Chelsea’s five-star performance at the Bridge leads to the promotion of a cast of Antonio Conte’s talent. Meanwhile, Sunderland’s twin strikers earn recognition, while Pep Guardiola’s decision to rest Raheem Sterling snaps the final straw for many of his Fantasy Premier League owners.
On the Rise
Eden Hazard
The Belgian produced one of the finest individual performances of the season, wandering free in the Chelsea attack and tormenting the Everton defence.
His 19-point Fantasy Premier League return was his biggest haul of a campaign that has already delivered double-figures on four occasions, including seven goals and four sets of maximum bonus.
As mentioned in last night’s Knee Jerk, we’re struggling to apply a downside to Hazard at this present time.
The forthcoming fixtures may well be tough, but his form appears strong enough to overcome that – defences just don’t appear to have the answer to Hazard within Antonio Conte’s new system.
Another FPL price rise arrived overnight, two more are a possibility prior to the Gameweek 12 trip to Middlesbrough as his 24.3% ownership soars.
Diego Costa
The Spaniard continued his own ascent, contributing a goal and an assist to Chelsea 5-0 victory.
Costa has now returned in nine of eleven Gameweeks, taking him to the top of the FPL forward rankings and second to Hazard in the overall standings with 70 points.
While Hazard has established near essential status, Costa, despite his achievements, continues to compete with Romelu Lukaku and Sergio Aguero for a slot up front as we ponder the five-man midfield.
Now owned by 40% of FPL managers, Hazard’s rise could dent his appeal, although there are obvious merits in doubling on Chelsea’s attack given their irresistible form.
Certainly, Aguero and Lukaku will be required to keep pace with Costa to ensure that their ownership is preserved – the Everton striker is already suffering losses following Saturday’s blank.
Marcos Alonso
The other major benefactor from Chelsea’s incredible Stamford Bridge display.
Alonso fired his first Chelsea goal in just his fifth Premier League start, having delivered an assist back in Gameweek 9.
While Cesar Azpilicueta has been the bonus point system darling during Chelsea’s run of five successive clean sheets, Alonso is a forward-thinking asset and arguably more secure.
Conte’s options at left wing-back look limited, with Alonso perhaps the least likely Chelsea FPL defender to suffer rest and rotation over the Christmas period.
Like Hazard, he picked up a price rise overnight as the second most popular transfer target ahead of Gameweek 12.
Pedro & Nemanja Matic
While that trio stole the headlines and will likely dominate the plans of Fantasy managers over the international break, both Pedro and Matic warrant our attention.
The pair have been revelations over the last five Gameweeks, with Pedro holding off the claims of Willian for a start on the right. Four assists and two goals in his last four Gameweeks underline his current form, promoting his application as a 7.1 candidate to provide back-up to Hazard and Costa as attacking options.
Matic offers a less profitable solution in the budget price bracket. Incredibly, the Serb has now returned six assists for the season – second only to Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne.
Jermain Defoe
The Sunderland striker continues to stand out as the top third forward option, having returned a second double-figure return at Bournemouth.
With six goals and an assist, Defoe has now contributed to 77% of Sunderland’s goals and faces up to Hull City at the Stadium of Light next, ensuring that he’s in the mix for the Gameweek 12 captaincy.
Victor Anichebe
Defore was joined up front at Bournemouth by the significant presence of Victor Anichebe, as David Moyes turned to a twin strike force to transform Sunderland’s fortunes.
The decision paid off handsomely, with Anichebe matching Defoe’s goal and assist returns to promote himself as a potential 4.5 striker option.
However, Anichebe played the second half with a cracked rib and must be considered a doubt for the visit of Hull in Gameweek 12.
Sam Vokes
The Burnley striker is another budget option on the rise. Priced at 6.1, Vokes has now provided three goals and an assist in his last four Gameweeks.
He appears to have edged ahead of Andre Gray as Sean Dyche’s striker in the 4-5-1 system and will likely assume spot-kick duties while Gray remains benched.
In Decline
Raheem Sterling
Having suffered four consecutive blanks, Sterling required a convincing performance with returns in Gameweek 11. Instead, he was rested by Pep Guardiola against Middlesbrough, ensuring continuing FPL sales and a further price drop.
Sterling would seem highly likely to start at Crystal Palace in Gameweek 12, although, having hit a drought and with the threat of rotation over the busy Christmas spell, his stock has been dented with a cast of alternative midfield options overtaking the City man.
Adam Smith
Despite returning a third assist of the season for Bournemouth’s goal in the defeat to Sunderland, Smith also earned his fifth booking and will now miss Gameweek 12.
With encounters with Arsenal and Liverpool to follow, it’s fair to say that Smith’s prospects have dipped dramatically, with an ownership and price drop over the break now on the cards.
Joe Allen
While the Welshman’s blank at West Ham is hardly cause for concern, the fact that he picked up a fourth booking of the season now leaves him teetering on the suspension tightrope.
That’s fine for those who rely on him as a fifth midfield option but a possible issue for those who acquired him to fill the fourth slot.
With Watford and Burnley to follow the Gameweek 12 clash with Bournemouth, Allen’s owners will be willing him to steer clear of cards until Stoke City’s fixtures stiffen.
Dimitri Payet
Robbed of points following the decision to award West Ham’s strike as a Glenn Whelan own goal, Payet has now returned just a single assist in his last four Gameweeks.
That’s a worrying trend given his forthcoming fixtures.
Payet and the Hammers face Spurs, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool over the next four Gameweeks, in a spell which could see them slip back into the relegation mire, with Payet drifting towards temporary obscurity as a Fantasy asset.
Andre Gray
Relegated to the bench against Crystal Palace having been handed a starting role on his return from suspension at Old Trafford, Gray is now ruled out of our thinking as a third striker option.
As mentioned, Vokes is now seemingly Dyche’s preferred lead striker, leaving Gray limited to appearances in a 4-4-2.
