The Spurs juggernaut has another big-scoring addition, Manchester City stalwarts deliver once more, and a couple of differentials make strong cases for late-season inclusion. But one star looks like a dying Swan and Pep Guardiola’s tinkering hurts one of his well-owned assets yet again. Here’s Saturday’s Stock Check…
On the Rise
Harry Kane
It was like he’d never been away…
After chalking up consecutive double-digit hauls before his injury, Kane produced another one on his return to Spurs’ starting XI.
His 12 points in the 4-0 dismissal of Bournemouth was his seventh double-figure score of the campaign; an immediate confirmation of the faith 199,601 Fantasy Premier League managers placed in him as he became Gameweek 33’s most popular transfer-in.
And for the brave souls who made him captain, he was a real differential – only 5.7% made the leap, although that figure rose among the elite, with 18 of the top 100 FPL managers handing Kane the armband.
The early Gameweek 34 buyers have made him the third most popular pick, behind only Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wilfried Zaha, who both have double duties.
But those hoping for continued explosive returns should note that six of Kane’s seven double-digit scores have come at home. Four of Spurs’ remaining fixtures are away, and their final two matches at White Hart Lane involve Arsenal and Manchester United.
Son Hueng-min, Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen
The holy trinity in the Spurs midfield all contributed yet again, with Son’s goal and two bonus points making him the pick of the bunch as Alli and Eriksen had to settle for ‘just’ an assist apiece.
The South Korean’s fifth goal in four matches, and he played only 18 minutes of one, was strong reward for his 164,000+ new managers, while Eriksen’s corner for Spurs’ opener took him to 17 assists – the most in FPL.
Alli is now the most-owned FPL midfielder by some distance, with Eriksen in the top six. Son is 13th, but has nearly trebled his ownership in five Gameweeks. And more are coming – he is the fourth most popular Gameweek 34 acquisition at present.
Only nine midfielders are averaging over 5 points per match – all three of the Spurs trio are in that list. Other players might have more fixtures to exploit in the run-in, but precious few offer such consistently high returns.
Romelu Lukaku
The Belgian made it 13 goals from his last eight starts at Goodison as Everton saw off a typically stubborn Burnley 3-1.
At 47%, he remains the most popular player in the game, but it’s starting to get complicated for all those owners.
The Toffees have just five matches to come and no double Gameweek. Lukaku’s obvious liking for home comforts – only eight of his 24 goals for the season have come on the road – clouds the issue further.
Everton travel to West Ham next before entertaining Chelsea, with two of their last three fixtures after that away from home.
That has persuaded some managers to act early as they find the funds to bring Ibrahimovic in for his double Gameweek 34 – Lukaku is in the top ten for transfers-out already, and there is a strong sense that this won’t be an initial blip.
Christian Benteke, Andros Townsend
Crystal Palace assets enjoyed a surge in membership ahead of their Gameweek 34 double against Liverpool and Spurs, with Benteke particularly popular – among forwards, only Kane and Lukaku were brought in by more managers before yesterday’s deadline.
He responded with a goal against Leicester City, which was only the second home match in which he’s scored all season.
He was a threat throughout, producing five shots, all of which came from inside the area, and now has three goals and an assist from his last four starts.
While 188,000+ managers were busy making Wilfried Zaha the second most popular buy of the Gameweek, doubts over Townsend’s fitness meant he rather slipped under the radar.
Those that rolled the dice were rewarded with an assist for the third match running, and he’s also hit two goals in his last six starts.
All three Palace assets are enjoying early ownership boosts ahead of their upcoming double. Townsend remains the trio’s differential option.
Patrick van Aanholt
A fourth Palace man is expected to find his way into FPL squads for Gameweek 34 following his return to action after a four-match lay-off.
The Dutchman was given a place on the bench against Leicester yesterday, but there’s a strong feeling that Sam Allardyce will start him at Liverpool next Sunday.
His understudy, Jeffrey Schlupp, had his limitations exposed by Jamie Vardy yesterday and Allardyce replaced him with van Aanholt for the final 22 minutes of the match.
A 3.4% ownership base makes him the Eagles’ most popular defender despite that injury break and his undoubted attacking credentials – he has four goals this season and managed six goals and four assists last year – offer the potential for strong returns from the double to come.
Jamie Vardy
Leicester boss Craig Shakespeare surprised many by declining to shuffle much of his pack in preparation for Tuesday night’s Champions League date with Atletico Madrid.
That came as a relief for the 15.1% of managers with Vardy in their squads and the striker delivered once again.
His goal at Palace was his sixth in seven Shakespeare starts, and his trademark effort and endeavour also earned him the maximum three bonus points, meaning he’s amassed 59 of his 129 points since Claudio Ranieri’s demise.
That, however, hasn’t halted the exodus – only Diego Costa was sold by more managers among strikers prior to Gameweek 33 and he’s back in the top three for transfers-out already.
The sellers might live to regret that, given Shakespeare’s unwillingness to rest his star striker. The news that one of his potential replacements, Islam Slimani, has suffered a groin injury doesn’t exactly weaken Vardy’s status either.
Leicester have the toughest of double Gameweeks to come – Man City away and a home match with Spurs in Gameweek 37. But Vardy’s form could well trump the Foxes’ six fixtures left as champions.
Marko Arnautovic
It had truly been coming for the Austrian.
Arnautovic had had 11 goal attempts, eight shots in the area and created eight chances over the four matches leading up to yesterday’s 3-1 win over Hull City – all team-leading figures.
He duly delivered, scoring, providing an assist and grabbing two bonus points for a 12-point haul.
Stoke City have just five fixtures remaining, but the next two – Swansea City away and a visit from West Ham – suggest Arnautovic’s season is far from over just yet.
Owned by just 1.1%, he could well be an excellent differential prior to a Gameweek 36 wildcard.
Sergio Aguero, Leroy Sane
Aguero was ditched by nearly 41,000 managers who needed funds freed up for the purchase of Kane, but the Argentinian continues to find the net in a bid to justify his lofty price tag.
His goal at Southampton yesterday was his fifth in a row and he now has six from his last seven matches.
That consistency is comforting, his inability to score big less so. Aguero has managed only four double-digit returns all season, and the last one came back in Gameweek 13.
But he has a strong set of fixtures to come, including a double Gameweek 37 involving two home matches – no other team has that luxury.
However, the imminent return to fitness of Gabriel Jesus is a major concern, with Pep Guardiola continuing to exasperate with his penchant for rotation.
However Sane is one of the precious few seemingly immune to his manager’s tinkering.
The German has now started the last 11 matches for City and has produced four goals and two assists in the process.
Gameweek 37’s matches with Leicester and West Brom make Sane a tempting option.
In Decline
Gylfi Sigurdsson
Swansea City tend to live and die by their main man Sigurdsson. Both are now living on borrowed time.
His blank in the 1-0 loss at Watford was his fifth straight disappointment, and even the return of Fernando Llorente couldn’t drag the Icelander from his current points rut.
It wasn’t for want of trying – Sigurdsson had six shots on goal, four of which came in the area, at Vicarage Road as he attempted to revive the Swans almost single-handedly.
Stoke City’s visit for Gameweek 34 is now, unquestionably, a must-win encounter for the Swans. If they are to achieve victory, it seems inevitable that Sigurdsson will figure among the points.
However, his successive blanks appear to have already inflicted too much damage on his stocks, with heavy sales now relentless.
Sigurdsson was offloaded by more than 100,000 managers last week and he’s top of the table for transfers-out following yesterday’s deadline.
Wilfried Zaha
It’s a tad harsh to include the Palace midfielder in this rogues’ gallery maybe, but the simple fact was that yesterday was not a good one for the winger.
More than 188,000 managers had made him the second most popular buy of Gameweek 33 – second only to Kane – and Zaha’s response was atypically muted.
After two goals and three assists in the five matches leading up to the Leicester clash, his blank stalled many a team.
His double Gameweek 34 offers two chances at redemption, however, and the appetite for Zaha has clearly not been sated – only Ibrahimovic has been brought in by more managers among early buyers.
John Stones, Raheem Sterling
While Aguero and Sane seem to be tinker-proof under Guardiola, Sterling appears to be anything but.
The England winger is City’s most popular midfielder, with an increasingly befuddled 11.6% seeing their man start just three of the club’s last six matches – and he was discarded at half-time in one of those.
Even a pair of assists for a fine nine-point haul against Hull City last week couldn’t save him from the bench at St Mary’s yesterday, and the likelihood of Sterling doing double duty in Gameweek 37 now looks very remote indeed.
Elsewhere, an injury to John Stones gave Vincent Kompany a second start in three matches, and the Belgian took full advantage, helping City to their first clean sheet since Gameweek 27 and opening the scoring with a fine header.
With Guardiola, anything is possible, but the 16.3% of managers with Stones in their squads will have viewed events at Southampton with more than a little unease.
