We return with our Wednesday Weekly Shop regular this afternoon, assessing the player lists of our partner games to pinpoint the likely targets that will make up our weekend lineups.

Our analysis of the options is split into two sections: I’ll breakdown the key targets that no squad can do without in “Better Buys”, before seeking out those one-shot “Poundstretcher” prospects that can provide us points, whilst freeing up funds.

For this week’s selection, we’re scanning the players lists in our two partner games – FantasyBet and Premier Punt.

Better Buys

It’s fair to say that Tottenham have improved defensively this season – Mauricio Pochettino’s side have conceded just ten times, the fourth best backline in the league. With three clean sheets in their last five at White Hart Lane, Hugo Lloris (FantasyBet 5m, Premier Punt 7.7m) is a promising keeper pick this week, given that visitors West Ham are devoid of injured playmaker Dimitri Payet.

While there has been some doubts over Virgil van Dijk’s (FantasyBet 5.5m, Premier Punt 8.6m) fitness, the Dutch defender is confident that he will be ready to start against Stoke. Ryan Bertrand (FantasyBet 5.5m, Premier Punt 7.8m) is also an option as Southampton go in search of a third consecutive clean sheet – the full-back has an assist in each of the last two Gameweeks.

Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil (FantasyBet 8.5m, Premier Punt 11.8m) has been the epitome of consistency over the last six Gameweeks, serving up eight assists and a goal in that run. The German has also been the most creative player in the league over the last four, with 23 chances created, and now travels to the Hawthorns, where West Brom have conceded three goals in four of their six home games.

Crystal Palace have had an encouraging start to the season despite the fact that not one of their strikers has managed to find the net. Instead, the Eagles’ midfield provides us with a host of options to choose from against struggling Sunderland. Yohan Cabaye (FantasyBet 6.5m, Premier Punt 7.9m) is the safer pick with penalties and set pieces helping the Frenchman to notch four goals and an assist so far this term and, whilst Yannick Bolasie (FantasyBet 6.5m, Premier Punt 7.7m) may be more of a maverick selection, he has some explosive potential and looks to be in good form, having scored in both matches for DR Congo over the break.

Romelu Lukaku (FantasyBet 8m, Premier Punt 11.7m) followed up an excellent performance against Sunderland with an equaliser at West Ham, bringing the Belgian’s tally to seven goals for the campaign. Everton host an Aston Villa side that are likely to be tougher to break down under Remi Garde but we’re backing the Toffees striker to continue his run of form, particularly with Gerard Deulofeu (FantasyBet 6.5m, Premier Punt 9.4m) and Arouna Kone (FantasyBet 5m, Premier Punt 7.9m) in support. Both could prove double-up options along with Lukaku after their recent performances, with the former notching five times over the international break for Spain U21s.

Poundstretchers

We return to Crystal Palace for the stand-out budget keeper choice of the round. Wayne Hennessey (FantasyBet 4m, Premier Punt 5.6m) kept out Manchester United in his last appearance at Selhurst Park and has three clean sheets in six ahead of a clash with a Sunderland outfit that has failed to score in three of their last four away trips.

Swansea host a Bournemouth side that have not found the net in their last two matches, offering Gary Monk’s side a good chance to find a first shut out since Gameweek 6. In view of Bournemouth’s recent defensive record, we’ve gone for Kyle Naughton (FantasyBet 5m, Premier Punt 7.8m) as our pick of the hosts’ defence – the full-back looks a decent shout for points at both ends of the pitch, with two assists accrued already this term.

We turn our attention to Tottenham’s attack for some budget selections, either as alternatives or to slot in alongside Harry Kane (FantasyBet 9.5m, Premier Punt 13.5m) against a West Ham side that have not kept out their opponents in seven matches. Dele Alli (FantasyBet 5m, Premier Punt 7.7m) was our pick back in Gameweek 11 and has bagged two goals since then, including the well-taken goal against France. Mousa Dembele (FantasyBet 5.5m, Premier Punt 8.1m) also catches the eye with two goals in three matches and could be one to consider if he shrugs off a knock in time. Hueng Min-Son (FantasyBet 8m, Premier Punt 7.7m) scored twice over the international break and with Erik Lamela and Nacer Chadli sidelined, the fit-again Korean – who is even classed as a midfielder in Premier Punt – looks on course for a first XI return.

There hasn’t been a more reliable budget striker this season than Leicester’s 12-goal Jamie Vardy. The Foxes frontman remains at his original price of 6.0m in FantasyBet and is only 7.4m in PremierPunt but we’re steering clear due to some doubts over his fitness. Instead, we turn to Leicester’s weekend hosts Newcastle, who also have a frontman in form – Ayoze Perez (FantasyBet 5.5m, Premier Punt 7.7m) has three goals and a pair of assists in their last six and could prove an excellent enabler.

These are the contenders for my weekly contest lineups heading into the weekend. I’ll return on Friday with a further assessment of this week’s partner games – FantasyBet and Premier Punt, as I continue my quest for profit in the 2015/16 campaign.