Our refresh of the Watchlist rankings gets underway as we roll out our player recommendations over the next four-to-six Gameweeks. First up, we assess the potential on offer from Goalkeepers and Defenders – Swansea hold firm yet again, though West Ham and Chelsea could be poised to take advantage of some kind upcoming matches:
Goalkeepers
Michel Vorm retains top spot as Swansea’s kind run of games continues. The Dutchman has now registered back-to-back clean sheets and has Cardiff, Stoke and Fulham in the next three to further his climb up the Fantasy rankings; Ashley Williams’ return from injury merely strengthens his appeal, though the latter’s kinder price and bonus point potential may see Fantasy managers overlook the Dutchman.
Simon Mignolet and Artur Boruc both hold steady in the top three. Granted, Mignolet has now conceded in each of the last six and has a trip to Arsenal up next but the subsequent fixtures very much remain in his favour. Boruc retains a high position ahead of games against Stoke and Hull but the schedule from Gameweek 12 onwards looks a real test of the outstanding resilience that has harvested five clean sheets in six.
Villa’s Brad Guzan climbs this week. The US stopper remains 11 points clear of any defensive team-mate and has a very strong schedule (whm, CAR, wba, SUN, sou, ful) as he attempts to improve upon a run which has seen him concede twice in three of the last four – his save point potential could be crucial, though there are cheaper alternatives at the back for Paul Lambert’s side.
Home games against Villa and Fulham, allied with trips to Norwich and Palace in the next five affords Jussi Jaaskelainen a climb in this week’s refresh. Certainly, those away fixtures hands the Hammers man further chance to extend an outstanding record on the road than has seen him beaten just the once, whilst Sam Allardyce’s side will be optimistic of improving upon a home record than has shipped six goals in the last two. Up to second in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) keeper standings, Jaaskelainen has earned save points in five of the opening nine Gameweeks but, as we’ll see, his 5.5 price tag may count against him when assessing West Ham options at the back.
Steve Harper remains in our thoughts as a result of an injury to Hull number one Allan McGregor – at 4.0, he’s the cheapest keeper on option in FPL and has home games against Sunderland and Palace in the next three as the Tigers look to extend a record which has seen them concede once in four games at the KC.
Norwich’s John Ruddy has home games against West Ham and Palace on the horizon and has registered a clean sheet in two of the last four at Carrow Road, whilst Asmir Begovic welcomes Southampton, Sunderland and Cardiff to the Britannia in the next five matches – he has earned save points five times already in addition to four bonus points.
Although the fixtures fall kindly for Petr Cech, the Chelsea stopper is likely to be overlooked in favour of more attacking options in the Stamford Bridge back-four. Nevertheless, his security of starts earns the Blues stopper a place in the top 10 – having conceded in each of the last five, he hardly makes a persuasive case for consideration, though is, somewhat surprisingly, level on points with Branislav Ivanovic; a sign of his save point potential.
With Ben Foster still on the sidelines, Boaz Myhill welcomes Palace and Villa to the Hawthorns in the upcoming three – the 4.5 priced West Brom man will be looking to return to the form that had seen him concede just twice in four games prior to last week’s trip to Anfield.
Defenders
Back after an ankle injury, Ashley Williams climbs to the summit after a clean sheet and maximum bonus in Sunday’s draw against West Ham. Coming in at 4.8, the Swansea skipper is the most budget-friendly option amongst Michael Laudrup’s regulars ahead of the above-mentioned schedule.
Chelsea’s kind run of fixtures also affords Branislav Ivanovic the chance of further returns. Jose Mourinho’s side square up to Newcastle, West Brom, West Ham, Southampton, Sunderland, Stoke and Palace over the next seven fixtures and, whilst the Serbian currently trails John Terry in the overall standings, he still offers greater goal threat than his skipper. With Gary Cahill replacing David Luiz in the last two in all competitions, it looks a straight fight between Ivanovic and Terry for our Fantasy attentions – the latter could easily oust his team-mate in our estimations over the next week or two.
Glen Johnson retains his top three placing despite a weekend clash with Arsenal. The Liverpool defender offers an out of position prospect on the right of midfield ahead of games against Fulham, Hull, Norwich and West Ham in the next six – with little on offer from the Reds midfield until the return of Philippe Coutinho, Johnson’s 5.7 price tag continues to look kind.
West Ham’s Razvan Rat makes a significant climb in our estimations this week. With the fixtures in his favour, the Romanian – who has now started each of the last five – comes in at a mere 4.5 after dropping in price and now seems as secure a pick as the pricier Winston Reid into Sam Allardyce’s backline.
Games against Tottenham, Liverpool, United and Arsenal in the next six are enough to force Leighton Baines down a little – the 7.7 priced Everton left-back likely to rely on attacking returns in order to prosper, while Jan Vertonghen is another premium option whose schedule turns a little stiffer. The Spurs man racked up 12 points last weekend but now has Everton, City, United and Liverpool in the next seven – a tough task to replicate the resilience that has harvested five clean sheets in nine.
Matija Nastasic gets the nod ahead of three home games in four for City. The youngster has now started six of the last seven and, while his side have been poor on their travels, they have, nonetheless, shipped just two goals at the Etihad thus far – with Vincent Kompany edging towards a return and uncertainties over Joe Hart in goal, Nastasic, at 5.5, looks a secure route into Manuel Pellegrini’s defence and is the only defender to have been named in the XI for each of the last three.
At 4.5, Curtis Davies offers the greatest attacking threat of any Hull defender in light of their upcoming schedule, while Nathaniel Clyne, at 4.6, remains the cheapest route into a Southampton side with just three goals against all season. For Stoke, Robert Huth has recovered from the ankle knock sustained against United last Saturday and has shown plenty goal threat for Mark Hughes’ side without yet breaking his duck – his aerial menace in the opposition box is enough to earn him a place ahead of his fellow Potters team-mates.
Michael Turner is available for 4.4 – compared to John Ruddy’s 5.0 – and looks the most secure of Chris Hughton’s budget defenders, while midlands-based duo Ron Vlaar and Liam Ridgewell are your best routes into the Villa and West Brom defences – we were keen to retain Antonio Luna but are uncertain over his fitness after he was subbed off at half-time last weekend; Nathan Baker is also an option for those with faith in the Villa backline – he has started three of the last four and comes in at just 3.9 in FPL.
With an assist in two of the last three, Patrice Evra has shown plenty of attacking intent down the United left but with Arsenal, Spurs and Everton in the next five, the champions’ run of five games without a clean sheet highlights their problems at the back. David Moyes’ rotation in the centre of defence and on the right makes the Frenchman the safest option for those who reckon an upturn in resilience is just around the corner.
