Harry Kane roars back to form as the competition for premium-priced strikers intensifies. Dele Alli is at the double again, while Olivier Giroud scores a “worldie” as Arsenal ease past Big Sam’s Palace.
On the Rise
Harry Kane
The third most transferred out player for Gameweek 19, Spurs’ lone striker scored twice and supplied an assist in a 4-1 rout away to out-of-sorts Watford.
Kane now has eight goals and an assist in nine appearances since returning from injury, with today’s display the third occasion he has netted twice during that period.
With Sergio Aguero, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Diego Costa managing a goal and assist between them, Kane – who faces West Brom, Sunderland and Middlesbrough in the next five – served a timely reminder that he cannot be ruled out in the race for our attentions in the premium price bracket.
Dele Alli
The Spurs midfielder maintained his excellent festive form by bagging a brace for the second successive Gameweek.
Alli’s Fantasy renaissance has also coincided with Kane’s return from an ankle injury, with the former racking up five goals and three assists in his last seven league starts.
An upcoming home clash against Chelsea is likely to deter immediate investment in Alli, who remains a major differential in FPL with only 6.7% ownership.
Beyond that, though, Alli offers a tempting combination of form and fixtures at a price of 8.2 – only Alexis Sanchez and Eden Hazard have scored more than his eight goals amongst FPL midfielders.
Olivier Giroud
The Frenchman retained a place in Arsene Wenger’s line-up after netting the winner against West Brom in his first start of the season last time out.
Giroud again vindicated his manager’s decision by flicking home an outrageous scorpion kick for the home side, underlining his importance to the Gunners’ cause at a time when Mesut Ozil joined Theo Walcott on the absentee list due to illness.
A start away to Bournemouth looks likely in light of today’s display, then, with Alexis Sanchez poised for another role on the flank.
Despite failing to score in either match with Giroud in the XI, the Chilean’s stock can hardly be classified as “in decline” – in addition to earning an assist on both occasions, he has fired a combined 17 attempts, with nine shots against the Baggies followed by eight shots at home to Big Sam’s side.
Hector Bellerin
Back-to-back clean sheets against West Brom and Palace heighten the appeal of Arsenal’s defence as the fixtures turn in their favour.
At the Emirates in particular, Bellerin’s impact at both ends of the pitch has caught the eye since returning from injury in Gameweek 15. The right-back has served up an assist and two shutouts over his last three home appearances, earning bonus points on each occasion.
With visits from Burnley, Watford and Hull in the next six, in addition to trips to Bournemouth and Swansea, the Spaniard could find his way into the plans of those dealing early Wildcards.
In Decline
Jose Holebas
Less than 24 hours into 2017, the Watford left-back is already on the verge of a ban after collecting a ninth caution of the campaign.
Having served a one-match suspension against Leicester in Gameweek 12, Holebas – who has been booked in four of the subsequent seven league outings – was hauled off midway through the second-half against Spurs after another undisciplined display.
With just one set of attacking returns since Gameweek 8 and no clean sheets in nine, his 7.2% FPL ownership may now be looking elsewhere as he teeters on the brink of a two-match absence.
Wilfried Zaha
The Palace winger’s form is on the slide ahead of his departure to the Africa Cup of Nations after serving up a fourth straight blank earlier this evening.
Still owned by 12.2% of FPL managers, Zaha may well be afforded a final stay of execution for Gameweek 20 before heading up to play for Ivory Coast – up next, Palace host a Swansea side that’s conceded at least three times in six of the last seven.
Over 25,000 have already had enough, though, with many looking to Matt Phillips and Robert Snodgrass as sub-6.0 replacements.
Christian Benteke
Similarly, Beneteke has failed to return in his last four Gameweeks and is gasping for a change of fortune in the favourable clash with Swansea.
However, it should be noted that Benteke has faced Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal in three of those four Gameweek blanks and can now look forward to far more favourable fixtures.
Nonetheless, with Zaha departing and potentially absent to or even beyond Gameweek 25, Palace’s attacking prospects and Benteke’s service will likely suffer a dent.
Benteke will need to returns against the Swans to stave off likely sales.
