The international break is over, and thank goodness. It’s always a trying time for us footy lovers, right? We just start getting into the club season, story lines begin to write themselves, and then BAM! A major blow to the momentum hits with the break.
However, I have had an extra week to mull over some fantasy footy options, which could be a good thing. As always here are the details on how to get hooked up into the European Football Weekly Fantasy Footy League. (League ID: 10067, Password: m0d2xng)
Here are my picks for this week…
GOALKEEPERS
Thibault Courtois – Chelsea (6.71M): The new Chelsea man has fared well so far, however his price took a bit of a dip after letting three by him at Everton. Swansea City has been good so far this campaign but can they break Mourinho’s Chelsea in this weekend’s battle for top of the table? I doubt it.
David De Gea – Manchester United (10.41M): The Spaniard is priced a tad high for me to get in my lineup, but the time is now for Manchester United to put up, or shut up. The transfer deadline has now passed, and a home fixture to newly promoted QPR is the perfect way from the to start heading back up the table.
Fraser Forster – Southampton (4.89M): I hinted at Forster a couple of week ago in this column. The Saints have a nice little stretch of games coming up. Forster’s lone clean sheet this season did come at home, so this is a good week to start him at St. Mary’s with Newcastle visiting.
DEFENDERS
Branislav Ivanovic – Chelsea (13.84M): He’s been Chelsea’s MVP so far. Incredibly fun to watch bombing up the right flank. Ride his run of form while it lasts.
Erik Pieters – Stoke City (10.29M): Pieters is a good bet to get a handful of points even if the Potters fail to get a clean sheet at the Britannia, which is why he’s the best of the Stoke City bunch to take a chance on this week. Leicester may seem a good matchup, but they’ve scored in two of three games against the likes of Everton, Arsenal and Chelsea. Did I mention he was man of the match in their win over Manchester City two weeks ago?
Marcos Rojo – Manchester United (7.28M): It’s time to take a chance on the new Red Devil. With Rojo finally getting his work permit, he’s a good bet to be in Louis van Gaal’s starting 11, and with QPR having only scored once so far this season in three matches, it’s a good matchup.
Patrick van Aanholt – Sunderland (7.77M): The Chelsea youth product has benefited from the transfer to Sunderland, and is the fifth best defender in fantasy footy through three game weeks. Still reasonably priced.
Alberto Moreno – Liverpool (10.14M): A defender that can score goals like he did against Tottenham two weeks ago? Yes, please.
Martin Kelly – Crystal Palace (1.9M): Palace won’t be the defensive stalwarts at Selhurst Park under Neil Warnock like they were under Tony Pulis last season, but it’d be silly to keep a nailed down starter at this price off your squad. At the very least have him in one of your bench slots.
MIDFIELDERS
Dusan Tadic – Southampton (7.16M): He’s been a solid point provider in all three games so far. No reason to see why that stops this week at home to the leaky Newcastle defence.
Angel Di Maria – Manchester United (11.24M): It’s time. Di Maria has the potential to be United’s next great super-star. His performance for Argentina last week was majestic. I’m banking on him continuing that success.
Eden Hazard – Chelsea (14.85M): He’s enjoyed watching Diego Costa score the goals early on, but with Spaniard’s status for the weekend in doubt, Hazard may be counted on by Mourinho against Swansea.
Wilfred Zaha – Crystal Palace (7M): I’d like to think he can build off the goal he scored against Newcastle two weeks ago. He can create opportunities with his speed alone. Good option this week at home to Burnley.
David Silva – Manchester City (10.58M): The Spain international has a knack for showing up in the big games. This week City travels to Arsenal, and while I may avoid players from either team altogether, Silva is the only one I’d think about starting.
Raheem Sterling – Liverpool (12.66M): The injury to Daniel Sturridge is a blow for Liverpool. The good thing is, they have one of the most exciting young players in the game on their squad. Raheem Sterling can carry the load in the Sturridge’s absence, and he may be helped on by a certain Italian.
Player to Avoid
Nemanja Matic – Chelsea – (8.26M): Don’t get over excited about Matic’s big 23 point outburst against Everton. He’s a defensive midfielder and what do we know about defensive midfielders? Their fantasy footy outbursts are usually few and far between.
FORWARDS
Radamel Falcao – Manchester United (7.65M): Will he solve all of Manchester United’s problems? No. Will he score goals? Yes. It’s a risky pick this early in his Premier League career, but I’m taking the plunge.
Mario Balotelli – Liverpool (10.83M): Balotelli started his Milan career with a brace. He played well in his Liverpool debut but came up empty. He’s a good bet for a goal this week especially if you look at his Serie A career and see what he did against some of the lower level clubs.
Graziano Pelle – Southampton (5.85M): It may be worth taking a punt on the former Italy U-21 striker. He’s fared well so far with one goal for Southampton. He and Tadic seem to have good chemistry.
Saido Berahino – West Brom (8.13M): West Brom has found quite the gem in this young man. The fourth highest scoring forward in fantasy footy thus far, and he gets Everton’s league worst defence to work on this week. Is it a risk worth taking? Maybe not, but if you are feeling lucky, there a few other options that are more interesting at the moment.
My starting XI (Subject to change): Courtois; Bertrand, Dier, Wilson; Lamela, Sterling, Hazard, Di Maria; Falcao, Balotelli, Costa
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