With Fantasy managers facing a crucial few weeks as we enter the final stages of this season, we’ve given our Watchlist rankings a refresh ahead of the upcoming double Gameweeks. Liverpool’s Simon Mignolet remains on top of the keeper’s ladder in light of five home matches in the final six, whilst Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin and Crystal Palace’s Scott Dann head the defenders charts due to their propensity for points at either end of the pitch.
GOALKEEPERS
Given Liverpool have the most favourable fixtures over the next six Gameweeks (STO, bou & EVE, NEW, swa, WAT & CHE, wba) according to our Season Ticker, it’s no surprise to see Simon Mignolet still topping the charts this week. The Belgian still only sets us back 4.9 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), and while Jurgen Klopp’s men have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last three league matches, their two double and lack of a blank boost their defensive appeal.
With three shut-outs over the last four Gameweeks, along with three bonus points, Man United’s David de Gea is currently the top-flight’s form goalkeeper. The Red Devils face a hugely appealing double Gameweek 34 (AVL & CPL), although the fact they face a tough trip to Tottenham this weekend and a blank in Gameweek 35 does make it imperative to pair the 5.8-priced Spaniard with a keeper who faces a fixture in Gameweek 35, bearing in mind he will be worth holding on to as he faces another double in Gameweek 37 (nor & whm).
Everton’s Joel Robles sees his stock rise this week with the Toffees facing two consecutive doubles (wat & cpl, SOT & liv) over the next two weeks. Coming in at just 4.3 in FPL, the former Wigan goalkeeper looks a useful option for those wildcarding this week, given his price tag, although Everton are one of those teams who do face a blank in Gameweek 35. The rest of their schedule (BOU, lei & sun, NOR) is also pretty kind, further adding to the Spaniard’s appeal.
Another budget goalkeeper who is a contender for our 15-man squads is Crystal Palace’s Wayne Hennessey. The Wales international only sets us back 4.2 in FPL, although the Eagles’ fixture list (NOR & EVE, ars & mun, blank, new, STO, sot) isn’t very favourable after Gameweek 33, particularly bearing in mind they haven’t registered a clean sheet in their last 12 league matches. The former Wolves stopper may see limited investment then, with Robles and Karl Darlow perhaps having slightly more appeal as a second keeper.
It’s Newcastle’s Karl Darlow who comes next on our ladder, with the 3.9-valued keeper’s prospects aided by the Magpies double Gameweek 34 (SWA & MCI), which is followed by a fixture in Gameweek 35, albeit a tough trip to Liverpool. Rafael Benitez’ side also face reasonably kind clashes in Gameweeks 36 and 37 (CPL, avl) that could prove crucial to their survival bid, so although it’s hard to trust the Newcastle defence too much given they’ve failed to keep a clean sheet in their three matches under Benitez, Darlow’s bargain price tag makes him an obvious target, particularly for those who are wildcarding this week and using their bench boost chip in Gameweek 34.
Adrian is another riser in our latest update with West Ham facing a favourable home match-up against Watford in their double Gameweek 34 (lei & WAT), while the Hammers also have a double Gameweek 37 (SWA & MUN). The Spaniard perhaps looks a tad expensive at 5.1 in FPL, given the Hammers have only kept two shut-outs in their last seven matches, along with the fact they face a blank in Gameweek 35, though there’s little doubt he could bring in plenty of points during those two doubles.
Watford’s Heurelho Gomes is another goalkeeper who faces a double Gameweek 34 (wba & whm), but considering the Brazilian sets us back a fairly hefty 5.0 in FPL, it’s unlikely he’ll attract too much investment. That’s in part due to the downturn in form for the Hornets, having won just one of their last eight in the league, with their primary focus now perhaps on their FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace with Premier League safety nearly assured. Quique Sanchez Flores’ side do face a pretty favourable run of fixtures between Gameweeks 36 and 38, though (AVL, liv & nor, SUN), where they face three of the bottom four.
With Petr Cech expected to be back in the starting XI for Saturday’s trip to West Ham, the Czech Republic international remains a viable option for FPL bosses given that Arsenal face a very favourable double Gameweek 34 (CPL & WBA), while they also have a very kind run-in (sun, NOR, mci, AVL), including a fixture in Gameweek 35 when so many other teams face a blank. At 5.8 in FPL, though, the attacking upside of Hector Bellerin (6.4), or the bargain price tag of Gabriel (4.3) may provide better use of one of our three Arsenal spots.
DEFENDERS
There’s no change at the top of our defenders ladder, with Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin in outstanding form on the back of a goal and three assists in three appearances. With the Gunners very kind upcoming schedule (whm, CPL & WBA, sun, NOR, mci, AVL), including the double in Gameweek 34, the right-back looks set to deliver plenty of Fantasy points. Already transferred in by 33,000+ FPL bosses this week, seeing his price rise to 6.4, the Spaniard, who leads all defenders for penalty box touches over the last four matches with 17, looks likely to find his way into many of our five-man backlines.
Scott Dann’s goal threat sees us promote the Crystal Palace centre-back to second spot in our rankings. The Eagles face two consecutive doubles, as already touched upon, and given he leads all defenders for shots from inside the box (six) over the last four matches, the 5.7-rated defender looks to hold plenty of upside in the short-term. Defensive returns are likely to be hard to come by against Arsenal and Man United, though, while the Eagles also face a blank in Gameweek 35.
With Everton the other team to face consecutive doubles over the next two weeks, we’ve moved Phil Jagielka up towards the top of the Watchlist. The England international offers us a cheaper route into the Toffees backline at 5.1 in FPL, and looks less likely to suffer from rotation than John Stones and Ramiro Funes Mori, while Seamus Coleman (5.8) and Leighton Baines (6.0) may struggle to justify the extra outlay.
Also moving up our rankings this week is Liverpool’s Dejan Lovren. The Croatian has now started each of the last four and has turned in a series of impressive displays, at a time where Mamadou Sakho in under increasing criticism for his showings. At a price of 4.8, allied with a hugely favourable run-in for the Reds (STO, bou & EVE, NEW, swa, WAT & CHE, wba) makes the former Southampton man another who is making very strong claims for inclusion in our 15-man squads.
Chris Smalling continues to creep up our ladder, with the Man United defender looking the most nailed on member of the back four. At 6.5 in FPL, he may be a bit pricey for many Fantasy managers, but those plum home fixtures against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace in DGW34 could prove to be hugely profitable for owners of the England international. The fact the Red Devils also face a DGW37 (nor & whm) adds to his appeal.
Following the impressive return to form in the 4-0 win at Bournemouth, Man City’s Nicolas Otamendi is another climber in our latest refresh. The Argentine looks the safest route into the Citizens’ backline, but also setting us back 6.5 in FPL, interest in the former Valencia defender may be limited. The fixtures (WBA, che & new, STO, sot, ARS, swa) are pretty favourable, though, particularly in the short-term, so investment may well pay dividends over the next few weeks.
While Hector Bellerin looks worthy of his 6.4 valuation, his Arsenal team-mate Gabriel is a major climber up our rankings this week given his bargain 4.3 price tag, offering us the opportunity to double up on the Gunners defence. The Brazilian looks to have cemented a regular role, having started six of the last seven league matches, though there’s still a slight possibility that rival Per Mertesacker could be handed a start during Gameweeks 34 and 35 (CPL & WBA, sun), where Arsenal play three times in seven days.
As already mentioned, the appeal of Newcastle players for those wildcarding this week is high given they have a fixture in Gameweek 35, so for that reason, along with double Gameweek 34 (SWA & MCI), Daryl Janmaat continues in an upward trajectory in the Watchlist. The Dutch international also offers some attacking potential, having scored once and bagged three assists so far this term, so at 4.8 in FPL, he could be one to consider in the short-term.
West Brom’s Craig Dawson remains on our radar with the Baggies set for a double Gameweek 34 (WAT & ars), while they also face a fixture in Gameweek 35, albeit away to Tottenham. Defensive returns will be hard to come by in north London, but with the 5.1-priced defender having scored three times this season, his goal threat does make him a viable option for those using their wildcard this week.
Although Norwich’s double doesn’t come until Gameweek 37 (MUN & WAT), Timm Klose stays in our thoughts with the Canaries facing two pretty favourable match-ups in the short-term (cpl, SUN). The Swiss international, available at just 4.2 in FPL, has been racking up the points lately, registering 24 over the last three Gameweeks thanks to a goal, two clean sheets and five bonus points.
Leicester’s Christian Fuchs (5.0) and Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld (6.5) fall all the way to the bottom of the Watchlist with neither player facing a double. Even though the Foxes have kept four consecutive clean sheets, the lure of the doubles will likely see many ditch the Austrian, while Alderweireld will also earn an exodus over the next week or two as we look to load up on double Gameweek options instead.
