Last season, there was simply no contest when it came to the budget midfielder of choice amongst Fantasy Premier League managers.
Starting off 2015/16 at the cost of 5.5, Riyad Mahrez tore up the top-flight on his way to ending the campaign as the highest scoring player in FPL, steering Leicester City to the most unexpected of title triumphs.
This time around, however, things are not quite so cut and dry…
Watford’s Etienne Capoue and Stoke’s Joe Allen have fallen out of favour after severe regression, while Palace wide man Wilfried Zaha is currently out the picture after opting to turn out for Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Hull City’s Robert Snodgrass has upped his output in recent matches, but with trips to Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal supplemented by a visit from Liverpool in the next four, it’s difficult to extol his virtues until the schedule smiles far kinder from Gameweek 26 onwards.
With that in mind, we’re turning our attentions to a couple of cut-price wide men with form and fixtures very much in their favour.
Matt Phillips has dispelled the notion that, when it comes to Fantasy investment, it’s defence or nothing with West Brom.
This week, over 73,000 FPL managers have drafted in the 5.9-priced Baggies winger, who ranks eighth overall in the midfield standings with 102 points.
As a result, he currently sits in 20% of squads, having averaged 5.1 points per match.
Bournemouth’s Junior Stanislas is another who has belied a lowly price tag.
In a season hampered by hamstring injuries, he’s surpassed Phillips for points per appearance, with an average of 5.5 just behind Liverpool pair Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho, on 5.6 apiece.
Subject to over 42,000 transfers in this week, the Cherries wide man remains very much a differential and resides in a mere 3% of squads right now.
In tonight’s second member’s article, we cast an eye over both these players, assessing their individual numbers, over the season and in recent weeks, as we ramp up our search for value in the centre of the park.
