Selection

Watchlist Update: Premium defence, midfield movement and uninspiring forwards

Our Watchlist player rankings have now been revised following the first Gameweek of the 2018/19 season.

The Watchlist can be found in your sidebar on desktop, or via your slide-in menu on mobile or tablet. It acts as a collection of our current thoughts on player selection for each position, also citing the factors that affect their ranking on the list.

As a general rule, we try to commit to just one player per position per club. However, in some cases we where we believe double-coverage is advisable, two players will be listed instead. We’ve already got two key examples of that this week.

With just one Gameweek played so far, fixtures are playing a slightly bigger role in our rankings than form, although there are some options whose opening weekend performances show some great promise regardless.

Goalkeepers

In goal, we’ve promoted Manchester City’s Ederson (£5.5m) to the top in light of his more appealing fixtures compared to David De Gea (£6.0m), and his superior form too. The fluctuating defensive situation at Manchester United limits De Gea’s potential and it’s a trip to Brighton and a home match with Spurs in the next two weeks. Chris Hughton’s men have scored in six of their last seven home meetings, including the Amex Stadium’s final match of 2017/18, where the Seagulls were 1-0 winners over Man United. Meanwhile, City have already kept one clean sheet away from home against a new-look Arsenal and now have a run of matches against the six most recently promoted sides to the Premier League.

Wayne Hennessey (£4.5m) joins the goalkeeper section after his role in Crystal Palace’s win over Fulham. Not only does he have potential bargain attached to him, the Welshman’s fixtures are also very promising. After facing Liverpool at home, Palace face Watford (away), then Southampton (home), Huddersfield (away), Newcastle (home) and Bournemouth (away) in Gameweek 7.

Defenders

Benjamin Mendy (£6.0m) experiences a slight rise from second to first place among defenders now that that Man City schedule look so appealing and he has demonstrated how advanced his position is at the club. The only factor that had him below Andrew Robertson (£6.0m) for Gameweek 1 was the difficulty of fixture, City away at Arsenal while Liverpool were at home against West Ham. Both players have form on their sides as they kept clean sheets, registered attacking returns and claimed bonus points on opening weekend.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£4.1m) has shot up the rankings as the ultimate value candidate. Despite his price rise, he is still the cheapest playing route into the impressive Crystal Palace defence, offering offensive returns and bonus points too – as Saturday’s win at Fulham demonstrated.

We’ve also allowed ourselves a second Palace defender in Patrick van Aanholt (£5.5m) considering that the left-back is in a significantly different price point to Wan-Bissaka. Van Aanholt continues to offer an advanced position and assisted Jeffrey Schlupp’s (£4.5m) goal at Craven Cottage.

Luke Shaw’s (£5.0m) goal-scoring display against Leicester City has pushed him up on the Watchlist, as another full-back offering attacking involvement.

Jose Holebas (£4.5m) is a new appearance after assisting twice and keeping a clean sheet on opening weekend. The Watford man has some short-term fixture appeal with a trip to Burnley in Gameweek 2 and a home match against Crystal Palace in Gameweek 3, before Tottenham and Man United visit Vicarage Road.

Midfielders

There were some big changes in the midfielders department. Braces for Sadio Mané (£9.5m) and Richarlison (£6.6m) see them rise into the top three, behind only Mohamed Salah (£13.0m). Both of them have Gameweek 1 form on their side as well as more appealing fixtures. The appeal of both Salah and Mané re-affirms the suggestion that doubling-up on Liverpool’s attack has serious merit.

Bernardo Silva’s (£7.5m) goal-scoring display at the Emirates Stadium pushes him up on the list of midfielders, while Riyad Mahrez (£9.0m) drops after being substituted before the hour-mark. However, in both cases, the return of Raheem Sterling (£11.0m) and Kevin De Bruyne (£10.0m) does mean they have to carry rotation risk as a factor.

Eden Hazard (£10.5m) is another riser following his earlier-than-expected return to competitive action, in which he provided an assist for Pedro’s (£6.5m) second-half goal at Huddersfield Town. In fact, he replaced the man he assisted in Gameweek 1 ahead of Gameweek 2. However, currently he carries just the factor of form with rotation still a risk with him after the World Cup and recent comments made by Maurizio Sarri.

Dropping down as a result of those players is Arsenal midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan (£7.0m). His performance against Man City has given him a form rating of C, and he also carries a rotation risk. However, once a trip to Chelsea is out of the way the fixtures will become a lot kinder for Mkhitaryan and the Arsenal assets.

Double-figure hauls for Roberto Pereyra (£6.0m), Ryan Fraser (£5.5m) and Ruben Neves (£5.1m) pushed them onto the Watchlist, although for now that is based mostly on Gameweek 1 form.

Forwards

As you can probably see the forwards section is looking rather bleak ahead of Gameweek 2. Sergio Aguero (£11.0m) sits at the top based on the upcoming fixtures for Manchester City, but his two-point display against Arsenal means that his current form can be rated no higher than a C. Furthermore, the Argentinian also carries a rotation risk with Gabriel Jesus (£10.5m) and Sterling both capable of playing his position against Huddersfield.

Jamie Vardy (£9.0m) was one of the few forwards to receive a large jump after his late goal at Man United. It was a busy short spell on the pitch for the England international, so with fixtures on his side in the next six weeks he may be turned to by Fantasy managers. It’s a home match against newly-promoted Wolves next, then trips to Southampton and Bournemouth in between Liverpool and Huddersfield’s visits to the King Power Stadium.

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1,223 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Oooof
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Evening cheese fans

    1. Oooof
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      And people who don’t like cheese

    2. FPL Joker
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I think I’d rather give up meat than dairy as going without cheese would be harder.

      1. Oooof
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Yes, it’s so versatile too

        1. Homo Neanderthalensis
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          Blue cheese is also good for your gut bacteria

          1. FPL Joker
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            Is it now? Better than using bloody kefir?

    3. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Alreet Pickle.

      1. Oooof
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Hey oop

    4. Please Help I Don't Kn…
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Ate to much cheese when I was young, now I can only have minimal amounts before I start hating it again 🙁

    5. toerag
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Blessed are the cheesemakers!

      1. Oooof
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        🙂

  2. davidfromkent
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    I am making Mendy my captain this week for 3 main reasons.

    1) I would be bitterly disappointed if Man City didn't keep a clean sheet. Despite the Ederson attempts to gift Arsenal a goal they couldn't score with much better players than the toothless Huddersfield, add to that the possibility of potential bonus points resulting from an assist or even a goal and it would be hard for Aguero to get anywhere near his total points.....

    2) It would not surprise me if Jesus was first choice for this match with Aguero coming on after 65 minutes to give a guaranteed 1 point and anything else he can muster in 25 minutes. I own Aguero but do not have sufficient confidence to captain him which like all these types of decisions i may come to regret.....

    3) I also own Salah and once again know he has the ability to haul, however i believe Hodgson has more tactical nous than Pellegrini showed and will play 2 lines of 4 playing deeper than West Ham denying Salah space which has worked for others in the past. I also believe that by playing Zaha up and down the left wing with PVA behind one way or another Salah will be occupied.

    Mane could capitalise on extra space and maybe the perfect captain choice but i don't own him so Mendy it is. Good luck all, i know there will be many who disagree with me but that's the beauty of 4 3/4 million starting off on the road to FF success.

    1. Jamie_GAWA
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Tactics by other managers hasn't really stopped Salah before.

      Could work out tho, good luck

    2. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Could be mint. gl.

    3. 003
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I was thinking exactly the same today. Also owning Mendy, aguero and salah.

    4. toerag
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      as a mendy/salah/kun owner too..

      all good points. well made..

      but ill still be dithering over it @ 11 am on saturday FPL 😆

      1. davidfromkent
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        One of the reasons i put it out there, note to self, do not change your mind lol.

    5. Jusagoras
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Two points by way of reply: from Arsenal messing up their chances it simply does not follow that Huddersfield will not score if Ederson does it again. Also, Palace sat back against Fulham and their defending was horrendous despite the clean sheet.

      1. davidfromkent
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Fair points 🙂

    6. tabzy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I just worry about how volatile Mendy’s last performance was. It’s like a high risk investment. Massive upside potential but the downside is just as steep. Could end up getting hooked early by Pep or even get carded for his ridiculously energetic style of play. But could pay off handsomely!

      1. davidfromkent
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        I admit that had crossed my mind but I judged his style was more overly enthusiastic than nastiness.

    7. FleckyT
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Same problem owning salah/mane/kun/mendy. It is so annoying having Kun and being worried about captaining him. Think I need to get rid for Aub gw3

      1. davidfromkent
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        I may get rid same time but if I was going Arsenal it would be Lacazette.

  3. Maddi Son
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Sterling vs De Bruyne is hurting my head. If they were the same price, would you say Sterling is the better option?

    1. only2
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      My head too..

    2. FleckyT
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      KDB might have fewer free kicks (mahrez) and may drop deeper to cater for bsilva/sterling through the middle. Keep it in mind

  4. Please Help I Don't Kn…
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Painful to go into GW 2 without Mendy but I'm not gonna take a -4 to get him.

    1. Rotation's Alter Ego
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Similar. Lovely fixtures for them and I'd really like to have him, but I think I can wait a week and reassess

    2. Don Rogers FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Me too. Have the funds but already have three Man City so would mean a hit.

      I'll wait until next week. In years gone by I would have just done it to chase the $s as well as for the points but trying to be more reserved this year.

  5. cpo001
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Pick 3...

    Robertson (cry), Mendy (HUD), Sakho (LIV), AWB (LIV), Boly (lei)

    Robertson and Mendy are a given, currently sitting with Boly but not sure if either of the Palace defenders are likely to give BAP against the potential they'll get thumped by 4 or 5...

    Thanks!

  6. MartinWilsdon
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    I was just playing on the app, planning transfers / future wildcard. When I accidentally hit “confirm transfers” to take a -36 hit and now have a team I don’t want.... After a steady start I’ve just blown up my season!

    1. grantstew
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Play your wildcard then 😉

  7. houghmagandie
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Good evening. I would like to replace Austin as my third forward, but with whom?

    1. chasedreamz
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Raul Jimenez

  8. Lollabear
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    What about maddison. Does anyone have any thoughts on him?:o

    1. chasedreamz
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      He is a stud. I really like his game. This years Pascal Grob