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   as a % of games played

6.  I’ve also ranked them in their categories as who I think is currently the best choice

7.  I’ve added a new feature.  The last 5 return consistency rate.  This will show the amount of games in the last 5 played that have resulted in a goal or assist

Forwards

Goals and assists: 16 goals and 10 assists:     Time per point scored:  7.3  mins .  Rotation risk: low.   fixture ease ranking: 15th.  Consistency 9/11    82%               Last 5 return consistency rate:  4/5

Another incredible performance at Spurs with 2 goals and 3 assists in the 5-0 hammering.  A must have on current form.  Underlying stats are fantastic as well.

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

Cardiff City (H)
Man City (A)
Chelsea (A)
Hull City (H)
Stoke City (A)
Aston Villa (H)

2.  Lukaku (£8.6m) BUY

• Goals and assists  8 goals 4 assists.  Time per point scored:  13.2 mins  Rotation risk: low.   fixture ease ranking: 6th.  Consistency for Everton  9/12   75%  Last 5 return rate:  5/5

A different type of striker to Aguero and Suarez in that he relies on movement and getting into positions between CBs rather than being highly involved.  This can make him look a little quiet at times.  This was the case against Fulham where he was the recipient of a very lucky assist.  has been very consistent and underlying shooting stats are good, even if creating chances aren’t.  This is a fixture play though as every game in the next 6 has the potential for him to score.  He has the potential to score big as well.

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

Swansea (A)
Sunderland (H)
Southampton (H)
Stoke City (A)
Norwich (H)
West Brom (A)

3. Rooney (£11.3m)  BUY 

• Goals and assists: 8 goals and 8 assists:     Time per point scored:  12.4  mins .  Rotation risk: low.   fixture ease ranking: 16th.  Consistency 11/14   79%  Last 5 return rate:  4/5

Great consistency.  Fantasy premier league managers though will be worried about his deep position in the Villa game.  Unfortunately Welbecks success may mean that he will have to play behind him again rather than in front of Kagawa who was ill on the weekend.  Still has pens and set piece domintion but that position was very worrying

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

West Ham (H)
Hull City (A)
Norwich (A)
Tottenham (H)
Swansea (H)
Chelsea (A)

4.  Negredo (£9.4m) HOLD

• Goals and assists:  7 goals 3 assists.  Time per point scored: 13.2  mins .  Rotation risk: low.   fixture ease ranking: 2nd.  Consistency     8/15  53%        Last 5 return rate:  3/5

Lets get one thing right.  Despite the hype Negredo is no Aguero.  His shots in the box aren’t that great for his price and he doesn’t create chances at all.  However he has been dropping back into midfield to pick up players when not in possession.  Maybe as the main man things will be different.  Certainly has a good set of fixtures to establish that starting with Fulham away.  Should get the nod over Dzeko if Pellegrini goes with 1 up front even with the goals from Dzeko in the Cap One.  He is an obvious replacement for Aguero.

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures

Fulham (A)
Liverpool (H)
Crystal Palace (H)
Swansea (A)
Newcastle (A)
Cardiff City (H)

5.  Remy (£8.2m) HOLD

• Goals and assists:  8 goals 2 assists.  Time per point scored:  14.0 mins mins .  Rotation risk: low.   fixture ease ranking: 7th.  Consistency 8/14  57%          Last 5 return rate:  2/5

Hard to believe he didn’t score on the weekend  as had 2 golden chances.  Underlying shooting stats are ok but not creating chances.  Mixed fixtures.  The competition for his place in your fantasy premier league team is the main drawback

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

Crystal Palace (A)
Stoke City (H)
Arsenal (H)
West Brom (A)
Man City (H)
West Ham (A

Aguero (£12.5m) SELL

Injured and out for up to 8 weeks. The update given my Pellegrini on Tuesday night.    While I’m sure everyone will take a bath on the price.  He will drop in price anyway.  so whether he’s in your team or sold you will lose value.  he’s already been sold by 320,000 fantasy premier league managers

Budget Strikers

With the emergence of Silva and Walcott suddenly midfield options are looking better.  Here’s a few strker options if you want to go cheap and invest further in your midfield

1.  Hooper (£6.1m)

Returned in 3 of his last 5 games.  With a fantasy premier league points per minute of 16 he has a good track record.  He’s also got the best next 6 fixtures of any team.  Underlying stats are nothing great but what you would expect from the value.

2.  Rodriguez (£5.9m)

Also returned in 3 of his last 5 games and seems to have gametime sorted.  A Fixture ease of 12 shows mixed difficulty though.  Fantasy premier league points per minute of 17.5 is respectable for the price though.  Pretty good shooting stats.  Better than any of the budget options.  Doesn’t vreate chances though.

3.  Chamakh (£5.2m)

Amazing how scoring in 3 consecutive games all can be forgiven.  He even has a song.  “I want Chamakh for good”.  Sung to the tune of the take that song.  Fixtures are difficult with a fixture ease of 18.  Palace are set up to defend and get clean sheets which wont help.  A fantasy premier league point per minute of 23 is pretty poor and you’re banking on an upturn in form. Creating chances stats are respectable but shooting stats woeful

4.  Jerome (£4.7m)

This is if you really want to go cheap and have your striker on the bench.  Stats aren’t that different to Chamakh.

And for the real punt

Dzeko (£6.7m)

Fantasy premier league point per minute stats of 13.8 which is as good as most strikers.  He’s also only £6.7m.  He absolutely murders Negredo  in shooting stats and his creating chances stats are virtually the same.  If he starts he will get goals.  Definitely.  If he starts.  Thats the question.  Will Pellegrini go 4-4-2?  Who knows.  Maybe the Fulham game will show us.  However its a great fixture to take a punt on if you’re brave enough because Negredo has to be the favourite to start.  After that youre gambling on formation.

Fox Sports EPL fantasy:  League name: fantasyfootballgeek League access code: (10513-1773)