As we all likely know by now, Fantasy Premier League (FPL) have granted unlimited transfers to reassess and fix our Fantasy outfits ahead of Gameweek two.
Given such freedom to pick and choose new teams as we please, Fantasy managers should be ready and willing to select a captain who will come out of the traps kicking and screaming.
David Silva topped affairs last week and fortunately did voters proud – the problem was that the Man City playmaker was one of only a small handful of players to score points in this low-scoring Gameweek. Here’s a few we think might top affairs come Saturday morning deadline…
Fernando Torres
There was something a little different about Fernando Torres’ display last Sunday. Despite failing to score in the nil-nil draw with Stoke, there was a Joie de vivre about El Nino’s game- he looked hungry and livelier than ever before in a Chelsea shirt and hinted at a return to the form of old.
A home tie against West Brom -a game in which Chelsea scored six goals last season- offer the perfect platform for Torres to spread his wings and fly. Fingers crossed it doesn’t prove a false dawn.
Similar Alternatives: Frank Lampard, Florent Malouda
Wayne Rooney
Rooney is already off the mark this season. Netting at West Brom from open play, Man United’s star forward carried forward his sparkling pre-season displays as the champions opened their account with a win.
A home game against Tottenham isn’t going to be the top fixture on paper to attract investment, but United are deadly at home- they dropped just two points at Old Tarafford all last season. Throw in his spot-kick duties in addition to his overall good form and we envisage there will be a fair few handing him the armband for the final fixture of the gameweek.
Similar Alternatives: Ashley Young, Luis Nani
Darren Bent
The Aston Villa hitman is one of those strikers you buy for a season and not just for Christmas – he’ll have lean weeks but, as the years have shown, will get you the points on a regular enough basis.
A home match with Blackburn Rovers tied into a belief that we think his chances of picking up bonus points could see an increase under the new EA Sports PPI Index, suggests Bent is looking a good proposition for Gameweek 2.
Similar Alternative: Charles N’Zogbia
Leighton Baines
Everton were the other side unable to take part in Gameweek 1. Fortunately, unlike Spurs, they won’t be facing the reigning champions- instead they play host to a QPR side still licking their wounds from a 4-0 battering at Loftus Road last weekend.
Despite a 8.0 price tag hanging round the neck of Leighton Baines, last season’s top-scoring FPL defender has shown he’s clearly capable of producing the same points returns as the majority of midfielders; 5 goals and 11 assists in 2010/11 attests to that.
His forays up and down the left-flank will prove vital for the Toffees and up against a recovering Kieron Dyer (or Bradley Orr), Baines will favour his chances. He’s also a dab hand at set-pieces.
Similar Alternatives: Louis Saha, Tim Cahill
Alternative Alternatives
Grant Holt – A kind first home fixture for a penalty-taking captain of this newly-promoted side.
Scott Sinclair – Remove the club captaincy and we’ve got a rinse and repeat case of the above.
Steven Fletcher – The Wolves striker has been all about goals when given time on the pitch. He now seems more secure and will be hosting Fulham.
The poll is now hot off the presses and awaiting your votes, as you can see we think the strikers are going to rule supreme this week – but who are we to know? The evidence of your accumulated clicking fingers will tell us in a couple days time exactly where favour lies.
