Here’s my Sky Sports fantasy football “ones to watch” best midfielders and strikers

Midfielders

Walcott (£8.5m)

Excellent  goal scoring midfielder who  had great shots in the box stats. Nailed on to play every game in an advanced position and also often drifts in centrally.  Great fixtures and is a consistent returner no matter what the opposition.  William Hill at this moment have him ahead by some distance (ignoring Bale) in the odds for top goal scorer above any other  midfielder.

Cazorla (£8.7m)  

Is one of the few players who isn’t a deep lying midfilder to regularly pick up passing bonus points.  Should play centrally and be heavily involved.  Returns could be significantly bolstered if Arsenal sign a clinical striker

Hazard (£8.8m)

Great debut season and sure to be better for it this year.  Underlying stats, returns and consistency  behind Mata who had a more central role but still very strong.  One of the leading candadates for the double gameweek 1 captains armband.

Mata (£9.0m)

2nd top points scorer only to Bale last year but who knows how Mourinho is going to play it when he’s got Hazard, Oscar, Schurrle, Moses and De Bruyne as attacking midfielders.  Consistent returner.  Only worries are  rotation and the theory that Mata will slow down Mourinho’s pressing and fast counter attacking style.

Mirallas (£6.5m)

Should play in an advanced position of the front 3 or in a midfield 3 behind the striker.   Did well in patches last year although had injury problems which slowed him down.  Underlying stats were pretty non existent but still had a reasonable consistency rate.  Has performed in pre-season and should benefit from a more attacking style with Martinez.

Coutinho (£7.8m)

How he performed after joining Liverpool in the transfer window was nothing short of remarkable.  Will be given a lot of attacking freedom and Rodgers has talked about him being at his best centrally.  Great fixtures.   His underlying stats were fantastic.

Silva (£8.4m)

Quality player who didn’t get the returns that he deserved as the top chance creator in the league and also had reasonable shots in the box stats.  Didn’t return consistently at all though and this was why he was abandoned last year.  However with the uncertainty over who will play in the strike force and Pellegrinis more attacking play Silva stands out as the only really forward playing midfielder although he’s over valued in my mind.  Pellegrinis possession based approach may get him in the passing bonus country.

Budget players with Sky Sports fantasy football passing and tackle bonus potential

Cabral (£4.1m)

A bit of a punt as the CDM is new to Sunderland but on pre-season looks a good bet to at least get a tackle bonus and great value at £4.1m

Leiva (£5.5m)

This guy should be in everyones team.  Absences last year meant he didn,t get the full hike in value he should have.  Will rack up the tackle and passing bonus points possibly better than anyone

Noble (£5.2m)

Has pens and free kicks in his locker as well as a good bet for passing and tackle bonus despite being in a Big Sam’s team.

Van Ginkel (£5.1m)

Again a bit of a punt but I think Van Ginkel will see significant gametime in the double pivot to get tackle and passing bonus points as well as the odd goal or assist on the counter attack.

Dembele (£5.8m)

Will rack up significant tackle and pass bonus points as well as the odd goal.

Forwards

RVP (£10.0m)

The price differential doesn’t seem so bad in Sky Sports fantasy football and with 2 captains per week needed to dilute your alternative captain pool then he seems essential in my mind.

Soldado (£8.1m)

Great value at £8.1m.  5th top goal scorer in La Liga last season and certain of starts and  being the main striker in a team with great fixtures early on.   The best option to replace Bale. William Hill at the moment have him as the 3rd favourte to be top goal scorer at  14/1  behind RVP and Aguero.  That in itself shows his quality.  A great pick in my mind.  You will see from my double captain points rule article (link below) that a Spurs player is desirable to maximise the captain opportunities

 Sturridge (£9.2m)

Assuming Suarez goes Sturridge will be the main striker and the focal point of chances created.  Great returns, great stats, consistent returner  and good underlying stats.  Hard to choose between him and Coutinho.  Its just where  and who fits in your Sky sports fantasy football team best.

Negredo £8.6m

Only £0.1m more than Dzeko but should get the majority of starts leading the line.  4th top goal sorer last season in La Liga behind Messi Ronaldo and Falcao.

Cornelius (£6.6)

Budget striker who will be the main man for Cardiff after coming from the Danish league with a good record.  Is injured at the moment and will miss GW1

Ricky Van Wolfswinkel (£7.5m)

More expensive than Cornelius but had reasonable scoring record in Portugal and Norwich should create more chances for him than Cardiff for Cornelius.

By the way, I’m not choosing the following because they’re too expensive

Aguero, Torres, Ba, Lukaku, Berbatov, Dzeko and  Giroud

That’s it see below my Sky Sports fantasy football rule summary and updates.  See also my article on the Sky Sports fantasy football double captain rule.

Also here’s the league details:  Sky Sports fantasy football:  League name:  FANTASY FOOTBALL GEEK    PIN 8001875

http://www.fantasyfootballgeek.co.uk/sky-sports-fantasy-football-analysing-the-double-captain-position/

http://www.fantasyfootballgeek.co.uk/sky-sports-fantasy-football-rules-changes-and-game-review/

fantasy premier league league code: 149188-42149