West Ham have enjoyed quite the season, possibly exceeding all expectations already.
If you look at their totals from a year ago, it’s not hard to see the improvement. They collected 40 points over the course of the 2013-14 campaign, while scoring 40 goals. In just 26 matches this season, Sam Allardyce has the Hammers on 39 points with 38 goals with 12 matches still to play. Upcoming dates with Arsenal and Chelsea are something to shy away from fantasy-wise.
But those high-profile fixtures make this weekend’s match at home to Crystal Palace a must-win. European qualification is not far off for the Hammers, and aside from three matches with Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City, their remaining fixtures are against teams below them in the standings—including dates with each of the bottom five in the table.
REMINDER: Chelsea and Tottenham play in the League Cup final this weekend, keeping them out of Premier League action along with Leicester City and Queens Park Rangers. Adjust your lineups accordingly.
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Here’s what else I’m looking at for Week 27 in fantasy football.
GOALKEEPERS
David de Gea (8.36M) – Manchester United: No clean sheets in the Premier League since Jan. 17 is something to worry about, but De Gea is as strong selection at home to Sunderland this weekend.
Tim Krul (3.46M) – Newcastle United: Goal-shy Aston Villa pays a visit to Newcastle this weekend, making the Dutch ‘keeper a bounce-back candidate following the 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Manchester City last weekend.
DEFENDERS
Aaron Cresswell (9.34M) – West Ham United: For most of us Cresswell has been a staple of fantasy squads this season, impressing with four assists.
Erik Pieters (7.07M) – Stoke City: Home to a Hull City side that has scored just 11 goals in 13 away matches this season, the 26-year-old Dutch left back could be a sneaky play this week.
Ryan Bertrand (8.6M) – Southampton: Fresh legs following a suspension, Bertrand still remains one of the top fantasy defenders despite missing the last few matches. Southampton visits West Bromwich Albion this weekend.
Luke Shaw (4.78M) – Manchester United: At Southampton, Shaw was among the priciest defenders in all of fantasy football. He is now a bargain while still trying to get settled under Louis van Gaal.
MIDFIELDERS
Stewart Downing (13.19M) – West Ham United: Downing has struggled with just a goal and assist over his last 10 matches in all competitions, but he had a man of the match performance earlier this year with a goal at Crystal Palace.
Angel Di Maria (15.07M) – Manchester United: The Argentine may not be registering goals and assists of late, but he is still tallying as many points as any midfielder out there. Don’t lose faith.
Marouane Fellaini (6.49) – Manchester United: We’ve seen Louis van Gaal try to get the big Belgian into more attacking positions, and with Robin van Persie hurt this may be the fixture where Fellaini gets to start in that role.
Victor Moses (11.04M) – Stoke City: With Bojan Krkic njured, Moses is the offensive outlet for the Potters. He proved it last week with a late goal.
David Silva (13.8M) – Manchester City: Liverpool’s defence is bending but not breaking. Silva on top form, against a tired Liverpool defence following a mid-week trip to Turkey in the Europa League is an intriguing proposition.
Honourable mention: Kouyate (West Ham United), Mane (Southampton), Sinclair (Aston Villa), Walcott (Arsenal)
FORWARDS
Sergio Aguero (19.19M) – Manchester City: Back on top form, Aguero is a must-have for any fixture.
Danny Ings (13.02M) – Burnley: Five goals, and two assists in his last 10 matches. The young Englishman is hungry for a summer move to a bigger club, and will look to continue that form as the Clarets host Swansea City this weekend.
Wayne Rooney (10.87M) – Manchester United: Another player benefitting from Robin van Persie’s absence is the United captain. Stuck in the midfield for much of the last little while has seen his price decrease to a very nice level now that he is back in a more natural, attacking position.
Honourable mentions: Valencia (West Ham United), Sakho (West Ham United)
My starting XI: Krul; Shaw, Okore, Cresswell, Bertrand; Downing, Sinclair, Di Maria; Ings, Rooney, Aguero