Here’s the “ones to watch” for forwards on the Barclays fantasy premier league in a buy hold sell format for GW8. This will give the best forward players at a variety of price ranges
There is no rule for forwards just pick the best ones especially now with goals virtually guaranteeing bonus points:
I’ve provided the following stats to support the player choices and to guide you in your decisions. I’ve now moved this to this year’s stats:
1. Goals and assists this year.
2. Time per point scored this year. This is how many minutes it takes for a Barclays fantasy premier league point to be scored over the course of the season. The lower the better obviously. I’ve now moved to this years stats
3. Rotation risk. High, medium or low. High is the greatest risk of rotation.
4. Fixture ease ranking: The link is at the bottom of the article but essentially I’ve ranked all the teams by the ease of the first 6 fixtures. The team with the best ranking ie 1 will have the easiest next fixtures of any of the fantasy premier league teams over the next 6 games.
5. Consistency: The % of times that the player got a goal or assist or 2 point minimum bonus when starting as a % of games played
6. I’ve also ranked them in their categories as who I think is currently the best choice
Forwards
1. Giroud (£9.5m) BUY
- Goals and assists least year: 4 goals 2 assists. Time per point scored: 12.1 mins . Rotation risk: low. fixture ease ranking: 9th. Consistency 5/7 83%
The man who should benefit the most from Ozil joining the team. Has had a great start and has the best overall shooting and creating chances starts for any forward which gives good confidence this will continue. Great 2 fixtures next before a couple of tricky ones. A definite buy though given form and his underlying stats
Next 6 fixtures:
Norwich (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Liverpool (H)
Man Utd (A)
Southampton (H)
Cardiff City (A)
2. Lukaku (£7.9m) BUY
Goals and assists: 4 goals 1 assists. Time per point scored: 8.3 Rotation risk: low. fixture ease ranking: 7th. Consistency for Everton 3/3 100%
Hard to have enough superlatives for the young Belgian. Great returns built on fantastic underlying shooting stats. 2 particularly good fixtures next and a definite buy
Next 6 fixtures:
Hull City (H)
Aston Villa (A)
Tottenham (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Liverpool (H)
Stoke City (H)
3. Suarez (£11.3m)BUY
Goals and assists: 3 goals and 0 assists: Time per point scored: 9.5 mins . Rotation risk: low. fixture ease ranking: 4th. Consistency 2/2 100%
A great start with 3 goals in 2 games and good underlying shooting stats. The 3-5-2- formation suits him allowing Sturridge and him to rotate dropping deep and gices them both an equal chance goal scoring opportunities. Fixtures are still good and having one of the 2 Liverpool forwards is looking essential.
Next 6 fixtures:
Newcastle (A)
West Brom (H)
Arsenal (A)
Fulham (H)
Everton (A)
Hull City (A)
4. Sturridge (£9.9m) BUY
- Goals and assists: 6 goals 2 assists. Time per point scored: 11.6 mins . Rotation risk: low. fixture ease ranking: 4th Consistency 6/7 86%
Amazingly has only failed to return in 1 of his first 7 games. Would like to see more creation of chances to continue giving assists for the long term but for the moment with the fixtures he’s still returning and one of him or Suarez is looking essential
Next 6 fixtures:
Newcastle (A)
West Brom (H)
Arsenal (A)
Fulham (H)
Everton (A)
Hull City (A)
5. RVP (£13.9m) HOLD
- Goals and assists: 3 goals 0 assists. Time per point scored: 19.5 mins . Rotation risk: low. fixture ease ranking: 16th. Consistency 2/6 33%
Not returning against Sunderland last week who are one of the worst defensive teams in the league was the final nail in the coffin for many especially the 1 on 1 with the GK missed. However I’m still intending to hold until the Fulham away game. Still has fantastic shooting stats just not converting like he did last year but also not as involved in set pieces which is removing the possibility for assists.
Next 6 fixtures:
Southampton (H)
Stoke City (H)
Fulham (A)
Arsenal (H)
Cardiff City (A)
Tottenham (A)
6. Rooney (£10.9m) HOLD
- Goals and assists: 3 goals and 2 assists: Time per point scored: 14.5 mins . Rotation risk: low. fixture ease ranking: 16th. Consistency 4/6 66%
Has excellent return rate despite playing in a withdrawn striker role and not having really much in the way of shooting stats. This is not that unusual for him as seem to be able to buck the underlying stats but at the moment he’s stretching credibility at the moment. personally I put him in the same category a hold as RVP with the next 3 fixtures coming up.
Next 6 fixtures:
Southampton (H)
Stoke City (H)
Fulham (A)
Arsenal (H)
Cardiff City (A)
Tottenham (A)
8. Negredo (£9.3m) HOLD
- Goals and assists: 3 goals 2 assists. Time per point scored: 12.0 mins . Rotation risk: high. fixture ease ranking: 15th. Consistency 4/7 57%
Seems to have edged ahead of Dzeko for the most advanced striker position. Not great underlying stats but seems to have the ability to finish and with the current rate of return looks a hold. Will be rotated but needs to be accepted for fantasy premier league managers who own City assets. I haven’t included Aguero as with him being in South america for WCQs I think he potentially will be rested.
Next 6 fixtures:
West Ham (A)
Chelsea (A)
Norwich (H)
Sunderland (A)
Tottenham (H)
Swansea (H
Soldado (£9.3m) SELL
Lost his place to Defoe and it seems a good selling point given this position. I think he will come back as has good shooting and creating chances stats and has a 24 goal record in Spain last season. Its just the alternatives mean its difficult not to sell
Lambert (£7.4m) SELL
- Goals and assists: 2 goals 0 assists. Time per point scored: 22.7 mins . Rotation risk: low. fixture ease ranking: 18th Consistency 2/7 29%
Just not returning despite having good underlying shooting stats which he never had last year. Subbed off in the last 3 games and away to Man Utd seems a good time to sell. If you’re very patient you may wait until the Fulham game but personally I think there are too many alternatives
Next 6 fixtures:
Man Utd (A)
Fulham (H)
Stoke City (A)
Hull City (H)
Arsenal (A)
Chelsea (A)
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