Our latest instalment of the Weekly Shop looks ahead to the midweek programme and sifts through the player list of our partner game, FanDuel.
We will analyse the options across the various positions and price brackets, after first identifying the fixtures most likely to present us with our primary player targets.
While Hull City have clearly improved under the stewardship of Marco Silva, we’re fully expecting Manchester United to dominate when the two sides meet for a fourth time at Old Trafford. That promotes United’s attacking options, with the Tigers defence surely kept busy dealing with a steady supply of crossed balls to Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Sunderland could be facing the might of the Spurs attack without both first-choice centre-backs. That has us eyeing up their “second-string” options, who are likely to be overworked by waves of attacks from Mauricio Pochettino’s confident side.
It also means that the in-form Spurs attack, with 18 goals over their last six matches, make ready-made investments in midfield and up front.
Elsewhere, Watford travel to the Emirates Stadium in miserable form and are likely to be forced into a 90-minute rearguard action. Their chances of repelling an Arsenal side bristling with attacking options looks slim, ensuring that we’re compelled to prioritise at least one of Arsene Wenger’s charges.
Better Buys
Our scan of the FanDuel player list begins by pondering the merits of targets at the top end of the market.
These players should guarantee us points hauls given their associated price tags.
In goal, it’s difficult to look beyond Burnley’s Tom Heaton (£7.9m) as the optimum candidate.
The Clarets skipper has been the most consistent shot-stopper this season, making 93 saves, with 11 registered over the last two matches alone. His 4.65 saves per match has led to a 16.48 FanDuel average over 20 outings.
Leicester City roll up to Turf Moor having failed to score in three of their last four away trips. Meanwhile, Heaton has allowed just nine goals in home matches, earning four clean sheets. He looks well placed to add to that tally and claim the ten points on offer for keepers in FanDuel.
Arsenal’s Petr Cech (£7.1m) is a clear alternative.
He looks underpriced ahead of Watford’s visit, with the Hornets also having blanked in three of their last four on the road.
The Arsenal keeper may have conceded against Burnley last time out but still scored 19 points via six saves. Three clean sheets in his last five also suggests that he can return in Tuesday’s fixture.
Points from clean sheets are not available to defenders in FanDuel, so instead, we must focus on their propensity for registering clearances, blocks and interceptions (CBI’s), with successful tackles also a factor.
Manchester City’s defence may have leaked goals this term, but Nicolas Otamendi (£8.4m) remains among the top five defenders with an average in FanDuel of 21.86 points per match.
The centre-back also leads the rankings for CBI’s over the last four Gameweeks with 52 (while also making 12 tackles). Facing a confident and in-form Andy Carroll at the London Stadium, we’re expecting further returns from the Argentine from that particular duel.
West Ham provide their own backline option in Winston Reid.
Also available for £8.4m, he betters Otamendi’s average over the season with 22.6 points. The Hammers defender made 15 CBI’s at the Riverside Stadidum last time out and could be set for a frantic evening’s work against the City attack.
Hull drop in at Old Trafford for yet another encounter with Manchester United and will again have to deal with the physicality of Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba. Harry Maguire (£8.2m) is our pick from Marco Silva’s back-line to counter that threat.
The centre-back scored an impressive 49.75 points in his previous run-out at Stamford Bridge. That consisted of an impressive eight successful tackles, two shots on target, seven interceptions and as many clearances.
We’ve been backing Junior Stanislas as a midfield pick for several weeks now and, ahead of a visit from a Crystal Palace outfit that have conceded three or more in five of their last seven on the road, he makes the cut once again.
The Bournemouth winger has returned a goal and two assists over his last four match-ups and created nine chances. His five shots on target trails only Everton’s Ross Barkley (£9.5m and six), for midfielders during that four-match period.
Spurs visit to the Stadium of Light could be a potential gold mine for FanDuel points, with several prospects from Pochettino’s outfit demanding our attention.
Christian Eriksen (£12.9m) may have failed to score in his last six Gameweeks, but he has served up six assists. The Dane’s 28.46 average is the best for midfielders in FanDuel, indicating just how he can thrive in this Fantasy format.
Meanwhile, Dele Alli (£11.9m) has notched eight goals in his last six outings, suggesting that he may prove stronger value at a full £1.0m cheaper.
Harry Kane (£14.1m) completes the trio of Spurs attackers tempting our investment.
The striker has tallied six goals and a couple of assists in his last five appearances, though is the priciest of the three options.
Kane’s ten shots on target over the last four is more than any other player, while it should also be noted that only Middlesbrough (48) have conceded more shots in the box over the last four Gameweeks than Sunderland (42).
Arsenal’s home advantage against the Hornets also offers up a host of top bracket options to consider.
In midfield, Alex Iwobi (£9.3m) could prove a canny acquisition at a kinder price point. The Nigerian has contributed 11 chances and struck ten goal attempts over his last four matches.
Beyond Iwobi, both Olivier Giroud (£12.5m) and Alexis Sanchez (£14.8m) cannot be ignored.
Giroud has four goals and a pair of assists in his last five outings, although Sanchez (£14.8m) is the stronger option ahead of Watford’s visit.
The Chilean has scored in three consecutive matches and is the leading forward by average with 33.26 points per match. Eight goal attempts last time out, with 25 in his last three home matches, are ominous statistics for the visitors.
Similarly, United’s Ibrahimovic (£14.5m) has to be in our plans for his meeting with Hull City.
The Swede’s six goals and four assists over his last seven league outings can’t be overlooked. Despite showing improved resilience under Marco Silva, Hull allowed two goals at Chelsea last time out and look likely to be without the influence of Curtis Davies, through injury, in their defence.
We’re even pondering doubling up and exploring Paul Pogba (12.8) as an option. The Frenchman is top ranked for midfielders over the last four Gameweeks for goal attempts (15) and has already breached the Hull defence, having scored in the midweek EPL semi-final.
Similarly, Henrikh Mkhitaryan (10.8) presents an intriguing differential in the Old Trafford fixture. The Armenian has created 11 chances over the last four (only Christian Eriksen has made more) and he’s returned either a goal or an assist in four of his last five home matches in all competitions.
The Poundstretchers
Next, we examine some of the more budget-friendly candidates on the FanDuel player list, identifying those options that can provide us points while also granting us the flexibility to spend big on our listed “Better Buys”.
We start by pondering a pair of keeper candidates that can allow us to preserve funds for outfield spending.
Everton’s Joel Robles (£6.8m) appears to have seen off the challenge of Maarten Stekelenburg, as he seeks a fifth clean sheet in six outings from Wednesday’s visit to Stoke City.
Meanwhile, Spurs’ Hugo Lloris appears to offer excellent value at just £6.9m.
He’s conceded just 11 goals from 11 matches away from White Hart Lane, while he’ll face a Sunderland side currently bottom of the league and struggling for a foothold. Jermain Defoe will clearly pose the greatest threat to the Spurs’ rearguard but boasts just a single Premier League goal against his former club in nine appearances against them.
While we’re doubting the Black Cats attack, their defence should provide some intriguing cut-price options.
John O’Shea (£6.8) has started the last four outings and made 20 clearances over that spell. Meanwhile, new signings Jolean Lescott (£5m) and Bryan Oviedo (£5.3m) could be handed debuts with Papy Djilobodji (£8.2) serving a ban. Ivorian Lamine Kone (£6.2m) may also earn a recall having returned from duties at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Be sure to check in with the Sunderland teamsheet to tinker with FanDuel’s late swap feature.
Elsewhere at the back, Southampton’s Jack Stephens looks set to deputise for the injured Virgil van Dijk for the trip to Swansea City. Available for only £6.3m, he impressed in the Saints’ EFL Cup win and could be kept busy against a resurgent Swans following their 3-2 win at Liverpool.
Moving to midfield and Sunderland are again on hand to grant us some possibilities.
George Honeyman made David Moyes’ XI at West Brom and won seven tackles, scoring 20.75 points in the Hawthorns clash. Priced at just £5.0m, his defensive capabilities could be stretched by the Spurs midfield runners but, again, be sure to check on that Sunderland teamsheet prior to finalising your line-ups.
Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser (£6.8m) is another potential midfield bargain.
He has returned a pair of goals and two assists in his last three outings, presenting us with a cheap route into a Cherries attack that have scored nine goals in their last four ahead of a meeting with Crystal Palace.
Leicester City’s January signing Wilfred Ndidi (£6.8m) may be deployed in a withdrawn role but a 22-point average over his two appearances includes seven tackles and 12 CBI’s, highlighting that combative midfielders can reap rewards in FanDuel.
Everton have been in a free-scoring mode of late, firing 12 goals in five matches. Kevin Mirallas has been involved in a third of those and could prove a canny investment at £7.3m for the trip to Stoke City.
Up front, we’re considering Burnley’s Andre Gray (£7.5m) after his strike at the Emirates took him to five goals in as many Premier League appearances. He’s an intriguing option up against a Leicester City side that have suffered dire away form, having conceded 24 goals on their travels.
Finally, Fernando Llorente (£8.4m) has tallied seven goals and two assists in his previous ten outings ahead of Southampton’s visit. The Saints arrive without Van Dijk in their defence, offering Llorente the opportunity to add to his impressive recent form following his brace at Anfield.
I’ll be back tomorrow to take a look at the FanDuel contests on offer and review those options that made our optimum FanDuel line-up.
Before we sign off, a reminder that the Fantasy Football Scout FanDuel Social League is still open for entry. A free to enter tournament, with £450 in prizes, this competition spans the next three Gameweeks.
Check out the details for that via this link.
You must be over 18 years of age, resident in the UK, and of legal capacity to register with FanDuel and open an Account. If you sign up, always play responsibly.
