Week 7 wow! Can you believe it? We’re already nearly 20% of the way through the season. The new season feels like a holiday you’ve been looking forward to; it takes for ever to get here and once it does it simply fly’s by. Made even worse by the fact that next summer brings with it no tournament and I’m going to have to start really concentrating on making the most of the remaining 80%.
My new focus has to start with getting another 100+ score this week and positioning myself to take full advantage of week 8 where, thankfully, there’s some clear mismatches. The first one on the list has to be:
Arsenal
Choosing players during the barn-door is about maximising your team for the following week but if a team is about to go into an easier run of fixtures then you should take advantage. Wenger is home to Hull, before visiting Sunderland and then facing Burnley at home – A nice run by anyone’s standards. Here’s who I’ll be considering:
Ozil – He hasn’t been setting the fantasy world alight as he once did but Ramsey’s injury could bring him back into a more central and higher scoring role.
Sanchez – I wouldn’t have him in my team against Chelsea but he should excel against Hull.
Chambers/Gibbs – I think these are solid bets but there’s every chance that a certain Mr. Costa will give you a helping hand and bring their price down this week.
Liverpool
Many of you will already be on the Liverpool bandwagon as they face West Brom at Anfield this weekend. For those of you who aren’t, I’m sure week 8’s match against QPR, week 9’s against Hull and week 10’s against Newcastle may well tempt you. I’d suggest:
Sterling – You know why
Balotelli – His first goal has to come soon, surely?
Mignolet – This run of fixtures should suit him down to the ground and although he’s actually returned a negative score for half of his games this season, I think 8.85m is a good deal.
Newcastle
Yes, you read it right, they’re on the list. I don’t really like it myself but at home to a Leicester side who have only kept one clean sheet you have to consider them. They won’t continue to lose forever and so you could consider:
P Cisse – If he starts this week against Swansea then I think you’re likely seeing a confirmed change of striker away from Riviere. If that’s the case then 7.99m seems a good price for differential and for a player who has proven he can amass enormous fantasy points.
West Ham
I never thought that I’d have West Ham in this article twice in a row but you have to fancy them against Burnley (before you promptly drop them for the game against Man City in week 9). I suggest:
Downing – Tipped this time last week, his average is astonishing and 11.96m still seems like a bargain.
Sahko – Those looking for a genuine differential pick should look no further – he costs 8.24m and has averaged 12.33 over the last three games. Even more impressive, where some players get averages like that from one big score and two small, his run of 10, 13 and 14 points bodes very well.
Jenkinson – All eyes appear to be on Cresswell but I think Jenkinson offers a great pick at just 4.27m
Everton
Wow, this really isn’t the start to the season that anyone expected huh? What amazes everyone quite rightly is that it’s the same players who were so good last year that are making all the mistakes this year. Aston Villa however have been through the mill having played Chelsea, Arsenal and Man City however and that hangover could well leave Everton’s attack specifically in a good position:
Atsu/Pienaar – at 4.03m and 6.95 respectively these two players look most likely to replace the injured Miralles. Keep a close eye on this week’s match to see what develops.
Lukaku – Given the right circumstances the Belgian can easily get on the scoreboard – I think these are exactly the right circumstances.
Defenders – Most of the Everton defence are too expensive to offer value however that value for money ill further erode if Benteke returns to the fold this week.
That’s it for this week, see you on the other side of the weekend with by “By The Numbers” column.
