Our weekly focus on player recommendations for the next four to six Gameweeks is rolled out once again today. We analyse the main movers and shakers in this week’s update, with the full listings per classification available on the sidebar on your right:
The Defence
Southampton pair Artur Boruc and Jose Fonte remain in the top two for keepers and defenders respectively as they prepare for a strong run of upcoming fixtures over the next six Gameweeks, with Stoke, Hull, West Ham, Palace and Norwich all on their agenda.
Chelsea duo Petr Cech and John Terry are on the rise after Monday’s win at City took their recent run to six clean sheets in eight. A shut-out at the Etihad highlights the Blues’ fixture-proof appeal, whilst Terry’s attacking threat in the box gives him the edge over any other backline option for Jose Mourinho’s side and elevates him to the summit of this week’s defensive refresh.
With back-to-back clean sheets against Chelsea and Swansea, West Ham look in fine defensive form ahead of some tempting fixtures. Priced at just 4.3, Adrian’s cut-price appeal is heightened by the fact he rotates with Boruc from now until the end of the season, whilst fit-again Winston Reid, at 4.7, cemented his injury comeback by climbing off the bench last weekend – Sam Allardyce’s side now have home games against Norwich, Southampton and Hull to supplement a trip to Villa in the next five.
Joe Hart and Vincent Kompany look the safest bets in the City rearguard as the schedule smiles kindly on Manuel Pellegrini’s men. Trips to Norwich and Hull, allied with three very promising home games (SUN, STO, AVL), more than atone for a Gameweek 28 blank due to Capital One Cup duties. At 5.5, Aleksandar Kolarov offers a cheaper alternative to the Belgian and, whilst his game time is less guaranteed, the left-back’s explosive potential could prove profitable over those fixtures as City go on the offensive.
Three very promising home games in the six (CPL, WHM, CAR) allow Everton pair Tim Howard and Seamus Coleman to ascend the rankings. The latter was an unused sub against Villa last weekend and is set to return to the starting XI for this weekend’s trip to Spurs, as he looks to add to his five-goal tally and maintain his lead at the top of the defender standings.
Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen appears on our radars once again after making his first appearance since Gameweek 14 last weekend. Despite his side conceding against Hull, the Belgian still earned a couple of bonus points and has Newcastle, Norwich and Cardiff in the next four for those looking for an under the radar premium-priced defender. Cardiff pair David Marshall and Steven Caulker are also on the up as they prepare for a run which hands them a trip to Swansea and three home games (AVL, HUL, FUL) in the next five.
Arsenal and Sunderland’s fixtures are a cause for concern amongst their Fantasy owners. The Gunners play six of the current top seven in the next nine – a schedule which may well see many Wojciech Szczesny and Per Mertesacker owners contemplate a transfer out. Sunderland’s home game with Hull precedes a run which sees the Black Cats travel to City, Arsenal and Liverpool in the subsequent four, with a blank Gameweek sandwiched between the last two fixtures.
Palace due Joel Ward and Julian Speroni are also poised for some tough-looking fixtures after this weekend. Whilst a clean sheet could be on the cards against West Brom, Tony Pulis’ side then have Everton, United and Southampton in the following four to lessen their budget appeal.
Midfield
With Eden Hazard and Yaya Toure maintaining their spots at first and second respectively, Juan Mata is the main climber this week. The Spaniard has already produced an assist in each of his two appearances for United – he now has Fulham, Palace and West Brom in the next five to bring him onto our radars as Fantasy managers bring him on board well in advance of double Gameweek 31.
Adam Lallana is our pick of the mid-price options. Sitting third in the midfield standings behind Toure and Hazard, the Southampton skipper remains outstanding value and brings a real consistency of form into the above-mentioned fixtures, with attacking returns in six of the last eight.
Adam Johnson’s form ensures he remains in the top five. Six goals and a pair of assists in the last four highlights the Sunderland winger’s incredible form, though his owners may well be looking for alternatives as his schedule prepares to take a turn for the worse. He’s joined by both Christian Eriksen and Kevin Mirallas in the same price bracket as a number of mid-price options start to produce the goods – the latter’s three strikes in four, allied with a move up top, suggest he’s set to benefit from Everton’s schedule.
Kevin Nolan’s prospects undoubtedly look a little bleaker after sidekick Andy Carroll was suspended for three matches after his Saturday lunchtime altercation with Chico Flores, though the fixtures still favour the 6.5-priced Hammers skipper. Hatem Ben Arfa is set to benefit from increased game time due to Yohan Cabaye’s departure from Newcastle, though his inconsistent displays have yet to persuade Fantasy managers he’s worth a punt.
Further down in the budget range, Wilfried Zaha’s display off the bench last weekend suggests he could be key to Cardiff’s survival bid, whilst Raheem Sterling has retained his Liverpool starting berth in spite of Daniel Sturridge’s return from injury to remain on the radar at just 5.3.
Forwards
Liverpool’s Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge are the front runners, with their relentless consistency racking up the points. The Sturridge bandwagon continues to pick up speed as more Fantasy managers are acquiring him along with the Uruguayan for their front three and, whilst a home clash against Arsenal is a little tricky, the pair then have Fulham, Swansea and Sunderland in the subsequent four to continue the form that has harvested 10.4 and 7.2 points per game this term.
Goals in each of his two games since returning from injury sees Robin Van Persie make a welcome return to the Watchlist’s upper echelons. Granted, at 13.6 in FPL, his acquisition is likely to require some squad restructuring, but his captaincy potential makes him a popular target ahead of United’s kind-looking schedule.
With Sergio Aguero hamstrung for a month, Edin Dzeko and Alvaro Negredo look to be Manuel Pellegrini’s likeliest starters. However, the latter’s recent shoulder injury saw him subbed off within the hour against Chelsea and, with his manager admitting he’s not yet 100%, it’s Dzeko who looks the likeliest to be handed 90-minute appearances and greater game time to grab the goals.
Three goals and an assist in the last four brings Christian Benteke back into consideration. The 8.8-priced Belgian seems buoyant once again after months of ineffectual displays for Villa but now has West Ham, Cardiff, Newcastle and Norwich over the next four to continue his ascent up the rankings.
Southampton’s above-mentioned schedule looks profitable for both Jay Rodriguez and Rickie Lambert. Costing 6.5 and 7.0 respectively, there’s not much between them in terms of price, whilst there’s also very little to separate them in overall points – Rodriguez just edges it by 107 points to 104 points but is undoubtedly the more consistent of the pair. The former Burnley man has produced points in 10 of the last 18 Gameweeks compared to his team-mate’s six in 18 but, with free-kick and penalty duties for the Saints, Lambert has the potential to be a far more explosive asset.
