We roll out our “Weekly Shop” article this afternoon, as we take a look at those players currently under consideration for our squads across weekly and daily Fantasy Football games.
This early scouting article is divided into two sections. The “Better Buys” will look at the key players for the week ahead, generally assessing those in-form assets who are braced for a promising fixture. The “Poundstretchers”, on the other hand, are the Gameweek prospects that should offer excellent value – often one-week punts, whose lower price tags enable funds to be spent on the big-hitters elsewhere in our lineups.
In today’s article, we assess what’s on offer in this week’s two featured games FantasyBet, and PremierPunt…
Better Buys
Adrian returned to the West Ham line-up after a three-match ban with a fine performance in the 2-1 win at Manchester City. Eight saves at the Etihad and three clean sheets in six for the Hammers makes the Spaniard a tempting prospect ahead of the visit from Norwich, pick him up for 5m in FantasyBet and 7.3m in Premier Punt this week.
After three successive clean sheets in the opening weeks, second-placed Manchester United have conceded in the following three but, despite issues at left-back, look a strong shout for a fourth shut-out of the season as struggling Sunderland visit Old Trafford. We’re backing Chris Smalling (FantasyBet 6m, PremierPunt 9.4m) as our United defender, after Matteo Darmian’s minutes were curtailed by Louis van Gaal’s decision to replace him with Antonio Valencia at the break against Southampton.
Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta (FantasyBet 6m, PremierPunt 8.1m) comes in for the visit to Newcastle. The Blues have served up back-to-back shut-outs and face a Magpies side with a single goal in their last five.
Eden Hazard (FantasyBet 11.5m, PremierPunt 15.7m) managed only an assist in the first five Gameweeks of the season but returned to form at home to Arsenal, with a goal, four attempts and five key passes. A trip to St James’ Park offers the Belgian the chance to justify his price tag and reaffirm his customary must-have status going forward.
Sunderland are yet to keep a clean sheet this season and even conceded three to Exeter City in the League Cup before being knocked out 4-1 mid-week by Manchester City. Loading up on their opponents attacking players is an easy decision, then, and Juan Mata’s (FantasyBet 8.5m, PremierPunt 12.5m) two goals and two assists in the last four makes the Spaniard a prime candidate for inclusion.
West Ham’s Dimitri Payet (FantasyBet 7.5m, PremierPunt 8.7m) is a strong candidate for the Upton Park encounter against Norwich. The Frenchman has scored three of his side’s six home goals so far and faces a defence that’s been breached in all six Gameweeks.
Anthony Martial (FantasyBet 8m, PremierPunt 8.9m) has also made a strong case for a place in our teams against the Black Cats after netting three times in his first two outings for Louis Van Gaal’s side. The youngster offers United a different attacking threat, with his speed and technique when breaking beyond the last defenders likely to be effective against Dick Advocaat’s frail side.
Poundstretchers
Boaz Myhill’s (FantasyBet 4.5m, PremierPunt 6.8m) four clean sheets in six for West Brom is second only to leaders City and the Baggies look on course for a fourth consecutive shut-out this Gameweek. The keeper is the cheapest regular starter in their backline so far and welcomes an Everton side that have failed to score in their last two on the road.
We’re backing both defences in the Hawthorns encounter. The Toffees have exhibited a real resilience on their travels, earning all three of their clean sheets away from Goodison, while West Brom have been unable to score in two out of three matches in front of their own fans. Brendan Galloway (FantasyBet 4.5m, PremierPunt 6.5m) offers a cheap route into Roberto Martinez’s back-four and has made five appearances at left-back this term with Leighton Baines sidelined.
Crystal Palace have been much more effective on their travels under Alan Pardew, already winning two of there three away trips so far this season. That included the 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge in which Bakary Sako (FantasyBet 5.5m, PremierPunt 6.8m) served up a goal and assist, making the Malian worth considering as a budget alternative to Jason Puncheon (FantasyBet 6m, PremierPunt 8.4m), Yannick Bolasie (FantasyBet 6.5m, PremierPunt 6.7m) and Yohan Cabaye (FantasyBet 6.5m, PremierPunt 7m) for the visit to Watford.
Similarly, Victor Moses (FantasyBet 5.5m, PremierPunt 7.5m) offers a cut-price alternate to the aforementioned Payet if you’re looking for a West Ham midfield asset against the Canaries. The journeyman midfielder has found his feet at Upton Park with a goal and an assist in his opening two appearances for Slavan Bilic’s in-form outfit.
Palace may have recorded three wins this season but are clearly still vulnerable at the back, having kept only two clean sheets in 24 league fixtures with Pardew at the helm. Odion Ighalo has scored four of Watford’s five goals this season, including three in their last two and only sets you back 5m in FantasyBet and 7.7m in PremierPunt.
These are the players on my radar ahead of this weekend’s weekly contests. On Friday, I’ll be back with a further look at both this week’s partner games – FantasyBet and PremierPunt, as I continue my quest for profit in the 2015/16 campaign.
