Welcome to our latest visit to the Weekly Shop, where we will help guide your selections for daily and weekly Fantasy Football squad building, paying particular attention to FanDuel’s player list.
As with last term, we divide the player analysis into two parts: I’ll assess the key targets that no squad can do without in “Better Buys”, before seeking out those one-shot “Poundstretcher” prospects that can provide us with points whilst liberating crucial funds.
For those new to FanDuel our recent strategy guide will help familiarise yourself with their scoring model and key strategies for success.
Four teams stand out this week with favourable fixtures and provide at least two tempting picks apiece as we build a provisional list of players for our weekend line-ups.
Swansea dispatched newcomers Burnley at Turf Moor last weekend and face another promoted side as Hull travel to Wales, while Tottenham host a Crystal Palace outfit that lost against West Brom in Gameweek 1.
West Ham’s first Premier League match in their new stadium, against Bournemouth, provides a good chance to pick up some points. Finally, Manchester United’s Friday night kick-off means we’ll have a chance to see their line-up before the deadline against a Southampton side that only managed a draw with Watford at St Mary’s.
Better Buys
Swansea’s Lukasz Fabianski (£8.3m) brought in 23.75 points to make him the second highest scoring goalkeeper last week in FanDuel, thanks to a trio of saves and clean sheet at Burnley. Hull may have secured an unexpected victory over Leicester but there remains doubts about a Tigers squad restricted by injuries and back-to-back clean sheets are on the cards for the Swans.
Bearing in mind no clean sheets points are awarded to defenders, Kyle Walker’s (£9.0m) score of 26.75 in the trip to Everton is an impressive return. Visitors Palace failed to score in front of their own fans and could struggle at White Hart Lane, so the right-back should have plenty of opportunities to pick up attacking returns.
Dimitri Payet (£12.7m) arrived from the bench against Chelsea but should start against the Cherries. The French midfielder would have averaged over 30 points a match last season if FanDuel’s current scoring was applied to his performances.
Another player who would have averaged over 30 points last season and looks well suited to FanDuel’s scoring matrix is Christian Eriksen (£11.0). The Danish playmaker scored nine passing points alone against the Toffees and should be pulling the strings again as Spurs host Palace.
Jose Mourinho utilised Wayne Rooney in a number ten role against Bournemouth, similar to Eriksen. The position behind the striker lends itself well to accruing FanDuel points and the United forward picked up nine points for passing and 15 points for his three shots on target. His goal also helps explain an impressive Gameweek 1 score of 39.75. Available for £9m, Rooney appears to offer better value than Zlatan Ibrahimovic, (£11.8) who scored 35.25 points last weekend.
Sergio Aguero (£14.0) may have a high price tag but the Argentine notched his first goal of the campaign from the spot in the 2-1 defeat of Sunderland and is always risky to overlook. Two shots on target and a couple of chances created (worth three points each) helped contribute to an opening score of 32.75 points. Six shots in total against the Black Cats suggest the trip to Stoke should provide more returns.
Poundstretchers
Hugo Lloris left the pitch in the first half against Everton after sustaining an injury, with deputy Michel Vorm set to be promoted to the first XI. It’s unusual to have a route into the Spurs defence for only £4.3m, so the Dutch keeper is set to be a popular pick this weekend for the Eagles’ visit.
While Vorm looks well set to pick up a clean sheet, there are other budget options in this department that are more likely to be put under pressure and therefore pick up save points (worth three apiece). If Jack Butland fails to make it, Stoke’s cut-price veteran shot stopper Shay Given (£4.3m) should be kept busy as Manchester City travel to the Brittania. Likewise, the Toffee’s Maarten Stekelenburg, available for £5.6m, is set to pick up some saves and even potentially a shut-out at the Hawthorns.
Liverpool may have conceded three goals at the Emirates but with defenders not being deducted points for conceding, the likes of new signing Ragnar Klavan, who made eight clearances and two tackles against Arsenal in Gameweek 1, become viable options in our teams, particularly when priced so generously at £4.0m.
At £6.0m, Curtis Davies looks like a great option when Hull visit Swansea, after scoring an impressive 32.75 points against Leicester last weekend. His 10 clearances in particular caught our eye.
Swansea’s Jordi Amat has replaced the departed Ashley Williams in Francesco Guidolin’s back-line. The Spaniard may not hold down his spot long-term but is another cheap enabler at £4.4m.
The top scoring defender of the opening round, James Collins, is priced at just £4.3m. The centre back’s strike against Chelsea served up 44.25 points. Even without the 15 points FanDuel awards for a goal, the Hammers asset would have brought in a handsome haul, thanks to an impressive defensive display that included four interceptions and six clearances.
The advantage of the team sheet for Friday night’s clash between United and Southampton being available ahead of the deadline is that we can select some definite starters in our line-ups. If Marouane Fellaini (£5.7m) makes the first XI again, he is worth considering, after scoring 22.25 points against Bournemouth, including 15 points from passing.
After missing out on a start against Liverpool, Granit Xhaka should make the cut for Arsenal’s trip to Leicester. Priced at £7.6m, the Swiss midfielder’s 96% pass completion rate during his substitute appearance is an encouraging sign.
Another £7.6m midfielder to consider is Hull’s Robert Snodgrass, who accrued 41.75 points in Gameweek 1 after scoring against Leicester last weekend.
West Brom got off to a promising start with the win at Selhurst Park and provide a trio of well priced options for the visit of Everton.
Craig Gardner (£6.8m) and Matt Phillips (£6.6m) are viable midfield enablers – the former created five chances against Palace while Phillips netted eight goals in the Championship last term. Salomon Rondon (£7.4m) is also worth considering for the Baggies. The in-form Venezuelan scored 37 points in Gameweek 1, the second highest haul among forwards.
Jermain Defoe (£7.6m) looks set to be the focal point of Sunderland’s attack against Middlesbrough and a first goal of the season at the Etihad last weekend reminded us of his potential for both shots on target and goal scoring points.
This Week’s Contests
There’s a range of contests now open on FanDueL. Some games cover all ten fixtures including the Friday night match-up. There’s also several contests that start at 12.30pm on Saturday that include the seven matches that day.
The main event for the Saturday only contests is the £10k Fan Favourite, which has a £5 entry. As many as 536 of the entrants will win cash, with £1000 for first place.
There’s also a £3k Saturday Special, which has a £20 buy-in and a few £180 top half wins game, which have £5, £10 and £20 buy-ins.
For the full slate the biggest pot is a £500 contest with a £6 entry fee.
We also have our own Fantasy Football Scout Challenge that covers the full weekend and has a deadline of 8pm Friday. It’s £1 to enter with £150 up for grabs.
There’s also a £25 free game if you don’t want to risk your cash.
You can register for a free account at FanDuel via this link. When you sign up, enter the promo code “SCOUT” and FanDuel will refund your first paid entry fee, up to £10, as free entry credit if you don’t win cash. Further games covering other matches over the first set of Premier League fixtures will also be launched later this week.
