Welcome to the latest instalment of the Weekly Shop as we return to our partner game FanDuel and assess the player list to identify the key prospects in the upcoming round.
Our FanDuel Survivor contest entered its second stage during Gameweek 32. There were 120 participants and rouguered5 topped the field thanks to his key performer, Spurs forward Son Heung-min, bringing in a 57.25 point haul.
Before we analyse the players catching our eye, we consider the fixtures that should offer up some of the standout assets over the weekend.
Investment in Everton looks sensible as they seek an eighth successive victory at Goodison Park, particularly as their fluid attack have produced a convincing 26 goals over that dominant run. The Toffees host a Burnley outfit that is likely to be soaking up pressure from the off, although back-to-back clean sheets show their resilience and piques our interest in Sean Dyche’s defence.
Spurs have been relentless of late, notching 18 goals in their last six outings – the most in the league. That free-scoring form has us weighing up Mauricio Pochettino’s attacking options, while visitors Bournemouth provide a defender who’ll be marshalling the Cherries’ backline as they attempt to avoid it being grim up North London.
Crystal Palace have continued to build momentum, with the Monday night victory over Arsenal confirming that several of Sam Allardyce’s players are worthy contenders for our line-ups. Leicester City’s European commitments either side of the trip to Selhurst Park will likely mean rotation, which could produce some budget options to consider.
Better Buys
We begin by pinpointing the in-form options at the top end of the FanDuel market – the players who might carry hefty price tags but have a proven track record of bringing in the points to justify the outlay.
As usual, we start by running through the top goalkeepers on our radar and this week there’s a trio of tempting picks to choose from.
Spurs’ Hugo Lloris (£7.2m) has a strong chance of securing the ten points on offer for shut-outs to keepers in FanDuel and looks favourably priced, with a 16.4-point average over the last six matches. The Frenchman has recorded back-to-back clean sheets – and five in his previous seven league outings at White Hart Lane – ahead of Bournemouth’s visit.
Next up is Sunderland’s Jordan Pickford (£7.9m). He’s the top goalkeeper for saves of late, making 35 over his last six appearances. Despite managing only a single clean sheet in that run (at home to Burnley), he’s still registered a 19.8 average – proving that shot-stopping can prove to be a better source of points than shut-outs.
West Ham roll up to the Stadium of Light to face a Black Cats’ defence that has conceded the most shots both from inside (66) and outside (44) the box during their last six matches, so Pickford should be busy again.
Crystal Palace’s renaissance makes Wayne Hennessey (£7.3m) another enticing candidate for the keeper’s jersey. Following the 3-0 win over Arsenal, the Welsh stopper has now tallied four clean sheets in the last six rounds to build a 20.4 average in FanDuel. Leicester’s Champions League commitments and a dismal away record (blanking in five of their last eight) bode well for the Eagles’ chances of another blank.
For defenders, once again we’ve examined those that have been acquiring healthy numbers of clearances, blocks and interceptions (CBI) alongside tackles over recent weeks.
Burnley’s Ben Mee (£8.6m) ranks first over the last six outings with a robust 89 CBIs and 14 tackles. That’s provided a 23-point FanDuel average which he should reach or exceed as he attempts to end Romelu Lukaku’s scoring streak at Goodison Park.
Bournemouth’s Steve Cook (£8.9m) is just behind Mee with 85 CBIs. While the centre-back only accrued a disappointing 10 points against Chelsea at home, he excels on his travels in FanDuel – over the Cherries’ last five away matches he’s averaged 25.85 points per match. That’s included trips to Everton, Liverpool and Manchester United, which suggests he should keep up that scoring at White Hart Lane.
Our next suggestion, Southampton’s Maya Yoshida (£7.8m), has offered excellent value with a 23.75-point average over his last six clashes, registering 71 CBIs in that run. The Japanese centre-back even scored in their previous home match and should make plenty of defensive actions with Manchester City visiting St Mary’s.
For midfielders, Wilfried Zaha’s £9m price tag appears generous following a pair of goals and three assists over his last five appearances. The winger has also drawn 20 fouls and made 10 tackles to accrue a 24.6-point average. Palace have won five of their last six matches, while the Foxes have conceded 12 goals in five on their travels.
Liverpool head down to The Hawthorns with Philippe Coutinho (£12.7m) seeking to find the net for the fourth successive match. The Brazilian has also created nine chances over his last three outings to produce one assist. Jurgen Klopp’s injury list makes the midfielder the go-to Reds’ asset for an encounter with a West Brom outfit that have conceded in their last four at home.
After eleven consecutive home wins, and with 33 goals scored, most line-ups are set to include a player or two from the Spurs’ attack.
The best value potentially lies in Son Heung-min, who looks underpriced compared to his team-mates at only £10m. Four goals and an assist over his last three matches appears to be undroppable form.
Dele Alli (£12.8m) continues to provide excellent returns, tallying five goals, three assists and an impressive 37.5-point average in FanDuel over his last six displays.
Meanwhile, Christian Eriksen’s (£13.2m) dead-ball duties make the Dane worth considering, as Bournemouth have conceded the fourth most attempts from set-pieces over the last six (29). The midfielder remains above Alli for FanDuel average over the entire campaign, with 27.66 points per match.
That trio will probably be supporting the fit-again Harry Kane (£12.5m), who has nine goals from his last four home starts, including two hat-tricks. The Cherries are also fourth for headed attempts conceded over last six (18), so the frontman’s aerial threat could be a factor.
The Spurs forward is likely to occupy a spot in our squad alongside Everton’s Romelu Lukaku (£13.4m), who’s scored in seven consecutive home matches – totalling 12 goals – ahead of Burnley’s visit.
It might be difficult to fit in Manchester City’s chief goal threat Sergio Aguero (£13.5) as well. While he has to be considered ahead of a trip to Southampton after scoring in five of his last six outings, a lower FanDuel average of 28.3 makes him an expensive risk.
Poundstretchers
In this section, we scan the budget and mid-price brackets to identify targets that can free up funds to spend on the players above.
We’ll start by considering some of the cheaper options in goal, although it appears spending a bit extra on keepers will be effective this weekend.
If Petr Cech and David Ospina remain sidelined, then Arsenal’s Emiliano Martinez (£6.4m) will earn a third successive start at a goal-shy Middlesbrough. The Argentinian made five saves and kept a clean sheet against West Ham in his two previous displays.
Manchester City’s Claudio Bravo is also available for £6.4m for the encounter with Southampton, although he failed to impress by conceding late against Hull City last time out. Liverpool’s Simon Mignolet (£6.7m) made some match-winning saves at Stoke City and faces a West Brom outfit that have failed to net in their last three fixtures.
Boro’s defence will be facing an Arsenal side in desperate need of a win, so Daniel Ayala (£7.2m), who’s started the last two, should be kept busy. The centre-back has made 25 CBIs and nine tackles over his last three starts to average 19.5 FanDuel points.
Full-back Javier Manquillo could start for Sunderland, at a bargain £6.2m, after Bryan Oviedo picked up a hamstring problem. Opponents West Ham also provide a good priced option in James Collins (£6.9) – he’s recorded 26 clearances in three outings.
It’ll be worth checking the Leicester City team sheet to see if Craig Shakespeare rotates-in Marcin Wasilewski for the clash at Selhurst Park as the defender is priced at only £4.3m. Ben Chilwell, at £6.6m, started at left-back last time out and Yohan Benalouane (£7.1m) will be up against the physical Christian Benteke if he continues to fill in for the injured Wes Morgan.
Hosts Crystal Palace have a set of players who should offer value in light of their recent fine form. Martin Kelly (£6.6m) has back-to-back starts, registering 24 CBIs – the defender might not be busy against the Champions, but he’s a cheap enabler.
In midfield, Luka Milivojevic (£6.9m) has been steadily improving, increasing his FanDuel score in each of the last seven matches. The Serb netted a spot-kick against Arsenal and those penalty duties, along with responsbilities on direct free-kicks, add much to his appeal.
Andros Townsend (£7.7m) is a doubt, but should be a sound pick if passed fit – eight chances created have given him a couple of assists in his last two outings. A pair of goals and 20 tackles over the last five matches have also contributed to an attractive 30-point average.
Forward Christian Benteke (£9m) looks well-placed to take advantage of Leicester’s weakened backline – two goals and an assist in his last three matches help make the Belgian an appealing differential
Although the pitch time of Everton midfielder Kevin Mirallas (£8.2m) has been patchy, he’s still produced steady returns, providing a goal or assist every 86 minutes on average since Gameweek 18. Two assists against Leicester have helped the Belgian to a 29-point average over his last three outings.
Swansea City winger Luciano Narsingh, at a budget-friendly £6.1m, could be an option as an enabler with some attacking promise if he starts against Watford in a must-win match for the relegation-threatened Swans.
The Hornets’ main weapon, Troy Deeney (£9m), has notched six goals in eight starts. He’s netted in his last four at home and also picked up an assist against West Brom at Vicarage Road to score 36.25 points. Fellow frontman M’Baye Niang (£8.6m) also scored and assisted against the Baggies and picked up 17.5 points in clashes against Spurs and Sunderland on either side of that win.
Strikers Jermain Defoe (£8.2m) and Andy Carroll (£9.8m) will be going head-to-head at the Stadium of Light. While Defoe has been on a barren run, it’s crunch time for Sunderland with a win absolutely crucial for their faint hopes of survival. Carroll scored 31 and 39 points in the Hammers’ two matches prior to his blank in the Arsenal defeat. A groin issue meant he was available but preserved against Swansea last time out.
Finally, Hull forward Oumar Niasse (£7.7m) has tallied four goals in his last five home appearances. Marco Silva’s side are in serious need of victory from a timely encounter with a Stoke City side that have lost their last four matches.
I’ll be back tomorrow with my strongest XI and to look at the other contests on offer this round.
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