Here’s my midfield and forward “ones to watch” for the Barclays fantasy premier league gameweek 27.
I’ve changed the format and ranked them plus showed some of the stats that help in the decision making. They aren’t the only factors though with such other factors as game time security, advanced position for midfielders, current form, involvement in play and overall quality taken in to account as well. The underlying stats don’t include todays Barclays fantasy premier league game between Liverpool and Swansea.
Midfield
Midfielders “ones to watch” rank | ||||
My “ones to watch ranking” ranking | underlying stats rank | fixture ease next 6 | mins/goals/assists/ | return consistency |
1 Walcott – £9.5m | 3 | 3 | 1492/11/11 | 80% |
2 Mata – £10.1m | – | 5 | 1769/10/12 | 75% |
3 Bale – £10.0m | 1 | 16 | 1931/13/4 | 55% |
4 Michu – £8.4m | 2 | 20 | 2137/15/3 | 48% |
5 Fellaini – £7.7m | 5 | 19 | 1884/10/5 | 62% |
6 Lampard – £8.6m | 6 | 5 | 1137/11/0 | 77% |
7 Nolan – £6.4m | 4 | 17 | 2206/6/2 | 32% |
8 Puncheon – £5.0m | 7 | 7 | 1811/4/6 | 39% |
9 Silva – £9.3m | 8 | 13 | 1796/3/9 | 43% |
10 Cazorla – £9.3m | 9 | 3 | 2226/9/8 | 44% |
Walcott
Not playing in the central striking position but still seems so far forward that he almost makes the 4-2-3-1 in to a 4-42. Stats haven’t really suffered since Giroud got in the team and with great fixtures coming up then he’s an essential player for me.
23 Feb 15:00 | Gameweek 27 | Aston Villa (H) |
03 Mar 16:00 | Gameweek 28 | Tottenham (A) |
09 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 29 | Everton (H) |
16 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 30 | Swansea (A) |
30 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 31 | Reading (H) |
06 Apr 15:00 | Gameweek 32 | West Brom (A) |
Mata
Doesn’t feature in the shooting stats and you could make a case to say he’s over performing them but the consistency of returns is frightening. This plus his advanced central position and his extensive involvement in Chelseas play makes him an essential player in your fantasy premier league team. Also has good fixtures to come.
24 Feb 13:30 | Gameweek 27 | Man City (A) |
02 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 28 | West Brom (H) |
10 Mar 13:30 | Gameweek 29 | Fulham (A) |
16 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 30 | West Ham (H) |
31 Mar 16:00 | Gameweek 31 | Southampton (A) |
06 Apr 15:00 | Gameweek 32 | Sunderland (H) |
Bale
The man in form at the moment. Consistently produces underlying stats so you know the returns will come eventually. 4 goals and 34 points in 3 games. Fixtures are tough but that doesn’t seem to matter to him.
5 Feb 20:00 | Gameweek 27 | West Ham (A) |
03 Mar 16:00 | Gameweek 28 | Arsenal (H) |
10 Mar 16:00 | Gameweek 29 | Liverpool (A) |
16 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 30 | Fulham (H) |
30 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 31 | Swansea (A) |
07 Apr 14:05 | Gameweek 32 | Everton (H) |
Michu
The archetypal advanced midfielder either playing as a striker or just behind. Prefers the easier teams and is going on a difficult run of fixtures but most people wont be afford to sell him anyway.
– | Gameweek 27 | – |
02 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 28 | Newcastle (H) |
09 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 29 | West Brom (A) |
16 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 30 | Arsenal (H) |
30 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 31 | Tottenham (H) |
06 Apr 15:00 | Gameweek 32 | Norwich (A) |
Fellaini
All sorts of positional issues with him as he seems to switch between support striker and CDM and Everton also have difficult fixtures but you cant deny that when played up front he can be devastating. Underlying stats have held up but 2 goals and 1 assist in the last 8 is less than you’d expect so there are a few shadows over him which could make him dispensable at the moment
23 Feb 15:00 | Gameweek 27 | Norwich (A) |
02 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 28 | Reading (H) |
09 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 29 | Arsenal (A) |
16 Mar 12:45 | Gameweek 30 | Man City (H) |
30 Mar 17:30 | Gameweek 31 | Stoke City (H) |
07 Apr 14:05 | Gameweek 32 | Tottenham (A) |
Lampard
Absolutely on fire at the moment when you consider ostensibly he’s in the deeper lying midfield section of the Chelsea team. Reasonably priced as well. However the shadow of rotation is the issue with him. Moses, Mikel and Hazard have all returned to the fold and the next few games will see if he starts.
24 Feb 13:30 | Gameweek 27 | Man City (A) |
02 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 28 | West Brom (H) |
10 Mar 13:30 | Gameweek 29 | Fulham (A) |
16 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 30 | West Ham (H) |
31 Mar 16:00 | Gameweek 31 | Southampton (A) |
06 Apr 15:00 | Gameweek 32 | Sunderland (H) |
Nolan
Finally scored in fantasy premier league gameweek 24 after a 10 game drought. Stats have really come back in a big way but the fixtures have moved in reverse and that makes it a big leap of faith as he has had good underlying stats before which didn’t turn in to goals and assists before.
25 Feb 20:00 | Gameweek 27 | Tottenham (H) |
02 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 28 | Stoke City (A) |
09 Mar 12:45 | Gameweek 29 | Man Utd (H) |
16 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 30 | Chelsea (A) |
30 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 31 | West Brom (H) |
07 Apr 13:30 | Gameweek 32 | Liverpool (A) |
Puncheon
While Maloney and Kebe haven shown glimpses of form Puncheon is still the cheap midfielder of choice in my mind.
24 Feb 13:30 | Gameweek 27 | Newcastle (A) |
02 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 28 | QPR (H) |
09 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 29 | Norwich (A) |
16 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 30 | Liverpool (H) |
31 Mar 16:00 | Gameweek 31 | Chelsea (H) |
06 Apr 12:45 | Gameweek 32 | Reading (A) |
Silva
Is on the edge of the stats and can at home show the form of last season. Plays in an advanced position but may be suffering from being overplayed last year. No returns in his last 3 after the fantastic showing at home to Fulham. Fixtures are ordinary and it takes a real leap of faith in his class to have him in your team at the moment.
24 Feb 13:30 | Gameweek 27 | Chelsea (H) |
04 Mar 20:00 | Gameweek 28 | Aston Villa (A) |
09 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 29 | Wigan (H) |
16 Mar 12:45 | Gameweek 30 | Everton (A) |
30 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 31 | Newcastle (H) |
08 Apr 20:00 | Gameweek 32 | Man Utd (A) |
Cazorla
Such a quality player but unfortunately Mata he is not. Has consistently disappointed and has pretty ordinary underlying stats considering his advanced position and involvement in Arsenals play. 2 goals and an assist in his last 4 starts just give a hint that there maybe better things to come. Certainly has the fixtures. Don’t sell him before the Villa home game if you have him whatever you do but Walcott is my Arsenal coverage of choice and then Giroud would also be before Cazorla
23 Feb 15:00 | Gameweek 27 | Aston Villa (H) |
03 Mar 16:00 | Gameweek 28 | Tottenham (A) |
09 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 29 | Everton (H) |
16 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 30 | Swansea (A) |
30 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 31 | Reading (H) |
06 Apr 15:00 | Gameweek 32 | West Brom (A) |
Some punts
Sissoko
3 games and 2 goals and 2 assists plus an advanced midfield role plus a very generous £6.1m price and very good fixtures. Definitely worth a punt its just not a huge amount of data to make a decision on but the basics are certainly there.
Walters
Its now 7 games without a return and no real underlying stats to speak of either but if he’s ever going to get back to form its now with a great run of fixtures. It is a real leap of faith as has failed to return recently in good fixtures.
Budget midfielders
Kebe – £4.6m
Maloney – £4.8m
Schneiderlin – £4.5m
N’Diaye – £4.5m
McAnuff – £4.7m
Tetty £4.4m
Cork £4.4m
Diame £4.7m
Townsend £4.4m
Forwards
Forwards “ones to watch” rank | ||||
fantasy premier league player ranking | overall underlyg stats rank | fixture ease | mins/goals/assists | return consistency |
1 RVP £14.0m | 4 | 6 | 2118/19/10 | 83% |
2 Suarez – £10.8m | 1 | 18 | 2323/18/7 | 58% |
3 Giroud – £8.0m | 2 | 3 | 1614/9/2 | 31% |
4 Rooney – £11.9m | 8 | 6 | 1380/10/7 | 56% |
5 Benteke – £6.9m | 3 | 15 | 1873/11/4 | 38% |
6 Aguero – £10.9m | 10 | 13 | 1500/9/3 | 44% |
7 Dzeko- £7.5m | 6 | 13 | 1196/12/4 | 75% |
8 Lambert – £6.6m | – | 7 | 2080/11/6 | 43% |
9 Lukaku – £6.5m | 7 | 14 | 1195/10/3 | 75% |
10 Sturridge – £7.8m | – | 18 | 531/5/2 | 80% |
RVP
Isn’t top of the underlying stats but is such a deadly finisher just doesn’t need them as has the best shots on target ratio. Pure quality
23 Feb 15:00 | Gameweek 27 | QPR (A) |
02 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 28 | Norwich (H) |
09 Mar 12:45 | Gameweek 29 | West Ham (A) |
16 Mar 17:30 | Gameweek 30 | Reading (H) |
30 Mar 12:45 | Gameweek 31 | Sunderland (A) |
08 Apr 20:00 | Gameweek 32 | Man City (H) |
Suarez
Still the best underlying stats, scores and creates chances. Sturridge doesn’t seem to have caused the problems people were worried about.
– | Gameweek 27 | – |
02 Mar 17:30 | Gameweek 28 | Wigan (A) |
10 Mar 16:00 | Gameweek 29 | Tottenham (H) |
16 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 30 | Southampton (A) |
31 Mar 13:30 | Gameweek 31 | Aston Villa (A) |
07 Apr 13:30 | Gameweek 32 | West Ham (H) |
Giroud
Great underlying stats just a little unreliable in his returns. I would still go for Walcott over Giroud though for my Arsenal coverage. Gone off the boil a little 2 games without a return
23 Feb 15:00 | Gameweek 27 | Aston Villa (H) |
03 Mar 16:00 | Gameweek 28 | Tottenham (A) |
09 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 29 | Everton (H) |
16 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 30 | Swansea (A) |
30 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 31 | Reading (H) |
06 Apr 15:00 | Gameweek 32 | West Brom (A) |
Rooney
Moved around positionally but still deadly when played behind RVP rather than on the flank. A total quality player but would you spend so much when you’ve already spent so much on RVP
Feb 15:00 | Gameweek 27 | QPR (A) |
02 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 28 | Norwich (H) |
09 Mar 12:45 | Gameweek 29 | West Ham (A) |
16 Mar 17:30 | Gameweek 30 | Reading (H) |
30 Mar 12:45 | Gameweek 31 | Sunderland (A) |
08 Apr 20:00 | Gameweek 32 | Man City (H) |
Benteke
5 goals in his last 4 and absolutely on fire. Fixtures are the main issue for him. NZogbia return to form has helped
23 Feb 15:00 | Gameweek 27 | Arsenal (A) |
04 Mar 20:00 | Gameweek 28 | Man City (H) |
09 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 29 | Reading (A) |
16 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 30 | QPR (H) |
31 Mar 13:30 | Gameweek 31 | Liverpool (H) |
06 Apr 15:00 | Gameweek 32 | Stoke City (A) |
Aguero
Absolute total quality player who hasn’t just been at his best this year. 1 goal in his last 3 games and pretty ordinary fixtures coming up but will play virtually all the remaining games and has such quality that you can never discount him.
24 Feb 13:30 | Gameweek 27 | Chelsea (H) |
04 Mar 20:00 | Gameweek 28 | Aston Villa (A) |
09 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 29 | Wigan (H) |
16 Mar 12:45 | Gameweek 30 | Everton (A) |
30 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 31 | Newcastle (H) |
08 Apr 20:00 | Gameweek 32 | Man Utd (A) |
Dzeko
Very consistent goal scorer when starting or off the bench at a very reasonable price. Just doesn’t provide the energy and the pressing of opposition centre backs that Tevez does and for that he will always be a rotation worry which is the only drawback. 6 goals and an assist in his last 6 starts says it all.
24 Feb 13:30 | Gameweek 27 | Chelsea (H) |
04 Mar 20:00 | Gameweek 28 | Aston Villa (A) |
09 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 29 | Wigan (H) |
16 Mar 12:45 | Gameweek 30 | Everton (A) |
30 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 31 | Newcastle (H) |
08 Apr 20:00 | Gameweek 32 | Man Utd (A) |
Lambert
Hasn’t shown much in the way of underlying stats this year but still hasn’t a reasonably good goal scoring record. Takes pens and creates loads of chances for team mates. has good fixtures coming up. 3 goals in his last 6 appearances.
24 Feb 13:30 | Gameweek 27 | Newcastle (A) |
02 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 28 | QPR (H) |
09 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 29 | Norwich (A) |
16 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 30 | Liverpool (H) |
31 Mar 16:00 | Gameweek 31 | Chelsea (H) |
06 Apr 12:45 | Gameweek 32 | Reading (A) |
Lukaku
The 19 year old Belgian will be one of the best strikers in the world in a few years. 4 goals in his last 6 appearances. A rotation mad managerand ordiary fixtures are the drawbacks.
23 Feb 15:00 | Gameweek 27 | Sunderland (H) |
02 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 28 | Chelsea (A) |
09 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 29 | Swansea (H) |
16 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 30 | Stoke City (A) |
30 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 31 | West Ham (A) |
06 Apr 15:00 | Gameweek 32 | Arsenal (H) |
Sturridge
Has made a fantastic start to his Liverpool career but now faces a series of tricky fixtures which will definitely test whether he’s the real deal.
4 goals and an assist in first 5 appearances for Liverpool
– | Gameweek 27 | – |
02 Mar 17:30 | Gameweek 28 | Wigan (A) |
10 Mar 16:00 | Gameweek 29 | Tottenham (H) |
16 Mar 15:00 | Gameweek 30 | Southampton (A) |
31 Mar 13:30 | Gameweek 31 | Aston Villa (A) |
07 Apr 13:30 | Gameweek 32 | West Ham (H) |
Some Punts
Cisse
Some great fixtures may just make him worth a punt. Not cheap though and a real leap of faith in him and fixtures
Ba
How can this be a punt. He is total qualit and has great fixtures. The punt is of course rotation. Benitez must finish in the top 4 and surely this has to favour Ba in fantasy premier league especially as Ba cant play in the Europa and Chelsea look through to the next round. Great fixtures and now great value
Budget
Pogrebnyak – £4.4m
Anichebe – £4.5m
Le Fondre – £4.9m