Following our look at the latest movements on the Watchlist among the defence and midfield over the past few days, we complete our review up the updated rankings with an analysis of the risers and fallers among the forwards. There’s no change at the top, with Sergio Aguero and Romelu Lukaku both looking crucial to our short-term plans, while Danny Welbeck, Anthony Martial and Aleksandar Mitrovic have emerged as viable contenders for the third forward spot ahead of double Gameweek 34.
Although Man City’s Sergio Aguero has blanked in four of his last five appearances, the Argentine striker still looks a fantastic option over the next four Gameweeks, given the strength of City’s schedule (bou, WBA, che & new, STO). The 13.6-priced front man has registered 14 shots from inside the box over the last four matches, the joint-highest along with Harry Kane, and could benefit from the return of Kevin de Bruyne after the international break. With City’s midfielders also struggling for form, it’s Aguero who perhaps provides the best way to cover their attack, given he also has penalty duties in the locker.
Romelu Lukaku remains in second spot this week, with Everton’s schedule from Gameweek 33 onwards (wat & cpl, SOT & liv, blank, BOU, lei/sun) particularly favourable. No forward has had more penalty box touches (40) over the last four matches than the Belgian striker, and setting us back only 8.9 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), Lukaku is another who should be fairly nailed on for a place in our three-man frontlines moving forward.
It’s form that keeps Tottenham’s Harry Kane in our top three this time around, having registered 29 points in FPL over the last two Gameweeks. With no double Gameweek for Spurs, the 10.4-valued forward may well be deemed dispensable by some wielding wildcards, although the fact Tottenham face a favourable match-up at home to West Brom in Gameweek 35 does strengthen his claim to remain in our frontlines.
With form (three goals and an assist in his last five matches) and fixtures (WAT, whm, CPL & WBA, sun, NOR) firmly in his favour, Arsenal’s Danny Welbeck is a major climber this week. Priced at just 7.3 in FPL, the former United man has started up front in each of the last two league outings and scored against Everton last time out, though with Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott handed a start up top apiece in the last four, there’s no shortage of competition for the lone striker role. Certainly, it looks like Welbeck’s to lose right now but with three matches in seven days during Gameweeks 34 and 35, his minutes may be managed to a certain extent after such a long period on the sidelines through injury. Giroud has fallen all the way to the bottom of our rankings given he’s only started one of Arsenal’s last four league matches, though Welbeck’s versatility could still see him start on the right if Arsene Wenger wants to utilise his compatriot through the middle.
Also moving up the Watchlist in our latest update is Man United’s Anthony Martial (7.6), who has a hugely favourable DGW34 (AVL & CPL) to feast on. Louis van Gaal’s side also face a double in Gameweek 37 (nor & whm), so United attacking coverage could be a canny tactic over the final few Gameweeks of the season. The Frenchman gets the nod ahead of Marcus Rashford given he looks nailed on for starts, whereas the latter may struggle to retain his starting role once Wayne Rooney returns from injury shortly after the international break. There is the possibility, though, that Rashford could even move to the right wing or still operate as the central striker, with Martial on the left and Rooney as a number ten. Rooney should also be a nailed on starter given he needs to build up his match sharpness in readiness for the European Championship this summer. At 4.5, though, Rashford would certainly come into consideration if he remain in Van Gaal’s thinking.
Leicester’s Jamie Vardy falls due to the Foxes lack of a double, with the 7.9-priced forward likely to see a flurry of sales as we construct our three-man frontlines to take advantage of the schedule over the run-in.
Moving up to around the halfway point on our ladder is Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge, who has scored in his last two league appearances for the Reds. Jurgen Klopp’s men face the most favourable fixtures between Gameweek 33 and 37, according to our Season Ticker (STO, bou & EVE, NEW, swa, WAT & CHE), and with the England striker starting to return to his best form, he provides us with another option for our forward lines. With Liverpool also involved in Europa League action against Borussia Dortmund before the matches against Stoke and Bournemouth, there’s a concern that Sturridge’s minutes will be managed for fear of another injury setback. Given he also sets us back 9.9 in FPL, the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino, providing the latter recovers from a minor hamstring issue, perhaps offer safer and cheaper routes into the Liverpool attack.
With Watford also facing a double Gameweek 34 (wba & whm), Odion Ighalo keeps his place lower down. The 5.8-valued Nigerian is probably not going to be a popular option, though, given he’s blanked in 10 of his last 11 league matches, while he could also be rested for the West Ham match given the Hornets face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-final four days later. Quique Sanchez Flores’ side also face a blank in Gameweek 35, before a very favourable match-up at home to Aston Villa a week later.
After returning to goal scoring form in the Tyne-Wear derby, and with a DGW34 (SWA & MCI) to also consider, Newcastle’s Aleksandar Mitrovic moves up several places on the Watchlist this week. The Magpies also have a fixture in Gameweek 35 (away to Liverpool), with favourable clashes against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa to follow. Mitrovic’s shooting statistics are pretty impressive (10 shots from inside the box over the last four matches) given he’s available at just 6.2 in FPL, and with Newcastle having so much to play for, the Serbian striker could play a pivotal role in their battle to avoid the drop.
Palace’s Emmanuel Adebayor (5.7) arrives on the Watchlist as a result of back-to-back doubles in Gameweek 33 (NOR & EVE) and Gameweek 34 (ars & mun). The Togo international should retain the Eagles’ lone striker spot until Connor Wickham recovers from injury, though the latter – priced at just 5.5 and with four goals and an assist in his last three, is our preferred pick if he can prove his fitness in time.
Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe also climbs a few spots this time around after he registered his second goal in as many matches in the 1-1 draw at Newcastle. The Black Cats’ DGW (CHE & EVE) doesn’t come until Gameweek 37 though, so the 5.1-rated forward is unlikely to appear on our radars until double Gameweek 34 is out of the way.
