Two of this week’s overlooked options were regarded as Fantasy royalty earlier this season before falling by the wayside due to suspension and injury. Our third is looking to continue his fine recent form under Neil Warnock as Palace welcome Sunderland on Monday evening.
Wayne Rooney
Back in the frame after serving a three-match suspension, the United skipper was confirmed to start in Sunday’s trip to City by Louis van Gaal yesterday. The Red Devils boss also dismissed recent reports that Rooney had picked up a foot problem earlier in the week and with Radamel Falcao absent through injury once again, the England international could be key as his side go in search of a first away win of the season.
Prior to his dismissal against West Ham in Gameweek 6, Rooney had shown decent form under Van Gaal – delivering three goals and a pair of assists despite a more withdrawn berth – and his penchant for producing against City has rewarded Fantasy managers on numerous occasions before.
Now down to 10.2 in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game – the same price as 39%-owned midfielder Angel di Maria – Rooney sits in just 12% of sides ahead of the weekend deadline. With three excellent home fixtures (CPL, HUL, STO) in the next five and a lack of cup commitments ensuring he’s free from the threat of rest and rotation, there’s every chance he could have a big say in our Fantasy seasons over the next few matches as he looks to atone for his moment of madness against the Hammers.
Aaron Ramsey
A stint on the sidelines with a hamstring problem has allowed the Arsenal midfielder to fall off many Fantasy radars ahead of this afternoon’s home encounter with Burnley. Now down to 8.8 in FPL, Ramsey has been sold by over 13,000 this week alone after a brief sub appearance at Sunderland last weekend but the Welshman looks poised to return to the starting XI to face a defence that has afforded their opponents more shots inside the box that any other side over the last four Gameweeks.
There’s no doubt Ramsey’s form dropped off before his injury. After racking up two goals and an assist in the first four Gameweeks, he’s failed to pick up any returns in his subsequent four appearances but with the Gunners’ form improving, his ability to time late surges into the box could prove decisive against Sean Dyche’s side.
With Alexis Sanchez’ 10.4 price tag proving too costly for some, and Theo Walcott still being eased back into contention, Ramsey may well prove a handy alternative route into the Gunners’ midfield. With showdowns against Swansea, United and West Brom in the subsequent three, he has the chance to stake a claim for consideration once again as he looks to reprise the form which racked up 10 goals and nine assists in just 23 appearances in the season gone by.
Yannick Bolasie
The Palace wide man infamously fired the most number of shots without scoring last season but he’s already up and running under new boss Neil Warnock. With the onus more on attack this term, the Eagles have already found the net on 13 occasions in the first nine rounds of fixtures – that’s the same number as Swansea and Liverpool, for example, and a couple more than the likes of Tottenham.
Bolasie’s strike against Everton in Gameweek 5 finally broke his duck and underlines the close-range threat he’s afforded the London club this season – he sits eighth amongst midfielders for touches inside the penalty box. Factor in a pair of assists – the most recent coming against West Brom last weekend – and he looks a viable option as Warnock’s side welcome struggling Sunderland to Selhurst Park on Monday evening.
With Wilfried Zaha and Jason Puncheon competing for a place on the right, Bolasie looks the one winger guaranteed starts under Warnock this season and his trickery down the left is sure to cause plenty of problems for a defence that shipped eight at Southampton on their previous road trip. Available for 5.4 in FPL, he currently resides in under 1% of teams and with Swansea and Villa in the subsequent four, could be one to consider.
