It’s a strange week for the Premier League from a fantasy football perspective. No real fixture sticks out.
The one thing I would do, though, is take a look at the form table. Manchester City is away to Everton. City is unbeaten over the last six weeks (with five wins) while Everton has just one win during the same stretch (with five draws). Keep that in mind when you’re putting together your fantasy team.
My other suggestion is to keep things varied in your team this week. Don’t focus in too much on one side, or just on the “big teams” as it could be a dangerous proposition in a week like this.
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Here’s what else I’m looking at for Week 21 in fantasy football.
GOALKEEPERS
Thibault Courtois (6.17M) – Chelsea: A scary minus-11 point haul from the Belgian probably ruined your New Year’s Day fantasy hopes. Looking forward, it only means that Courtois is very affordable at the moment, and will be a staple of many fantasy owners when Chelsea plays Newcastle this weekend.
Ben Foster (3.61M) – West Bromwich Albion: The Baggies’ defensive woes may be a thing of the past. With Tony Pulis in town, West Brom is about to become a much tougher team to break down, which is a very good thing for Foster’s prospects in goal, especially this week at home to Hull City.
DEFENDERS
Gary Cahill (10.37M) – Chelsea: A bounce back candidate after a nightmare against Tottenham, he’s the cheapest of the Chelsea defenders. John Terry (three goals in last four appearances) won’t keep scoring at this pace.
Eliaquim Mangala (6.83M) – Manchester City: The Citizens allowed just four goals in December. Mangala was a staple in central defence, so keep rolling him out there as he has settled into the side. Pablo Zabaleta (10.3M) is also a good choice if you can afford him.
West Brom Defenders: Andre Wisdom could be the pick of the litter (6.84M) as the Baggies look set to shore things up at the back under relegation guru Pulis.
Kieran Trippier (10.66M) – Burnley: It’s a tough ask to fit the Burnley defender into your line up with his price tag. However, he’s been among the most reliable defenders in Premier League fantasy football this season, and Burnley hosts winless-on-the-road Queens Park Rangers this week.
MIDFIELDERS
Fernandinho (7.14M) – Manchester City: With Yaya Toure leaving for the Africa Cup of Nations, he may be in line for a bigger role in the attack while fellow Brazilian Fernando covers the back line.
Santi Cazorla (16.49M) – Arsenal: The Spaniard has collected nearly 100 fantasy points more than any other Arsenal midfielder, and has taken over penalty duties. A good choice as the Gunners’ look to avenge a loss at Stoke last month.
Christian Eriksen (12.7M) – Tottenham: The key reason Tottenham’s fortunes have turned of late.
Obvious picks: Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard
FORWARDS
Bafetimbi Gomis (5.25M) – Swansea City: With Wilfied Bony off to the Africa Cup of Nations, and possibly Manchester City, Gomis is set for his biggest opportunity yet as a Swan. Worth the gamble.
Stevan Jovetic (10.6M) – Manchester City: It won’t be long before Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero return from injury. Until then, the Montenegrin is the best and only choice for a City striker.
Saido Berahino (7.67M) – West Bromwich Albion: The transfer rumours are swirling around Berahino, and with four goals in his recent FA Cup match it looks like the young Englishman is pushing for his way out of the Hawthorns this January.
Obvious picks: Diego Costa, Alexis Sanchez
My starting XI: Courtois; Okore, Mangala, Cresswell; Hazard, Eriksen, Fernandinho, Sterling; Sanchez, Costa, Gomis