Having published articles on our recommended Defenders and Midfielders for the next four-to-six Gameweeks, we now assess the men up front. Liverpool’s dynamic duo continue to lead the way, though City’s irrepressible Argentine stakes a claim on the back of an eye-catching series of displays and goals.
Liverpool duo Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez hold the top two spots respectively, with the Englishman’s incredible form and slightly cheaper price allowing him to nip ahead of his more explosive colleague. Anfield encounters with West Brom, Fulham and Norwich in the next six, in addition to a trip to Hull, bode well for the Reds duo, whilst visits to league leaders Arsenal and Merseyside rivals Everton should hold no fear, given their respective lack of resilience. Fantasy managers opting to go without either face further agonising weeks in the next month.
Sergio Aguero surges up our rankings to third place. The Argentine seems to have finally found his form under Manuel Pellegrini and with back-to-back braces in all competitions over the last few days, he looks irresistible right now and surely immune to rotation. A flourishing partnership with fit-again David Silva, allied with Pellegrini’s keenness to go on the offensive, means Aguero was the most transferred-in forward this Gameweek – he squares off against an uncharacteristically vulnerable Chelsea defence before embarking on a run that includes Norwich and Sunderland in the next three.
Olivier Giroud drops down to fourth, having featured heavily for both club and country since the start of the season. While his form is undeniable – two assists in the league last time out and a midweek goal against Dortmund – the Frenchman has publicly declared his need for a rest, with next week’s Capital One Cup clash against Chelsea the likely time to draft in Nicklas Bendtner. Given that the Gunners face Liverpool and Manchester United over the upcoming weeks, Giroud looks too essential to skip league duties.
High intensity Romelu Lukaku carried the armband for many last week, with only a 70-minute appearance and two points to show for it. Trips to Villa Park and Crystal Palace should provide the robust frontman plenty of opportunities to improve his fitness and his tally as the Toffees continue to keep pace with their Merseyside rivals.
Wayne Rooney falls outside the top five. A draw against Southampton and a faltering midweek win inspire little confidence in Manchester United assets; however the England star’s price and set-piece threat are enough to warrant continued interest. The Reds could welcome a ramshackle Stoke defence to Old Trafford on Saturday prior to a trip to Fulham, as Rooney looks to maintain a run that has harvested a goal or assist in four of the last five.
Manager Paul Lambert may be treating Christian Benteke with care following his return from injury, but there’s no denying the midlands outfit have missed their powerful front man. With one of the tastiest fixture lists on offer, owners of the big Belgian will no doubt be salivating at the prospect of home clashes against Everton and Cardiff, along with a trip to hit-and-miss West Ham in the next three weeks. Subject to mass sales following his injury, an 8.8 price looks all the more appealing.
Loic Remy remains on our radars ahead of a promising derby against strugglers Sunderland. Offering a consistency unrivalled by fellow Geordie forwards and an attractive price for those seeking to invest elsewhere, the Frenchman may well be worth holding onto for another week. With Chelsea visiting St James’ Park before a tricky to White Hart Lane in the weeks after, the case is hardly clear cut, though.
Last season’s Golden Boot winner Robin Van Persie drops down the pecking order amid concerns over form and fitness. Missing out on Champions League duties in midweek due to toe and groin problems, it’s clear that David Moyes is desperate to protect the talismanic Dutchman at every opportunity – subsequently, it becomes increasingly difficult to justify a 13.9 outlay for a forward that may well not start. After scoring from open play for the first time since Gameweek 1 last weekend, the United frontman has done just about enough to earn a place on this week’s Watchlist. With the premium assets in midfield performing so well and with Aguero to add to the growing list of high-performing forwards, Van Persie’s days in the top ten may well be numbered.
With a kind schedule (and spot-kick duties, as we discovered last time out) boosting his appeal, Wilfried Bony Bony rounds off the list. Yet to really hit form this year, the summer signing has the perfect platform to cement a place in Michael Laudrup’s side as Swansea face West Ham, Cardiff and Stoke in succession. However, with Europa League fixtures and the versatile Michu able to play up front, the Eredivisie import may be a gamble too far for our crowded forward lines.
