The Knee Jerk – Saturday

City’s Bosnian striker makes the most of his cameo role by netting City’s winner against a plucky Palace, while Hull’s midfield quarterback hits double figures on a day that saw Fantasy managers plunged into panic by the absence of captaincy candidate, Wayne Rooney.

The Game Changer

Man City’s team sheet was the focus of our morning anxiety and, while Rooney’s omission eventually overshadowed Manuel Pellegrini’s reshuffles, the City lineup was to prove pivotal in our Saturday scoring. With the likes of Yaya Toure and Alvaro Negredo absent, it was left to Edin Dzeko to make the difference as a brave Palace rearguard was eventually breached by the Bosnian’s decisive strike.

Subject of our “Differentials” article and my own pre-amble this morning, Dzeko’s intervention will have provided rewards for a minority of Fantasy managers who took a risk on the City striker.

As my own ramblings mentioned, Dzeko looks to be a one-week proposition – unlikely to feature in Wednesday’s starting lineup, he was a trade who had to produce today to justify the gamble. With maximum Fantasy Premier League (FPL) bonus likely to follow, a nine point return, potentially doubled with the captaincy, looks a notable contribution in a Gameweek which seems destined for modest returns.

Sadly for Dzeko and his owners, his winner, however precious, is unlikely to strengthen his case for consistent starts in Pellegrini’s plans. He’s likely be shown a quick exit and thanked for his efforts on a day which saw the big names blank.

The Underused

Heralded as a superb summer signing, Tom Huddlestone has been integral to Hull City’s impressive start to their Premier League campaign. Stationed in a deep-lying midfield role, turning defence into attack with sublime simplicity, the £5 million signing from Spurs seemed unlikely to tempt Fantasy interest. Today’s impressive 14-point haul may well change that – albeit briefly.

Huddlestone’s superb dead-ball delivery has been a feature of the Tigers’ season but, today, his two assists were accompanied by a first goal of the campaign in a 6-0 drubbing of René Meulensteen’s Fulham.

That was his first Premier League goal since 2011 – underlining the fact that Huddlestone’s appeal perhaps remains limited. At just 4.8 in the FPL, however, the playmaker is an assured starter who will likely contribute further assists.

Surely a contender for Hull’s player of the year, Huddlestone is exactly the kind of midfielder that Fantasy games and their scoring systems should be trying to reach. Huddlestone may claim maximum FPL bonus points from today’s convincing win but that will be only the second time he’s been recognised by the BPS. Arguably, as one of the season’s top performers so far, we should have had reason to take notice way before today’s haul. Huddlestone is one of several midfielders “underused” and undervalued in Fantasy terms.

The Selection Poser

Rooney’s absence from the United team sheet with further groin gripes was undoubtedly the biggest blow on a day which saw rotation bite. United stuttered without his influence but David Moyes and United have already confirmed that he is likely to make his return against Spurs on Wednesday. With FPL vice captains kicking in, the onus will now be back on Luis Suarez to produce at Chelsea – the impact of Rooney’s injury could well be minor, then.

Even so, with Yaya Toure omitted by Pellegrini, we saw two key figures in the established “template” go AWOL, just a few days after Aaron Ramsey’s injury. Such setbacks could yet cause a shake-up in the rankings and mini-leagues, although few Fantasy managers seem likely to have benefited significantly from today’s events.

Tomorrow’s encounter at the Bridge will be more important that ever. Should Suarez blank again and Theo Walcott, backed by some with armband, produce at Newcastle, we may yet see Gameweek 19 have a significant impact.