The Watchlist Updated – The Attack

After assessing the options in Defence, we turn to attack in our final Watchlist article of 2017/18.

The Watchlist offers mid-term player recommendations for the upcoming rounds of fixtures and can be found in your sidebar on desktop, or via your slide-in menu on mobile or tablet.

These indicate our current thoughts on player selection for each position, listing the factors that contribute to their given rank.

As with our analysis in defence, we are mainly focused on the Double Gameweek 37 as 12 teams prepare for a run of four matches in the final three rounds of fixtures.

The Midfield

Raheem Sterling climbs to the top of the midfield standings in light of Man City’s remaining schedule.

The champions travel to West Ham and Southampton on either side of a pair of Double Gameweek 37 home matches (HUD BHA) that promotes heavy investment in their attack.

With three goals and four assists in five appearances since returning from injury, Sterling has now averaged 7.0 points per match – second only to Mohamed Salah’s 8.7 across the positions.

At a cost of just 9.0, Sterling could even rival Harry Kane for the Triple Captain chip in the penultimate round of matches – no team-mate has bettered his tally of nine double-figure hauls this season.

The England international has been the most bought FPL midfielder in each of the last two Gameweeks.

Elsewhere for the champions, Leroy Sane (8.6) and Kevin De Bruyne (10.3) provide worthy alternatives or even partners for our midfields.

Rested for the weekend win over Swansea, Sane is expected to return to the teamsheet against the Hammers this weekend – he has two goals and two assists in six.

De Bruyne remains a secure pick, though has admittedly struggled for form in recent matches, managing one goal and one assist in his last seven league appearances. He’s also being subbed earlier in matches, so can no longer be relied upon to exploit any late match flourish from City.

With three home matches still to play (WAT wba & NEW LEI), the Spurs midfield also makes a very convincing case for consideration – indeed, their schedule is regarded as the most favourable for attacking returns according to our Fixture Ticker.

Son Heung-min’s average of 7.0 points per home match highlights his potential at Wembley Stadium, with the South Korean starting 14 of the last 15 in front of his own supporters.

Indeed, he has played a part in 43% of Spurs’ home goals when selected – more than any team-mate.

Arguably the most secure pick in the Spurs midfield, Christian Eriksen has been their form attacker of late thanks to four goals in as many league appearances.

As a result, he is second only to Sterling for transfers in ahead of Monday night’s match with Watford.

Nonetheless, he lags behind Son for both goals (five to nine) and, surprisingly, assists (three to five) at Wembley.

We should also consider that while Dele Alli got his rest in the second of the Gameweek 34 fixtures at Brighton, Eriksen has started every league encounter since Gameweek 16. The Dane appears a secure starter, but he is unlikely to be immune from rotation should Spurs seal their top four status.

Meanwhile, the lack of a Double Gameweek 37, plus the prospect of his minutes being managed around Champions League ties, make a dent on Mohamed Salah’s stock.

Yet his relentless consistency keeps the Liverpool winger very much in the plans of Fantasy managers, with home encounters against Stoke and Brighton on either side of a trip to Chelsea in the penultimate round of fixtures.

Salah returned points against all three of his remaining opponents earlier in the season, totalling 25 points – he needs just eight points to become the highest scoring player in FPL history.

With his Golden Boot race against Kane still undecided, Salah’s consistency (supplying points on 26 occasions) and potential for explosive hauls (14 sets of double-digits) look set to keep on delivering for his 59% ownership.

Marko Arnautovic’s out-of-position potential was again highlighted last Sunday with a goal in West Ham’s loss at Arsenal.

Since being moved into a forward role by David Moyes in Gameweek 16, the Austrian is second only to Salah among midfielders for both goals (ten to 19) and shots on target, by 25 to 33. He also ranks among the top three for total attempts (50) and efforts in the box (38) in this timeframe.

Those numbers indicate that, at a cost of just 7.0, Arnautovic can still take advantage of a testing fixture list (MCI lei & MUN EVE) and steer his side to safety.

Along with Salah, Wilfried Zaha is one of just two midfielders without a Double Gameweek 37 to make the cut.

Like Arnautovic, a move up front has transformed his Fantasy potential, with the Crystal Palace winger delivering three goals and two assists in his last six outings.

The Eagles’ remaining matches (LEI stk WBA) also look very promising for Roy Hodgson’s men as they look to clinch survival, making Zaha an ideal differential with just 7% ownership.

Further down in the budget bracket, the likes of Jesse Lingard, Pascal Gross, Alex Iwobi and Kenedy all warrant attention.

At just 6.0, Lingard offers a cut-price route into the Man United attack, though his security of starts remains an issue – he’s been named on the teamsheet in only four of their last seven league matches.

The schedule remains in United’s favour (ARS bha & whu WAT), though with an FA Cup final place secured, you run the risk of falling foul to Jose Mourinho’s rotation.

Brighton’s fixture list (bur MUN & mci liv) is far more unforgiving, though Gross (6.0) remains a vital part in their quest for survival – he’s played a part in 44% of their goals this season.

Iwobi (5.1) has profited from Arsenal’s Europa League run to start five of their last six league matches, chipping in with two assists.

While a trip to Old Trafford looks tough for returns this weekend, he could appeal to those playing Bench Boost chips in Double Gameweek 37. Arsene Wenger’s side host Burnley and travel to Leicester that week before finishing the season with a visit to Huddersfield.

Costing 4.8, Kenedy has two goals and an assist ahead of two strong upcoming Gameweeks (WBA wat & tot), though he is unable to play against parent club Chelsea on the final day.

The Forwards

Harry Kane (12.9) remains in top spot despite a recent drop in form that’s harvested just one goal in his last six league outings.

But Spurs’ excellent run of fixtures (WAT wba & NEW LEI) enhances Kane’s prospects of chasing down Salah in the race for the Golden Boot.

We only need to look back to last season, when Kane scored five times in Double Gameweek 37 then fired a hat-trick in his final league fixture, to remind ourselves of his explosive potential.

One of the big favourite for the Triple Captain chip in Gameweek 37, there’s no surprise to see that Kane is the top-ranked player for transfers in since last weekend’s deadline passed.

Second only to Kane for new owners, Gabriel Jesus (10.3) has profited from an injury to rival Sergio Aguero in recent weeks.

Three goals and as many assists over his last four league starts brings the Brazilian into contention for our three-man frontlines ahead of the champions’ fine upcoming schedule (whu HUD BHA sot).

He looks the best option alongside Sterling as routes into Guardiola’s attack, though just two double-digit hauls highlight the risk attached when it comes to considering him for the armband.

Having found the next in eight of his last 11 league appearances, Jamie Vardy (8.9) has been one of the most consistent Fantasy performers in recent months.

Leicester’s next two Gameweeks (cry WHU & ARS) look highly encouraging for their frontman, though a final-day trip to Spurs is less alluring. Certainly, with midfield team-mate Riyad Mahrez blanking in five of his previous seven, Vardy looks the best option for those persevering with Claude Puel’s side.

Romelu Lukaku’s (11.5) stock took a tumble after he was named as a sub for the first time this season in Man United’s win at Bournemouth in the second match of their Double Gameweek 34.

Although he emerged from the bench to score at the Vitality, it served a timely reminder that, with his side now in the FA Cup final, Jose Mourinho could manage the minutes of his key players for the last few fixtures.

Nonetheless, a run of four goals and two assists in seven means his 27% ownership will be happy to hold for a schedule that pits him against three of the bottom nine (ARS bha & whu WAT).

With Arsenal’s Europa League schedule now picking up, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (10.8) is expected to return to the domestic starting XI after appearing as a sub against West Ham last Sunday.

The Gabon international has delivered returns in six successive Gameweeks and, since arriving in the winter transfer window, has averaged 6.0 points per match and playing a part in 50% of their goals when on the pitch.

Jordan Ayew (5.3), Charlie Austin (5.8) and Ayoze Perez (5.4) are the budget options.

Ayew has three home matches (CHE bou & SOT STK) still to come as Swansea look to clinch their survival – each of the Ghana international’s last three goals and both his assists have been recorded at the Liberty Stadium.

Meanwhile, Perez is the form pick of the three. With three goals, two assists and seven bonus points in the last four matches, he’s the third most bought forward ahead of Saturday’s 11.30am deadline.

Austin frustrated over the Double Gameweek 34, failing to start in either fixture for Southampton. But the situation has now become critical for Mark Hughes’ charges.

Having started in the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea, Austin looks well placed over fixtures with Bournemouth, Everton and Swansea to end the season with increased minutes to belatedly reward his recent Wildcard investors.