fantasy premier league cheap midfielders – GW29 “ones to watch”

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I thought it was about time I did a “ones to watch” budget midfielders article.   These are players under £6.5m and are for either your 4th or 5th midfielder depending on price.  As usual the players are ranked although there’s a table of stats, some narrative on prospects and the next 6 fixtures to help you make your own assessment.  Looking forward there’s a DGW34 for Chelsea and Leicester but the article doesn’t take into account any further postponements to GW34 which may happen.  It’s important to read the narrative as in the budget department gametime and other risks come into it and that you make the choices with your eyes open to all the facts as generally they are budget players for a reason.  I’ve ranked them but it depends on your priorities and appetite for risk so use the stats to make you own choice.

fantasy premier league cheap midfielders – GW29 “ones to watch”

While all of us would like our 4 midfielders to be Hazard, Sanchez, Silva and Eriksen not all of us have the cash.  A cheaper 4th midfielder maybe a necessity and this may help your thoughts.  Some are 5th midfieldfers though and I’ll try and distinguish although as a rule of thumb 4th midfielders are over £5m, 5th midfielders under £5m.   Here’s the table of stats with a key underneath if you haven’t seen it before.  The players as normal have been ranked on their returns, consistency, form and upcoming fixtures. At the time of writing I’ve taken into account a DGW34 for Chelsea and Leicester but not any other potential postponements

RankName/ ownership %valueMinute per FPL point 14/15Consistency 14/15% of 10pt +Last 4 games pointsfixt ease top 10 FPL managers own
 1. Puncheon (5%) £5.6 21.8m 7/27  26% 3/27  11% 20 pts 4/(4) 1
 2. Chadli (11%) £6.3 14.1m 11/25  44% 3/25  12% 12 pts 10(3) 0
 3. Milner (2%) £5.5 16.5m9/24  38% 1/24  4% 23 pts 5/(5) 0
 4. Townsend (0%) £6.2 15.0m 5/12  42% 0/12  0% 20 pts 10(3) 0
 5. Moses (0%) £5.2 21.0m 7/17  41% 1/17  6% 22 pts 17(17) 0
 6. Rodwell (1%) £4.7 21.8m 3/15  20% 0/15  0% 18 pts 9/(2) 0
 7. Mahrez (0%) £4.9 22.8m 5/20  25% 2/20  10% 8 pts 1/(1) 0
 8. Ki (5%) £5.1 21.4 7/25  28% 4/25  % 22 pts 2/(11) 0
 9. Henderson (15%) £6.3 19.6m 9/27  33% 4/27  16% 27 pts 18/(20) 0
 10. Sinclair (0%) £5.2 17.3m 1/5  20% 0/5  0% 12 pts 8/(12) 0

 

Player/FPL ownership %: self explanatory at the time of the article
Value: At the time of the article
Minute per FPL point 14/15: This seasons minutes it took to earn an FPL point. The lower the better obviously
Consistency 14/15 : This seasons % of games where the player got a goal or assist
% of 10 + pts: The % of games where the player has got 10 FPL points or more
Last 4 games points: Self explanatory
Fixture ease: The rank of the 20 FPL teams easiness of the next fixtures from an attacking point of view. The next 6 are first with the next 3 in brackets. See article
Top 10 FPL managers ownership: How many of the top 10 FPL managers I follow own this player. See article

Puncheon

He may not have the greatest returns and consistency of all the players over the season above but at the moment he is the Palace CAM and has set pieces plus some good fixtures coming up.  So this upgrade of his position and responsibilities upgrades this.  Has good gametime security at present having started the last 12.  No prospect of a DGW though.  QPR at home next is a great time to buy though if you’re thinking of it

Next 6 fixtures:

QPR (H)
Stoke (A)
Man City (H)
Sunderland (A)
West Brom (H)
Hull (H)

Chadli

Unexpectedly returned to the team for DGW28 after Pochettinho suddenly lost patience with Dembele.  Is a great premier league attacking midfielder with good underlying shooting stats.  Defensively as far as pressing high up the pitch like Pochettino likes, not so much.  If there was no gametime risk then in my mind he would be leading this table but it seems that he can’t hold a place in the team for any time frame.  Very good underlying shooting stats and plays in a very advanced position.  Reasonable fixtures

Man Utd (A)
Leicester (H)
Burnley (A)
Aston Villa (H)
Newcastle (A)
Southampton (A)

Milner

If it makes any difference I’m as surprised as you on this one. However the stats speak for themselves but it comes with big big caveats.  In terms of season returns, form and fixtures he ranks highly.  The big problem is gametime.  If 4 midfielders play he needs to push out Nasri.  He’s only started 4 of the last 10, come on as sub in the last 4 and not played in 2.  He’s not started the last 3.  That means if you want to take a risk on him then you really need an equivalent midfielder as a 5th and accept that things will go against you from time to time.  However despite the lack of gametime it’s 3 goals in the last 5 gameweeks even though there was only 1 start in those 5 games.  The form is no fluke either the creating chances and shooting stats are very good.

Burnley (A)
West Brom (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Man Utd (A)
West Ham (H)
Aston Villa (H)

Townsend

Started the last 3 and that’s seen a goal and an assist plus 16 FPL points.  However like Chadli who knows how long he will hold his place?  Lamela hasn’t started the last 2 and thats a big reverse of most of the season not only for Townsend but also for Chadli.  Underlying stats aren’t great but some good immediate fixtures does give him some appeal

Man Utd (A)
Leicester (H)
Burnley (A)
Aston Villa (H)
Newcastle (A)
Southampton (A)

Moses

Having started the last 7 and played 90 minutes in 5 this is a player with seemingly more gametime security.  He also has penalties.  His recent form of 2 goals in his last 7 is ok at best but his last 4 games points and season consistency is good.  The fixtures are a little bit mixed

West Brom (A)
Crystal Palace (H)
Chelsea (A)
West Ham (A)
Southampton (H)
Sunderland (H)

Rodwell

I have to say that I have a bit of personal bias and actually think he’s a very effective player as he showed in his performance and  goal (albeit handball) against Hull.  While he doesn’t create chances his shooting stats and ability to get into the box are very strong.  There’s also some good fixtures coming up.  However It’s one game back and he’s only started 5 since GW7 so it’s a big gamble to think he will stay in the team and thats not really what you want for your 5th midfielder.  While his position maybe different Johnson being out potentially for a while could help his gametime.

Aston Villa (H)
West Ham (A)
Newcastle (H)
Crystal Palace (H)
Arsenal (A)
Stoke (A)

Mahrez

Given his returns and form it’s hard to see him as anything other than a 5th midfielder although you’ll have reasonably secure gametime and good fixtures if he does have to step in.  His GW33 fixture where you will want to see him in the team due to a number of other blanks for teams is also home to Swansea which is  good fixture

Hull (H)
Spurs (A)
West Ham (H)
West Brom (A)
Swansea (H)
Burnley (A)

Ki

For a guy who plays in a reasonably deep midfield position and who has very little underlying stats he doesn’t half seem to pop up with goals.  It’s 3 in the last 5 games where he does seem to have got forward more.  Can it continue?  He does have security of starts so is an option for a 5th midfielder although a little too expensive for my liking for that position

Liverpool (H)
Aston Villa (A)
Hull (H)
Everton (H)
Leicester (A)
Newcastle (A)

Henderson

The subject of a lot of transfers this week as 2 screamers from distance and an assist have seen 23 FPL points.  The stats are pretty ordinary though and the underlying shooting stats show he very rarely gets shots inside the box.  Thats no surprise considering he isn’t one of the advanced midfielders.  Can he continue returning with that emphasis around shooting is the question.  Too expensive for a 5th midfielder you have to believe he can continue returning with those stats.  Does have gametime security and should have pens if Gerrard and Balotelli is off the pitch.  Fixtures could be better

Swansea (A)
Man Utd (H)
Arsenal (A)
Newcastle (H)
Hull (A)
West Brom (A)

Sinclair

Another gamble having only started 3 of the last 4 since coming from Man City.  Does play in an advanced position and is very attack minded which is the attraction and has shown attacking potential in the past with Swansea.  Underlying stats since he’s been back are pretty ordinary though adding to the gamble.  The fixtures are also only ok

Sunderland (A)
Swansea (H)
Man Utd (A)
Spurs (A)
QPR (H)
Man City (A)

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fantasy premier league cheap midfielders

fantasy premier league cheap midfielders

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