The Watchlist – Rashford Arrives

Our Gameweek 34 preview continues with the updated Watchlist rankings in midfield and attack, influenced by the upcoming double Gameweeks and, in particular, the recent demise of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Thursday night saw the Manchester United striker – the overwhelming leader in this week’s captaincy poll – hyperextend his knee during the Europa League clash with Anderlecht to send shockwaves through the Fantasy communities.

Reports have since have suggested that the striker will now face up to nine months of the sidelines; while that remains unconfirmed, our plans now exclude Ibrahimovic from our thinking.

As a consequence, Thursday’s match-winner and natural successor in the United attack, Marcus Rashford, soars up our Watchlist rankings.

It remains to be seen if Jose Mourinho risks the 19-year-old at Turf Moor on Sunday with Thursday’s derby clash in mind – a 120-minute run-out against Anderlecht will have surely taken its toll. However, Rashford clearly now has the opportunity to make the United striker’s role his own and, given his price point, he is destined to be a prime target in any Wildcard refresh to come.

Elsewhere, the abasence of Ibrahimovic ensures that Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke’s stock receives a boost.

While his fixtures with Liverpool and Spurs remain daunting, the Merseyside trip now looks more favourable following news of defensive concerns in Jurgen Klopp’s camp. It’s also Benteke’s first match back at Anfield since departing last summer, ensuring that he’ll be determined to make his mark. Future Selhurst Park clashes with Burnley and Hull City also work in the Belgian’s favour.

Those forthcoming fixtures also retain Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend in the frame as midfield candidates in our Watchlist.

Zaha now boasts a 15.3% ownership, but it’s Townsend who should perhaps receive the plaudits for the Eagles’ recent turnaround. His latest three Gameweeks have delivered a goal, three assists and maximum bonus points on two occasions.

Despite the promise on show at Palace, it’s Spurs who continue to dominate the top spots in both our midfield and forward rankings.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side are in irresistible form and present a cast of compelling attacking options following 4-0 wins over Watford and Bournemouth.

Harry Kane’s 12-point return against the Cherries means he’s now provided six goals and two assists in his last three starts; with a double Gameweek to come, his status as the most coveted striker option looks assured.

Meanwhile, Dele Alli has produced attacking returns in seven successive matches, giving him 59 points over that spell.

That keeps him just ahead of Christian Eriksen in our midfield reckoning, atlthough the Dane remains a profitable source of points. He continues to suggest he can provide a goal threat to accompany his undoubted creative talents: topping the charts with 16 assists, Eriksen has also fired more shots than any other player this season (119).

Son Heung-min is unfortunate to be forced into a backseat role and sit lower down our ranks. He keeps providing significant returns but could yet be sacrificed in the Spurs line-up should we see a shift to a three-man defence. The clamour for Kane also forces us to consider Alli and Eriksen as the priority for the remaining two Spurs slots.

Elsewhere in midfield, we’ve seen Alexis Sanchez’s value drop by 0.4 in recent weeks, although he remains a factor in our rankings, despite troubling form. His sublime strike at Middlesbrough was his first for four weeks but, with his additional fixtures, he surely remains a Wildcard target for the run-in.

With little movement immediately below Sanchez, we have to look at Manchester City’s Leroy Sane before we hit a name who could genuinely threaten to shake-up our squads over the remaining weeks.

The winger appears immune to Pep Guardiola’s rotation, retaining his start while David Silva, Raheem Sterling and even Kevin De Bruyne fall victim. Owned by just 5.4%, Sane looks to be an assured Wildcard target to cover City’s pair of Gameweek 37 fixtures, with Leicester City and West Brom the visitors to the Etihad – particularly with striker Sergio Aguero now under threat from the fit-again Gabriel Jesus.

Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard is another figure who could be promoted in our thinking ahead of Gameweek 37. Claiming just a 0.8% current ownership, Lingard can provide cheap coverage and a midfield alternative to Rashford.

Elsewhere, the potential of Marko Arnautovic as a differential gamble prior to the second Wildcard has the Austrian figure in our ranks. Stoke City will face West Ham and Bournemouth to follow their Gameweek 34 trip to Swansea City.

Josh King may not be able dangle a double Gameweek but, with exceptional fixtures and a prolific recent record, he will likely be identified as a key element of Wildcard squads.

As for Chelsea’s Eden Hazard – his convincing form keeps him bubbling, with Diego Costa’s alarming decline also playing its part in ensuring that the Belgian remains our weapon of choice in Antonio Conte’s ranks.

Costa’s demise is recognised in the Watchlist, with the likes of Middlesbrough’s Alvaro Negredo and Southampton’s Manolo Gabbiadini now elevated above the Blues striker for the campaign run-in.

Negredo’s generous double-header provides a temporary boost and he’ll need to deliver on his Gameweek 34 promise to retain his current placing.

Meanwhile, Gabbiadini seems destined to emerge as the end of season hot property in attack.

Southampton have a home meeting with Hull City to act as a springboard into their two Gameweek 36 fixtures; points for Gabbiadini in that one would cement his starting role and surely seal his passage into our squads for the final three sets of fixtures.