Our pre-Gameweek look of the PlayON Player Price List arrives once again, with just over eight hours until another deadline. As always, we offer a couple of picks per position: one essential weekend target and a left-field alternative for your consideration.
PlayON have extended their deadline for submitting teams so you can now tinker with your starting XI right up until the first kick-off each week – this evening that’s 7.45pm, where three of the Gameweek’s ten fixtures get underway.
Goalkeepers – Allan McGregor
Hull were unlucky to concede so late at the Etihad last weekend and the resilience shown before James Milner’s equaliser will be encouraging for Steve Bruce ahead of the visit of Aston Villa. The Tigers’ backline had been breached just twice in four home fixtures prior to the recent 3-0 loss against Newcastle and with Paul Lambert’s side scoring just once in the last seven, McGregor (4% ownership) looks good value at just 7.0m. Sunderland’s Costel Pantilimon hosts a QPR side that have lost every away match so far this season and are devoid of injured top scorer Charlie Austin. Given that Austin has netted four of his side’s six away goals this term, the Black Cast will be confident of a shut-out – priced at 7.2m, the 23%-owned big Romanian has averaged over four saves per appearance this season to boost his appeal.
Defenders – Alberto Moreno
We wanted to go with Patrick van Aanholt here but Pantilimon covers the Sunderland defence nicely. Instead, we have opted for a Liverpool defender after a drastic improvement at the back has earned the Merseysiders four successive clean sheets. The visit of Spurs is by no means straightforward but Moreno (7.5m, 1% ownership), with two goals this season, offers the chance of attacking returns in his wing-back berth and is also likely to be busy with tackles and interceptions. It’s difficult to ignore an Arsenal defender available for 6.3m in PlayON and with over 40% ownership it appears many agree. Hector Bellerin has started the last four and a fourth clean sheet in five is on the cards as the Gunners look to recover from the slip up at Spurs against Leicester City at the Emirates.
Midfielders – Juan Cuadrado
Chelsea’s new arrival earns the nod as our left-field pick in the centre of the park. Granted, it’s a risk to go with a player with such little Premier League experience but Cuadrado’s low 3% ownership in PlayON and record at Fiorentina makes the winger an interesting differential prospect. With doubts remaining over Leighton Baines’ fitness and bearing in mind replacement Brian Oviedo has only made five appearances this season, Jose Mourinho could give the pacey Columbian (10.3m) his first start with an intent to exploit the Toffees’ left-back situation. Saido Mane (9.5m) makes the step-up to essential status after striking the winner away to QPR last time out. The Southampton winger has now scored in each of his last four starts and with Graziano Pelle’s toiling up top, the 26%-owned Mane’s eye for goal looks key as West Ham make their way to St Mary’s.
Forwards – Jermain Defoe
The striker has hit the ground running on his return to English football. Despite grabbing two goals and an assist in his three appearances for Sunderland, Defoe remains very budget friendly at just 7.2m – he currently sits in 30% of teams ahead of a plum home fixture with a managerless QPR side that’s conceded at least twice in each of their last five on the road. Olivier Giroud makes the picks once again as Arsenal prepare for the visit of basement-dwellers Leicester. The Frenchman – priced at 10.9m and sitting in 42% of PlayON teams – has two goals and as many assists in his last three and with the Gunners midfield difficult to predict with the return of Alexis Sanchez, Giroud looks a trouble-free route into their attack.
