The Premier League’s finish line is beginning to come into shape on the horizon and it promises to be a manic ending for both the English top-flight and its virtual counterpart—the Fantasy Premier League (FPL).
For this is ‘squeaky bum time’ and the in the cut-throat world of FPL, nobody is ready to give a quarter.
And while the stakes are raised, fresh injuries/suspension and lack of form always bring up a plethora of permutations and combinations to bewilder even the most savvy of managers.
Don’t miss: Combined Manchester United-Manchester City XI on 2017-18 season form
To ease the dilemma of all the worrywarts, The Statesman is at hand with comprehensive article ahead of every gameweek to ensure that bragging rights remain with you, for one week at least.
The indicators are:
Teams in BOLD are top 4 contenders.
Prices (in £ million) marked in Green indicates a rise in Base Price.
Prices (in £ million) marked in Red indicates fall in Base Price.
Goalkeepers
Matthew Ryan
Team: Brighton & Hove Albion
Fixtures: Huddersfield (H), Crystal Palace (A)-Spurs (H), N/A, Burnley (A) and Man United (H)-Man City(A)
Price: 4.6
Score: 116
Ownership: 3.3%
Why yes: Brighton may have lost their past two games on the bounce, but when struggling Huddersfield come visiting, they’ll be heavy favourites to return to winning ways.
Two double fixture gameweeks (34 and 37) are nearing and considering their lack of clean-sheets of late, you could say the law of averages is on their side.
Why no: Brighton don’t play in Gameweek 35 and their tie against the Terriers is a real relegation six-pointer, there could just be a flurry of goals.
Fixtures look quite tough, even on paper.
Defenders
Ben Davies
Team: Tottenham Hotspur
Fixtures: Stoke (A), Man City (H)-Brighton (A), N/A, Watford (H) and West Brom (A)-Newcastle (H)
Price: 5.9
Score: 129
Ownership: 22.8%
Why yes: His price may continue to rise by the week, but Davies remains an extremely cost-effective option and from the looks of it, is ahead of Danny Rose in the pecking order.
The unassmuning fullback will get you assists and clean sheets both and with Spurs double fixture gameweeks (34 and 37) almost here, would definitely rake in some points.
Why no: Spurs, like so many others, do not play in Gameweek 35 and even their double fixture gameweek has one tough game in it.
Certainly is on the expensive side and for those who like to keep thrifty options at the back, Davies would not make sense.
Stephen Ward
Team: Burnley
Fixtures: Watford (A), Leicester (H)-Chelsea (H), Stoke (A), Brighton (A) and Arsenal (A)
Price: 4.7
Score: 88
Ownership: 7.3%
Why yes: It seems to be raining left-backs in this week’s article but there is no agenda against right-backs or centre-backs, be assured.
The Clarets have been terrific again and with a double fixture gameweek (34) almost here, one should stock their FPL side with several of their players.
Also because of the fact that they are the only side to have a double fixture in Gameweek 34 and to play in the subsequent gameweek as well.
Why no: Fixtures aren’t the easiest. And with the likes of Nick Pope (£5.0 m) in goal, James Tarkowski (£4.5 m) and Mathew Lowton (£4.4 m) in defence, and Ashley Barnes (£5.4 m) up top, all firing, it will be difficult to pick Ward over the rest of his teammates.
Midfielders
Aaron Lennon
Team: Burnley
Fixtures: Watford (A), Leicester (H)-Chelsea (H), Stoke (A), Brighton (H) and Arsenal (A)
Price: 5.4
Score: 51
Ownership: 0.2%
Why yes: The first wildcard pick, Lennon has actually been in decent nick of late (two assists in two games) and with Burnley set to play twice in Gameweek 34 and once in Gameweek 35, is a low-risk, high-differential pick.
Why no: As mentioned earlier, so many Clarets players are appealing propositions that most FPL managers would rather pick someone else from Sean Dyche’s side rather than use up their max quota on Lennon.
Willian
Team: Chelsea
Fixtures: West Ham (H), Southampton (A)-Burnley (A), N/A, Swansea (A), Liverpool (H)-Huddersfield (H)
Price: 7.1
Score: 119
Ownership: 14.0%
Why yes: Chelsea may be down in the dumps at the moment, but things can only improve for the Blues, right?
West Ham may be in form, but London derbies are almost always chaotic affairs and if there’s one Chelsea player who could rack up the points, it would be their in-form Brazilian.
The West Londoners have two double fixture game weeks coming up (34 and 27) to add to the South American’s appeal. Far more reasonably priced than most of his teammates too.
Why no: Blues forward Alvaro Morata’s (£10.4 m) come into form of late too and definitely deserves a dekho.
With little to play for except pride, there are many who feel that the players will just see out the rest of the Premier League season, especially as they are still involved in the FA Cup.
Forwards
Harry Kane
Team: Tottenham Hotspur
Fixtures: Stoke (A), Man City (H)-Brighton (A), N/A, Watford (H) and West Brom (A)-Newcastle (H)
Price: 12.7
Score: 180
Ownership: 25.8%
Why yes: After a miraculous recovery from an ankle injury, Kane’s back and is a man on a mission.
The Lilyhwites, who are in excellent form, centre their game around him and the reigning Golden Boot winner will do his best to keep his individual award from nestling in the arms of Mohamed Salah.
Spurs have not one, but two double fixture gameweeks (34 & 37) nearing and Kane is a must-have, despite his high price.
As an added bonus, most of the North Londoners’ fixtures are pretty routine.
Why no: Is monstrously expensive and isn’t much of a differential. Mauricio Pochettino’s men do not have a fixture in Gameweek 35.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Team: Everton
Fixtures: Liverpool (H), Swansea (A), Newcastle (H), Huddersfield (A) and Southampton (H)
Price: 5.0
Score: 86
Ownership: 4.6%
Why yes: Barring their understandable loss to City last week, the Toffees have been in decent form of late and their young forward is the second wildcard pick. With Liverpool struggling from a ‘crisis’ at the back, expect Sam Allardyce’s men to make life uncomfortable for their illustrious neighbours with their direct brand of football. Calvert-Lewin’s got two assists in as many games and his powerful running and physical presence makes a leading candidate to wreak havoc in the Merseyside derby.
Why no: Everton haven’t had much luck against their crosstown rivals, who will be buzzing after their midweek smashing of Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League. No double fixture gameweeks for the Blue half of Merseyside, either.
PS: The Gameweek deadline is 11.30 am GMT/4 pm IST.
Previous articles in this series: