Our Friday lunchtime analysis of the PlayON Player Price List arrives once again, as the minutes tick down 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 – tomorrow that’s 12.45pm, when West Ham and Palace get the Gameweek underway at Upton Park.
This week there is over £1,500 in Guaranteed Pots and £300 in Free Entry Pots on offer at PlayON – check out the games here.
Goalkeepers – Adrian
The Spaniard was the top scoring goalkeeper last week and accrued an impressive 1925 PlayON points despite conceding two goals to Spurs. That tally included six saves (worth 200pts each) bringing his total to 25 stops over five matches. Priced at 7.1m, Adrian faces a Crystal Palace side short on strikers and even if the Eagles do score, the 9%-owned Hammers keeper appears likely to balance the bring home the save points. David De Gea (8.0m) is our other pick in goal this week as Man United welcome a Sunderland side that have scored just once in three league outings. With no injuries in defence, Louis van Gaal’s back-four is perhaps a little difficult to second-guess, leaving De Gea – who is owned by 24% of PlayON managers – a safer option for those looking to invest in the Red Devils’ rearguard.
Defenders – Daryl Janmaat
Having suffered a demoralising 5-0 loss at Man City last weekend, Newcastle will be desperate to bounce back as struggling Aston Villa pay visit. Janmaat has already assisted six times this season – only Leighton Baines has managed more amongst defenders – and, having recovered from a slight groin injury, is available for just 7.0m this weekend. John Carver’s side have just one clean sheet in 14 but bearing in mind that Villa have failed to score in each of their last six road trips, Janmaat, with a mere 8% ownership, is a perfect left-field pick. Laurent Koscielny has produced two goals and as many clean sheets in Arsenal’s last three home league matches. Setting you back 8.4m, the in-form Frenchman (12% ownership) offers a decent shout for points at both ends of the pitch against a visiting Everton side that have failed to score in three of the last five Gameweeks.
Midfielders – Victor Moses
Prior to Stoke’s 4-1 defeat to Man City in their previous home match, Mark Hughes’ side had notched six goals in three at the Britannia and will expect to get back to winning ways as Hull roll up this weekend. Coming in at 7.8m and owned by 26% of PlayON managers, Moses scored his second of the season from the spot in the 2-1 win over Aston Villa last Saturday and his strong underlying stats bode well for further returns. Man United have scored 19 goals in nine matches at Old Trafford since Angel Di Maria (29% ownership) last netted in the league in November. The 13.3m-priced winger has provided a steady supply of assists, though, creating four goals in as many matches, and his total of 10 attempts on goal over that period suggests his goal drought could be coming to an end as Sunderland roll up to Old Trafford.
Forwards – Diafra Sakho
A goal against Spurs last Sunday was the West Ham forward’s first since New Year’s Day. Sakho’s strike took his tally to eight for the campaign and with a home clash against Crystal Palace up next, the Senegal international will be looking to reprise the form that saw him net in five successive matches in the autumn. With Andy Carroll out for the season and Enner Valencia failing to score since November, Sakho – who costs 8.5m and currently sits in 11% of PlayON teams – will fancy his chances against a defence that has managed just one clean sheet in six under new boss Alan Pardew. We almost went for Olivier Giroud as our essential forward but after a misfiring display at the Emirates on Wednesday we’ve turned to Sergio Aguero once again. The 29%-owned Argentine’s midweek consolation against Barcelona was his fourth in three appearances and a trip to Liverpool promises goals, with a total of 20 scored in the last five league clashes between these sides. Available for 15.0m, Aguero has the most shots (90) of any player in the league to date and has already breached the Reds’ backline, after netting in the 3-1 Etihad win over Brendan Rodgers’ side earlier in the season.
Head over to www.PlayON.co now to get your teams in for the Free Entry games and the £1,500 in Guaranteed Pots.
