With a double Gameweek in play, our Watchlist rankings are understandably skewed in the favour of assets from Arsenal, United and Everton – although, with one eye on the fixtures to come, there’s room to consider a City revival and the seemingly relentless rise of Rickie Lambert’s Southampton as a Premier League force.
The Watchlist rankings, offering our view on recommended players for the next four Gameweeks, are now viewable in your right sidebar. Read on for the reasoning behind the recent upheavals.
Goalkeepers
David De Gea continues to hold in top position with little sign that his start is under threat form Anders Lindegaard. While the United back four continues to rotate, the Spaniard is a constant and is also the cheapest secure route into a defence with six clean sheets in seven.
Arsenal’s Lukas Fabianski is another keeper threatened by rotation but seemingly retaining his start – at least for now. With the double Gameweek to come, the Pole offers strong short-term value, although the threat from Wojciech Szczesny could yet increase – Szczesny was in U21 action earlier this week after being omitted from the matchday squad for the victory at West Brom.
If you’re looking for a cheap rotation option with either of that pairing, Wigan’s Joel Robles may not appeal as a one-stop solution, but he can come in for Gameweek 35 and 36 to offer three fixtures at a time when De Gea has Arsenal and Chelsea, while Fabianski hosts United at the Emirates and visits QPR. Robles is currently the only active keeper priced at 4.0 in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL).
Going back to the top of our rankings, West Ham’s Jussi Jääskeläinen could well be the most efficient double Gameweek pick amongst the Upton Park squad – recent form has been strong and with save points always on offer, the Finnish keeper looks a canny short-term acquisition. His run-in fixtures shouldn’t be ignored either – with Wigan, Newcastle and Reading all set to visit the Boleyn Ground.
Southampton’s Artur Boruc is our pick of the budget stoppers on offer. The Saints are in outstanding form right now and are imposing their game on opponents to such an extent that clean sheets have been a by-product of recent results. With the schedule remaining strong, Boruc looks an extremely viable option for the bench role in our squads at just 4.4.
Elsewhere, the Norwich goalkeeping situation is worth monitoring given that Reading, Aston Villa and West Brom are all due at Carrow Road. At present, it’s not clear whether Mark Bunn will be fit to hold his starting role or whether John Ruddy is in line for a recall for the trip to Arsenal this weekend. Expect Ruddy to appear in next week’s update should he claim the jersey at the Emirates.
Defenders
A familiar name soars to the top of the rankings as Leighton Baines prepares for a double Gameweek, with Fulham and West Ham to pay visit to Goodison following that. The Toffees have shown renewed resilience of late and Baines’ attacking threat remains a factor.
Arsenal’s Bacary Sagna climbs to second spot, with the double Gameweek again a major factor in our thinking. With rotation a concern in the Gunners back four, its difficult to isolate a guaranteed option and, while the Frenchman could come under threat from Carl Jenkinson for the midweek meet with Everton, only Laurent Koscielny looks likely to start both matches – arguably Sagna offers stronger security and better value over the Gameweeks to follow.
City’s Matija Nastasic is a new entry, replacing Pablo Zabaleta as our defender of choice within Roberto Mancini’s squad. Cheaper than the Argentine, Nastasic looks likely to hold the slot alongside Vincent Kompany until the end of the season having been restored at Old Trafford on Monday evening. While Zabaleta offers stronger attacking threat, his place could be threatened over the closing fixtures with both Maicon and Micah Richards given run-outs on their recovery from injury.
United’s Patrice Evra looks to be the most secure route, other than De Gea, into the United defence for the remaining matches, while Liverpool’s Glen Johnson remains in our thinking as we hold on for belated attacking returns from the right-back.
In the budget bracket, both Joey O’Brien of West Ham and Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne look to be the best on offer. There are alternatives in the same squads, with Guy Demel available for a cheaper price to O’Brien but arguably offering less security having been subbed in three of his last six starts. Luke Shaw is another consideration, although he could yet be rested with Daniel Fox available to take up the left-back role.
Midfielders
With Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott still struggling with injuries, Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla is largely unopposed at the top of the midfield rankings. His two home fixtures in the Gameweek look so enticing and it’s no surprise to find the playmaker dominating the current captain poll.
Everton’s Marouane Fellaini crashes straight back into our thinking in second – free from suspension, he’s expected to be thrown up front once again for Everton’s two fixtures with QPR and Arsenal and, with a favourable enough run-in, looks likely to add to an impressive season goal tally over the remainder of the season. With a recent price drop to just 7.4, the Belgian looks to be a big temptation and has already attracted more FPL acquisitions than any other player in the Gameweek.
Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard and Ciy’s David Silva hold in our top five – the latter is a slight concern with a hamstring injury likely to keep him out of the weekend’s FA Cup semi-final. Noises from the player himself indicate that he’ll be close, however, which should see him in the equation for the midweek meeting with Wigan. City’s run-in is hugely favourable and, if they can build on the confidence gained by the win at United, Silva looks to be a handy differential for those who need to take risks.
Theo Walcott remains in the frame to play some part in the Gameweek and therefore has to be considered for a top five placing. Gervinho is the third Arsenal option – although in all likelihood a short-term option, the Ivorian is making it difficult for Arsene Wenger to relegate him back to the bench and is clearly a factor going into Gameweek 33.
Swansea’s Michu will enjoy a significant climb once this blank Gameweek has passed – his current form suggests that he will be a key target for the Gameweek 36 double Gameweek fixtures with City and Wigan. Below him, there is little change although Yaya Toure is becoming more of a force as his form builds and fixtures fall kindly.
Forwards
There is little or no movement in this position, as Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie remain highly ranked going into their double Gameweek. Dimitar Berbatov is the meat in that Old Trafford sandwich, with Rickie Lambert holding off the tightrope walking Luis Suarez – Lambert’s form and fixtures are both outstanding.
Sergio Aguero is now the joker in this pack – an option that could well explode over the remaining fixtures if the Argentine can build on his return to fitness and form shown at Old Trafford. Fixtures are firmly in his favour and, should the United pairing fail over their double, or if Suarez earns that tenth booking, we can expect Aguero to suddenly become a popular transfer target. As it is, he’s a strong differential going into next week’s home fixture with Wigan. He’ll surely start that one having made such an impact against United.
Lower down the most intriguing options on offer are Everton’s Kevin Mirallas and Southampton’s Jay Rodriguez. This pair are your potential differentials for the closing fixtures with Mirallas a double Gameweek darkhourse and Rodriguez providing strong form at an outstanding price point.
We can expect Arona Kone to climb once his trip to the Etihad is disposed of – he’ll face a double fixture in Gameweek 36 and remains integral to everything good that comes from the Latics. With Loic Remy also offering form for just 5.9, the value on offer in this position is plentiful. The option to trade in heavy-hitters and mix things up for the remaining fixtures is clearly a viable one, then.
