The Watchlist Updated – Gameweek 31 – The Defence

With Gameweek 30 consigned to the history books and an international break upon us, we’re rolling out a fresh update to our Watchlist rankings, offering player recommendations for the next four to six Gameweeks.

Injuries to Ben Foster and Fraser Forster in recent weeks have seen Boaz Myhill and Kelvin Davis emerge as budget options, while Aaron Cresswell’s stock is rising again as West Ham are treated to a favourable season run-in.

GOALKEEPERS

Boaz Myhill leaps to the top of our keeper rankings thanks to a kind short-term schedule. The Baggies face plum home fixtures against QPR and Leicester in their next two matches, while they also travel to Crystal Palace and Newcastle in the next six. With Craig Dawson serving out a one-match suspension against the R’s, the 4.0-valued keeper is now the cheapest route into the Baggies defence following Foster’s season-ending injury. With six clean sheets in ten matches under Tony Pulis, Myhill looks a great option until the schedule stiffens from Gameweek 34.

Another keeper thrust into the spotlight is Southampton’s Kelvin Davis. The 38-year-old veteran replaced the injured Forster in Saturday’s 2-0 win against Burnley, and with the former Celtic keeper now ruled out for the season, Davis – at just 4.4 – could benefit from a kind-looking schedule (eve, HUL, sto, TOT, sun, lei), given that Ronald Koeman’s side have kept a league-high 14 clean sheets to date.

Swansea’s Lukasz Fabianski maintains his position in our ladder this week having racked up his second shut-out in the Swans’ last four matches in the 1-0 win at Villa Park. With favourable fixtures in the next five (HUL, EVE, lei, new, STO), the Polish international, who sits just two points off the top of the keeper summit in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game, looks a solid option. Fabianski’s appeal is somewhat reduced by the availability of Kyle Naughton, for just 4.3, as a defensive option.

With Martin Skrtel now set to serve a three-match suspension, Simon Mignolet looks the most appealing route into Liverpool’s backline. The Belgian international has averaged 6.4 points per appearance over the Reds’ last five matches and, providing he can overcome an ankle injury sustained at the weekend, remains a viable option ahead of a schedule that pits him against Newcastle, Hull, West Brom and QPR in the next six Gameweeks.

Thibaut Courtois is a non-mover among the goalkeepers this week, with the Chelsea stopper still in the midst of a decent run of fixtures (STO, qpr, MUN, ars/lei, CPL). Although the Blues have only kept one clean sheet in their last four matches, the 5.9-priced Courtois is still the cheapest option in Jose Mourinho’s side’s rearguard, with Kurt Zouma finding himself among the substitutes for the second consecutive league encounter at the KC Stadium.

West Ham’s Adrian is back on our radar, with the schedule taking a favourable turn for Sam Allardyce’s side. With the trip to the Etihad in Gameweek 33 the only difficult fixture in the next six according to our Season Ticker, the former Real Betis stopper looks primed to add to his modest seven shut-outs registered so far this season, the latest of which came in the 1-0 home win against Sunderland last weekend.

Despite a third consecutive shut-out at the Etihad, Joe Hart drops a place this week. Home fixtures against West Ham, Aston Villa and QPR in the next six could see that run extended, but trips to Old Trafford and White Hart Lane look difficult, and coming in at 6.1 in FPL, it’s difficult to justify the outlay given the budget options on offer.

Having returned to the starting XI in the 4-3 defeat to Tottenham after recovering from a metatarsal injury, Kasper Schmeichel is back on the Watchlist. The Foxes have only managed one clean sheet in their last eight matches, but the strength of their upcoming schedule (WHM, wba, SWA, bur/CHE, NEW, SOT) means the 4.4-priced keeper is a viable option as long as he maintains his starting berth. Like Fabianski, Schmeichel’s potential is somewhat dented by the availability of Jeffrey Schlupp as a 4.5 option in defence.

With home matches against Liverpool and Chelsea in the next four, along with a blank in Gameweek 33, Arsenal’s David Ospina falls down our ladder. With Hector Bellerin and Calum Chambers seemingly sharing duties at right-back, the 4.9-valued Colombian international is the cheapest option amongst the Gunners’ rearguard regulars. Arsene Wenger’s side have conceded just six goals in their last ten league clashes but until we head into Gameweek 35, further investment in Ospina looks unlikely.

Tim Howard returns to this week’s Watchlist rankings, with Everton’s fixtures for the coming period looking favourable (SOT, swa, BUR, MUN, avl, SUN). The 5.1-rated keeper has only managed one clean sheet in his six appearances since returning from a calf injury, which does lessen his appeal, but with wins in their last two matches, the Toffees could be in for a strong end to the season.

DEFENCE

There’s simply no moving Branislav Ivanovic from top spot this week despite amassing just a single point in the 3-2 win at Hull. Prior to that, the Serbian had averaged 6.8 points per appearance over the previous eight matches, and with double Gameweek 34 soon on the horizon, Fantasy managers are likely to be working on a “route to recruit” the 7.5-priced defender in the 15-man squads sooner rather than later, with favourable matches against Stoke and QPR up next.

Swansea’s Kyle Naughton remains our budget defender of choice, with Garry Monk’s side facing one of the friendlier upcoming schedules. Coming at in at just 4.3 in FPL, the former Tottenham defender also offers decent attacking potential, having registered two shots over the last four Gameweeks, seemingly benefiting from the 4-3-2-1 system currently favoured by Monk.

After bagging a 12-point haul in the 2-0 win over Burnley, Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand is a big riser this week. The 5.8-priced defender delivered six crosses in that match alone, and provided the assist for Jason Shackell’s own goal. With three favourable fixtures (HUL, sun, lei) in the next six, along with matches against Everton, Stoke and Tottenham, the former Chelsea man has the potential to provide returns at both ends of the pitch.

Jeffrey Schlupp drops a place in our latest update following Leicester’s 4-3 defeat at Tottenham, but the 4.5-valued defender still looks a strong option given the Foxes upcoming schedule (WHM, wba, SWA, bur/CHE, NEW, SOT). Despite being deployed at left wing-back in Nigel Pearson’s 5-4-1 starting formation, the Ghanaian international still managed to register four crosses and a key pass at the Lane, although owners will hope he’s soon restored to the more advanced position he occupied prior to the Gameweek 29 draw against Hull.

Following a first shut-out since Gameweek 25 and with a very favourable run of fixtures (lei, STO, mci, qpr, BUR, avl), West Ham’s Aaron Cresswell is boosted up our listing. The 5.6-rated defender has already scored once and laid on four assists this season, and again illustrated his attacking potential by creating three chances in the 1-0 victory over Sunderland. With an ownership of 4.9%, the former Ipswich defender could be a decent differential for the coming period.

Available for just 4.8 in FPL, Toby Alderweireld is worth considering for those looking to double up on Southampton’s defence. Along with the aforementioned Davis, the Belgian is a cheap option to pair alongside the more expensive Bertrand or Nathaniel Clyne. With a kind upcoming schedule, it’s a strategy that could pay off.

Leighton Baines is the third left-back to enjoy a considerable leap up our latest rankings. Although the England international looks to have surrendered penalty duties to Romelu Lukaku after the Belgian netted from the spot against Newcastle, the Toffees’ next six fixtures (SOT, swa, BUR, MUN, avl, SUN) have convinced us to restore some faith in the 7.0-priced defender, with returns at both ends a distinct possibility over the season climax.

One player who does suffer from a suspension is West Brom’s Craig Dawson. The Baggies defender will serve a one-match ban after referee Neil Swarbrick mistakenly sent off Gareth McAuley instead of the former Rochdale man in the 3-0 defeat to Man City. He will now miss the plum home fixture against QPR, but with a home clash against Leicester and a trip to Selhurst Park to follow, the 4.5-valued Dawson still offers great value as long as he can find his way back into the starting XI.

With just one clean sheet in Tottenham’s last 11 league matches, Danny Rose drops this time around. The left-back has relied on his attacking returns over that period, scoring twice and delivering three assists, to offer great value at 5.0 in FPL. But with four away matches (bur, new, sot, sto) in the next six, along with a home encounter against City, his stock is in decline right now.

Crystal Palace’s Scott Dann rises this week, with Alan Pardew’s side facing three favourable fixtures (sun, WBA, HUL) in the next four. The Eagles have only kept one clean sheet in ten matches under Pardew, but with the 4.9-priced Dann leading all other defenders for goal attempts (six) over the last four Gameweeks, he could be worth a punt for those looking for a differential, with a current ownership of just 1.4%.

Three shut-outs in United’s last four matches bring Chris Smalling to our attention. The 5.3-rated defender has also scored three goals this season despite limited opportunities, but having seemingly secured a place in Louis van Gaal’s defence with Jonny Evans suspended, he could be a genuine option. The schedule isn’t particularly kind though, with only home clashes against Aston Villa and West Brom looking favourable.

Daryl Janmaat holds on to a place on our Watchlist, despite the injury problems at St. James’ Park. The Dutch international lined-up at centre-back against Arsenal, which does reduce his Fantasy appeal, having chalked up a goal and seven assists from his usual position at right-back. But with four favourable fixtures (sun, SWA, lei, WBA) in the next six, Janmaat could add to his seven clean sheets gained so far this season.

Alberto Moreno appears lower down the rankings and replaces the suspended Skrtel in this week’s refresh as our preferred Liverpool defender. The Spaniard’s left wing-back berth brings him into contention here, though his acquisition doesn’t come without risk – he’s been subbed off just after the hour mark in each of the last two Gameweeks.

Our final spot in this week’s defender rankings goes to Stoke’s Marc Wilson. The 4.4-valued defender has started the Potters’ last five matches, playing his part in two shut-outs. The upcoming schedule isn’t particularly kind (che, whm, SOT, SUN, swa, tot), though, and the Republic of Ireland international faces competition for a place in the starting XI, with Mark Hughes expected to be able to select from a fully fit pool of defenders for Gameweek 31, should Marc Muniesa return from a hamstring injury.