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The Watchlist Updated – Forwards

Having assessed the updated Watchlist rankings for Goalkeepers, Defenders and Midfielders, we end our four-part series by checking in on the current landscape up front .

The Watchlist rankings can be found in your sidebar on desktop, or via your slide-in menu on mobile or tablet.

These highlight our current take on player selection for each position, listing the factors behind each player’s given rank.

Harry Kane remains unchallenged at the summit, despite enduring a hugely disappointing double Gameweek 22.

Although his captaincy credentials continue to frustrate (he’s blanked in 12 of 21 appearances) the Spurs striker’s penchant for explosive points hauls is second to none – he’s scored at least twice on seven occasions.

The underlying numbers showcase Kane’s continued potential. Not only has he scored at least double the number of goals (six) than any Fantasy Premier League (FPL) forward over the last four Gameweeks, he also leads the way for shots (24), efforts in the box (17) and attempts on target (10).

Granted, Mauricio Pochettino’s men face three tough fixtures in the upcoming six (EVE sot MUN liv ARS cry), yet Kane’s ability to deliver in big matches against rivals keeps him ahead of the chasing pack.

An injury to Gabriel Jesus has eased concerns over the pitch-time of Sergio Aguero.

With the Brazilian sidelined for a reported four-to-six weeks, his fellow frontman can benefit from three very favourable home matches (NEW WBA LEI) over that period.

However, trips to Liverpool, Burnley and Arsenal are a little more testing and those already holding Man City midfielder Raheem Sterling may be reluctant to double-up with the 11.7-priced Aguero.

Nonetheless, he has also fired more shots (67), efforts in the box (57) and attempts on target (28) than any team-mate, despite starting just 15 of their opening 22 matches.

Aguero’s average of 6.5 points per match is more than Kane’s 6.4 at the top of the forward standings, with the Argentine second only to the Spurs man for transfers in this Gameweek after netting twice against Burnley in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Roberto Firmino goes head to head with Aguero at Anfield next weekend and also faces a visit from Spurs in Gameweek 26.

While those clashes could curtail his recent momentum, Liverpool offer five favourable encounters (swa hud sot WHU NEW) between now and Gameweek 29 that may persuade many to invest in Jurgen Klopp’s attack.

That schedule, allied with his current form, means that Firmino remains high up in our latest rankings – over his last six starts, he’s delivered six goals, two assists and four sets of double-digit returns.

A double-up with Mohamed Salah looks a very viable option once the Man City match has passed, though it remains to be seen just how Liverpool regroup following the departure of playmaker Philipp Coutinho.

Furthermore, we are still waiting on the FA’s verdict on Firmino’s exchange with Mason Holgate on Friday night, with a possible charge and suspension looming.

Glenn Murray is our preferred budget striker as Brighton prepare for five favourable fixtures (wba sot WHU stk SWA) in the next six.

The veteran’s pitch-time has been managed over the festive period, with just three starts in the last six, yet with the schedule now easing, we expect his minutes to improve.

Crucially, Murray tends to favour playing sides in the lower reaches of the table. He has scored five of his six goals against teams in the bottom six, with four of his strikes arriving against his upcoming five opponents. He also impressed against Palace on Monday night, emerging from the bench to fire a late FA Cup winner.

Yet with Pascal Gross very similarly priced (5.9 to Murray’s 5.7), there’s an obvious alternative in the Seagulls’ midfield.

Alvaro Morata and Alexandre Lacazette present us with the classic “form vs fixtures” scenario.

Unfortunately for their loyal owners, it is form that both players are lacking. Morata has two goals in seven and missed three gilt-edged opportunities to find the net at the Emirates last time out, while Lacazette has failed to score since Gameweek 15.

Chelsea’s upcoming five (LEI bha BOU wat WBA) could yet bring Morata back into consideration, though it’s fair to say that a return to 3-5-1-1 against the Gunners saw him overshadowed by Eden Hazard, who revelled in a central role once again.

However, with an array of alternatives in our midfields, with strong value on offer, Morata offers coverage of Chelsea’s attacking potential. Despite recent form, he has still been involved in – scored or assisted – 47% of the Blues goals when on the pitch this season, a statistic that betters Hazard’s 43%.

The next four Gameweeks (bou CRY swa EVE) offers Lacazette a reason for optimism, though a price of 10.3 remains prohibitive – particularly if Aaron Ramsey (6.9) can recover from injury and offer an option in the Gunners’ midfield.

Romelu Lukaku could yet become a factor in our seasons once again, though the astonishing recent form of Jesse Lingard as a mid-price midfield option has severely dented any chance of a revival for now. Lukaku’s strike in the FA Cup victory over Derby County perhaps hints at a renaissance and Monday’s Old Trafford clash with lowly Stoke City is an ideal platform to build on that goal.

Elsewhere, Jamie Vardy has four kind home matches (WAT SWA STK BOU) twinned with a trio of testing road trips as Leicester make their way to Chelsea, Everton and Man City in the next seven.

Yet with concerns over his form and fitness, the Foxes frontman has suffered more FPL sales than any striker ahead of the visit to Stamford Bridge.

Vardy’s stock suffers as a result of his identically priced team-mate Riyad Mahrez (8.6) in midfield. Over the last nine Gameweeks, the Algerian has blanked just once and bettered Vardy for both goals (five to three) and assists (four to one).

Setting you back the same as Seagulls’ frontman Murray, Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson has found the net in two of the last three Gameweeks, scoring against West Ham and Brighton.

Trips to the Hammers and Huddersfield, in addition to home clashes with Stoke and Newcastle in the next six hands him the opportunity to stake a claim as a compelling budget candidate.

Similar to Leicester’s Vardy, Jay Rodriguez has a run of eye-catching home fixtures (BHA SOT HUD), though his appeal is dented by visits for Everton, Man City and Chelsea.

Having fired more shots on target (nine) than any team-mate since the arrival of Alan Pardew, Rodriguez – who could now be assigned spot-kick duties – could be another cut-price option at a mere 5.5. He converted a penalty against Arsenal in Gameweek 21 and was also among the goals in the weekend FA Cup win over Exeter.

Overall, the forward position remains a trouble spot in FPL squads, compounded by the points and value being generated by midfield options.

Both Kane and Aguero are now front-runners in the premium bracket, though we are lacking a convincing third striker option in the mid-price or budget price points.

Everton’s Cenk Tosun could yet be that missing link and unlock the option to revert back to a 3-4-3 with confidence.

As it stands, the strategy of two heavy-hitters, alongside a cut-price bench-warming third forward appears to be the most favourable route to explore.

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590 Comments Post a Comment
  1. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    The HOF for non members is also live ?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Career is updated but doesn't count this season.

      1. The Overthinker
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        TM to the rescue again !!

        Thank you

  2. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    850 qualified for GW23 in LMS.

    http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2018/01/05/final-chance-to-enter-the-last-man-standing-competition/ for all the details/scores needed to qualify/enter.

    4 days left to join.

  3. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    worth doing Arnie or Lanzinni to Son or have I missed the boat now?

    Pope 
    Jones Otta Ogbonna
    Alli Sterling Lindgaard Lanzinni Arnie
    Kane Firmino

    Speronni DCL Kenny Hunemiser

    6.1 in the bank!

    1. arndff_
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Arnie/Lanzini + Firmino > mid, Aguero

      1. Rinseboy
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        yeah my plan was to wait a week and maybe get Salah and Aguero in for those. But also not sure if I should get Alonso and not for one of Aguero or Salah?

        1. arndff_
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 2 months ago

          in a few weeks, you could ditch alli and kenny (who could lose his place), so you could afford alonso 🙂

          i mean, go buy salah, aguero, alonso and with the rest of the money -- a midfielder

          1. Rinseboy
            • 12 Years
            6 years, 2 months ago

            good suggestion. Who would be priority for this week.

            Alonso Aguero or Salah?

  4. The HurriKane
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    Would you do any of this moves for now?

    A) Firmino to Kun
    B) Quaner to Tosun
    C) Arnie to Mahrez

    1. arndff_
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      tosun hasn't been proven yet. in the pl, i mean.

      arnie has good fixtures too

      so I'd do A) for sure

      1. arndff_
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        ps: would wait until GW24 🙂

        1. The HurriKane
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 2 months ago

          And will wait because I would have to do it for a -4 this week and it´s not worthy since they play against each other, I guess. Thanks mate! 🙂

    2. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      No need to rush into it this week.

      1. arndff_
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        thats what i've added 🙂

      2. The HurriKane
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        True, it´s just a previous opinion. I will do Coutinho to Lingard this week and play, next week I will see. Thanks!

  5. New Post
  6. Qaiss
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    Is having one Chelsea attacking asset over the next five essential? I have Courtois for clean sheets, their fixtures are good but do they score enough goals?

    1. arndff_
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      one attacking asset is enough

      so many great players from the other teams, so 3 players from chelsea is too much

      cheers

    2. Ohh1454
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      I think alonso is there best outfield player I've doubled up with courtois

  7. Ohh1454
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    I'm on wc and have a very well balanced team is it worth bringing in aguero >wilson but having to downgrade mahrez Vvd and courtoius

    1. arndff_
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      could you post your whole current team? cuz i dont understand your question

      1. Ohh1454
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        Ya sorry my team is 4-5-1:
        Courtois pereira
        Jones ota Vvd alonso Kelly
        Lingard mahrez arnie salah sterling
        Kane Wilson quaner

  8. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    Every one phasing out (for a hit) their Spurs and Hammers players they brought in (for a hit) last week, but will probably bringing them back in (for a hit) before GW28 😉

    1. TallestJohn
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Why bring them back in? Is GW28 a potential blank for other teams?

      1. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        ... umm ... Arsenal, Chelsea, Man U, Man City

  9. WE ARE RANGERS
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    Andy Carroll?
    Under the radar as a third striker?
    Can easily be transferred out if/when he gets injured as there is a few others around the same bracket.
    Much more chance of a Carroll brace in the next few than Glen Murray and surprised he was not mentioned.

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      He was my top scoring player last week

      In my draft team

  10. jazzy30
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    pls help:between Hazard and Aguero who to bring this gameweek? have only got 1 ft and can only bring one of them in..

    1. TallestJohn
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Prefer Hazard this week, but wait until after the Carabao Cup game.

      Even with rotation risk I'd prefer Aguero in the following weeks though.

  11. FeedTheGoatAndHeWillScore
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    If I have three Man City players already and bring in Alexis now, what happens if he signs for City as I'll then have 4 City players but the rules stipulate three max from any team?

    Cheers

    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      You will get to play with 4 City players until you make your next transfer and you’re forced to remove one.

      1. FeedTheGoatAndHeWillScore
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers

  12. Mainswitch
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    Am tempted to get in Alli. But they have 3 difficult games after the next easier 2. Should i wait for 5 Gw's as they then have an easier run into GW 38.?