Selection
7 May 2016 2010 comments
James Barnes James Barnes
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All three of this week’s Picks have a couple of matches on their weekend agendas. This time around, Chelsea, Norwich and West Ham’s midfields supply us with a player apiece as we roll out a trio of overlooked Fantasy options for your Saturday morning consideration.

Willian

Following a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Manchester City, Chelsea rebounded with a resounding 4-1 victory against Bournemouth and a spirited draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur, renewing our confidence in their offensive assets before successive trips to Sunderland and Liverpool. Eden Hazard’s resurgence (three goals in two) renders him the prime pick, yet Willian (7.0) – who notched a goal and assist in his last two starts – harbours promise as a cheaper route into the Blues’ attack.

In Chelsea’s previous quartet of encounters, Willian charted top among their midfielders for attempts (ten) and joint-second for key passes (six). In addition, only three midfielders around the league managed more shots inside the box (eight) during their last four outings, illuminating his goal threat beyond free kicks.

Considering that the Blues scored four goals in two of their last three road clashes, they’ll be relishing the prospect of facing a Sunderland defence that ranks joint-third-bottom for clean sheets (six) and second for shots inside the box conceded (308). As for their journey to Anfield, Liverpool will certainly have one eye fixated on the Europa League final on May 18, potentially allowing Willian to capitalise on any weakened team sheet.

Cheikhou Kouyate

Belying his role as an enforcer, Cheikhou Kouyate (5.2) emerged as one of West Ham’s most effective attackers across their previous two fixtures, registering a goal and two assists. If the underlying statistics are anything to go by, the Senegal international has been afforded the license to maraud forward as the Irons mount a last-ditch attempt at sealing a top-fourth berth, making him an intriguing alternative to the similarly priced Manuel Lanzini (4.9) ahead of consecutive home ties (SWA, MUN).

Kouyate placed joint-second for attempts (six), second for shots on target (three) and top for shots inside the box (five) among West Ham’s midfielders over their last four outings. Furthermore, he ranked top for penalty-box touches (18), tallying seven more than Dimitri Payet (11). Confirming that his recent output isn’t just an aberrance, Kouyate boasts five more shots inside the box (34) than any of his West Ham counterparts this term.

Ahead of their final two league fixtures at Upton Park, the Hammers’ attack is motoring at present and have scored at least twice in each of their previous seven. As such, they’re well placed to punish a Swansea rearguard that’s conceded the fifth-most goals (31) and fourth-most shots inside the box (171) in away clashes. Feeding into Kouyate’s primary strength, Man United surrendered the joint-fourth most shots inside the box (52) in their previous six outings, which bodes well for the Red Devils’ visit in a match that could prove decisive to the Hammers’ European prospects for 2016/17.

Robbie Brady

In the wake of three successive blanks, Norwich City – who currently sit two points adrift of safety – have no option but to go for broke in their back-to-back home ties against United and Watford this Gameweek. Alex Neil’s decision to reinstate Wes Hoolahan and Nathan Redmond last time out illustrated the Canaries’ adoption of a more attacking philosophy, which in turn augments the appeal of all-action midfielder Robbie Brady (5.4).

Across Norwich’s previous four outings, Brady mustered more shots on target (four) than any of his team-mates. The former Hull City recruit also served up eight attempts and the most key passes (seven), underlining his capacity for attacking returns. Taking the campaign in its entirety, Brady has amassed more attempts (52), key passes (53) and shots on target (18) than the rest of Norwich’s midfield contingent.

Although the Norfolk outfit have struggled in the final third of late, the fact that they recorded the seventh-most attempts (57) over their last four fixtures suggests they have still posed a decent threat. Notwithstanding Manchester United’s laudable home form, they’ve only managed five clean sheets on the road. Moreover, the Canaries will be encouraged that Watford have just three shut-outs to their name in 16 match-ups.

  1. JoeJitzu +42
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Would you take -12 (leading by 49pts)?

    Mignolet, Rose, Drinkwater & Kane ➡ DeGea, Cresswell, Fabregas & Defoe?

    1. Gazpilicueta
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      if you have Carroll already then sure. if not, Carroll over Defoe

      1. JoeJitzu +42
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Yes have Carroll!

        DEGEA
        CRESSWELL Smalling PVA
        FABREGAS Payet Firmino Townsend
        DEFOE Carroll Aguero

        Hennessey Sanchez Bellerin Gabriel

  2. Gazpilicueta
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Votes please!
    Nothing really to play for, Im at like 50k or something, and 100 points ahead in my mini leagues.
    I want to choose a TC for fun, a gamble where if it pays off, I will feel like a king!

    A) Hazard
    B) Carroll
    C) Sanchez next week

    VOTES PLEASE!

    1. Back on the horse
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      carroll

    2. TheTinman
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      So Haz then, easy!

      1. Gazpilicueta
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        yeah? why?

    3. Ibracadebruyne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      B or C

      1. Gazpilicueta
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        if you had to choose one?

        1. Ibracadebruyne
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          Caroll

    4. Vedas
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      CCCaroll

    5. JoeJitzu +42
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      It's Hazard, Payet or Carroll for me this week. Don't know who?!

  3. Back on the horse
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Surprised there isn;t more Deeney in teams

    1. Gazpilicueta
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      yeah its true, I really like him, nearly went for him last week......but now Carroll seems to fill that space

    2. GK
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      I brought him in this week. Against the Liverpool kids/reserves then two nice fixtures. On pens. Cheap!

  4. Ibracadebruyne
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Massive headache!

    A. Play Clyne or Simpson.

    B. Play Sanchez or KDB.

    1. Gazpilicueta
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      never know, SImpson might not play, so that will make that easier

    2. TheTinman
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Clyne Sanchez

  5. Here's the manager
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Aargh ! Leading by 20. Shall I stick or -4 for any ?

    Darlow /Robles
    Cresswell Bellerin Gabriel Fosu Mensah Simpson
    Sanchez Payet Coutinho Milner Townsend
    Kane Aguero Defoe
    1.7

    Thanks

    1. Invincibles
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Kane for studge?

      1. Here's the manager
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        V tempting , thank you. Gives me more reassurance benching Coutinho too.

  6. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    A: cresswell + willian + kaku (-8)
    B: bellerin + fab + carroll (-4)
    C: reid + hazard + defoe (-8)

    1. Messiah Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      B

  7. Henning
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Hi all.

    Gomes de Ge

    Prödl Bellerin Alderweireld Smalling Cresswell

    Sanchez Payet Mahrez Lanzini Firmino

    Deeney Rashford Kane

    8 M in the bank 0 Ft is there any transfer i should do that is Worth a hit.
    Gonna play benchboost so maby get a dgw player in.
    Maby get someone in for Prödel not shure he will play.

  8. InSaneMan-e
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Are we good to go? (hope so coz some hits were taken for this!). BB in play. Fosu won't play, but willing to take that.

    DDG Darlow
    Creswell Bellerin Fosu Lovren PVA
    Lennon Hazard Payet Couts Pedro
    Kun Martial Deeney

  9. Messiah Hazard
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    UFPL:

    Pick one to bench...
    Mahrez
    Vardy
    Wijnaldum

  10. The_FF_King
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Would you do this:

    Coutinho > Hazard
    Alderweireld > Kaboul

    Only have 4.7m to spend on defender and Kaboul only option I could see with a double.

    Cheers guys 🙂

    1. The_FF_King
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Forgot to say this would be a -4 hit

      1. Koolswan
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Yeah gtg

    2. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Looks good, maybe kone instead of kaboul

      1. The_FF_King
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Ah yes good shout! Thanks! 🙂

  11. GK
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Last two decisions, help really appreciated chaps!

    Would you start Milner or Sanchez?

    Would you do Sturridge > Defoe (-4)?.

    1. Mesh
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Milner
      No

      1. Koolswan
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        This

      2. DOG GOD IT - KEANE 15
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        This

  12. oi no professionals
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Play:
    A. Sanchez or
    B.Mahrez

    1. KISSES
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Mahrez

    2. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Mahrez

  13. Mr. Funny Name
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Bench Kane, Sanchez or Aguero?

    1. KISSES
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Sanch

  14. 420king
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Play Rose or Bellerin?

    1. KISSES
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Rose

      1. 420king
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        thanks

  15. Vedas
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    DDG
    PVA Simpson Delaney
    Payet Firmino Lanzini Mahrez
    Defoe Deeney CCCarol

    Robles; Sanchez, Bellerin, Gabriel

    -8 hit taken, worth taking another hit or GTG? 🙂

    1. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Gtg

      1. Vedas
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Ta

  16. Stats Don\'t Lie
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    A) Antonio + Kane > Defoe + hazard
    B) firmino + Antonio > hazard + mane

    1. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      A

    2. Mr. Funny Name
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      A

    3. Messiah Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      A with Carroll

  17. Yankee Toffee
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Bench:

    A. Mahrez (EVE)
    B. Sanchez (mci)

    Cheers!

    1. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      B

  18. KISSES
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Start Simpson or Walker?

    1. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Simp

    2. Mr. Funny Name
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Simpson

  19. GHB
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Bellerin > smalling -4??

    1. Vedas
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Nah

    2. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Nah, you'll want Bell for gw38

  20. Lone Wolf FPL
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    My rival in ML is 20 pts up so when I take a hit to take DGW player for SGW player make sense because I will have 2 chances for points and its like -2 hit only right? So I must take hits to field full 11 of DGW players. More chance to get points and only -2 per player.
    Im thinking:
    A) Clyne -> PVA
    B) Delaney -> Azpi/Ivanovic
    C) KDB -> Willian/Fabregas

  21. Ha.
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Haven't heard Barkley's name? Fixtures are good...

    Who would you rather this week, Barkley, Defoe or Deeney?

    1. GK
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Barkley's form has been awful, one of Defoe or Deeney for me!

    2. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Defoe, if I had to choose 1, but I'm not going with any of them

    3. Koolswan
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Defoe.
      Barkley is out of form.

  22. SpaceCadet
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Clyne to pva -4. Yay or nay?

    1. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      N

    2. Mr. Funny Name
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Yay

    3. Buck The Trent
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Nay

  23. The Red Devil
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Buyl one

    Pva or Cresswell

    sell one

    Lanzini or coutinho

    can't do cresswell & coutinho, already on 2 west ham, so can have any one of cresswell or Lanzini

    1. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Cress, Zini

    2. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Pva and cout then

  24. Scotty B
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Mignolet
    Kaboul Toby Azpi
    Mahrez Sanchez Payet Lingard
    Aguero Carroll Lukaku
    Subs Ward Huth Bellerin Iwobi

    I have 3.4m ITB & a 106 lead in ML

    Am I good to go or upgrade Huth>Creswell/Smalling benching Toby in the process?

    Appreciate your feedback

  25. Caleb's Kitties
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Just made my final transfers. BB active (-8). GTG?

    DDG Mannnone
    Bellerin Fuchs VVD PVA Cresswell
    Sanchez Firmino Payet Hazard (V) Lennon
    Aguero Defoe Carroll (C)

    Good luck everyone !

  26. Kiwivillan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Bench 1

    Kun Kane Milner?

    1. Whats the Huth
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Millner

    2. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      tough, I'd find another to bench

  27. Buck The Trent
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Bench boosting and one last spot to fill. Would you double up defence ?

    A Sunderland (pva, kirchoff)
    B United (ddg, smailing)
    C Everton (robles, baines)

    D or go for JT ?

    1. Gianfranco Zola
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Norwich defender? Or B

  28. Gianfranco Zola
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Why did Hazard not start v Spurs? Are we sure he's going to start 2 games in 4 days?

    A) Ozil +4
    B) Hazard

  29. ۩۞۩Tommo727™۩۞۩
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    A) Creswell and Defoe
    B) PVA and Carroll
    And why??

    1. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      B, simply b.c of Carroll

  30. Mesh
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Play Robles or Gomes?

    1. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      G