Having assessed the options in Defence for Double Gameweek 37, our attentions now turn to the key targets in attack.
With five of the top six teams set to play twice, there is no shortage of options available to Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers ahead of tomorrow’s 7 pm deadline.
However, the current state of the transfer market reflects the favourable schedules on offer for Spurs and Man City, with both sides supplying two of the top five most bought attackers for the penultimate round of matches.
Back-to-back home meetings with Huddersfield and Brighton for the champions means it’s a case of just how many City picks we can squeeze in.
Subject to more transfers in than any other player, Gabriel Jesus (10.4) has scored in each of his last four starts and is one of the strongest contenders for those with the Triple Captain chip active.
However, Raheem Sterling (9.1) has been more prolific, serving up three successive double-digit hauls. Three goals and seven assists in his last six appearances since returning from injury means that he is the top target in midfield for Gameweek 37.
Those two are the clear in-form options, with Kevin De Bruyne (10.3, a goal and assist in eight) and Leroy Sane (8.6, two goals and an assist in six) less convincing of late. Meanwhile, concerns over David Silva’s (8.3) pitch time were confirmed when he was omitted from the squad at West Ham.
Harry Kane (13.0) and Christian Eriksen (9.6) have been the most popular transfers in among the Spurs contingent for a trip to West Brom and home encounter with Newcastle.
A long-term target for the Triple Captain chip, Kane has scored in back-to-back matches with Brighton and Watford and has three goals over the last six matches.
However, over their respective last six, both Eriksen (four goals, two assists) and Dele Alli (9.0, four goals, three assists) have outperformed their pricier team-mate.
Son Heung-min’s (8.3) appeal is in decline, though.
The South Korean has just two assists in five and, as witnessed as recently as Gameweek 34 against Man City, remains the most prone to rotation among Spurs’ big-hitting attackers.
The second most bought midfielder behind Sterling, Paul Pogba’s (7.9) recent improvement has coincided with a switch to 4-3-3 over the last four matches. Three goals and an assist in that period make him Man United’s form player for trips to face Brighton and West Ham’s obliging defences.
Alexis Sanchez has already flourished of late, with a goal and four assists in his last four matches. However, a hefty price of 11.5 has seen him mainly overlooked, with Pogba regarded as the United go-to option.
Ruled out of tomorrow’s trip to Brighton, Romelu Lukaku (11.5) looks unlikely to play a part in the Red Devils’ pair of fixtures. With Jose Mourinho hopeful that the striker will be in contention for the FA Cup final later this month, either Marcus Rashford or Anthony Martial could occupy the lone striker role.
Arguably, with two goals in his last six, Lukaku has struggled for form anyway, while the same can be said for Jesse Lingard, (6.0) who has two assists in five, despite starting four of those fixtures.
Along with Man City, Chelsea and (LIV HUD) and Leicester (WHU ARS) are the only other sides to play both their fixtures at home.
Antonio Conte’s decision to bench both Eden Hazard (10.5) and Willian (7.1) in the Blues second match of Double Gameweek 34 reminds us of the risk attached to their attack at this point, with an FA Cup final to come.
Nonetheless, a goal and two assists in his last three starts across all competitions hint at a return to form for Hazard, though Willian now looks a no-go option as a pick after earning just nine minutes as a sub at Swansea last weekend. Meanwhile, the uncertainty over the lone forward role makes Olivier Giroud (8.3) no more than a punt.
Back-to-back blanks against Southampton and Crystal Palace have seen many part company with Foxes’ pair Jamie Vardy (8.9) and Riyad Mahrez (8.8).
Vardy had scored in four successive fixtures prior to the recent drought, though the Algerian has now failed to produce points in each of his last five. With so many in-form alternatives, the pair have been sold on by 32,000+ and 28,000+ respectively.
Arsenal’s result in Madrid this evening will ultimately dictate how we view their prospects ahead of a home clash with Burnley and trip to Leicester.
Should they exit the competition, we expect Arsene Wenger to roll out a strong line-up from this point onwards in his final three league matches in charge.
Certainly, there are form options to consider in midfield and up front. Aaron Ramsey – at a cost of just 6.8 – has four goals and an assist in his previous four Gameweek appearances, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan (7.7) found the net at United in his return to action last Sunday.
Alexandre Lacazette (10.2, four goals in four) and Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang (10.7, five goals and three assists in seven) offer alternatives up front for those with cash to splash.
Further down the table, the relegation battle could provide a number of viable options.
West Ham’s Marko Arnautovic (7.0) is among the most appealing targets ahead of a trip to Leicester and home encounter with Man United.
Since being moved up front by David Moyes in Gameweek 16, the Austrian is ranked second in midfield for both shots on target (25) and goals (ten).
Swansea’s Jordan Ayew (5.3) and Newcastle’s Ayoze Perez (5.4) are the leading budget candidates for transfers in, acquired by 70,000+ and 29,000 respectively.
Up against Bournemouth and Southampton’s suspect defences, the Ghanaian has scored five of his side’s 15 league goals since Carlos Carvalhal was appointed back in Gameweek 21.
Perez has a mixed Double Gameweek on his agenda, with a favourable trip to Watford followed by a testing visit to Spurs’ resilient defence.
Nonetheless, the Magpies’ striker has three goals and a pair of assists in five, including double-figure hauls against Leicester and Arsenal.
Interest in Dusan Tadic (6.2) is on the rise after a two-goal haul in last week’s win over Bournemouth – the fourth most bought midfielder in the Gameweek, he’s netted three of Southampton’s five goals under new manager Mark Hughes.
Meanwhile, Charlie Austin (5.8) should not be overlooked ahead of trips to Everton and Swansea – an average of 114.3 minutes per goal is bettered only by Sergio Aguero and Kane up front.
The schedule all but rules out investment in Brighton (MUN mci) and Huddersfield’s (mci che) attacks, with the Seagulls’ Pascal Gross (5.9) the likeliest source of points from either side – he’s been he involved in 44% of his side’s goals when on the pitch.
The Top Targets
Harry Kane – now just four goals behind Mohamed Salah in the race for the Golden Boot, Kane’s owners will be hoping for a repeat of last season’s five-goal and 31 point haul in Double Gameweek 37. He remains Spurs’ most explosive option in FPL, with eight sets of double-digits to his name. However, he has just one such return in his last 13 starts.
Raheem Sterling – with 18 goals and 17 assists to his name, an average of 7.2 points per match is second only to Liverpool’s Salah (8.6) this season. Since returning from injury in Gameweek 30, Sterling has more big chances (eight) than any player and sits among the top three for shots (22) and efforts in the box (17).
Gabriel Jesus – a recent run of three straight starts has harvested three goals, two assists and four bonus points. From Gameweek 34 onwards, Jesus is the number one player for big chances (six) and efforts on target (seven).
Christian Eriksen – with a goal or assist in six of the last eight Gameweeks, the Dane has improved his consistency as the season comes to a close. Over that period, Eriksen has produced more shots (25) and key passes (18) than any team-mate.
Marko Arnautovic – ten goals and five assists in 17 matches as a forward underlines the Austrian’s potential. Since David Moyes was appointed manager, Arnautovic has averaged 6.5 ppm yet is still owned by just 6% of FPL managers.
Jordan Ayew – the standout budget candidate up front for those playing their Bench Boost chips, Ayew faces a pair of defences that have struggled for resilience. Under Carvalhal, he has produced more shots (20), efforts in the box (14) and attempts on target (ten) than any team-mate.
The Differentials
Eden Hazard – over the last four round of fixtures, only Salah (17) and Sterling (16) have fired more shots on goal than Hazard’s 12. According to our expected goal involvement members’ data, the Chelsea wide man is ranked third behind Sterling and Jesus among Double Gameweek 37 players in that spell.
Paul Pogba – the Frenchman has returned a respectable 5.5 points per match (ppm) over his 24 appearances for United. Since the switch to 4-3-3, he has fired more shots (12), efforts in the box and attempts on target (both five) than any team-mate.
Alexis Sanchez – owned by just 3.3%, last season’s top scoring player in FPL has matched team-mate Pogba for double-digit hauls since the switch to 4-3-3, supplying two apiece. Should Lukaku be ruled out, Sanchez even offers Mourinho an alternative up front for the two road trips.
Dele Alli – two of Alli’s three double-figure hauls have arrived in his last five league appearances as he finishes the campaign with a flourish. He is the only Spurs attacker to return points against both their upcoming opponents earlier in the season.
Son Heung-min – when on the pitch, a 34% goal involvement places Son between team-mates Alli (36%) and Eriksen (32%). He remains the most explosive option in the Spurs midfield thanks to six double-figure hauls.
Kevin De Bruyne – the Belgian’s output at the Etihad makes him an option for those looking to treble up on the City attack. At home, De Bruyne is ranked second only to Salah for shots on target (25 to 40) among midfielders, while he claims the top spot for key passes (62) and assists (12). No team-mate has bettered the playmaker’s six double-digit hauls in front of his own supporters.
Aaron Ramsey – sitting in just 4% of squads, the Welshman’s average of 5.8ppm is more than any Gunners’ team-mate. Lose in Spain this evening, and Ramsey’s prospects of a run of starts will surely be on the up as Wenger looks to end his tenure on a high.
Dusan Tadic – the Serbian has upped his attacking potential as Southampton look to scramble clear of the drop zone. Since Mark Hughes took charge, no team-mate has bettered Tadic for shots (nine), efforts in the box (seven), attempts on target (five) or key passes (12).
