Our Watchlist rankings have been updated today to measure our current thinking on player acquisition strategies with just six gameweeks remaining. You can view this now in your right-hand sidebars.
Predictably, Chelsea’s double gameweek boost cements their players as key targets right now, with leaders in three of the four positions. Only Carlo Ancelotti’s rotation policy up front keeps their strikers from threatening a clean sweep.
The dominance continues at the back with Petr Cech and David Luiz topping the goalkeeper and defender rankings. There can be few arguments here, although Birmingham’s Ben Foster and Sunderland’s Simon Mignolet clearly offer potential at a lower price point. Liverpool’s Pepe Reina is the big climber in the keeper rankings – he offers a secure route to Kenny Dalglish’s backline which should earn further shutouts before the end of the season given the goal threat offered by some of their opponents. City’s Joe Hart, with improved fixtures after the gameweek double, makes a return to our Watchlist reckoning.
With Luiz topping the defenders, there is very little movement below him. Everton’s Leighton Baines, Villa’s Kyle Walker and Birmingham’s Roger Johnson remain our top back four options, with Sunderland’s Phil Bardsley climbing to fifth spot.
The intriguing option is offered by Liverpool’s Fabio Aurelio who, with injuries to Martin Kelly, Glen Johnson and Dan Agger, appears to have secured a starting role for Liverpool and will offer attacking threat and set-piece involvement over the run-in, together with clean sheet potential of course. At 5.8 in the Fantasy Premier League game he comes at a price but clearly offers a forward-thinking alternative to Martin Skrtel.
Frank Lampard remains the top target in midfield going into gameweek 33, despite a frustrating blank against Wigan last time out. The fact remains that only six midfielders have fired in more efforts on goal than Lampard over the last four gameweeks; similarly only six midfielders have contributed more key passes – of these players players, only team-mate Flourent Malouda has a double fixture this week. Lampard is a big investment, but, on his day and particularly with the assistance of spot-kicks, he’s unquestionably a heavy points scorer.
Blackpool’s Charlie Adam is the next in line with four home matches in the next five gameweeks, while Cesc Fabregas with assured starts over Arsenal’s double, climbs to third spot. Team-mate Theo Walcott claims fifth place, banishing former top spot tenant Nani to a lowly sixth spot in our rankings. Despite a sparkling showing with two assists against Fulham, with his starting role under threat from Valencia – there are stronger options than Nani in midfield right now; he will likely climb again however, once Arsenal’s double fixture has passed.
Charles N’Zogbia is the big climber below him as Wigan’s fixtures improve – more on him to come this week. Dirk Kuyt’s incredible run of 5 goals in as many gameweeks has him continue to scale the rankings – despite a run of opponents that will test Liverpool’s newfound fluency and goal threat. Further down, it’s worth noting that Luka Modric now tops team-mate Rafael Van der Vaart in our reckoning. The Dutchman badly needs to find returns if he is to stall his slide, while Modric continues to hoover Fantasy Premier League Bonus Points to boost his stock. Lower still, the likes of Clint Dempsey, Matt Etherington and Jamie O’Hara need the gameweek 33 blank to pass before they are ready to climb the rankings.
Moving up front and Arsenal’s double fixture maintains Robin Van Persie’s position with Wayne Rooney ranked second – he is set to return against Newcastle barring injury in tonight’s Champions League Quarter-Final.
Darren Bent holds third, with Sunderland’s Asamoah Gyan well placed as his run of fixtures presents ample opportunity for a season end goal glut. The form of Daniel Sturridge, coupled with his tough gameweek 34 double fixture keeps him high in our thinking, as the Liverpool pair of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll threaten. Investment in that pair looks inevitable following last night’s beating handed out to City, although as our earlier “Frisking the Fixtures†discussed, we have some reservations about Liverpool’s run-in.
With plenty of budget potential offered by the likes of Junior Hoilett, Peter Odemwingie, Demba Ba and, in gameweek 34, Bobby Zamora, many Fantasy Managers could be leaning towards two cheaper striker options with heavy investment in midfield once again.
