You should now have a pretty good feel for Premier League fantasy football after seven weeks.
It’s not too late to start turning your season around if you are struggling, but if your slump lasts any longer, it may be time to kiss your title challenge goodbye. The hard part when finding ways to mount a comeback is picking the players that the leaders in your pool aren’t using, and having those guys be your stars for the week.
I will also remind you that game-breaking type players such as Diego Costa and Angel Di Maria MUST stay in your line-ups for now as they have shown the ability to be amongst the top point-getters each week and you simply can not afford to take them out.
There are a lot of match ups to take advantage of this week and it starts with Manchester City vs Tottenham. Spurs lost their two matches with City by a combined score of 11-1 last season. They’ve also shown no progression in big matches so far this year. Start City players with confidence. Everton need to turn their season around and what better place to start than a home date with Aston Villa? Third placed Southampton gets Sunderland at St. Mary’s, Arsenal get the Hull Tigers at home, while Liverpool ( vs QPR), Chelsea ( vs Crystal Palace) and Manchester United ( vs West Brom) have attractive away dates.
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Here’s what I’m looking at for Week 8 in fantasy football.
GOALKEEPERS
Thibault Courtois (7.05M) – Chelsea: He is owned by 36 percent of fantasy players, but is a good bet for a clean sheet on any given Saturday.
Fraser Forster (5.58M) – Southampton: I must sound like a broken record recommending these two guys every week, but the reasoning is they are both affordable, and are both really good keepers.
DEFENDERS
Ryan Bertrand (8.12M) – Southampton: Shockingly, the Chelsea loanee is the #1 fantasy defender through seven weeks, and still very affordable. At 26 percent ownership, the top teams in your league likely have him at a cut price.
Leighton Baines (17.5M) – Everton: It hasn’t been a great start to Everton’s season, but the fixtures are going to start getting a little easier and it’s a safe bet they won’t hold the league’s worst defence (16 GA) come season’s end. The clean sheets are coming.
Kieran Trippier (7.99M) – Burnley: Quietly, Trippier has been a top ten defender in fantasy football. While it does have a lot to do with the Clarets having three clean sheets, he’s also the set-piece taker for the squad, making him a fine choice for your line-up.
Pablo Zabaleta (12.31M) – Manchester City: If City continues their form of last year against Tottenham this weekend, then the Argentine will likely be in on the action.
Honourable mentions: Rafael (Manchester United), Eliaquim Mangala (Manchester City), Jeffrey Schlupp (Leicester City)
MIDFIELDERS
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (5.83M) – Arsenal: With the rash of injuries to the Arsenal midfield, “the Ox” is almost guaranteed a start, and he normally produces when that happens.
David Silva (11.96M) – Manchester City: Has a good chance to make an impact this week against Spurs. As of right now, he is a less popular choice than Raheem Sterling, and Angel Di Maria, which is a good thing for those looking to move up the table.
Sadio Mane (7.31M) – Southampton: I’m debating on Mane over Dusan Tadic of Southampton in my line-up right now. Tadic has become widely popular and is a safe bet for a good points haul. However, Mane has looked awfully good in the games he’s featured in thus far, and has more goalscoring potential than the Serbian. Either should be fine in your line-up.
Aiden McGeady (3.97M) – Everton: This week’s bargain play! McGeady has featured regularly for Roberto Martinez this season and has the ability to do more offensively.
Obvious options: Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea), Angel Di Maria (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)
FORWARDS
Graziano Pelle (7.45M) – Southampton: Four goals in seven appearances, plus he found the back of the net in his Italy debut! The 29 year old is in the form of his life right now.
Falcao (10.57M) – Manchester United: He couldn’t score against Canada, but that shouldn’t worry you. He could have had more than one vs Everton a couple of weeks ago. Let the Colombian find his form—he’s going to score lots of goals as a Red Devil.
Danny Welbeck (9.39M)/Alexis Sanchez (6.01M) – Arsenal: With the way Hull has played defensively, one of these two should score on Saturday. Welbeck has become the focal point of attack, but Sanchez is a game-breaking talent. Tough decision.
Honourable mentions: Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Romelu Lukaku (Everton), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
My starting XI: Courtois; Cresswell, Bertrand, Kelly; Silva, Tadic, Sterling, Di Maria; Falcao, Pelle, Costa