Manchester City forwards shine, although injury issues threaten to dull that lustre, Chelsea and Spurs assets continue to produce the goods and a favourite Swan makes a late renaissance bid. But United’s stars stumble and big-ticket Arsenal and Everton assets do themselves, and us, few favours.
Here’s Sunday’s Stock Check.
On the Rise
Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus, Leroy Sane
Pep Guardiola went for a two-man frontline, and it benefitted both strikers.
Aguero’s first start alongside Jesus helped him to his first double-digit haul since Gameweek 12 and the Argentinian has now scored in six of his last seven league appearances.
Suddenly it looked like we needn’t worry about rotation risks for the pair – they’d both be in the frame to take advantage of a run-in involving three out of four matches at home and a Double Gameweek 37, with a West Brom side already halfway to the beach the highest-placed team they’d be facing.
And then Aguero limped off with a groin injury that could throw a major spanner in those particular works.
Guardiola was guarded post-match, insisting that he would wait and see what tests on Aguero would tell him tomorrow.
The problem is that Jesus, who played the full 90 minutes in the 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough, is still in need of easing back into the fray – a luxury that Guardiola could not afford at the Riverside.
“I am pleased for him (Jesus) but he needs time. He’s had three months out and has only had four training sessions. Ideally, I wanted him to have 60 minutes, but what happened in the first half changed that but he is young and coped.”
The young Brazilian’s goal – his fourth in as many City starts – and his 8.7 price tag, compared to Aguero’s 12.8, has persuaded Fantasy managers to roll the dice early on Jesus – he’s climbed to the top of the Transfers In column ahead of Gameweek 36 having already increased in price overnight.
At least there seems to be no such worries surrounding Sane.
The German international has now scored or assisted in six of his last seven away matches, and although his run of 12 straight starts ended against Boro, his impact off the bench suggests he’ll return to the XI for that attractive run-in. Today could have been his one and only allocated rest.
Despite such a fine run of form, Sane is still only owned by 6.3% of managers, making him a solid differential prospect for our Wildcards.
Gylfi Sigurdsson
The Swansea City talisman had lost more than 350,000 owners in the last five Gameweeks, but he’s started to turn things round just when his side needed it most.
Sigurdsson fired his first goal since Gameweek 24 in the draw at Old Trafford which, when added to last week’s assist, means he’s now racked up 16 points from his last two starts.
Too little, too late? Probably. And, at first glance, the same could be said for Swansea’s run-in – they have no double Gameweek and just three fixtures left.
But home matches with Everton and West Brom and a trip to Sunderland represent fixtures in which Swansea will be desperate for results, and their opponents have precious little to play for.
Throw in the fact that Sigurdsson’s price has dropped for four consecutive weeks to an attractive 7.4, and the Icelander still has the potential to have a say in our season finales.
Eden Hazard, Gary Cahill
Chelsea’s march to the title has been fuelled by the Belgian midfielder’s consistency – his assist in the 3-0 win at Everton was the seventh time in eight appearances that he’s produced points.
His meaty 32.6% ownership have lapped all that up, and more are surely going to be tucking in with the Wildcards in play.
The Blues still have four matches, and a Double Gameweek 37, to come and their fixtures are just as accommodating as Man City’s – home matches with Middlesbrough, Watford and Sunderland and a trip to West Brom.
The manager that ignores Hazard now is either brave, foolhardy or in need of differential punts to try and secure mini-league glory.
Cahill, meanwhile, became the top-scoring defender in FPL after scoring for the second consecutive match.
The 15.0%-owned Marcos Alonso remains our Chelsea defender of choice, but Cahill (14.2%) is closing fast and could appeal as a double-up should we decide to bet big on a Chelsea backline that kept its first clean sheet in 12 matches today.
Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen
The case for acquiring all three Spurs assets on the Wildcard grew stronger during the North London derby.
Spurs might not catch Chelsea, but their form is undeniable, and it’s being driven by the return of Kane and the consistency of the side’s two stand-out midfielders.
The England striker was the fourth most popular captaincy choice for the Gameweek and he delivered with a goal that makes it seven goals and three assists in his last five starts.
He’s now owned by 18.0% and looks nailed-on to be in many more teams from here on in.
Eriksen’s assist was the sixth time he’s produced points from his last seven starts. It’s now a career-high 17 assists this term – the most among FPL midfielders.
While the Dane sets them up, Alli keeps knocking them in. His goal against Arsenal was his 17th of the season – only four players, all forwards, have scored more.
The England international has delivered points in eight of his last nine matches, and his 34.8% ownership looks likely to swell across Spurs final four fixtures, including a Double Gameweek 37 involving a home match with Man United and a trip to Leicester City.
If ignoring the lure of Hazard is risky, snubbing the Tottenham trio looks equally dangerous three times over.
In Decline
Antonio Valencia, Eric Bailly, Marcus Rashford
Valencia’s 17% ownership were handed a large dose of mixed emotions as Man United drew with Swansea.
Back on the bench for the fourth time in six matches, the Ecuadorian full-back then came on as an early sub due to Luke Shaw’s injury.
Early enough for clean sheets points, except that United couldn’t deliver, while Jose Mourinho’s men also failed to secure a win that would have brought them control of their Premier League destiny.
The Europa League remains a strong option for securing Champions League football, and injuries and a schedule which could still involve seven matches over the next three weeks has persuaded FPL managers that enough is enough – Valencia is the top defender for transfers-out since yesterday’s deadline.
Bailly at least provided his owners with clean sheet points, limping off just after 60 minutes with United ahead 1-0.
The Ivorian has been a mainstay at the heart of the United defence while others have come and gone off injured with depressing regularity.
Even if the knock picked up today proves to be a minor issue, United’s run-in is sufficiently tricky to suggest Mourinho will finally commit to Europe and rotate domestically.
Meanwhile, Rashford failed to deliver the points haul against Swansea to help justify the huge recent investment.
The young striker was brought in by 65,000 this week on top of the 457,000 who acquired him for United’s double Gameweek 34.
Captained by 141,000 (3.1%) for Sunday’s match, Rashford provided the assist for United’s goal, but that’s been his only notable contribution to three disappointing fixtures.
Mourinho is not exactly blessed with options up front for the run-in, but Rashford is not making a convincing case for assured inclusion.
Romelu Lukaku
A blank at Goodison Park was rare – and particularly ill-timed as Lukaku again failed to make an impression against a “top six” defence.
The Toffees play two of three remaining fixtures on the road and Lukaku has managed just one goal in his last eight away matches.
There are far more tempting – and much cheaper – options available to us than the 10.4-priced Belgian.
His 43.5% ownership continues to shrink at pace – he is second only to Wilfried Zaha for sales – as Wildcard strategies are finally enacted.
Kyle Walker
The 33.1%-owned Spurs right-back was benched for the third time in his last six league matches against Arsenal as team-mate and rival Kieran Trippier was again given the nod.
The former Burnley man has produced an impressive 26 points from his last three starts, and Mauricio Pochettino looks likely to continue flitting between the pair across Spurs final four fixtures.
A two-minute appearance from the bench killed any potential auto-sub bonus for his owners, with Walker, at 6.4, suddenly becoming an expensive luxury.
Alexis Sanchez
Talking of expensive luxuries…
Sanchez (11.5) has managed just one goal in six now and remains the most vexing of issues for our Wildcard considerations.
Arsenal still have back-to-back double Gameweeks to come, and Fantasy managers clearly can’t resist the lure – the Chilean is second only to Bournemouth’s Josh King for transfers-in among midfielders despite his decidedly patchy form.
Sanchez has to remain a factor due to the the sheer weight of fixtures, but his form is a major concern for such an expensive asset.
If nothing else, Sanchez’s captaincy credentials have taken a dent – it’s all very well having doubles, but 18 points from his last six starts just doesn’t cut it at any price.
