Our midweek “Weekly Shop” article arrives once again this afternoon, as we cast an eye over 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 featured game, FantasyBet.
Better Buys
With Joe Hart only fit enough for the bench due to a back complaint last week, Willy Caballero earned a first start of the season between the sticks in Manchester City’s 4-1 loss at White Hart Lane. With Hart (5.5m in FantasyBet) expected to be re-installed for the visit of Newcastle, the Etihad side will be hoping to recapture the form that saw them keep five successive clean sheets before conceding twice against West Ham in Gameweek 6. Adrian (5m) is our other favored pick in goal this week. A trip to a Sunderland side that have failed to score a goal in their last three bodes well for the Hammers shot-stopper.
Although Crystal Palace don’t have the best defensive record under Alan Pardew, a clean sheet against Watford reminded us that the occasional shut-out is possible. Having scored and assisted against Villa at Selhurst Park already, we feel Scott Dann’s (5m) threat in the box makes the central defender a viable option at home to a West Brom side that has scored just twice on their travels this term.
With Sergio Aguero misfiring and David Silva sidelined for the third successive league outing last week, Kevin De Bruyne (10m) continued his fine form since arriving from Wolfsburg. The Belgian’s instant impact is evidence by goals in back-to-back league defeats to West Ham and Spurs, whilst he also scored and teed up an assist for Raheem Sterling (9m), in the recent cup win over Sunderland. The ex-Liverpool player is another to consider this week – visitors Newcastle have conceded at least twice on five of the first seven Gameweeks.
As mentioned in the Weekly Shop earlier in the season, while Riyad Mahrez (5.5m) was taking the plaudits, Jamie Vardy (6m) has been just as consistent in racking up the points and moves from the Poundstretcher category firmly into the Better Buys camp. The striker has scored five times in the last four and the brace against Arsenal underlined his fixture-proof appeal. As FantasyBet prices remain unchanged since the start of the season, both offer good value as the Foxes travel to Carrow Road, given that hosts Norwich are yet to keep a clean sheet this term.
Poundstretchers
Wayne Hennessey replaced Alex McCarthy and secured a first shut-out of the campaign for the Eagles against Watford so should retain his place for the visit of West Brom. Available for just 4m in FantasyBet, the Welshman looks a great enabler to allow more funds to be spent further up the field.
Aston Villa have not kept a clean sheet since their opening match at Bournemouth but host a Stoke side that have been unable to find the net on three occasions. Jordan Amavi’s (5m) assist at Liverpool was his second of the season and reinforces his credentials as the defensive asset of choice in Tim Sherwood’s backline.
Having served up four goals and 12 assists last season, Yannick Bolasie (6.5m) has yet to return attacking points this term. After a lack of minutes in the opening matches, he’s returned to the Palace XI once again and we fancy his chances of breaching a Baggies defence that shipped three goals to Everton on Monday evening.
Matt Ritchie’s (6m) volley against Sunderland in Bournemouth’s last home match reminded us of why the Cherries midfielder attracted so much pre-season interest. Callum Wilson’s long-term knee injury means that Ritchie’s contribution will be vital for Eddie Howe’s side as fellow newcomers Watford visit Dean Court. Wilson’s absence also makes Glenn Murray (6m) a viable option, with the striker likely to earn a first league start for the Cherries – seven goals and five assists in under 900 minutes last term shows the veteran is capable of filling the gap.
Rudy Gestede (6m) well-taken brace at Anfield – with one assisted by the aforementioned Amavi – took his tally to three goals in his last two appearances in all competitions. Against a Stoke side that have conceded in every match so far, Villa will be playing to Gestede’s strengths, so expect plenty of crosses and potentially another goal or two from the frontman.
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 this week’s FantasyBet game as I continue my quest for profit in the 2015/16 campaign.
