Early on in this Premier League season, West Ham United was a consistent source of goodness for fantasy football managers.
They scored multiple goals in all but three matches through October, and recorded a couple of clean sheets as well. They were good on the field, and in your fantasy squad.
However their first game of November saw Dimitri Payet go down injured, and thus their offence suffered. Payet is central to everything the Hammers do offensively, and it could be argued he has been the top Premier League signing of the season. He has returned to full health and is back among the goals, scoring once and assisting another in a win at Bournemouth on Tuesday.
For fantasy purposes, Payet is a must have in midfield at a 7.8M price tag. It doesn’t hurt that West Ham are second in the form table at the moment. Payet has six goals, and five assists in just 13 appearances this season.
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Here’s what I’m looking for on Matchday 22…
GOALKEEPERS
Adrian (5.0) – West Ham United: The Hammers have kept the best defensive record over the last six matchdays.
DEFENDERS
Charlie Daniels (4.5M) – Bournemouth: He’s been the Cherries’ most consistent defender. Bournemouth is a decent bet for a clean sheet at home to Norwich City.
Cezar Azpilicueta (5.7M) – Chelsea: One of the clear differences with Jose Mourinho gone has been the fullbacks pushing forward a little more often.
Matt Targett (3.7M) – Southampton: The young left fullback had a lengthy hiatus, but returned with his best performance yet midweek against Watford. Worth the stab in the dark for the price.
MIDFIELDERS
Gylfi Sigurdsson (7M) – Swansea City: The Swans’ form is quite bad, and that’s scary. Sigurdsson has a goal in each of his last two though, and could be finding some of the form that he had all of last season.
Dusan Tadic (6.8M) – Southampton: Has a goal or assist in three of his last four. He’s a better bet than Sadio Mane right now.
Christian Eriksen (8.3M) – Tottenham: The Danish superstar has been very quiet in recent Premier League matches, but a goal in the FA Cup may have his form trending back in the right direction.
Juan Iturbe (5.7M) – Bournemouth: A massive January signing for the Cherries. I saw him at his best with Verona, and at his worst with Roma. A return to a counter attacking side should see Iturbe return to his best.
FORWARDS
Enner Valencia (5.8M) – West Ham United: The door is wide open with Andy Carroll hurt yet again. Valencia was just as good if not better than Payet in the Hammers’ win over Bournemouth this week when he scored two goals.
Wayne Rooney (9.9M) – Manchester United: Three goals, and an assist in his last two matches; finally some signs that Rooney is turning the corner.
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