Following on from yesterday’s confirmation of Double Gameweek 34 for eight teams, we have now re-assessed our Watchlist rankings.
For those unfamiliar, the Watchlist offers mid-term player recommendations for the next four-to-six Gameweeks and beyond. They can be found in your sidebar on desktop, or via your slide-in menu on mobile or tablet.
These highlight our current thinking on player selection for each position, listing the factors that are contributing to the given rank.
Our analysis gets underway with a look at the main contenders in our latest goalkeeper standings.
The top scoring keeper in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), David De Gea offers a fire and forget option between the posts for Wildcarders looking to take advantage of the run-in.
Despite a run of one clean sheet and three save points in his last six, the Man United stopper remains a key figure when assessing Jose Mourinho’s defence. Man United host Swansea City this weekend, while a Double Gameweek 34 consists of a home match with West Brom and visit to Bournemouth.
Although a trip to neighbours Man City in Gameweek 33 and blank Gameweek 35 dents his allure somewhat, the Red Devils are also expected to play twice in Gameweek 37.
If the fixtures drop in as expected, this would leave De Gea with home matches against Arsenal and Watford on either side of a pair of Gameweek 37 trips to Brighton and West Ham.
Owned by over 43%, he is the third most popular player in the FPL game and has averaged 4.8 points per match – just behind team-mate Antonio Valencia (4.9), who is more taxing on the budget by 6.9 to 5.9.
Along with Man United, we anticipate that Brighton, Leicester, Chelsea, Spurs and Southampton will all play twice in Gameweek 34 and 37.
With that in mind, Brighton’s Matt Ryan climbs to second in our assessment.
Coming in at just 4.5, he is 33 points clear of any defensive team-mate and is set for three home matches (LEI HUD TOT) and a trip to Crystal Palace in the next three Gameweeks alone.
Given that the Seagulls’ expected Double Gameweeks will consist of encounters with Crystal Palace and Spurs and ties with both Manchester clubs expected in Gameweek 37, save points may well be the main output from the Australian.
Nonetheless, Chris Hughton’s side have the motivation to grind out an unlikely shut-out, while even without those points, Ryan provides suitable back-up to De Gea in a Bench Boost squad.
Kasper Schmeichel’s average of 3.5 ppm is more than any Leicester City defender ahead of a kind run of matches.
In terms of single Gameweeks, Claude Puel’s side still have to face the likes of Brighton, Newcastle (32-33) and Crystal Palace (36), while Double Gameweek 34 (bur SOU) and the expected pair of Gameweek 37 matches (WHU ARS) would afford them three home fixtures.
However, at a cost of 5.0, the Dane’s appeal is somewhat dented by cheaper options in the Foxes’ defence. Ben Chilwell (4.3) has been named on the teamsheet in seven of the last eight Gameweeks, while captain Wes Morgan (4.4) has started each of the last three since recovering from injury.
Southampton’s Alex McCarthy is currently the cheapest starting keeper with an expected pair of Double Gameweeks still to follow.
Having started the Saints’ final ten league matches under Mauricio Pellegrino, McCarthy (4.4) retained his role for Mark Hughes’ first match in charge, the 2-0 FA Cup win over Wigan Athletic last weekend.
Nonetheless, with one clean sheet and a single save point in his last nine, there could yet be competition from the Saints’ previous number one, Fraser Forster (4.6).
The immediate fixtures are somewhat mixed for the St Mary’s side, though, with a trip to Arsenal preceding a testing Double Gameweek 34 (CHE lei). Once their blank Gameweek 35 has passed, though, Southampton entertain Bournemouth before an expected Double Gameweek 37 (eve swa).
With two goals and a significant threat in the opposition box, however, Jack Stephens – at just 4.5 – could be the optimum route into their defence.
Thibaut Courtois and Hugo Lloris are the premium alternatives to De Gea between the posts, with Doubles in Gameweek 34 and 37 anticipated.
Both go head-to-head at Stamford Bridge in Gameweek 32 and also have a blank Gameweek 35 to factor in.
Around that, Courtois (WHU sot & bur swa LIV new) has some strong matches, with a visit from Huddersfield expected to complement the home clash with Liverpool in Double Gameweek 37.
Yet Marcos Alonso’s potential for points at both ends of the pitch means he remains our preferred Chelsea option at the back for the run-in.
Meanwhile, Lloris still has the likes of Stoke, Brighton, Watford, West Brom, Newcastle and Leicester to face, though a visit from Man City as part of his Double Gameweek 34 lessens the appeal.
Swansea City custodian Lukasz Fabianski and Newcastle’s winter arrival Martin Dubravka remain lower down in the rankings, though will be among the main climbers once Double Gameweek 34 has passed.
Along with Man City, Arsenal and West Ham, the Swans and Magpies are two of just five teams who will play in both Gameweek 35 and the expected Double Gameweek 37.
Swansea play West Brom and Everton prior to Gameweek 35, while their final two Gameweeks should consist of a trip to Bournemouth and home matches against Southampton and Stoke.
However, they also have trips to both Manchester clubs and a visit from Chelsea to offset that somewhat.
Costing just 4.7, Fabianski’s penchant for save points has earned him an average of 4.1 ppm, though Mike van der Hoorn, at 4.4, offers a cheaper route into their five-man backline.
Dubravka has kept two clean sheets in four (including at home to Man United) since cementing a role in the XI.
Yet five of the Magpies’ remaining eight matches are against top-nine teams, leaving them with home clashes against Huddersfield and West Brom, along with a trip to Watford, as the likeliest source of defensive returns.
That Hornets match is part of an expected Double Gameweek 37 which would also include a trip to Spurs, which hardly helps Dubravka’s case for those considering a Bench Boost in the penultimate round of fixtures.
