Palace pair Wayne Hennessey and Scott Dann move up our rankings this week ahead of a reasonably favourable upcoming schedule. West Ham duo Adrian and Aaron Cresswell are also on the rise, but with concerns over rotation, Man City’s Aleksandar Kolarov is the big faller among the defenders in our latest update.
GOALKEEPERS
Having registered his third double-digit haul over the last six Gameweeks in Stoke’s goalless draw against West Ham, Jack Butland moves to the top of our goalkeepers ladder. The England international has risen to 5.0 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) on the back of seven clean sheets in his last nine appearances. The Potters upcoming schedule (CPL, MUN, eve, wba, NOR, ARS) remains mixed but, having managed shut outs against the likes of Chelsea and Man City at the Britannia, four home matches in six should bring home further points.
Crystal Palace’s Wayne Hennessey leaps up to second spot after picking up his fourth clean sheet of the campaign in Palace’s 1-0 victory against Southampton. The major appeal of the Wales international is his bargain price tag of 4.0 in FPL, and with the Eagles next five matches (sto, bou, SWA, CHE, avl) pretty favourable, the former Wolves stopper looks a great option between the sticks.
Man United’s David de Gea drops a couple of places on the back of the 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth. The Spaniard still has strong potential over the festive period, though, given United’s favourable schedule (NOR, sto, CHE, SWA). The major worry regarding his prospects is the number of defenders currently out injured at Old Trafford, and should Chris Smalling fail to shake off his groin injury, the 5.7-priced keeper may struggle to keep out Norwich on Saturday.
With West Brom facing four favourable fixtures (BOU, swa, NEW, STO) over the festive period, and with Ben Foster still appearing to be a few weeks away from a return to first-team action, Boaz Myhill stays towards the top of our rankings. The former Hull City goalkeeper still has an ownership of 11% in FPL on the back of his early season form, and while the 4.8-valued stopper hasn’t kept a clean sheet since the 1-0 win over Norwich in Gameweek 10, the obliging fixture list should see him return to form.
Sunderland’s Costel Pantilimon is another non-mover. The Black Cats’ schedule over the next six Gameweeks (che, mci, LIV, AVL, swa, tot) is mixed, but with Sam Allardyce placing emphasis on keeping things tight at the back, the 4.8-rated Romania international could surprise one or two over the next few weeks, and should certainly continue to rack of the save points, having managed six over his last four appearances.
West Ham are another side seemingly keen to prioritise keeping clean sheets at the moment, although their hand has largely been forced due to the number of injuries suffered by key attacking players. Adrian climbs up our ladder following back-to-back shut-outs, and with a favourable run of fixtures (swa, avl, SOT, LIV, bou, new) over the next few weeks, the 5.0-priced Spaniard should provide a reliable source of Fantasy points.
While confidence in the Chelsea backline was further dented after their 2-1 defeat at Leicester on Monday night, their schedule over the next six Gameweeks (SUN, WAT, mun, cpl, WBA, EVE), which is rated as the most favourable according to our Season Ticker, means Thibaut Courtois moves up a couple of positions this week. The Belgian international also offers the cheapest route into the Blues’ backline at 5.2 in FPL, and certainly looks a secure starter between the sticks.
Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris remains towards the bottom of our ladder after failing to deliver the goods against Newcastle last time out. Mauricio Pochettino’s side have now only managed one shut-out over the last seven Gameweeks, and with a mixed run of fixtures (sot, NOR, wat, eve, LEI, SUN) over the next month or so, there are better options out there for Fantasy managers than the 5.1-valued Frenchman.
Swansea’s Lukasz Fabianski (4.8) is back in our thoughts. The Poland international is included largely by the fact the Welsh side have four favourable home fixtures in the next six (WHM, WBA, cpl, mun, SUN, WAT), so while investment is unlikely as the Swans have only kept two clean sheets all season and are still searching for a new manager, the Pole looks one to keep an eye on.
The final spot on our goalkeepers ladder is filled by Arsenal’s Petr Cech. The former Chelsea stopper is a non-mover with the Gunners facing two difficult fixtures in the short-term (MCI, sot), although the schedule thereafter (BOU, NEW, liv, sto) is very favourable. Coming in at 5.7 in FPL, the Czech Republic international, who chalked up his seventh clean sheet of the season in the 2-0 victory over Aston Villa, remains a safe option in goal, though.
DEFENDERS
On the back of his second goal of the season in West Brom’s 2-2 draw against Liverpool, and with a favourable schedule over the festive period, Craig Dawson climbs all the way to top spot in our defender rankings. The former Rochdale man has a reasonable goal threat from set-plays and, having started every match this season, isn’t likely to be rotated over the next few weeks. Available at 5.1 in FPL, he should be right at the top of Fantasy bosses’ shopping lists should they be on the look out for a fresh face at the back.
After a more encouraging attacking display in the 2-0 win against Aston Villa, Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin moves up to second place. The 5.9-priced Spaniard was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet in the latter stages when he was denied by Brad Guzan, but the fact he got himself in the box was hugely encouraging for his attacking prospects. Defensive returns also look a strong possibility in the home clashes against Bournemouth and Newcastle, so his 19% owners will certainly be happy to keep faith in the Gunners right-back.
As already touched upon, the fact Tottenham conceded twice at home to Newcastle has dented confidence in their rearguard, meaning Toby Alderweireld falls a couple of places in our latest update. The Belgian has also risen to 5.8 in FPL, having been available at 5.3 just three weeks ago, so the value certainly looks to have gone with Spurs’ fixtures (sot, NOR, wat, eve, LEI, SUN) mixed over the next six Gameweeks.
Incredibly, Crystal Palace’s Scott Dann is the most transferred in player so far this week in FPL with over 64,000 new owners. It’s no surprise he’s moving up our rankings, then, with rotation not expected to be an issue for the centre-back for a favourable run of matches over the festive period. The 5.4-valued defender has found the back of the net three times already this term, although he did score against Everton with his only goal attempt over the last four Gameweeks.
Chelsea’s Kurt Zouma holds station in fifth position with the champions facing four home matches (SUN, WAT, WBA, EVE) in the next six. The France international also looks the first-choice centre-back at Stamford Bridge these days, and looks great value at 5.4 in FPL if Jose Mourinho’s men can tighten things up at the back. He is also a threat from set-pieces, having registered four shots from inside the box over the last four Gameweeks.
With Liverpool only facing two reasonably favourable fixtures over the next month or so (wat, LEI, sun, whm, ARS, MUN), Alberto Moreno is a big faller this time around. The attacking potential still looks strong for the left-back, having created 11 chances in his last four outings, six more than any other defender over the same period. His price tag of 5.0 still looks very generous, then, but defensive points could by hard to come by given the difficult fixtures.
As is the case with his West Ham team-mate Adrian, Aaron Cresswell leaps up our ladder on the back of two shut-outs and with a pretty favourable run of fixtures around the corner. Given his 5.5 price tag in FPL, though, the left-back probably needs to produce more attacking returns to attract significant investment.
After bagging another two bonus points in Stoke’s goalless draw at West Ham, Philipp Wollscheid continues his ascent up our ladder. The Austrian offers outstanding value at just 4.4 in FPL, given the current form of the Potters backline, and looks worthy of serious consideration as a double-up option alongside Butland.
Following impressive victories against Liverpool and Tottenham, confidence in all of Newcastle’s Fantasy assets is certainly on the rise. That’s definitely the case with Daryl Janmaat, who climbs to around halfway in our rankings. The right-back has registered a reasonable 13 crosses in his last four appearances, and has decent attacking potential given he only sets us back 4.9 in FPL. The Magpies fixture list over the festive period (AVL, EVE, wba, ars, MUN, WHM) is mixed though.
Chris Smalling continues to slide down our ladder with his fitness for Saturday’s plum home fixture against Norwich still in doubt. As already mentioned, United’s schedule is very favourable over the next few weeks, but setting us back a hefty 6.9 in FPL, some of his 28% ownership may look for alternative options should he be ruled out for the Canaries clash.
Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk stays towards the bottom of our rankings, with the plum home fixtures against Watford and West Brom in the New Year helping his prospects. In the short-term, the outlook for the 5.6-rated centre-back looks fairly gloomy though, with Tottenham and Arsenal visiting St Mary’s over the next two Gameweeks.
Having been rotated in the plum home fixture against Swansea, and with further rotation likely over the festive period, Man City’s Aleksandar Kolarov drops all the way towards the bottom of our ladder. The Citizens also have to travel to Arsenal, Leicester and Watford in the next four, so should the 6.5-priced left-back not start in the plum home fixture against Sunderland in Gameweek 18, he doesn’t appear likely to provide great value.
With Sam Allardyce still using Patrick van Aanholt as a wing-back, the Dutchman is a non-mover in our latest refresh. The left-sided defender is cheap at 4.6 in FPL, and has registered more goal attempts (seven) than any other defender over the last four Gameweeks. Defensive returns could be in short supply over the next month or so, though, given the tough upcoming schedule (che, mci, LIV, AVL, swa, tot).
Leicester’s Danny Simpson moves up a spot with the Foxes having only conceded two goals in their last four matches. The right-back is also kind on the budget at 4.0 in FPL, although the table toppers face further difficult fixtures (eve, liv, MCI, BOU, tot, avl), particularly in the short-term.
After again failing to keep a clean sheet in what looked a good fixture away to Norwich, Everton’s Seamus Coleman drops to the foot of our ladder. The Toffees face free-scoring Leicester on Saturday, with only the matches against Newcastle and Stoke looking favourable in the next six for the 5.9-valued right-back.
