The double-game week. It can be a stressful time for fantasy owners, especially in a week such as this.
No fantasy owner wants to invest to heavily in teams such as Aston Villa and Queens Park Rangers, who are in action on Saturday and then face off against each other on Tuesday. Even the somewhat easy choices are difficult. Jores Okore sat out Denmark’s recent tie with France, and is a doubt for this weekend. Do we take the risk on Villa’s most reliable defender?
That is just one of the questions I hope to answer this week, along with how much we should really trust Aston Villa players given the fact they take on Manchester United at Old Trafford.
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Here’s what I’m looking at for Week 31 in fantasy football.
GOALKEEPERS
Adrian (8.27M) – West Ham United: The Hammers are travelling to Leicester City this weekend. Adrian put in a good performance a couple of weeks ago, and is likely to make a few saves, meaning if he doesn’t manage a clean sheet he won’t hurt you too much.
Honourable mention – Thibault Courtois (Chelsea), Tim Howard (Everton)
DEFENDERS
Alan Hutton (8.57M) – Aston Villa: Personally, I will likely take the chance with the injured Okore, and if you have him in your line-up for 1M, I suggest you do the same. Hutton is the only Aston Villa defender averaging more points than the Danish defender Okore.
Yun-Suk Young (6.4M) – Queens Park Rangers: Averaging five points per match, Young is an easy choice to make this week with the two matches ahead vs West Brom and Villa. A clean sheet in either would be a huge bonus.
Kyle Walker (8.37M) – Tottenham: The hope is that Burnley opens up as they desperately need the points. Could create some added space for the English right fullback
Phil Jones (8.93M) – Manchester United: The Red Devils are looking better than they have all season, and Jones and partner Chris Smalling have been the pair to solidify the centre of defence.
MIDFIELDERS
Scott Sinclair (3.7M) – Aston Villa: A bargain price for a midfielder likely to play two games, with one of them being at home to QPR.
Eden Hazard (17.87M) – Chelsea: An easy choice with Chelsea at home to Stoke this weekend.
Matt Phillips (7.35M) – Queens Park Rangers: Another player on the rise. That 40-yard screamer he scored a few weeks ago was something else. Yet another pick for the double-game week.
Marouane Fellaini (8.99M) – Manchester United: The Belgian has been in impressive form for both club and country in recent weeks.
Joey Barton (7.92M) – Queens Park Rangers: Now I must be overdoing the double-game week stuff, right? Hear me out. Barton collected 11 points in his last match, and regularly factors in with tackles and interceptions to average about seven points per start. There is the obvious risk of him being carded or sent off, though.
Honourable mention – Juan Mata (Manchester United), Nemanja Matic (Chelsea), Christian Eriksen (Tottenham)
FORWARDS
Charlie Austin (14.99M) – Queens Park Rangers: Austin collected over 20 points the last time he had a double-game week.
Christian Benteke (8.76M) – Aston Villa: The Belgian has awoken from his slumber under Paul Lambert with three goals in his last three games. Hoping he finally pays me back for all the times I’ve missed on him this season.
Obvious play – Harry Kane (Tottenham)
My starting XI – Adrian; Okore, Jones, Young; Barton, Sinclair, Phillips, Fellaini; Austin, Benteke, Kane