Following a second successive double-digit haul, Ross Barkley continues his ascent up our rankings. Eden Hazard returns to consideration having been fielded as a “false nine” against Spurs, whilst David Silva is also back in the mix after returning from injury in City’s 3-1 win against Southampton last weekend.
After scoring and picking up all three bonus points in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at Norwich, Mesut Ozil remains our top-ranked midfielder. The German international’s stock is further boosted by the injury to Alexis Sanchez, and with four home fixtures in the next six (SUN, avl, MCI, sot, BOU, NEW), the now 9.3-priced playmaker looks the obvious replacement for the Chilean, with over 135,000 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers already snapping up Ozil this week.
The Arsenal midfield only just holds off the challenge of Man City’s Kevin De Bruyne, though, with the Belgian having registered three goals and as many assists in his last two appearances in all competitions. Manuel Pellegrini’s side also face two plum home fixtures (SWA, SUN) over the next four Gameweeks, while the other four fixtures (sto, ars, lei, wat) are also pretty reasonable for attacking returns. The former Wolfsburg midfielder sets us back 10.7 in FPL, and given he, along with Ozil, leads all midfielders for chances created (16) over the last four Gameweeks, he looks worth that hefty price tag, although it is worth noting he’s registered just two goal attempts over the same period.
Entering further down our ladder is De Bruyne’s City team-mate David Silva. The Spanish schemer played 16 minutes off the bench against Southampton following a long lay-off with an ankle injury, and got 83 minutes under his belt against Hull in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night. Pellegrini is already talking up the potential partnership between Silva and De Bruyne, and with the former Valencia man available at a cheaper 9.9 in FPL, and with an ownership of just 4%, he looks to have real appeal as a differential. That is, of course, if he can steer clear of injuries.
Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho keeps his spot towards the top of our rankings, with the Brazil international expected to return against Newcastle on Sunday after missing the 1-0 victory over Swansea due to a hamstring injury. The 8.4-valued midfielder has notched three consecutive double-figure scores in FPL, and with the Reds upcoming fixtures (new, WBA, wat, LEI, sun, whm) so favourable, he looks another who could attract plenty of investment for those seeking a Sanchez replacement. Another factor to consider is the former Inter Milan playmaker looks the best way to cover the Liverpool attack given the rotation concerns in the forward areas, with Roberto Firmino, Christian Benteke and Daniel Sturridge all far from guaranteed a place in Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI.
After managing just one goal in seven appearances between Gameweek 6 and 12, few could have foreseen the explosion for Everton’s Ross Barkley over the last two weeks. The England international has scored three goals and provided two assists over that period, chalking up 32 points in FPL, seeing his price rise to 7.2. His ownership now stands at a whopping 33%, and with further strong fixtures (CPL, nor, LEI, new, STO, TOT) to come, he has a great opportunity to maintain his rise to Fantasy prominence.
Christian Eriksen’s potential still looks reasonable for the upcoming period, with Spurs facing a decent set of fixtures (wba, NEW, sot, NOR, wat, eve) over the festive period. His goal threat does look somewhat limited, with just three shots from inside the box over the last four Gameweeks, but with six assists already this season, and coming in at 8.4 in FPL, the former Ajax midfielder still looks a solid option, although Harry Kane is clearly the number one choice for Spurs attacking coverage.
Similar to Eriksen, Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez blanked in a difficult fixture in Gameweek 14, but unlike the Tottenham man, Mahrez also faces a pretty difficult run of fixtures (swa, CHE, eve, liv, MCI) over the next five Gameweeks. Given he’s racked up an impressive seven goals and six assists so far, there’s a strong argument to keep faith in the 6.8-rated midfielder, but should he blank once again in this weekend’s reasonable looking trip to Swansea, many of his 60% ownership will likely be considering their options.
Southampton’s Sadio Mane also stays around halfway up our ladder, with the Senegal international getting back among the points with an assist in the 3-1 defeat to Man City. With four of Saints’ next six fixtures (AVL, cpl, TOT, ARS, whm, nor) looking reasonable, the 7.9-rated attacker remains one of the more appealing options in the mid-price bracket. Mane’s strike against Liverpool last night bodes well ahead of his plum home clash with Villa this weekend.
With three enticing home fixtures (BOU, SUN, WAT) over the next four Gameweeks, Chelsea’s Eden Hazard shoots up our rankings. His performance in the goalless draw against Tottenham was encouraging, with two shots from inside the box and two chances created, although it’s unlikely he’ll feature as the central forward in matches at Stamford Bridge, given that Loic Remy and Radamel Falcao should be available this weekend to offer alternatives to Diego Costa. His price tag of 10.9 in FPL also dents his prospects, with De Bruyne certainly looking a far better option, while the likes of Ozil and Coutinho are currently producing the goods at a cheaper price.
Given he’s scored in four of Swansea’s seven home matches, and with their most favourable fixtures in the next six (LEI, mci, WHM, WBA, cpl, mun) coming at the Liberty Stadium, we’re keeping faith in Andre Ayew. The 7.1-priced Ghanaian is the Swans’ chief goal threat, and should Garry Monk’s men return to form over the coming weeks, he’s likely to be central to any improvement.
One player who is an alternative option to Ayew in the mid-price bracket is Everton’s Gerard Deulofeu. The young Spaniard registered an assist in the 3-3 draw against Bournemouth, and was in sparkling form at the Riverside on Tuesday night, bagging a goal and an assist in a 2-0 win. His underlying statistics aren’t overly impressive, though, with only one goal attempt and seven chances created over the last four Gameweeks, but he does seem to be improving his decision making in the final third. Coming in at 6.3 in FPL, the former Barcelona attacker may also come into the equation for those looking to ditch Mahrez, given the Toffees’ afore-mentioned favourable schedule.
On the back of his 15-point haul in Crystal Palace’s 5-1 win against Newcastle, Yannick Bolasie moves up a couple of spots this week. The 6.1-valued attacker was shifted to a central support role against the Magpies, and produced one of his most impressive performances of the campaign. Few players of Bolasie’s valuation hold the explosive potential of the DR Congo international, and while Alan Pardew is likely to use him in a variety of positions across the forward line, the Eagles next six fixtures (eve, SOT, sto, bou, SWA, CHE) look fairly decent for those seeking a midfield differential, with his current ownership standing at 4% in FPL.
Another player on the move up our ladder is Bournemouth’s Josh King, who looks the pick of the budget options. The former Blackburn attacker is currently starting in the central striker role for the Cherries, and has a goal and an assist from his last two outings. He’s also registered a more than reasonable seven shots from inside the box over the last four Gameweeks, so available at 4.6 in FPL, the Norway international looks a perfect solution to the often troublesome fifth midfield slot. There is a downside, though, with Bournemouth’s upcoming schedule (che, MUN, wba, CPL, ars, lei) not very favourable, particularly in the short-term.
While Juan Mata has been out of form of late, blanking in six of his last seven appearances, Man United’s schedule over the next six Gameweeks (WHM, bou, NOR, sto, CHE, SWA), which is deemed the most favourable according to our Season Ticker, means he keeps his position in our latest update. The Spain international should also still have spot-kick duties in the locker, and now down to 8.7 in FPL, could become a viable option if Louis van Gaal’s side can find some attacking form.
With three difficult fixtures (LIV, tot, ars) and three reasonably favourable match-ups (AVL, EVE, wba) over the coming period, it isn’t a huge surprise to see the stock of Georginio Wijnaldum remain unchanged. The poor form of Steve McClaren’s side is a major deterrent to investing in any Newcastle player right now, though, so the 7.0-rated Dutchman stays some way down the pecking order in terms of mid-price options available to Fantasy bosses.
