It has been a perilous and surprising season for many Fantasy managers, with Leicester taking the Premier League title, while usually reliable sources of points a such as Chelsea and Manchester City faltered too often. Next season surely can’t be as unpredictable, can it? With the season’s final Double Gameweek looming I thought I’d take a look at the key teams to consider. This will pay close attention to whether they still have something to play for, such as avoiding relegation, or are playing only for pride or to keep fit.
Playing for Premier League Survival
Norwich [MUN, WAT]
They say a wounded animal is likely to fight hard to survive, but I don’t know if that applies to Canaries.
They are a tricky team to target players for, though. Both opponents in Gameweek 37 have more than enough ability to breach their defence. This makes their defenders a risk.
Then in midfield and attack the Canaries have failed to settle on a starting XI all season. Rotation is set to strike but Robbie Brady looks among the safest options. He has racked up significant minutes over the last five matches and is also on corners, free kicks and penalties when Wes Hoolahan is off the pitch, which is often. Nathan Redmond looks a good attacking prospect, but rotation has clipped his wings too often. Just twice over the last six matches has he been on the pitch for more than 45 minutes. The rest are best avoided. Boss Alex Neil alternates between Dieumerci Mbokani and Cameron Jerome for the central stiker berth. Hoolahan has been in and out of the team as a number 10, and Steven Naismith also offers the option of playing out wide or centrally in attack.
Sunderland [CHE, EVE]
Like Norwich, survival is possible but a tough task with the remaining fixtures. The midfield looks ripe for rotation and has also failed to offer Fantasy managers worthwhile returns in recent weeks. Young winger Duncan Watmore represents an intriguing punt, but the smart money should be placed on striker Jermain Defoe and the defence, with Patrick van Aanholt, Jan Kirchhoff and Vito Mannone the best bets.
Dreaming of Europe
Man United [nor/ whm]
With an FA Cup final ahead and a top six finish likely, it would seem that Manchester United have one foot in Europe next season. But as we have seen this year, upsets can happen and Louis Van Gaal will want to make sure United do not become complacent in their final three games.
Fantasy managers’ key problem with Man United surrounds their strikers. Marcus Rashford is first choice currently. He’s cheap as chips, but young and patchy as a Fantasy prospect. Anthony Martial is used on the wing, a move that has curtailed his returns, and priciest of them all, Wayne Rooney, is now deployed in midfield, where his Fantasy returns have shrunk further. In terms of starts, Martial stands out as the most consistent and safest pick. He also scored in Gameweek 36 so has some degree of form.
United’s defence is perhaps the best place to invest and then only with either goalkeeper David De Gea or centre-back Chris Smalling. They are the only two who can be relied on to start, with the likes of Marcos Rojo, Matteo Darmian and Antonio Valencia sharing minutes.
West Ham [SWA/ MUN]
With Liverpool and Southampton not quite out of sight, the Hammers’ push for European football next season continues. First up is a home game against Swansea, who have been quite poor on the road. This is a big opportunity to make up points and tripling up on West Ham could pay dividends.
In defence, there are plenty of options in Adrian, Aaron Cresswell, Angello Ogbonna and Winston Reid. I do see a clean sheet over the two games for West Ham and plenty of goalscoring chances too. A plethora of attacking options include Michail Antonio, Mark Noble, Manuel Lanzini, Dimitri Payet and Andy Carroll. There are plenty of combinations here for various prices, which are all capable of delivering nice hauls next week.
Distracted by Europe
Liverpool [WAT/ CHE]
Where to begin with Liverpool? If you can find the players that start, you’re halfway there. It’s clear at this stage that Jurgen Klopp has the Europa League as his priority, but should Liverpool lose their semi-final second leg to Villarreal on Thursday everything could change. After a 3-1 mauling away to Swansea you would expect Klopp to field a stronger team against Watford, regardless of the outcome midweek. But until we see the lineup for Europe, we won’t be able to say any more.
A ban for Mamadou Sakho increases Dejan Lovren’s starting chance, while a red card for left-back Brad Smith in Gameweek 36 boosts Alberto Moreno’s prospects. In midfield, James Milner and Roberto Firmino might turn out to be the best picks, with a question mark hanging over Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge‘s game time at the moment. In goal, we would expect Simon Mignolet to reclaim his place for the double Gameweek, but that could change should Liverpool book themselves a place in the Europa League final.
Training for the Euros
Chelsea [sun/ liv]
With Europe and Guus Hiddink out of the picture next season, Chelsea play for pride and at most a top-half finish. It is hard to know what is going on at Chelsea at the moment behind the scenes with regards to the imminent arrival of new boss Antonio Conte. With two away trips followed by a game against newly-crowned champions Leicester, it’s hard to say what is in store for Chelsea from a Fantasy perspective.
Personal factors may come into play. Eden Hazard is looking to build his fitness for a summer with Belgium at the Euros. He may also want to present himself to viable suitors should he be looking for a move to a Champions League side in 2016/17. Pedro and Willian are solid picks, but may face rotation, while Cesc Fabregas may be facing a ban following the fracas at the end of Chelsea’s match with Tottenham on Monday. Diego Costa is always a threat, even if he is currently being overshadowed by Hazard. The defence is unlikely to provide any major source of points.
Already on holiday
Everton [lei/ sun]
It has been a disaster of a season for Everton, with very little to salvage from the remaining games. They barely even have pride to play for, having lost that some matches ago through some truly dire performances. Perhaps the best option is Joel Robles. The goalkeeper has been guaranteed to start Everton’s two remaining away games, which conveniently for Fantasy managers lie in double Gameweek 37. With injuries blighting the rest of the defence, save points could be crucial. Up front Romelu Lukaku’s place looks under threat. He was benched in Gameweek 36 and with other teams offering more robust striker picks he looks one to avoid.
Watford [liv/ nor]
Watford have been dining out on securing their Premier League status for so long now that they merely just show up these days to go through the motions. Their clash with Aston Villa in Gameweek 36 showed some sparks of attacking intent, but they still conceded twice. In terms of Fantasy assets, rotation and lack of desire is rife across the outfield positions. Heurelho Gomes looks the best option for those believing they can earn at least one clean sheet. He is also a master of penalty saving, should his defenders let him down. Up front Odion Ighalo is a shadow of his former self, leaving penalty taker Troy Deeney the best option. Deeney scored a brace against Villa and may have found enough mojo to carry him to the end of the season before he jets off to sunnier destinations than Liverpool and Norwich.
