secure option in front of him, the City stopper’s stock takes a rise for the month ahead for those willing to spend in this area. Hart remains the favourite as top ranked keeper, despite the early stutters and is your “fire and forget” option.
West Brom’s Ben Foster looks a decent option in the mid-price along with Newcastle’s Tim Krul, who now begins to benefit from a stronger schedule. Meanwhile, Brad Friedel has the fixture list on his side but his stock has taken a knock following persistent speculation surrounding the signing of Hugo Lloris at Spurs. Wigan’s Ali Al-Habsi is your budget option lower down the rankings, with Jussi Jaaskaleinan also worth a glance or two.
Defenders
Angel Rangel retains top spot, having superseded team-mate Chico following the doubts surrounding the centre-back’s fitness going into the win over West Ham. Rangel justified the backing with a goal and clean sheet return, and with fixtures remaining strong, the enterprising right-back holds firm under pressure from Everton’s Leighton Baines in second. Baines’ form epitomises the Toffees right now and, if you’re investing heavily in your defence, the left-back looks the prize option on offer.
With clean sheets so hard to find, the temptation is to opt for cheap options and those defenders that offer attacking potential – Wigan’s Emmerson Boyce fits the bill in both cases and claims a spot in our top five courtesy of some strong short-term fixtures.
While City’s defensive returns have been non-existent, an improved fixture list, and the fact that he stands out as the only apparently secure option, boosts Vincent Kompany in our thinking for the month ahead. He clings to a top five spot, with Tottenham’s Kyle Walker just retaining his place in that select group.
There are a host of mid-price options to consider below that, with West Brom’s Liam Ridgewell and Newcastle’s Steven Taylor appearing to offer decent potential.
Midfielders
Our faith in Gareth Bale wavers but Tottenham’s fixtue list remains strong enough to help him retain his top ranking, holding off the charge from United’s Shinji Kagawa, who now looks set to benefit from Wayne Rooney’s injury with a run of assured starts.
In truth, Eden Hazard would be sitting on top of the rankings had it not been for his blank at the weekend so, right now, he looks up on the likes of Hatem Ben Afra, Yaya Toure, Michu and Marouanne Fellaini as mid-price options. The latter just gets the nod over team-mate Steven Pienaar, although it’s ridiculously close between them – Fellaini’s goal threat just gives him the edge right now, while he continues to be deployed in support of Nikaca Jelavic.
Forwards
It’s no surprise to see Carlos Tevez remain on top here following his returns at Anfield on Sunday. Robin Van Persie cements his second place rank following Rooney’s injury, while Newcastle’s Papiss Cisse is the significant climber in third. The Senegalese striker now has stronger fixtures to come and will surely be well backed to break his duck for the season against Aston Villa this weekend.
Both Nikica Jelevic and Emmanuel Adebayor surely have goals to come given their forthcoming schedules, while Swansea’s Danny Graham still looks the strongest option in the budget bracket over the next month, having opened his account in the win over West Ham.
Lower down there are some great differentials if you want them – Fulham’s Mladen Petric rivals Graham in the budget bracket, as does Wigan’s Arouna Kone who impressed with his first strike at Southampton in Saturday’s win.
