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The Watchlist Updated – Gameweek 9 – The Midfielders

After assessing the risers and fallers among the Defence on Saturday, our attention this afternoon turns to the midfield. There is no shortage of in-form options to choose from, with Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez moving to the top of our ladder this week, though Kevin de Bruyne and Sadio Mane are hot on his heels following their double-digit scores in Gameweek 8.

Having cast aside his scoring drought, Alexis Sanchez highlighted his explosive potential over the last two Gameweeks, scoring five goals and bagging 36 goals in Fantasy Premier League (FPL). The former Barcelona attacker, available at 11.2 in FPL, lies second among midfielders for shots in the box over the last four Gameweeks with 16, but does face a fairly tricky run of fixtures (wat, EVE, swa, TOT, wba, nor) over the coming period.

One player who is close to matching Sanchez’ output is Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne. The 10.3-priced Belgian has scored three goals and provided two assists in his last three outings, and faces four home fixtures (BOU, NOR, LIV, SOT) over the next six Gameweeks, along with trips to Man United and Aston Villa. De Bruyne has only registered four shots from inside the box over the last four Gameweeks, however, although he has also created a more impressive 13 chances over the same period. With doubts surrounding Yaya Toure and David Silva in the City midfield, the Belgian looks vital to his side’s prospects of remaining at the summit.

While Southampton’s Sadio Mane comes in a lot cheaper than Sanchez and De Bruyne, at just 7.9 in FPL, the Senegal international is certainly capable of delivering double-figure scores, as he has done twice over the last five Gameweeks. The Saints attacker has found the back of the net in his last two appearances, and has four favourable match-ups (LEI, liv, BOU, sun, STO, mci) over the next month or so in which to continue his fantastic form.

West Ham’s Dimitri Payet remains towards the top of our ladder after registering attacking returns for the fourth match running, scoring in the Hammers 2-2 draw at Sunderland in Gameweek 8. The France international’s price has risen to 8.1 in FPL on the back of his outstanding form, but the former Marseille man does have a slightly more testing schedule (cpl, CHE, wat, EVE, tot, WBA) over the coming period.

After being surprisingly dropped to the bench against Norwich, Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez slips a few places in our rankings. Although the forthcoming fixtures (sot, CPL, wba, WAT, new, MUN) are fairly favourable for Claudio Ranieri’s side, the uncertainty over Mahrez’ pitch time hurts his prospects at this point.

Goals from the penalty spot in his last two matches mean Crystal Palace’s Yohan Cabaye finds a place on our ladder in our latest update. The 6.5-valued midfielder also bagged an assist in the 2-0 win against West Brom, and netted for France over the recent break, underlining his buoyant form ahead of a favourable upcoming schedule for the Eagles (WHM, lei, MUN, liv, SUN, NEW).

Although he has a goal and two assists from his last three appearances, Chelsea’s Eden Hazard is clearly struggling to live up to his 11.3 price tag in FPL. The Belgian is third among midfielders for chances created over the last four Gameweeks, with 15, and does have a good run of fixtures (AVL, whm, LIV, sto, NOR, tot) on the horizon. Hazard looks well behind the likes of Sanchez and De Bruyne in terms of the premium midfield options available to Fantasy managers, and may struggle to attract further investment until Jose Mourinho’s side shows signs of improvement.

With some difficult fixtures (eve, MCI, cpl) in the short-term, Man United’s Juan Mata stays around halfway up our ladder. The underlying statistics are also not hugely encouraging for the Spaniard, having only managed 10 penalty box touches in his last four appearances, and only registered two shots from inside the box, But the 8.9-rated midfielder does face some kinder match-ups from Gameweek 12 onwards (WBA, wat, lei).

While Swansea’s Andre Ayew returned to form with a goal in the 2-2 draw against Tottenham, and faces a favourable run of fixtures (STO, avl, ARS, nor, BOU) over the next few weeks, the drop off in some of his attacking statistics are a cause for concern. The Ghanaian attempted 10 shots from inside the box during the first four Gameweeks of the season, but only managed three in his last four outings. Priced at 7.2 in FPL, though, the former Marseille attacker still looks good value.

His assists against Palace and City may have gone under the radar, but Christian Eriksen definitely stated his claim for consideration in our five-man midfields with two magnificent free-kicks against Swansea. The Denmark international, available at 8.3 in FPL, only has an ownership of 3%, and with four home matches in the next six (LIV, bou, AVL, ars, WHM, CHE), could warrant some consideration as a differential for those looking to make up lost ground.

Having started Arsenal’s last five matches as the lone forward, the stock of Theo Walcott continues to rise. As already mentioned, the Gunners forthcoming fixtures aren’t the easiest, but given the England international leads all midfielders for shots in the box, with 17, and is so favourably priced at just 8.6 in FPL, there’s little doubt he holds more upside than virtually any other midfielder at this point. Investing in Walcott does carry a risk, though, given Olivier Giroud is also likely to earn starts in attack for the north London outfit.

Although Everton’s Ross Barkley has blanked in his last three matches, with the Toffees schedule turning favourably from Gameweek 11 onwards (SUN, whm, AVL, bou), we’re keeping faith in the England international. The 6.9-priced midfielder has created 13 chances over the last four Gameweeks, more than the likes of Mata (seven) and Walcott (five), and should be able to deliver on those numbers with those kind fixtures on the horizon. In the short-term, the match-ups against Man United and Arsenal could yield further blanks, however.

With a goal and an assist in tough fixtures against Chelsea and City, Newcastle’s Georginio Wijnaldum sneaks into our rankings this week. The Magpies face a very favourable run of fixtures (NOR, sun, STO, bou, LEI, cpl) over the next six Gameweeks, so the 6.8-valued Dutchman certainly looks one to monitor at the very least. He has only managed one shot from inside the box over the last four Gameweeks, however.

Although Jeremain Lens will miss Sam Allardyce’s first match in charge for Sunderland at West Brom, the rest of the Black Cats’ fixtures over the next six weeks (NEW, eve, SOT, cpl, STO) mean the Dutch international clings onto a place on our ladder. The 6.5-rated wide man has scored twice and provided three assists so far this season, and should Big Sam be able to turn things around at the Stadium of Light, it’s likely that Lens will be central to any improvement.

While there is currently a feel-good factor sweeping around Anfield following the appointment of Jurgen Klopp, the difficulty of his first six matches in charge (tot, SOT, che, CPL, mci, SWA) means Philippe Coutinho only fills the final spot in our rankings. The Brazilian has encouragingly managed 20 goal attempts in his last three appearances though, and should be central to the German’s plans, but with so many other in-form options for FPL bosses to ponder over in midfield, the 8.1-priced Coutinho may well struggle to attract investment until the schedule turns more favourably for the Reds.

1,397 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 22 days ago

    Which of these d'ya think scores highest?

    A) Pedro (AVL) + Mane (liv) + 4

    B) Hazard (AVL, whu)

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 22 days ago

      A

    2. Meinhoff
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 22 days ago

      A

    3. Hibbo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 22 days ago

      How's it Pedro and then Mané?

      1. Jinswick
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 22 days ago

        A) means no hit this week and then Pedro -> Wally next week

        B) means Pedro -> Haz this week and then Mane -> Wally next week

    4. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 22 days ago

      A).

    5. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 22 days ago

      All depends , if Pedro gets much gametime ?
      If not then B

  2. 420king
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 22 days ago

    Zengin goal

  3. The Man Pastore
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 22 days ago

    Bottomed...

    Hennessey l Butland
    Kolarov l Dawson l Moreno l Souare l Bertrand
    Sanchez l Marhez l Tadic l Payet l Anya
    Sturridge l Aguero l Vardy

    1FT / 0.7ITB

    Aguero to:

    A) Costa

    B) Pella

    C) Lukaku

    1. Earn your Spurs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 22 days ago

      Pelle - just did it myself

  4. Earn your Spurs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 22 days ago

    Captain for this weekend - Pelle or KDB?

    thanks 🙂

    1. The Sarjeant
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 22 days ago

      I have both. Think I'll go for Pelle.

    2. Zizoulicious
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 22 days ago

      Pelle

  5. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 22 days ago

    Does anyone have 2.2m i can borrow for my wc team?

    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 22 days ago

      I will on Saturday ... 🙂

      1. JK - Cønt ⭐
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 22 days ago

        I do not who to sacrfice

        Pelle I can easily give up as I will have Mane but I will also have to give up 2 or possibly all of

        Coleman, KDB, Walcott

  6. 50 Shades Oshea
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 22 days ago

    Who to bring for aguero until Gw 11, when I will play WC.

    A) Costa- got pedro still

    B) pelle

    C) Sturridge

    Thanks

  7. ZTF
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 22 days ago

    If you were on a -12 because of bloody injuries and Kolarov was injured, would you take 1 more hit for Bellerin bearing in mind I can't field 11 as my bench is horrific unless I do it?

    1. Zizoulicious
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 22 days ago

      Yes if you can't field 11

  8. ZTF
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 22 days ago

    Kun to

    A) Lukaku

    B) Costa

    C) Sturridge

    D) Bony

    Already got Pelle. Thanks

    1. Zion
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 22 days ago

      Went for Lukaku myself

  9. Zion
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 22 days ago

    Who should I upgrade? got 1.2M£ laying around in my WC team

    Butland
    Dawson, Kolarov, Alderweireld
    Cabaye, Sanchez, Mahrez, Payer, De Bruyne
    Pelle, Lukaku

    Subs: Gomes, Vardy, Francis, Bellerin

  10. Mane in the Bank
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 22 days ago

    With the wealth of cheap yet effective forwards leaving lots of cash for the midfield, which 3 would you add to Sanchez & De bruyne...

    Mahrez, Payet, Mata, Ayew, Mane, Tadic, Cabaye, Barkley, Eriksen, Hazard, Walcott or Wijnaldum?

  11. Speaking Words of Wisdom, R…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 21 days ago

    "Alexis Sanchez highlighted his explosive potential over the last two Gameweeks... bagging 36 goals in Fantasy Premier League"... wow, Sanchez really is on fire right now!

  12. Sir Furgo
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 21 days ago

    Any upgrades I should do for the upcoming gw?

    Begovic (Butland)
    Kolarov, Azpi, Clyne (Martin ,Coates)
    Barkley, Ayew, Sanchez, Cabaye (Moses)
    Aguero, Vardy, Martial

    I'm worried for Aguero's injury!
    0 ITB

  13. Costa in Wengerland
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 21 days ago

    On a Wild card , who do u think is the Best 5th Midfielder
    A.Cabaye
    B.Payet
    C.Mahrez
    D.Barkley

    1. Boris Bodega
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 21 days ago

      They are all pricey options, probably B out of those.

      1. FortunesAlwaysHiding
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 12 months ago

        Payet or Mahrez

  14. soccernotfootball
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 21 days ago

    I have payet, KDB and sanchez in my team, who should i make captain and why?

  15. RyanHemmings
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 12 months ago

    Who would your drop to the bench? Wijnaldum or Barkley?

    Or keep them both and drop Lukaku, Pelle or Vardy?

    1. FortunesAlwaysHiding
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 12 months ago

      Drop Barkley