Our Friday regular arrives a little later than usual today, as we analyse the PlayON player price list ahead of tomorrow’s 10.45am deadline. Below we offer a couple of picks per position: one essential weekend target and a left-field alternative for your consideration.
PlayON is this week re-introducing tackles, interceptions and clearances to its scoring matrix. It is also reducing the points for clean sheets to 3 per minute played so more weight is put on individual player performance rather than team performance – view the revised scoring matrix here
PlayON is also running a Free Entry, £500 Winner Takes All game this week – which you can enter here.
Goalkeeper – Ben Foster
The stopper looks crucial to West Brom’s chances at home to a Newcastle side that have won their last four in all competitions. Having kept a clean sheet away to Leicester last week, Foster will be looking to defy the in-form Magpies and deliver a fifth clean sheet of the campaign – available for only 6.1m, the Baggies number one, who was the highest scoring keeper in PlayON last weekend, looks an excellent budget enabler. West Ham’s Adrian (6.9m) is another cut-price contender to consider. Granted, the Hammers have been far from convincing at the back and managed a single shut-out this season but bearing in mind visitors Villa have scored once in the last six and are missing the suspended Christian Benteke, Big Sam’s side could be in line to deliver the defensive returns.
Defender – Gael Clichy
The Frenchman is set to continue at left-back for City after Aleksandar Kolarov was ruled out for at least a month with a calf complaint. After starting the last three, Clichy bagged the assist for last week’s winner against Man Utd and, at a price of just 7.5m, he represents a cheap route into the champions defence for their trip to QPR. Having conceded just five times this term, and only once at home, Southampton’s defence is on the radar as Leicester roll up to St Mary’s. Whilst Toby Alderweireld doesn’t offer the attacking threat of his defensive team-mates, at a mere 6.8m he looks excellent value against a Foxes side that have failed to score in the last three.
Midfielder – Nacer Chadli
We call upon the Tottenham midfielder for the second time in three Gameweeks due to his very reasonable price tag. Chadli netted his fifth league goal of the season last weekend, yet whilst team-mates Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela are priced at 10.8m apiece, the Belgian sets you back just 9.0m at home to a Stoke side that have shipped six in the last three on their travels. For this week’s essential midfield pick, we return to Southampton. Dusan Tadic (10.2m) has produced a goal and six assists in five home appearances for Ronald Koeman’s side and the Serbian will fancy his chances against a Leicester side with a single clean sheet all season.
Forward – Diafra Sakho
After missing last week’s draw against Stoke with a shoulder problem, the West Ham forward looks set to return in time for a very favourable home encounter against Aston Villa. Sakho has scored seven times in eight appearances since arriving at Upton Park and, at a lowly 8.0m in PlayON this week, looks an absolute steal against a defence that’s conceded at least twice in each of their last six. Sakho’s acquisition also helps to enable this week’s essential striker, Sergio Aguero. At 15.0m, the City forward may be the most expensive player in the game but up against a QPR side that has conceded more goals than any other in the Premier League, it’s difficult to see him not bringing home the points.
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