Welcome to the opening Weekly Shop of 2017 and a first look at FanDuel’s contests and player targets for Gameweek 21.
We begin, as always, by assessing the fixture list and selecting some key match-ups that immediately leap out as a source of FanDuel returns.
Spurs have to be a starting point. They have won five on the spin, scoring 15 goals in the process, ensuring that their attacking options are firmly in our sights. It also suggests that the visiting West Brom defence will be somewhat overworked at White Hart Lane, potentially providing us with some value amongst Tony Pulis’ backline.
The all-London clash between West Ham and Crystal Palace is another to catch our eye.
Both sides will likely be supplying a steady stream of crosses to frontmen Andy Carroll and Christian Benteke, which should again generate defensive points from clearances to help focus our selection process.
Lastly, Arsenal’s visit to Swansea City looks to be a potential mismatch.
Paul Clement’s first home game in charge of the Welsh outfit, it’s the Arsenal attack that demands our attention, along with one or two cheap options in defence for a Swans side who are likely to be on the back foot.
The Better Buys
We start by looking at some of the selections that will form the nucleus of our line-ups.
These are the players that may come packaged with considerable price-tags but have the form and fixtures to ensure that they just can’t be ignored.
In goal, we were immediately drawn to Spurs skipper Hugo Lloris, who once again, is set to provide value for a modest £7.1m.
Spurs have conceded only once in their last four matches at White Hart Lane, while West Brom will arrive having failed to score at both Arsenal and Chelsea in their last three away matches. We’re expecting a rearguard action from the Baggies, which should offer Lloris strong clean sheet prospects.
Pulis’ defence will likely be facing waves of attack from an in-form Spurs, which has to put centre-back Gareth McAuley (£7.7m) on our radar.
Clean sheet points are not available to defenders in FanDuel. Instead, it’s actions such as clearances, blocks and interceptions (CBI’s) that help build up scores. McAuley scored a fourth goal of the season last time out and he should have the workload to exceed his 18.84 FanDuel average against Spurs.
Despite a disappointing return in his last appearance against Manchester United, Winston Reid (£8.5m) is retained as a key target. The West Ham centre-back still sits atop the defender rankings for average FanDuel points (23.3) scored this campaign.
Reid will likely reap big rewards for clearances, blocks and interceptions (CBI) against Crystal Palace’s potent set-piece threat, and if Christian Benteke is passed fit, the centre-back’s duel with the Eagles striker could help him to another strong haul.
Of the leading sides, Spurs have the most favourable fixture on paper and in Danny Rose (£8.6m) have a defender that offers good prospects at both ends of the pitch.
Rose pours forward down the left-flank, is assigned set-pieces from the right and sits second for defenders when it comes to both shots (eight) and chances created (12) from Gameweek 12 onwards.
Further up the field, Dele Alli (£12.6m) has tallied seven goals over his last four outings to register an impressive 44.25 point Fanduel average during that spell. On that form, it appears to be a risk to go without the Spurs midfielder.
Team-mate Christian Eriksen (£14m) does, however, provide an alternative.
The Dane is the current top midfielder in FanDuel with 29 points per match season average. Five goals and six assists in his last eight league matches reflect a strong level of consistency.
Slightly lower down the bracket, Robert Snodgrass (£8.9m) is worth considering, having notched back-to-back goals for Hull City.
A 23.5 FanDuel point average this season suggests he can offer value ahead of a visit of Bournemouth. Eddie Howe’s outfit have conceded a trio of goals in each of their previous three outings on the road.
Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez (£14.5m) is the top forward in FanDuel thanks to an average of 32.3 points this season per match.
Rested for the FA Cup tie at Preston, the Chilean has netted 13 goals, with 10 of those arriving away from the Emirates. Sanchez has created 11 chances and fired seven shots on target over the last four outings and has to be a top target ahead of the Swansea City trip.
If your funds fail to stretch to Sanchez, then team-mate Olivier Giroud (£12.2m) could be an able replacement.
The striker has scored in each of his last three, and also set up both other goals in the 3-3 draw with Bournemouth in their previous league match.
We’ve promoted Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe (£9.3m) up into our “Better Buy” section this week, given his obvious appeal for the visit of Stoke City.
Three goals in two matches and ten attempts over his last four outings bodes well ahead of the Potters’ visit: Stoke have shipped 11 goals in their last three away trips.
The Poundstretchers
We now shift our sights to the budget end of the market to consider those players that can help preserve our budget, allowing us to swoop for our “Better Buy” targets.
In goal, we’re looking to Watford’s Vicarage Road meeting with Middlesbrough as a potential source of cheap clean sheets. The visitors have claimed just eight goals in 10 away trips, while the Hornets have notched five times in their last six outings.
Heurelho Gomes (£6.8m) will be in goal for Watford provided he overcomes the illness that ruled him out of FA Cup action last weekend.
For Boro, it will be worth checking the teamsheets to see who claims the starting berth.
Brad Guzan (£6.4m) kept out Leicester City in Gameweek 20 but first choice stopper Victor Valdes (£6.8m) may return if he recovers from a knee injury. Both can offer us value.
At the back, Liverpool’s Ragnar Klavan (£6.7m) has started the last five in the league and could be retained with Joel Matip remaining an injury doubt for a visit to Old Trafford.
The Estonian scored 22.5 points last time out and his 27 clearances over the last four highlights a propensity to defend aerial balls. That could come to the fore against a Manchester United outfit that rank third for crosses over the last six Gameweeks.
Andy Carroll’s target man status should keep the Crystal Palace defence occupied, providing plenty of CBI’s for Sam Allardyce’s back four.
Due to his goal threat, Scott Dann (£7.7m) remains the prime candidate, but the teamsheet could provide Damien Delaney (£6.8m) and James Tomkins (£6.6m) as cheaper options.
The Swansea City defence are also set for a busy afternoon as they host Arsenal.
Centre-back Alfie Mawson is available for £6.9m, while Angel Rangel (£6.5m) is also an intriguing prospect – the full-back has averaged 21.4 points over his last four outings.
Southampton travel to Burnley and the developing situation with Jose Fonte could see a fourth start in five for Maya Yoshida (£6.5m). A 17.1 FanDuel average in his five league appearances puts the Japanese defender in the frame for inclusion in our line-ups.
If Gareth McAuley is out of your price range, then it’s worth checking for news from the early kick-off on Saturday. West Brom’s Jonas Olsson (£5.9m) could prove to be a bargain if Jonny Evans (£7.1m) fails to recover from a knock to face Spurs.
In midfield, we’ve picked out Everton’s Tom Davies as a cheap enabler to free up some funds. The youngster is available for just £5.3m and picked up an assist against Southampton in his first start for the Toffees.
Elsewhere, Sunderland’s Adnan Januzaj (£6m) supplied his first assist of the campaign against Burnley in Gameweek 19 and is another who could provide Gameweek 21 value.
Hull City are yet to keep a clean sheet at the KCOM stadium, ensuring that we’re drawn to Bournemouth’s Junior Stanislas (£7.7m) as an option.
Back-to-back assists have helped the winger to scores of 33.5 points and 27 points in his last two run-outs, including four shots on target and five chances created.
Our preferred budget forward this week is Burnley’s Andre Gray (£7.6m) who has been revelling in home comforts of late.
A hat-trick in the Clarets last match at Turf Moor was preceded by a goal and assist in the previous two, while his opponents Southampton conceded three goals to Everton in their last away trip.
Finally, with Sunderland having conceded the most headed attempts (57) of any side this season, we have to look the way of Stoke City’s Peter Crouch (£7.5m). He will be seeking a third goal in as many league matches in Saturday’s Stadium of Light clash.
I’ll be back on Friday to take another look at the FanDuel as I put forward a line-up and consider some of the contests on offer in Gameweek 21.
