The Watchlist Updated – Gameweek 36

There may be just three rounds of fixtures left for Fantasy managers to plan around, but with injuries, form and a double Gameweek 37 all to consider, we’ve given our Watchlist rankings another update. Our player recommendations are listed in the sidebar on your right – read on for the reasoning behind this week’s refresh:

The Defence

Sunderland’s Vito Mannone is on the rise ahead of three home games and a double in the remaining three rounds of fixtures. The Italian’s heroics at Chelsea last weekend meant he produced a six-point haul despite conceding, with an incredible 14 saves defying Jose Mourinho’s side time and again in the 2-1 triumph – with Cardiff, West Brom and Swansea all rolling up to the Stadium of Light, Mannone’s price of 4.5 and average of 4.6 points per game look too good to ignore for those shopping for a stopper.

Man City’s Martin Demichelis takes top spot in the defender standings. The centre-half has averaged 4.3 ppg so far, yet is owned by only 1% of Fantasy Premier League managers – a goal against West Brom on Monday took his tally to a couple of strikes in the last seven, with three favourable fixtures (cpl, eve & AVL, WHM) still to follow.

David De Gea and Chris Smalling are also on the rise ahead of three home matches (NOR, SUN & HUL) in the next couple of Gameweeks. Smalling is priced at just 4.6 and could be set to benefit from injuries to others at the back as United look to draw a line under the recent dismissal of David Moyes and end the season on a high.

North London duo Laurent Koscielny and Younes Kaboul are on the rise. Koscielny is now down to just 5.4, and having recovered from injury, he helped Arsenal to a clean sheet against Hull last weekend and now has three very favourable fixtures (WBA, NEW, nor) to see out the season. Kaboul may struggle to deliver defensive returns in a Spurs side without a shut-out in seven but the 4.6-priced centre-half has served up a goal and assist in the previous three and faces Stoke, West Ham and Villa from here on in.

Leighton Baines makes a belated entry as our Everton defender of choice. The in-form left-back has produced three assists, a couple of goals and eight bonus points (in addition to five clean sheets) from March onwards, whilst Kevin Mirallas’ season-ending groin injury ensures he’ll be first in line for free-kicks for the final trio of fixtures against Southampton, City and Hull.

Hull’s James Chester is a nailed-on budget option with a double Gameweek 37 on his agenda. Available for only 3.8, the Tigers’ centre-half makes his way to Fulham this weekend before a clash against Villa precedes a tricky trip to Old Trafford – a home game with Everton on the final day of the season hands Steve Bruce’s side the chance to add to their eight clean sheets at the KC this term.

Midfield

Having bagged 55 points in the last five Gameweeks, Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen reaches the summit of this week’s midfield refresh. As the market kicks into overdrive, the Dane has rocketed in price from 6.5 to 7.1 in the last couple of weeks – having played a part in nine of his side’s 14 goals over that period.

United’s Juan Mata moves up in light of the trio of aforementioned home games. The Old Trafford outfit are expected to go on the attack from here on in, and having produced 31 points in two appearances prior to Sunday’s blank at Everton, the Spaniard still carries the form which will surely see many scramble for his signature. With Robin van Persie remaining on the sidelines, Mata’s likely role behind Wayne Rooney also boosts his appeal.

Aaron Ramsey’s 16-point haul against Hull last weekend affords him a significant leap this time around. The Gunners’ final three matches look full of points potential and Ramsey, at just 7.2, has already picked up plenty of new owners after delivering his highest return of the season in his first start of 2014.

Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling climbs ahead of team-mate Steven Gerrard, though there’s no doubt the upcoming pair of fixtures against Chelsea and Palace could prove a little tricky. Nonetheless, with a price of 5.9 (to Gerrard’s 9.9) and a security of starts no longer in doubt due to the absence of Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge, Sterling offers a very budget-friendly route into the league leaders’ free-scoring attack.

Samir Nasri is the highest ranked City midfielder, almost by default. David Silva seems likely to be sidelined for a fortnight according to reports, whilst Yaya Toure is expected back in training but is by no means certain to feature at the weekend – at 8.6 and with a couple of goals in the last four Gameweeks, Nasri’s security of starts and injury-free run gives him the edge. If Toure can prove his fitness, though, the Ivorian will climb above his Etihad team-mate in our thinking.

Stoke’s Marko Arnautovic offers an in-form option in the budget bracket. The Austrian finally seems to have settled after a patchy first few months and, at 5.1, has delivered two goals, three assists and five bonus points in his last six appearances – he now has back-to-back matches against Spurs and Fulham at fortress Britannia before travelling to West Brom on the final day of the season.

Forwards

Luis Suarez holds steady at the top, though both Sergio Aguero and Wayne Rooney looks equally enticing options and also have four fixtures in the final three Gameweeks to bring in the points. Many Fantasy managers are looking to that premium-priced trio to lead the line for the run-in – Rooney has six goals and an assist in seven, despite United’s poor form, whilst Aguero’s goal and assist against West Brom served a reminder of his potential after the Argentine delivered 12 points in just 63 minutes on Monday evening.

Lukas Podolski and Wilfried Bony are a couple of in-form, mid-price options with plenty still to play for. Podolski has bagged a brace in each of the last two matches, and with Arsenal looking back to their best, offers a viable alternative at 7.8, with an ownership of only 2%. Bony’s double against Newcastle took Swansea a step nearer safety last weekend – the 7.2-priced Ivorian now has back-to-back home games with Villa and Southampton before a final day trip to Sunderland.

Sunderland’s Fabio Borini comes in at just 6.2, and as we saw last weekend, has spot-kick duties to boost his points potential. Whilst Connor Wickham is cheaper (4.6) and has notched three times in the last two, he was forced off with a knock at Stamford Bridge but is hoping to be ready for the weekend – additionally, Borini has far greater underlying statistics ahead of the Black Cats’ trio of home fixtures.