Our final instalment of this week’s Watchlist articles, having run through the changes among the defence and midfield over the past few days, sees us turn our attention to the latest movements up front. Odion Ighalo is the major riser after netting twice in the Hornets 3-0 win over Liverpool last weekend, while Aston Villa’s Jordan Ayew is a new face in our rankings after netting four of Villa’s last six goals.
Having scored for a seventh consecutive match in Everton’s 3-2 defeat at home to Leicester, Romelu Lukaku remains at the top of our ladder. The Belgian also faces a favourable trip to Newcastle on Boxing Day, although the Toffees schedule thereafter (STO, TOT, mci, che) is particularly tough. With the striker, priced at 9.3 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), ranked second among forwards for both shots inside the box (15) and penalty box touches (34) over the last four Gameweeks, he looks to stand a good chance of maintaining his scoring touch over the rest of the festive period.
The player who is ranked ahead of Lukaku in both of those respective categories is Watford’s Odion Ighalo, so it’s no surprise the Nigeria international moves up to second spot this week. The former Udinese striker has managed a hugely impressive 19 shots from inside the box over the last four Gameweeks, along with 41 penalty box touches. Many FPL bosses may have been ignoring the claims of the Hornets front man, given the form of Lukaku, Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane, but his brace against Liverpool could prove to be something of a turning point. Watford’s fixture list remains tough in the short-term (che, TOT, MCI), but it really looks a case of form over fixtures regarding Ighalo right now.
After getting back among the goals in Tottenham’s 2-0 win against Southampton, Harry Kane is a non-mover in third position in our latest update. The England international, who sets us back 9.7 in FPL, hit the target with both of his shots against the Saints, and is one of the leading contenders for the captain’s armband this weekend with Norwich visiting White Hart Lane. The rest of Spurs’ upcoming schedule (wat, eve, LEI, SUN, cpl) is generally pretty favourable, so the chances of Kane adding to the nine goals he’s scored over the last 11 Gameweeks look very promising.
While Leicester’s Jamie Vardy picked up two assists against Everton last weekend, the Foxes striker slips slightly down the pecking order with the table toppers facing three difficult fixtures over the next four Gameweeks (liv, MCI, BOU, tot). The 7.7-priced forwards prospects still look very strong, though, given that he has only blanked once so far this season.
Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud rises a couple of positions this week after finding the back of the net once more in the Gunners 2-1 victory against Man City on Monday night. The news of Alexis Sanchez’ absence over the festive period also boosts the Frenchman’s prospects, with rotation less likely, although there’s still a possibility that Theo Walcott could play down the middle. The Gunners face a very favourable run of matches (sot, BOU, NEW) over the next 10 days, though, so the 9.0-valued forward should continue to provide a reliable stream of Fantasy points.
Having got through 62 minutes for Man City on Monday night, Sergio Aguero climbs our ladder ahead of a plum home fixture against Sunderland on Boxing Day. The rest of City’s fixtures over the next five Gameweeks (lei, wat, EVE, CPL, whm) are pretty tough, though, and with the Argentine’s minutes set to be limited over the next three matches, many may baulk at his 13.1 price tag, particularly with Lukaku, Ighalo, Kane and Vardy all in form and available for far less.
While Aston Villa attackers have barely entered the radars of Fantasy managers so far this season, Jordan Ayew is at least making a decent argument for consideration over the coming period. The Ghanaian has registered nine goal attempts (seven from inside the box) over the last four Gameweeks, and faces a very reasonable run of fixtures (WHM, nor, sun, CPL, LEI, wba) over the next month. Available at 5.5 in FPL, the former Lorient front man, who has an ownership of just 0.4%, is starting to look a viable option as a cheap third forward, although investment is unlikely given the success of both Ighalo and Vardy this season.
Ighalo’s Watford strike partner Troy Deeney holds station towards the bottom of our ladder, with the Hornets skipper in good form having scored five goals and provided three assists in his last eight appearances. Investment in the 5.2-priced forward is unlikely, though, given Ighalo is the far stronger option.
Although Man United’s Anthony Martial did manage to get on the scoresheet against Norwich last weekend, the France international does fall down our ladder with Louis van Gaal’s side looking desperately short of confidence following defeats to Bournemouth and Norwich. The forthcoming fixture list is also mixed for United, with three favourable matches (CHE, SWA, new) combined with three trickier encounters (sto, liv, SOT), leaving the 7.7-valued forward on the periphery of our thoughts. Martial’s move to the right wing against the Canaries has further dented his appeal.
After scoring his fourth goal of the campaign against Crystal Palace, and with four favourable fixtures in the next six (MUN, eve, wba, NOR, ARS, lei), Bojan occupies the final spot in our rankings. Stoke’s struggles in the final third remain a concern, having scored a joint-league low 14 goals so far, but with the Spaniard setting us back just 5.1 in FPL, and with his current ownership standing at just 1.7%, he could be worth a look as a differential over the next couple of weeks.
