Gameweek 15 saw the launch of Fantasy Eliteserien and this week there is a further development, as for the first time we have to cope with blank fixtures.
BLANKS AND EUROPE
As mentioned there are a couple of blanks this gameweek. Vålerenga, Haugesund, Odd and Tromsø are the teams without a fixture. Defenders from Odd and Haugesund (as well as Tollås Nation from Vålerenga) and attacking players like Zahid (Vålerenga), Hajradinovic (Haugesund) and Aron Sigurdarson (Tromsø) are in general very good picks for your Fantasy Eliteserien team, but sadly all skip a fixture in Gameweek 16.
Another thing worth mentioning is Brann, Odd, Haugesund and Rosenborg all have Europe qualifiers midweek next week. Brann travel to Slovakia to play against MFK Ruzomberok 13th July, with the return fixture being played 20th July. Between the two qualifiers Brann have a home fixture against Sarpsborg 16th July.
Odd travel to Liechtenstein to play against Vaduz 13th July, a home fixture against Viking 16th July and return fixture against Vaduz 20th July. Haugesund have a home fixture against Lech Poznan 13th July, home fixture against Aalesund 16th July and return fixture against Lech Poznan 16th July. Rosenborg are playing a Champions League qualifier away against Dundalk 12th July, away against Sogndal 15th July and home against Dundalk 19th July.
I think we can expect some rotation from these teams, especially in Gameweek 17. Odd and Haugesund blank this Gameweek, but it’s worth keeping an eye on Rosenborg’s and Brann’s team sheets. It’s worth noting that Rosenborg’s match is first up this Gameweek, so we’ll most likely know the lineup before deadline.
FANTASY LEAGUE STANDINGS
Colmans Mustard is still leading the Fantasy Football Scout League, although he only managed to score 41 points which is less than most of his competitors.
In the H2H league FC Smack has taken the lead after Dutch Warriors have suffered two defeats in a row.
STOCK CHECK
Rising
Per Kristian Bråtveit (5.1, Haugesund, goalkeeper)
Haugesund are in great defensive form, having kept four clean sheets in the last five. In the 1-1 draw against Viking he still managed to score a respectable four points. After his blank this gameweek he’s definitely one to consider.
Piotr Leciejewski (5.4, Brann, goalkeeper), Amin Nouri (5.8, Brann, defender) and Vito Wormgoor (5.3, Brann, defender)
Brann have now started to keep clean sheets like we expected them to do, with three clean sheets in the last four. In the 1-1 draw against Sarpsborg Leceijewski managed to score seven points after an amazing performance, while Wormgoor scored Brann’s goal.
Wormgoor has picked up five bonus points in the last four, while Leciejewski have picked up three.
Nouri has been mentioned multiple times in these articles and has racked up four assist and one goal so far this season.
Acosta and Kristiansen are also worth keeping if you own them, as well as Rolantsson (although his attacking returns have dried up). It is worth noting that Leciejewski is most likely being sold to a Polish club in the summer break, while Nouri might leave as well.
Aleksander Melgalvis (4.5, Lillestrøm, defender)
The Lillestrøm defender has been doing well lately in a right midfield role. Against Strømsgodset he kept a clean sheet, while he racked up three assisst, a goal and three bonus points in the previous three games.
Christoffer Remmer (5.3, Molde, defender)
After Molde changed to three at the back, Remmer has been doing well in his wing-back role. He’s assisted three goals in the last three, as well as being involved in goals without getting an assist. Definitely one to watch, although Molde are not a great defensive team right now.
Samuel Adegbenro (7.2, Viking, midfielder)
He continues to dominate matches even though he plays for a poor team. He’s such a standout player in his team that he seems to be picking up bonus points no matter how badly his team plays. He has actually been among the bonus points in the last five matches he’s played, picking up a total of 10 bonus points in those five fixtures. He’s very likely to leave Viking in the summer, but he said he won’t rule out staying at Viking until the end of the season to help them avoid relegation. He will most likely go abroad if he’s sold.
Luc Kassi (6.0, Stabæk, midfielder)
Kassi continues to fly under the radar. In his last four matches (excluding the one where he was suspended) he has got attacking returns, scoring twice and assisting two. He’s also got bonus points in three of those games.
Jean Alassane Mendy (5.3, Kristiansund, forward)
This guy is hot right now. He got his biggest haul yet with two goals and three bonus points against Rosenborg at home. He has now scored in five of the last six games, picking up six bonus points after scoring as many goals. Can he keep it up? I’m not sure, but he’s definitely the in-form player right now.
Matthias Vilhjalmson (8.4, Rosenborg, forward)
Vilhjalmson got another start up front for Rosenborg and delivered a goal and an assist. He has now scored three goals and assisted two in his last four games. Sadly, I think Bendtner may get a start next gameweek, especially with the Champions League qualifiers coming up. He can also be moved down to CM, which isn’t ideal for a forward in this game. Rosenborg’s lineup will most likely be out before deadline, so if he’s starting up front he might be worth a shout for the captaincy if you dare to transfer him in.
Björn Bergmann Sigurdarson (10.0, Molde, forward)
I’ve said this a couple of times before and I say it again: You need Bjørn Bergmann Sigurdarson in your team. Molde aren’t on fire at the moment, but he’s scoring steadily and in my opinion he’s the best forward in Eliteserien. Against Viking he should have scored more than one goal, which has been the case a couple of times before this season. Even though he should have scored more, he’s now scored in three games in a row and now has a total of eight goals (and three assists).
Falling
Andreas Lie (5.2, Aalesund, goalkeeper)
He looked like a great option at the start of the season, but having failed to keep a clean sheet for five games in a row I think it’s safe to say there are better options out there. Aalesund’s defence are definitely not the best one at the moment.
Thomas Grøgaard (6.1, Odd, defender)
The popular Odd defender have now missed two games in a row due to injury. With a blank coming up this gameweek and possible rotation due to Europa League qualifiers he’s the most sold player this gameweek.
Rosenborg defenders
Rosenborg defenders disappointed their owners again by letting in three goals against Kristiansund. A clean sheet against Sogndal in gameweek 14 is the only clean sheet in the last seven games.
Julian Ryerson (4.4, Viking, defender)
An early season bandwagon that’s failed to live up to the hype. He’s done okay in a poor Viking side, but that doesn’t give us any returns. In the last 10 games he’s only scored more than two points once, when he picked up two bonus points against Kristiansund at home. Actually he’s scored one point or less in eight of the last 10 games.
Tonny Brochmann (7.0, Stabæk, midfielder)
Three blanks in a row and Stabæk out of form. A few gameweeks ago he was the highest scoring player in the game, now he’s one of the most sold players this gameweek.
Riku Riski (7.1, Odd, midfielder)
Riski did look like a great pick a few gameweeks ago, now he’s blanked six games in a row. Odd are struggling for goals and have scored just two goals in the last six games. It’s time for his owners to ship him out.
Mike Jensen (10.3, Rosenborg, midfielder) and Fredrik Midtsjø (8.5, Rosenborg, midfielder)
They are still some of the highest owned players in the game. Jensen have blanked four games in a row and only scored more than five points in gameweek 1, while Midtsjø have blanked three games in a row and not scored above five points since gameweek 3. Certainly more value to be found elsewhere, especially if you own Jensen.
Patrick Mortensen (7.4, Sarpsborg, forward)
After a great start to the season, Mortensen have been frustrating his owners lately. In the last 10 games he’s blanked eight times. In the two games he’s scored, he’s picked up maximum bonus points. With a good fixture coming up against Lillestrøm he might be worth keeping if you still own him.
DIFFERENTIALS FOR GAMEWEEK 16
Bassel Jradi (6.6, Strømsgodset, midfielder)
Jradi returns from suspension this gameweek with a great home fixture against Kristiansund. He’s been looking good lately and I’d back him to do well against Kristiansund. He’s a good differential with only 4% ownership.
Eirik Ulland Andersen (7.9, Strømsgodset, midfielder)
With his 3.9% ownership (although I suspect most of those 3.9% are active players) he’s also a great differential this gameweek. Both Andersen and his team mate Jradi are players capable of scoring and assisting goals.
Jean Alassane Mendy (5.3, Kristiansund, forward)
I don’t think this man needs any more introduction as he’s been mentioned above. Strømsgodset aren’t the best defensive team and this man is very hot right now. With 2.3% ownership he can be a great differential this week with all the blanks.
This week all three differentials are attacking players from the same game, so brace yourself for a crushingly inevitable 0-0.
KEY LINKS
WhoScored – Results, table, detailed player and team stats.
Twitter account for a Norwegian Eliteserien Fantasy show. Normally offers some insight (although it’s in Norwegian)
Official source for lineups, normally 1h15m before kick off.
Interesting blog where clean sheet and goal scoring odds are posted before every Gameweek.
Fixture ticker.
