The frustrating thing about playing fantasy Premier League (or any fantasy sport for that matter) is having a tendency to go with certain teams and players that have led to success in the past.
For example: Liverpool was fantastic last season, a constant source of goals from midfield and attack. Steven Gerrard provided assists and scored penalties, Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge bagged the goals by the bucket. Through 10 games this season, though, the Reds have scored 13 goals, compared to 17 at this point in the last campaign.
Throw away your preconceived notions on teams and players, and get with the program. Live in the moment.
The good news is there are some juicy match-ups to take advantage of this week. Southampton should pick up points at home vs Leicester City. Also, Manchester United takes on Crystal Palace at Old Trafford, and Stewart Downing will lead West Ham at Upton Park against Aston Villa.
European Football Weekly: Sportsnet 590 The FAN’s Dan Riccio, Derrick Brandao and Thomas Michalakos take an in-depth look at the beautiful game on the European Football Weekly podcast. For more details and to listen to past shows, CLICK HERE
Just a reminder that you can join European Football Weekly’s Fantasy Footy League by CLICKING HERE. (League ID: 10067 and Password: m0d2xng)
Here’s what I’m looking at for Week 11 in fantasy football.
GOALKEEPERS
Fraser Forster (8.67M) – Southampton: Six clean sheets (a league high), and a home date with struggling Leicester City, who haven’t scored since Oct. 4th. Forget about the five-goal outburst against Manchester United, and the Foxes have scored just six times this season.
Honorable mentions: David De Gea (Manchester United), Adrian (West Ham), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham)
DEFENDERS
Ryan Bertrand (8.99M) – Southampton: He’s the best pick from the Saints’ defence and remains affordable. Southampton has the best defensive record in the league so far, so you’d be silly to not have at least one of their defenders in your starting 11.
Aaron Cresswell (4.25M) – West Ham: This young Hammer has been a joy to watch this season. The marauding full back has been affordable yet reliable on a weekly basis. However he is owned by 35 percent of owners, making it likely your opponent have him too.
Bargain bin: Paddy McNair (1.2M) – Manchester United: Guaranteed starters at that price are hard to come by. The Red Devils may never get another clean sheet… okay they will, but I don’t think it’s coming at home to Palace this weekend. At least find him a spot on your bench.
MIDFIELDERS
Angel Di Maria (16.14M) – Manchester United: Sunderland scored three times on Palace. Sunderland!
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (7.66M) – Arsenal: The Ox picked up a goal in Champions League on Tuesday, and racked up 16 points for fantasy owners last week despite not scoring or notching an assist.
Stewart Downing (12.28M) – West Ham: Sam Allardyce has moved Downing to a more central role, and he’s impressed every step of the way.
Yaya Toure (9.97M) – Manchester City: He apologized to City fans for the red card he took in the Champions League, but I’d like to see him make up for it on the pitch at QPR this weekend.
Obvious choice: Dusan Tadic (Southampton)
Watchlist: Theo Walcott (Arsenal)
FORWARDS
Alexis Sanchez (15.51M) – Arsenal: The Chilean IS Arsenal right now.
Graziano Pelle (7.45M) – Southampton: The bad thing about Pelle is that if he isn’t scoring, he’s probably not providing much for your team. The good thing is his price has dropped over the last two weeks.
Harry Kane (9M) – Tottenham: Kane is Spurs’ best striker, I have no doubts about that. It’s whether or not he’ll start that’s the question.
Honorable mentions: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Diego Costa (Chelsea), Diafra Sakho
Player to avoid: Robin van Persie (12.89M) – Manchester United: Reports have surfaced that Robin van Persie will be dropped from Louis van Gaal’s starting XI in favour of James Wilson this weekend. Whether it’s true or not, let’s be honest: RVP hasn’t looked good at all this season. It’s not the time to be counting on him in your lineup.
My starting XI: Forster; Cresswell, McNair, Bertrand; Toure, Di Maria, Tadic, Lamela; Sanchez, Costa, Rooney