Having run the rule over Goalkeeper and Defender Rotation, we turn to the Midfielders in our assessment of Wildcard prospects over the next 10 Gameweeks. Theo Walcott’s season-long injury injury has had a significant effect over the last 24 hours, as Fantasy managers scour the price brackets for a variety of replacements:
Mesut Ozil
The German has averaged 6.3 points per game in his debut season – joint-top for midfielders thus far. Despite this, Ozil has plummeted in price in recent weeks and shifted from 10.8 down to just 9.9, though Walcott’s injury makes him an obvious route into the Gunners midfield ahead of a kind run of fixtures which sees Fulham, Palace, Sunderland and Swansea all roll up to the Emirates in the next 10, with trips to Villa, Southampton and Stoke also on the agenda. Santi Cazorla has hinted at a return to the form that harvested 205 points in 2012/13 but would represent a riskier acquisition, whereas Ozil – with five sets of double figures to his name already – looks the most reliable option amongst Arsene Wenger’s side until Aaron Ramsey returns. The Welshman has now dropped to 7.2 and, with Walcott now out of the running, is sure to receive renewed investment when he eventually recovers from a thigh injury.
David Silva
The Spaniard, like team-mate Yaya Toure, has also averaged 6.3 points per game under the guidance of Manuel Pellegrini. Silva has upped his consistency this season and has scored or assisted in eight of his 11 appearances for City – the downside being a propensity to pick up niggling injuries which have already forced him onto the sidelines twice this term. Nonetheless, with a price of 9.3 to Toure’s 10.1, Silva is certainly the more budget friendly of the two, whilst an ownership of just 5% highlights his appeal as a differential. Toure, on the other hand, is now owned by over 45% of Fantasy managers – if you wanted him in your team, you’ve more than likely already acquired him. City’s relentless home displays make their list of upcoming visitors an irrelevance – with five Etihad clashes in the next 10, allied with trips to Newcastle, Norwich and Hull, Silva has the platform to kick on, providing he can keep out of the treatment room.
Eden Hazard
Granted, Oscar (at 8.7 to the Belgian’s 10.4) is an obvious, cheaper alternative route into the Chelsea midfield, but Hazard’s consistency of selection is key to his appeal. In terms of “lessons learned” so far under Jose Mourinho, it’s pretty straightforward – when Hazard is fit, he starts, whereas the Brazilian, for all his potential upside, simply cannot offer the same guarantee. He’s notched eight times already – just one fewer than the whole of 2012/13 – and, with the Blues’ forwards failing in front of goal, Hazard’s attacking contribution has ensured he has earned more bonus points than any of his team-mates. Attacking returns in 10 of the first 20 Gameweeks is indicative of his consistency, whilst Hazard’s explosive potential has already served up six sets of double figures, with two in his last three appearances. With Hull, West Ham, Newcastle and West Brom in the next six, he looks set to continue his relentless quest for points at the top of the midfield standings.
Adam Lallana
The fifth-highest-scoring midfielder in the Fantasy Premier League game so far, Lallana has produced attacking returns in eight of the opening 20 Gameweeks. A tally of four goals and six assists already exceeds last term’s three and five respectively as he starts to step up his performances under Mauricio Pochettino – having produced points against the likes of Liverpool, United, Spurs and Everton, he’s capable of delivering regardless of opponent. According to the fixture ticker, Southampton have the kindest schedule of any side over the next 10 Gameweeks and investment in their main attacking assets looks a likely tactic for many. Priced at a respectable 7.3, Lallana welcomes West Brom, Stoke and Norwich to St Mary’s and also has five potentially profitable road trips (sun, ful, hul, whm, cpl) to boost his chances of further returns.
Christian Eriksen
The Dane has wasted little time in highlighting his capabilities since the departure of Andre Villas-Boas. Eriksen managed a single assist and one 90-minute appearance under the previous Tottenham boss – the installation of Tim Sherwood has brought about a dramatic turnaround in his Fantasy fortunes, with two goals, an assist and six bonus points in just four games. Having started the season at 8.0, Eriksen has dropped to 7.2 and, with Sherwood’s philosophy far more attack-minded than his predecessor’s, games against Palace, Swansea, Hull, Newcastle, Norwich and Cardiff in the next eight suggest Eriksen is poised for a strong second half to his debut campaign in the top flight.
Yohan Cabaye
A goal or assist in nine of his 18 appearances is indicative of the Frenchman’s consistency for Newcastle. Previously utilised in a deeper central role, either in a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2, Cabaye’s eye for goal has been recognised by Alan Pardew, with a move to the role in “the hole” behind Loic Remy in a 4-2-3-1 furthering his potential. With set-pieces duties also in his locker, the Magpies man has already racked up five goals and four assists, with an average of 4.7 points per game just edging Lallana’s 4.6. He’s currently a doubt heading into the weekend showdown with City due to an Achilles injury, though – non-owners would be wise to monitor his fitness before investing in the 7.1-priced Cabaye. Alan Pardew’s side face West Ham, Norwich and Sunderland in the subsequent three fixtures and also square up to Villa, Hull and Fulham in the next 10 Gameweeks.
Steven Gerrard
The Liverpool skipper is now down to 8.7 after a recent hamstring injury curtailed his festive input. Now fully recovered, Gerrard will be hoping to return to the eye-catching form which produced a goal or assist in nine of his 10 appearances in the same XI as Luis Suarez upon the Uruguayan’s return from suspension. With Philippe Coutinho struggling for consistency and Raheem Sterling’s starting berth soon to be under threat from the imminent return of Daniel Sturridge, Gerrard (with an ownership under 5%) looks a definite route into a side that have scored 46 times this term, second only to City. The Reds midfielder has four home games (AVL, EVE, ARS, SWA) and trips to Stoke, West Brom and Fulham in the next seven to ensure he hits the ground running again.
Ross Barkley
The youngster seems to have nailed down a starting berth once again, after dropping to the bench in early November. With Kevin Mirallas continuing to struggle, Barkley, at just 5.3, looks a somewhat risk-free route into the Everton midfield ahead of five very favourable home games (NOR, AVL, CPL, WHM, CAR) in the next 10 Gameweeks.
Peter Whittingham
Available for just 5.3, the Cardiff playmaker is the top-scoring midfielder in the sub-7.0 price-bracket. Whittingham has already picked up points against the likes of City, Liverpool and United and is one of only two midfielders to have managed every minute of the season so far. Granted, there’s a case for team-mate Jordan Mutch (4.6), who has scored four times to Whittingham’s two, but with the former currently nursing a hamstring problem, we’re still uncertain over his availability at present, With set-pieces and spot-kick duties also in his favour, though, Whittingham has home games with West Ham, Norwich, Villa, Hull and Fulham in the next nine Gameweeks to heighten his points potential.
Jason Puncheon
Having started every game under Tony Pulis so far, the wide man gets the nod over Barry Bannan here. Whilst the Scot failed to feature in the previous Gameweek, Puncheon netted a spot-kick against Norwich to suggest he has been handed penalty duties for Palace (both Marouane Chamakh and Cameron Jerome were on the pitch) and, priced at just 4.9, he looks a budget option worth considering. Granted, the short-term away fixtures are far from enticing but Palace’s next three home games (STO, HUL, WBA) look crucial to their survival chances – Puncheon also rotates home/away with Cardiff options, for those eyeing up Whittingham or Mutch.
Ki Sung-Yeung
Another cut-price option with penalty duties in hand. The Sunderland midfielder sets you back just 4.8 and has one of the most enticing home schedules around – Southampton, Stoke, Hull, West Brom and Palace all pay visit to the Stadium of Light in the next 10 Gameweeks. Given that City and Chelsea have already tasted defeat on Wearside under Gus Poyet, Ki could well be worth a flutter for those shopping on a budget.
Adnan Januzaj
The United wide man has now produced a goal or assist in three of his last four starts. With Nani and Ashley Young both sidelined, Januzaj has now been named in the United XI in five of the previous six Gameweeks – an indication that, providing he gets the nod in David Moyes’ XI, he will produce the goods. There’s no doubt he will occasionally warm the bench as his manager looks to protect his game time but if you’re willing to take the risk, there’s still enough potential upside in four of the next five Gameweeks (SWA, CAR, sto, FUL) at least for the 5.1 priced Januzaj.
Clint Dempsey
A proven Premier League performer, the US international joins up with former club Fulham on a two-month loan deal. Dempsey’s fixtures are a mixed bag, really – home games against Sunderland and Southampton and trip to Swansea and West Brom bode well, though visits to Arsenal and United, in addition to a home clash against Liverpool, will deter many. Nonetheless, for those romantics who have a feeling he’ll rekindle the form of times gone by, Dempsey’s price-tag of 7.4 is relatively kind.
