Ahead of a big weekend in the Premier League, particularly for the top four sides, here are my tips for your fantasy teams.
13
Buy: Sergio Aguero – Forward, Manchester City, 13.6
In what is surely a sign of the apocalypse, I have been right on Aguero a record four weeks running! On 14 goals, in just 18 matches, Aguero has the best goal per game average (7.8) and the second best strike rate (60%) in the league. Now, I know Tottenham have the best defense in the Premier League, but Aguero actually has a tremendous record against them, scoring 9 goals in their last 7 meetings. I am not saying he will score in this one, but I am definitely not not saying it.
11
Sell: Alexis Sanchez – Midfielder, Arsenal, 11.0
Looks like Alexis has wiggled himself up into the ‘elevensphere’ (definitely not a word), forcing me to talk about him. He has failed to score more than 3 points in a match since his return from injury and gets to face two top ten defences in his next two matches. He seems to have difficulty playing with Giroud, so steer clear until that is sorted, or until Walcott inevitably gets his run of matches up front for Arsenal.
10
Buy: Wayne Rooney – Forward, Manchester United, 10.0
Now I know he burned everyone hard at the start of the season, but Rooney has really turned things around of late. He is averaging 8.4 points per game over his last five matches behind 4 goals and 2 assists, and is showing no signs of slowing down. Manchester have a fairly easy run of fixtures save for Arsenal in MW27.
Sell: Eden Hazard – Midfielder, Chelsea, 10.8
Imagine my surprise when someone mentioned Hazard is still 11.9% owned. Are you imagining my disgust? Good. Even when he was playing he was not getting points, and now he is barely playing with a grand total of 68 minutes and three points in his last five matches.
9
Buy: Mesut Ozil – Midfielder, Arsenal, 9.9
Everyone that dropped him looked a bit silly after last week, eh? I know the fixture list is not kind with top six defences in three of his next four but, unlike his Arsenal contemporaries, is fairly matchup proof earning 26 points against those three clubs (Leicester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham) in the first half of the season. I still think he easily ends the season as a top three midfielder.
Sell: David Silva – Midfielder, Manchester City, 9.9
I wanted it to work out so badly, but it just did not. Silva was already massively disappointing earning more than three points just once since his return from injury and now he has returned to injury. I am bailing on all Manchester City midfielders not named… You know what? Sell all Manchester City midfielders.
8
Buy: Roberto Firmino – Midfielder, Liverpool, 8.2
This really does not fit into the ‘Buy/Sell’ format at all but, if you have him definitely start him this week, and then promptly sell him next week. He is in my top five midfielders for MW26 facing the worst team in the league (Aston Villa), but then things get bad really fast. Firmino will miss MW27 due to the Capital One Cup final then, by the time he is back, he will have a fit Daniel Sturridge to take his place at the tip of the spear, and a fit Coutinho possibly pushing him out wide. Oh and the matchups starting MW27? Manchester City, Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Southampton, and Tottenham.
Sell: Yaya Toure – Midfielder, Manchester City, 8.5
What did I say about Manchester City midfielders? Yaya has fallen massively off the pace managing just one shot on target in his last five matches. Now he faces Tottenham, a MW27 blank, and Liverpool. No thank you.
7
Buy: Jamie Vardy – Forward, Leicester City, 7.4
You obviously do not love the matchup against Arsenal next week but, starting in MW27, they have a very kind run of matches with their nine opponents average twelfth in defensive efficiency. On top of that, Leicester are one of just four teams with a guaranteed fixture in MW30, so now is the perfect time to bring in the Premier League goal leader.
Sell: Gylfi Sigurdsson – Midfielder, Swansea City, 7.0
I am one of the biggest Sigurdsson advocates out there but, despite his incredible run of form, the matchups are just too difficult for me to stay on board. Over his next three matches he faces Southampton, Tottenham, and Arsenal otherwise known as 4th, 1st, and 2nd ranked teams in goals allowed. He is still usable in other formats but do not expect much if you use him in the official game.
6
Buy: Dele Alli – Midfielder, Tottenham Hotspur, 6.0
Dele Alli has been a bit short on minutes the last two weeks due to dizziness which is reported (by no one but me) to have been caused by his rapid ascension in fantasy value! Alli has gone up an impressive 1.0 since the start of season and is now sits 6th among midfielders in points! Despite a difficult City fixture on the horizon, you have to favour the Spurs starlet who has managed an incredible two goals and three assists in limited playing time.
Sell: Manchester City, Defenders – 5.3-6.5
Remember how I said to drop all City midfielders? Well as it turns out, Aguero is the only City player worth owning at the moment. Not only do their defenders continually pop inexplicably in and out of the starting eleven, but the next three match weeks are Tottenham, no match, and Liverpool. I often advise against clean sheet gambles, and the odds are not even fair here.
5
Buy: Enner Valencia – Forward, West Ham United, 5.9
Valencia continues to fall under the radar and, as such, is owned by just 1.8% of teams. He has led the line brilliantly in the absence of Diafra Sakho notching 4 goals and an assist in his last five. Now he gets to face bottom -10 defences in three of the next four matches (Norwich City, Sunderland, and Everton).
Sell: Nathaniel Clyne – Defender, Liverpool, 5.2
He has earned just four points in his last five matches. That is not an average, it is a total. He is 20.3% of leagues. Stop it.
4
Buy: Cameron Borthwick-Jackson – Defender, Manchester United, 4.0
He was very unfortunate to not notch a clean sheet last week, but continues to be the cheapest option in a Manchester Defense tied for 2nd in goals allowed (22). Now he gets to face Sunderland who, while performing better of late, are still bottom-10 in goals scored. Anthony Martial has been cutting in from the left the past few weeks which means CBJ has loads of space in attack which should help him send in even more well-shaped crosses.
Sell: Ashley Williams – Defender, Swansea City, 4.8
I have never been a big fan of Williams for fantasy but Swansea are about to face hell specially designed for them. Swansea’s last three conceded goals have all been from set pieces and their next two matches are against Tottenham and Southampton who rank 1st and 3rd in set piece goals respectively. Surely they have an easier match after that, right? Nope. Swansea then face Arsenal in MW28.
TEB Fantasy Football League (top ten)
| # | Team | Manager | GW | TOT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1 | Money Cabaye Success | Matt Jones | +91 | 1,463 |
|
2 | Cabaye-Bye-Bye | Matthew Freeman | +69 | 1,436 |
|
3 | Crystal Phallus FC | Simon Dixon | +80 | 1,433 |
 |
4 | Chelsea Dagger | David Gilbert | +52 | 1,427 |
|
5 | Clunge FC | David Bailey | +76 | 1,416 |
|
6 | fifty-fifty | Ramchandra Ram | +61 | 1,412 |
|
7 | bumblastic | Raj Neha | +66 | 1,410 |
|
8 | Tea and Busquets | Lewis Carter | +73 | 1,406 |
|
9 | Wei’s Tight Shorts | Mark Bailey | +58 | 1,392 |
|
10 | best of best | Anamika singh | +65 | 1,391 |
