fantasy premier league – “ones to watch” GKs/Defs GW25

 Here’s the link to my latest rating the defences article to cut and paste into your browser

Fantasy premier league – rating the defences coming into GW23 – home and away

The best overall fantasy premier league defences

1.  Chelsea

6th best home defence. 1st best away defence.   20 goals conceded and 10 clean sheets.   How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams:  3

The form defence with 6 clean sheets in the last 8.  Also 4 clean sheets in the last 5 including incredibly a clean sheet at City.  The purchase of CDM Matic already looks a strong contribution to the defence.

Terry at £6.7m is the best option here if you’ve got the cash.  He’s got 29 points more than anyone else in the Chelsea defence.  He’s played every minute of every fantasy premier league game this year. To pay the premium though you’ve got to believe in his bonus and attacking potential.  He’s  got 4 bonus points in the last  2 games but before that it was a barren spell of 1 bonus point in 10 games.  It’s also been 10 games without an attacking return so there’s some question over that.  At the other end you’ve got Azpilicueta at £5.3m as the budget option with.  No attacking returns and 2 bonus points all season it’s just a clean sheet only budget option.  Ivanovic at £6.0m seems to have gametime security at RB.  However despite the stunning goal at City it’s the first attacking return since GW1 and only 1 bonus point outside attacking returns.   The GK Cech offers gametime security at £6.1m which combined with a non playing £3.9m GK is reasonable value.

Potential for 4 clean sheets in the next 6

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

Newcastle (H)
West Brom (A)
Everton (H)
Fulham (A)
Tottenham (H)
Aston Villa (A)

2.  Arsenal

2nd best home defence. 4th best away defence.   21 goals conceded and 11 clean sheets.  How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams:  10

Since the hammering at City its been 5 clean sheets out of 8.  It’s 3 clean sheets in the last 5

 Koscielny at £5.7m now becomes my top choice.     Since coming back into the side in 5 games he’s got 8 bonus points.  His attacking potential is limited but while he’s racking up these bonuses and is cheaper than Mertesacker at £6.6m.    Mertesacker has great attacking potential but we’ve yet to see any returns in the last 8 games. He  does look a constant threat at set pieces and it’s a question whether you want to hold on for those returns to come.     The LB position is interesting.  Monreal at £5.1m held his place over Gibbs for 2 weeks now since Gibbs has been fit and started the last 5 in total.   Needs time to settle down but a value gamble if you need the funds.

The fixtures now get tougher but there’s still 3 clean sheets possibly in the next 6.  After the 6 though it gets even worse.

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

Liverpool (A)
Man Utd (H)
Sunderland (H)
Stoke City (A)
Swansea (H)
Tottenham (A)

3.  Southampton

4th best home defence.  5th best away defence.   27 goals conceded and 9 clean sheets.  How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams:  10

Only 3 clean sheets in the last 13.  2 in the last 5 shows that maybe they are turning a defensive corner despite losing Lovren.  The early season form where they had 6 clean sheets in 9 helps the rating.  It still takes a leap of faith to think they can get back to that without Lovren.   That’s why they are a worthwhile as a budget option.

Fonte is probably the best choice here at £5.2m although ideally with the turnaround risk you’d want to pay less.  The goal in GW23 though shows his attacking potential.     Shaw is the slightly cheaper option at £4.9m.  However  despite looking good it’s only 2 assists and 5 bonus points.     The RB position is in a state of flux with the Chambers injury doubt and probably needs a couple games of monitoring to see if Chambers can hold it.    GK Boruc’s  is good value at £4.7m.  A double up with Davis at £3,9m is a cheap way for reasonable all round coverage but limits you to 1 further Saints choice.  Yoshida at £4.0m is a good cheap option with Lovren not due back until GW29.  He’s played both games since Lovrens injury

Good fixtures with potential for 4 clean sheets in the next 6

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

Stoke City (H)
Hull City (A)
West Ham (A)
Liverpool (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Norwich (H)

4.  Manchester City

3rd best home defence.  9th best away defence.   27 goals conceded and 8 clean sheets.  How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams:  2

2 clean sheets in the last 11 games.   1 clean sheet in the last 5 games .  They didn’t deserve that at Newcastle.    This ranking is about fixing the away defence.  They have some good underlying stats but continue to concede.  That’s why I think the best choice is Kolarov at £5.5m.  He is a lethal crosser on the left and gets forward relentlessly helped by Silva tucking in.   He’s started 6 of the last 8 and has this season a goal and 5 assists.   With Fernandinho out for 3-4 weeks (unconfirmed) Demichelis should play in midfield which would give Nastasic a short run in the side as CB at £4.9m.  He may even win the spot as Demichelis is a fairly  accident prone CB.   

There’s a minimum 3 clean sheets in the next 6 for me

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

Norwich (A)
Sunderland (H)
Stoke City (H)
– Gameweek 28 –
Aston Villa (H)
Hull City (A)

5.  Everton

9th best home defence.  2nd best away defence.   25 goals conceded and 9 clean sheets.  How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams:  9

Form’s not great with 1 clean sheet in the last 10.  1 clean sheet in the last 5

Coleman  is the best option at £6.5m and is back for GW25.     He has excellent attacking form having scored 5 goals and an assist to date.  Baines is the option at £7.4m if you’re swimming in cash. He has pens and a decent share of set pieces.  In the 6 games since coming back from injury he;s scored and goal and an assist plus 6 bonus points related to thosre attacking returns.   The budget option  is Distin at £5.2m.   However there’s only clean sheets at stake here.  No attacking returns and 1 bonus point since GW5 says it all.  He should have gametime security though as Alcaraz was awful when taking his place and is injured with no return date.   GK  Howard at £5.9m offers no value for me

Some tough fixtures and 3 clean sheets tops in the next 6

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

Tottenham (A)
Crystal Palace (H)
Chelsea (A)
West Ham (H)
Newcastle (A)
Cardiff City (H)

The best fantasy premier league budget home defences

1.  Sunderland

18th ranked home defence.  19 goals conceded and 3 clean sheets at home in 12 home games.  How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams: 4

Poyet is an excellent defensive coach .  Its 3 clean sheets in 8 games at home since he took over which isn’t remarkable but the fixtures again look good for home rotation.  Bardsley is definitely my best choice at £4.5m for his attacking potential with 2 goals and an assist plus 7 bonus points in the 17 games he’s played.  GK Mannone offers reasonable value in rotation at £4.5m.  The next 6 home fixtures all have a clean sheet possibility apart from maybe Everton

Next 6 home fantasy premier league fixtures:

Hull City (H)
West Brom (H)
Man Utd (H)
Southampton (H)
Chelsea (H)
Aston Villa (H)

2.  Swansea

17th ranked home defence.  20 goals conceded and 4 clean sheets at home in 12 games.  How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams:  0

1 clean sheet in their last 5 home games.   It’s all about fixtures.  Interestingly Laudrup being sacked and CB Monk the caretaker manager maybe will improve the defence.  Whatever the case its all about fixtures.  Unfortunately they’re not cheap.  Chico at £4.9m looks the best bet.  In recent weeks he’s looked a threat at set pieces and  with 9 bonus points isn’t far off Williams of 11 but with much more attacking potential.  Could conceivably be 5 clean sheets in the 6 games.

Next 6 home fantasy premier league fixtures:

Cardiff City (H)
Crystal Palace (H)
West Brom (H)
Norwich (H)
Chelsea (H)
Aston Villa (H)

3.  Hull

1st ranked home defence.  9 goals conceded and 6 clean sheets at home.  How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams:  6

The best home defence in my view and without doubt the best budget defence at home.  CB Chester was the best pick but he’s now out until 15 March.  CB Davies at £4.6m is too expensive compared to the rest of the team but offers gametime security.  CB Alex Bruce is great value at£3.9m. However despite starting  9 of the last 10 prior to the Spurs game he was mysteriously dropped for the Spurs game. To me now it becomes tricky.  I would probably go for Rosenior the RB AT £4.0m who’s started the last 3.  However GK McGregor at £4.4m is a good value home rotation keeper.  Fixtures aren’t that easy though, 3 home clean sheets look realistic

Next 6 Home fantasy premier league fixtures:

Southampton (H)
Newcastle (H)
Man City (H)
West Brom (H)
Swansea (H)
Arsenal (H)

4.  Crystal Palace

15th ranked home defence.  14 goals conceded and 5 clean sheets at home.  How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams:  11

The ranking isn’t representative of current form.   It’s skewed by the Holloway period.  Post Pulis its 4 clean sheets in 6 home games. Ward is my top choice at £4.2m. Although he played at RB last weekend he has played in midfield.  Only 1 assist to date but looks a threat    Parr at £3.9m will save you a little cash .  He replaced Moxey as soon as his injury cleared up so its positive from a gametime perspective.  GK Speroni is reasonable value at £4.5m as a home rotation choice.

Very tough home fixtures though and I can see only 2 home clean sheets in the next 6.  However they are good away as well as shown by wins at Hull and Norwich

Next 6 home fantasy premier league fixtures:

West Brom (H)
Man Utd (H)
Southampton (H)
Chelsea (H)
Aston Villa (H)
Man City (H)

Here’s the article on top 10 fantasy premier league managers to cut and paste into your browser

Fantasy premier league – rating the defences coming into GW23 – home and away

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