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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Puncheon

While Maloney and Kebe haven shown glimpses of form Puncheon is still the cheap midfielder of choice in my mind.

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.

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

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

 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

Suarez

Still the best underlying stats, scores and creates chances.  Sturridge doesn’t seem to have caused the problems people were worried about.

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

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

Benteke

5 goals  in his last 4 and absolutely on fire.  Fixtures are the main issue for him.  NZogbia return to form has helped

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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