fantasy premier league – “ones to watch” GKs/Defs GW27 (updated for GW28/29)

The best overall fantasy premier league defences

1.  Chelsea

21 goals conceded and 11 clean sheets.   3 clean sheets in the last 5 including  a clean sheet at City. How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams:  5

CDM Matic  looks a strong contribution to the defence.  Terry expected back for GW27

 Ivanovic at £6.4m has suddenly become the attacking force that he has threatened but not until now delivered.  2 goals and an assist in the last 3.  These are the first  attacking returns since GW1 though.  To me up until the last few games Terry at £6.7m looked the more likely attacking threat.  However like Ivanovic until recently he’s failed to deliver. It’s been 10 games without an attacking return  His bonus potemtial has also diminished and while 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.     So with their some doubt over the value of premium players at the other end you’ve got Azpilicueta at £5.4m as the budget option.  However with   no attacking returns and 2 bonus points all season it’s just a clean sheet only budget option.     Cahill at £6.0m  is something between the 2 extremes with some attacking potential although behind Terry and Ivanovic but with more rotation possibility due to Luiz’s presence.  Although Cahill  is clearly ahead of Luiz.  The GK Cech offers gametime security at £6.2m which combined with a non playing £3.9m GK is reasonable value.  No blanks in GW28/29

Potential for 4 clean sheets in the next 6

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

Everton (H)
Fulham (A)
Tottenham (H)
Aston Villa (A)
Arsenal (H)
Crystal Palace (A)

2.  Arsenal

26 goals conceded and 12 clean sheets.  How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams:  8

Since the hammering at City its been 6 clean sheets out of 10.  It’s 3 clean sheets in the last 5

Koscielny at £5.7m is my number 1 choice.  Incredibly simce coming back from injury it’s been 5 clean sheets in 8 games and in every clean sheet he;s got at least 2 bonus points, including 3 in the 0-0 with Man Utd.  No attacking returns and the underlying stats don’t suggest much potential.  While you’re getting these bonus points it really doesn’t matter.  The negative though is the fixtures which really look difficult.  At times like this attacking returns give you a headge and Koscielny doesn’t give you this.  Mertesacker at £6.6m has more attacking potential although with no attacking returns in 10 games that’s looking more like a mirage.  Still the underlying stats and looking at his threat in games this will come right.  With the fixtures though is now the time to invest £6.6m in an Arsenal defender.  Sagna at £5.7m has 2 assists in his last 7 games but to me it’s limited attacking potential and not enough to prefer him to Koscielny.  The LB position needs more monitoring with Gibbs winning back his place against United after Monreal had claimed it.

The fixtures now get tougher but there’s still 3 clean sheets possibly in the next 6.  Blank in GW29

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

Sunderland (H)
Stoke City (A)
gameweek 29
Tottenham (A)
Chelsea (A)
Man City (H)

3.  Southampton

29 goals conceded and 10 clean sheets.  How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams:  10

4 clean sheets in the last 17 isn’t a great recommendation.  However 2 clean sheets in the last 5 shows an improvement even without Lovren who’s out with a return date on phsyioroom of GW27.   Good fixtures though give them potential as an all round defence although to me only budget money is appropriate.

Chambers at £3.9m fills that budget criteria if you’ve got the appetite for gametime risk.  He’s started 10 of the last 12 but some of those were with Clyne injured.  Very little attacking potential with no returns to date.  Its about clean sheets and budget.  After that the options are £5.0m or above.  I would wait for Lovren at £5.5m until he returns.  So the next choice is Fonte at £5.4m.  With 2 goals in his last 4 games and with ok if not exceptional underlyinmg stats he’s a good attacking hedge if you’re swimming in cash.

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

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

West Ham (A)
Liverpool (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Norwich (H)
Tottenham (A)
Newcastle (H)

4.  Everton

26 goals conceded and 9 clean sheets.  How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams:  8

Form’s not great with 1 clean sheet in the last 11.  1 clean sheet in the last 5.  However there are good fixtures coming soon.

Youve got 2 straght choices here.  Attacking potential and budget Coleman  at £6.5m is an excellent attacking option with   5 goals and an assist to date.  No attacking returns in the last 4 starts though.  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 7 games since coming back from injury he’s scored and goal and an assist plus 6 bonus points related to those attacking returns.  At the other end is the  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.    GK  Howard at £5.9m offers no value for me

After the Chelsea game there;s potential for 4 clean sheets plus an addition of the postponed home game to Crystal Palace.

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:  Blank in GW28/29

Chelsea (A)
West Ham (H)
Newcastle (A)
Cardiff City (H)
Swansea (H)
Fulham (A)

5.  Manchester City

27 goals conceded and 9 clean sheets.  How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams:  2

Ive dropped them down the order due to 2 consecutive blanks in GW28/29.  3 clean sheets in the last 12 games.   2 clean sheet in the last 5 games .   It’s the away defence that has let them down.  At home thewyre one of the best defensive teams.  To me there are enough positive underlying stats to show improvement.  The fixtures are also very good though with potential for 4 clean sheets in the next 6 games.  Remember they don’t play in GW28 but they do play twice in GW31

Despite not starting in 2 of the last 3 at £5.3m Kolarov with 5 assists and 1 goal is still my best pick.  In my mind he’s the best attacking defensive player in fantasy premier league and one of the few who creates chances and gets shots in the box plus has set piece potential.  Even as a sub he can come on as an attacking left sideed midfielder and is worth the risk in my mind.  He’s also by far the most budget friendly option.  However if the amount of postponed games and injuries means you want more gametime security then Kompany at £6.3m is a better bet.  He’s still a threat at set pieces as shown by 3 goals this season.  Zabaleta at £6.0m is the middle ground

There’s 4 clean sheets in the next 6 for me.  Blanks in gw28/29 but DGW31

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

Stoke City (H)
– Gameweek 28 –
gameweek 29
Hull City (A)
Fulham (H)
Man Utd (A)
Arsenal (A)

The best fantasy premier league budget home defences

1.  Swansea

20 goals conceded and 5 clean sheets at home in 13 games.  How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams:  1

2 clean sheets in their last 5 home games.   Not the greatest defensive team but this is all about fixtures.  There’s clean sheet potential in every game part from the Chelsea game giving a total potential  clean sheets of 5.  Chico at £4.9m is definitely my best choice.  2 goals in 4 games shows his attacking potential.  He’s also no more expensive than anyone else. A blank in GW29 but that was an away game to Arsenal which had minimal points prospect anyway

Next  home fantasy premier league fixtures until the end of the season:

Crystal Palace (H)
West Brom (H)
Norwich (H)
Chelsea (H)
Aston Villa (H)
Southampton (H)

2.  WBA

15 goals conceded and 3 clean sheets at home in 13 games.  How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams:  0

No great home record so far in terms of clean sheets but in the last 4 home games they haven’t conceded more than 1.  They also kept Liverpool and Chelsea relatively quiet.  They have very good underlying defensive stats.  All of this plus very good home fixtures makes me think there are potentially 4 clean sheets in the 6 games before the end of the season. McAuley is my top choice at £5.3m which is relatively expensive but he has excellent attacking potential.   2 goals and an assists so far plus good underlying attacking stats.  Blank in GW28 away to Sunderland

Next  home fantasy premier league fixtures until the end of the season:

Fulham (H)
Man Utd (H)
Cardiff City (H)
Tottenham (H)
West Ham (H)
Stoke City (H)

3.  Crystal Palace

15 goals conceded and 5 clean sheets at home in 13 games.  How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams:  8

2 clean sheets in their last 5 home games. Ward £4.2m and Delaney £4.4m seem to be the only secure places at the moment.  Delaney has 1 assist and 8 bonus points in  24  games.  He has good attacking potential which has yet to turn into goals.  Ward has similar stats with 1 assist and 5 bonus points and has played in midfield.  So pretty similar picks.

Very tough home fixtures though and I can see only 1 home clean sheets in the next 6.  However they are good away as well as shown by wins at Hull and Norwich

Next  home fantasy premier league fixtures until the end of the season:  No blanks in GW28/29

Man Utd (H)
Southampton (H)
Chelsea (H)
Aston Villa (H)
Man City (H)
Liverpool (H)

4.  Hull

10 goals conceded and 6 clean sheets at home.  How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams:  3

The best budget defence at home.   A number of injuries at the moment.  Alex Bruce is the cheap option at £3,9m but he has some gametime risk when Chester is fit in GW30 as Bruce seems to be moving to a 4-4-2.  For more security go for Curtis Davies for £4.6m who also has good attacking potential although we’ve only seen 1 goal so far this season for it.  Difficult fixtures with probably only 3 clean sheets in the last 6 games.  Potential blank in GW29 away to West Ham

Next  home fantasy premier league fixtures until the end of the season:

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

5.  Sunderland

21 goals conceded and 3 clean sheets at home in 13 home games.  How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams: 3

This is about excellent home fixtures to the end of the season and Poyet as an excellent defensive coach .  Its 7 clean sheets in 18 games since he joined . Bardsley is my best choice at £4.5m for his attacking potential with 2 goals and an assist plus 7 bonus points in the 18 games he’s played.  GK Mannone offers value in rotation at £4.5m.

2 blanks in GW28 and GW29.

4 Potential clean sheets at home to the end of the season

Next  home fantasy premier league fixtures until the end of the season:

Crystal Palace (H)
West Ham (H)
Everton (H)
Cardiff City (H)
Swansea (H)

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