Here’s our primary player options article in our fantasy premier league best midfielders GW4 “ones to watch” series. Here we give you a table of stats plus some narrative on prospects and the next 6 fixtures to help you decide on which transfer for the upcoming gameweek.
FANTASY PREMIER LEAGUE BEST MIDFIELDERS GW4 – “ONES TO WATCH”
So were continuing to base our stats and ratings on a mixture of last years and this years stats. Once we get to about gameweek 6 then we’ll start focusing on this years stats primarily. So at this stage it’s harder to rank the players than it will be in 5 or 6 games. However we have notionally ranked them but the idea is to give you enough information for you to make your own decision. I’ve decided to keep the number of players to 10. That does tend to mean that the players are at the higher value end.
Here’s the table of stats with a key underneath (Prices as of Thursday)
Key:
FPL pts pm 15/16: The minutes it takes a player to take earn an FPL point in 15/16. The lower the better
Consistency 15/16: the % of games that a player gets a goal or assist
10+ pts % 15/16: the percentage of games that the players has got 10 or more points
Mins per G/A 15/16: The amount of minutes played it takes to get a goal or assist
Fixt ease 6/3: The teams rank of fixtures in terms of easiness over the next 6 and 3 fixtures
16/17 pts: The FPL points so far this season
FPL pts pm 16/17: The minutes it takes a player to take earn an FPL point in 16/17. The lower the better
Hazard
The Chelsea LAM is really starting to look like the player of the year of 14/15 he was. 2 goals and an assist in his first 3 games, returning in each of them. The form recovery started at the end of last season, continued at the Euro’s and has started again this season. No European competitions will minimise rotation and fatigue. Also has pens. The underlying stats also show that this start is no mirage. Only negative is tricky fixtures
Swansea (A)
Liverpool (H)
Arsenal (A)
Hull (A)
Leicester (H)
Man Utd (H)
Sanchez
The Arsenal AM finally put 2 blanks behind him with a goal and a 2 assist 16 point performance against Watford. Last season showed that while he may not be the most consistent fellow in FPL his ability to score big is fairly scary. Add to that he can be quite a big captain choice so rank effect can be significant. Fixtures are very good. Interestingly, his underlying stats though are pretty ordinary which is the only negative. However this is a proven FPL force. Has a long trip back from South America late this week but history hasn’t shown this as an issue for him returns or minutes wise. Needs monitoring though
Southampton (H)
Hull (A)
Chelsea (H)
Burnley (A)
Swansea (H)
Middlesbrough (H)
Barkley
The Everton CAM has started well in his first 3 games with a goal and an assist returning in 2 games. However his pretty spasmodic returning last season is bound to treat that with a pinch of salt. However this is a new Everton regime although lets not get too carried away. This is primarily about great fixtures with his CAM position and some set piece representation the bonus. Unlike last season the underlying stats aren’t too bad which is a vote of confidence
Sunderland (A)
Middlesbrough (H)
Bournemouth (A)
Crystal Palace (H)
Man City (A)
Burnley (A)
Antonio
The transfer of RB Arbeloa to West Ham and some words from the West Ham hierarchy suggest that the end has come to the rather bizarre decision to play Antonio as an RB. The guy is a natural goalscoring midfielder who has an ability to get into the box at regular intervals and is perfect for West Ham’s counter attacking game. Ignore the underlying stats which are a function of his RB start to the season. To make things even better the fixtures are fantastic. From an FPL point of view West Ham being knocked out of Europe is also a bonus. The only negative is the amount of competition from other attacking midfielders with Payet nailed and 2 from Antonio and these 3 Tore, Feghouli and Lanzini.
Watford (H)
West Brom (A)
Southampton (H)
Middlesbrough (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Sunderland (H)
Sterling
The Man City midfielder burst to life with 2 goals and 15 points in the 3-1 win against West Ham making it 2 goals and 2 assists for the season. Sterling is a player transformed in an advanced role under Guardiola. However there’s no doubting the reality of the threat when you watch his performances. However is he the real deal or a mirage? Time will tell but there are some negatives for all that. It’s probably fair to say that his underlying stats probably aren’t up to the returns to date. The fixtures are ok if not among the best. Rotation could also be an issue with Navas, Nolito and Sane also in the mix for AM positions, especially with the number of competitions City are in
Man Utd (A)
Bournemouth (H)
Swansea (A)
Spurs (A)
Everton (H)
Southampton (H)
Redmond
The Southampton midfielder currently playing striker has looked a constant threat in his 3 games even though that so far has only returned 1 goal. Underlying stats are pretty good. The fixtures and the potential threat of new AM Boufal (albeit a month away from fitness potentially) are the main 2 negatives
Arsenal (A)
Swansea (H)
West Ham (A)
Leicester (A)
Burnley (H)
Man City (A)
Lamela
The Argentinian Spurs player is another who will arrive back late and could do with monitoring in the press conferences and news tomorrow. Started well with a goal and an assist returning in 2 of his first 3 games. Interestingly while his underlying stats last season were good but didn’t see the returns this season so far they are a little more ordinary. New signings do offer competition though. Great fixtures
Stoke (A)
Sunderland (H)
Middlesbrough (A)
Man City (H)
West Brom (A)
Bournemouth (A)
Ozil
The Arsenal CAM crowned his first start with a goal in the win against Watford. Last season he was Mr Consistency with his set pieces and assists securing a regular flow of returns. Saves alot of money over Sanchez but probably wont be as popular captain option. Great fixtures
Southampton (H)
Hull (A)
Chelsea (H)
Burnley (A)
Swansea (H)
Middlesbrough (H)
Firmino
The Liverpool AM despite playing mainly as a striker has only 1 assist to show for it to date. Certainly the underlying stats don’t suggest he’s been unlucky that’s for sure. Fixtures coming up don’t help either. This is mainly about thinking that if he continues as a striker surely the returns will come given what a brutal attacking force the new Klopp Liverpool can be.
Leicester (H)
Chelsea (A)
Hull (H)
Swansea (A)
Man Utd (H)
West Brom (H)
Payet
Played some reasonable minutes in 2 games for France over the International break which hopefully means he’s ok to start against Watford in GW4. There’s no doubting after last season and the Euro’s what a fantastic player he is. Great fixtures coming up, the majority set piece responsibility for West Ham and an ability to be in the right place at the right time on the counter attack makes him a great prospect for goals and assists in the gameweeks ahead. It’s just whether he’s fit enough to get the minutes at the moment is the only question
Watford (H)
West Brom (A)
Southampton (H)
Middlesbrough (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Sunderland (H)
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