With just four rounds of fixtures left to plan and prepare for, we given our Watchlist rankings a final refresh for the 2015/16 season. There’s no surprise that double Gameweek 37 looms large in our thinking, with those players set for extra matches more prominent in the latest standings.
Goalkeepers
With a home match against Newcastle in Gameweek 35 and a double Gameweek 37 (WAT & CHE) to follow, Simon Mignolet (4.9) retains his spot at the summit. After being handed a rare rest at Bournemouth on Sunday, we reckon that the Belgian will be reinstalled to the first XI from this point onwards and with visits to Swansea and West Brom also to factor in, the Merseysiders will be looking to improve upon a poor record of just two clean sheets in 13.
Everton’s Joel Robles also stays in our thoughts. Owners will obviously have to bench him for a blank this weekend but the final three Gameweeks (BOU, lei & sun, NOR) could see him offer excellent value at just 4.3. With so many injury concerns at the back, though, there’s a concern that the Toffees could struggle for clean sheets, though it’s worth noting that Robles has earned at least one save point in each of his last three appearances.
David de Gea is another keeper with four fixtures in the final three Gameweeks. United, of course, have a blank this weekend but with home encounters against Leicester and Bournemouth sandwiching a pair of Gameweek 37 trips to Norwich and West Ham, his prospects of points look promising, aside from that Upton Park encounter. A price of 5.9 is somewhat prohibitive but he remains one of the few secure routes into Louis van Gaal’s backline.
Watford’s weekend hero Heurelho Gomes (5.0) has already served up 19 points in the first of his Gameweek 34 fixtures after saving two spot-kicks in the 1-0 win over West Brom. Second only to Toby Alderweireld (150 points to 162) amongst all keepers and defenders in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), Gomes is also number one for saves (111) and has earned at least one save point in nine of his last ten appearances. With rest and rotation blighting the Hornets’ back-four, the Brazilian looks a very valid option for late wildcarders with three very kind fixtures (AVL, liv & nor, SUN) to follow his Gameweek 35 blank.
Sunderland’s Vito Mannone also moves up in our estimations. The Black Cats have defensive form on their side – with a single goal against in the last three – and, crucially, are one of only three teams, along with Chelsea and Liverpool, to have a fixture in Gameweek 35 and a double Gameweek 37. Granted, their schedule is somewhat mixed (ARS, sto, CHE & EVE, wat) but Big Sam’s side seem to be building up a head of steam after their 3-0 win over Norwich on Saturday. Priced at 4.3, Mannone also offers a steady source of save points, having earned at least one in seven of his last nine.
Defenders
In a similar situation to the keepers, our targets are chiefly focused on their players with a double Gameweek still up their sleeve.
Hector Bellerin and Toby Alderweireld are the main exceptions due to their explosive potential. The Arsenal right-back remains our number one option on the back of 38 points in his last five outings, which has seen him serve up one goal, three assists, eight bonus points and a couple of clean sheets. With clashes against three of the bottom four sides (sun, NOR, mci, AVL) the 6.5-priced Bellerin looks likely to keep on delivering.
With 43 points in his last six, Alderweireld (6.4) has burned many Fantasy managers who opted to sell due to the lack of a double Gameweek. Still owned by over 41% of FPL managers, his schedule is a little less appealing than Bellerin’s (WBA, che, SOU, new) but, as evidenced in recent weeks, he clearly has the form at both ends of the pitch to maintain his spot as the top-scoring defender in the game.
Patrick van Aanholt is a significant riser in light of Sunderland’s afore-mentioned schedule. Down to 4.7 in FPL, the Dutchman holds far more of an upside than team-mate Mannone and is joint-top for both goals (five) and attempts on goal (38) amongst defenders this season.
Aaron Cresswell took his tally to two goals and four assists for the season with a weekend strike at Leicester. West Ham face a blank this weekend but with trips to West Brom and Stoke on either side of a pair of home fixtures in Gameweek 37 against Swansea and United, they’ll fancy their chances of finishing the season strongly. Given that the pair of Upton Park clashes are the last time the Hammers will play at Upton Park, we can’t see much rest and rotation from Slaven Bilic.
Branislav Ivanovic (6.6) is our preferred route into a Chelsea defence that’s hit hard with injuries and suspension. Although the Blues have five fixtures in the final four Gameweeks (bou, TOT, sun & liv, LEI) their recent lack of resilience – just one clean sheet (against Villa) in the last nine – perhaps lessens the Serbian’s appeal. Would-be suitors should be aware that Ivanovic has managed just one effort on goal in the last three since being shifted to centre-half, though, and he could struggle for attacking returns unless Guus Hiddink unleashes him from right-back again.
With Phil Jagielka and Seamus Coleman’s hamstrings causing concern, Ramiro Funes Mori has emerged as our favoured Everton defender. Dropped for John Stones in Gameweek 32-33, the Argentine recently returned to the fold due to Jagielka’s injury and netted his fourth goal in 26 appearances against Southampton on Saturday. If Jagielka remains out, or is utilised at right-back should Coleman stay sidelined, Funes Mori’s (5.5) eye for goal could flourish as the Merseysiders prepare for four fixtures in the final three Gameweeks.
