Fantasy premier league – “ones to watch” GKs/Defs GW28

The best overall fantasy premier league defences

1.  Chelsea

21 goals conceded and 12 clean sheets.   4 clean sheets in the last 5. Conceded more than 1 goal 4 times.  How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams:  6

The best overall defence at the moment on season performance and current form.  Also no blanks in  both gameweeks in 28 and 29.

Watching the game against Everton Terry at £6.6m to me looked the most threatening at set pieces although Ivanovic at £6.5m has the better underlying attacking stats.  With the games to come Terry  is the more likely to be rotated though in fantasy premier league games.  Terry however looks a better bonus prospect getting bonus points at close to double the rate of Ivanovic.  Azpilicueta is the budget option.  He’s fairly gametime secure having played 16 of the last 17 fantasy premier league games but has no attacking returns and only 2 bonus points so you get what you pay for in the Chelsea defence.

Potential for 5 clean sheets in the next 6

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

Fulham (A)
Tottenham (H)
Aston Villa (A)
Arsenal (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Stoke City (H)

2.  Everton

27 goals conceded and 9 clean sheets.  Conceded more than 1 goal 6 times.  0 clean sheets in their last 5 and 1 in last 12.  How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams:  9

This ranking is about excellent fixtures rather than form although they did defend very well at the weekend against Chelsea.

Coleman  at £6.5m is an excellent attacking option with  5 goals and an assist to date.  No attacking returns in the last 5 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 8 games since coming back from injury he’s scored a 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.

Potential for 4 clean sheets plus an addition of the postponed home game to Crystal Palace.

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:  Blank in GW29

West Ham (H)
– Gameweek 29 –
Cardiff City (H)
Swansea (H)
Fulham (A)
Arsenal (H)
Sunderland (A)

3.  Tottenham

33 goals conceded and 11 clean sheets in 27 games.  Conceded more than 1 goal 6 times.  2 clean sheets in the last 5.  How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams:  1

Spurs will get you though GW28 and GW29 unscathed.  Sherwoods attacking approach has sacrificed the clean sheets.  Its only 4 clean sheets since he took over in 11 games which isn’t fantastic but it does serve a function in getting you though those gameweeks.  At the moment it’s filled with problems.  Vertonghen is a pretty safe selection bet but at £6.9m is some price to pay especially with only 1 assist this season and little underlying stats.  He does have good bonus record though.  Dawson is £5.2m.  His selection in the short terms seems safe but the battle between him and Chiriches is never been resolved.  Other than that it’s LLoris for £5.8m

Potential for 3 clean sheets in the next 6.

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures

Cardiff City (H)
Chelsea (A)
Arsenal (H)
Southampton (H)
Liverpool (A)
Sunderland (H)

4.  Manchester City

27 goals conceded and 10 clean sheets.  Conceded more than 1 goal 8 times. 2 clean sheets in the last 5 How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams:  2

2 consecutive blanks in GW28 and GW29 lessen the appeal but its consecutive clean sheets in the last 2 games.  They have some striong underlying defensive stats to show they can improve though.

Kolarov is the attacking and budget choice at £5.2m.  The best attacking defensive player in fantasy premier league in my view.  He is rotated though so it comes at some gametime risk.  Very good off the bench though anyway.  Kompany at £6.4m has more gametime security and reasonable attacking potential.  He’s not performed bonus wise at all though with only 5.  Zabaleta offers a halfway house at £6.0m

There’s 3 clean sheets in the next 6 for me.  Blanks in GW28/29 but DGW31

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

-Gameweek 28
– Gameweek 29 –
Hull City (A)
Fulham (H)
Man Utd (A)
Arsenal (A)
Southampton (H)
Liverpool (A)

5.  Southampton

32 goals conceded and 10 clean sheets.  Conceded more than 1 goal 10 times.   2 clean sheets in their last 5 games.  How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams:  11

Another team that has the advantage of getting you through GW28 and GW29 without any blanks.  Not such a great recent record though and 3 goals conceded against West Ham last week was especially poor.  Chambers at £3.9m seems to have nailed his spot having played 11 out of 13 and is the budget option.  He’s yet to show any attacking returns and has only 2 bonus points.  Shaw has some middle ground at £5.0m before Lovren and Fonte at £5.4m who offer more bonus and attacking potential.  Fonte probably has the marginally better attacking returns and underlying stats and bonus stats. Boruc and Davis offer a cheap GK double at £4.7m and £3.9m respectively.

Potential for 3 clean sheets in the next 6.  No blanks in GW28 and GW29

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

Liverpool (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Norwich (H)
Tottenham (A)
Newcastle (H)
Man City (A)

6.  Man Utd

31 goals conceded and 9 clean sheets in 27 games.  3 clean sheets in the last 5.  Conceded more than 1 goal 10 times.  How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams:  1

Have the advantage of a game in GW29 and a DGW in GW31.  Haven’t been great defensively to say the least but still have 9 clean sheets.  Only 7 teams have more clean sheets

I’m not suggesting you make the transfer this week as theyre not playing but worth bearing in mind for GW29 planning.  The trouble with the Man Utd team apart from the inconcistency is that the defensive selection is pretty difficult to predict.  There is value but will they play is the question?  If you’re swimming in cash then Evra at £6.4m is the best bet. He’s pretty nailed on as his reserve Buttner is a total liability.  Evra also has good attacking potential with a goal and 5 assists which has translated into an 18 point bonus haul as well.  De Gea is reasonable value at £5.7m and fairly certain of selection.  If you want to gamble to save funds then Evans at £4.8m is worth considering.  He’s currently injured but scheduled to be back for GW29.  He’s also played most of the games when fit.  Smalling at £5.1m is another budget gamble having started 9 of the last 10

Potential for 3 clean sheets in the next 6 fixtures

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

Gameweek 28
West Brom (A)
Liverpool (H)
West Ham (A) GW31
Man City (H) GW31
Aston Villa (H)
Newcastle (A)

7.  Arsenal

27 goals conceded and 12 clean sheets.  Conceded more than 1 goal 4 times.  2 clean sheets in their last 5.  How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams:  9

Koscielny at £5.7m finally added some attacking returns in the Sunderland game.  He is an injury doubt for GW28.  12 bonus points in his last 9 games show his bonus potential and he’s good value in relation to everyone else. Mertesacker is a lot more expensive at £6.6m.  He has better attacking underlying stats and does look more dangerous at set pieces than Koscielny.  However,  no attacking returns since GW16 and the bonus points have suffered as well

The fixtures now get tougher with only 2  clean sheets possibly in the next 6.  Blank in GW29

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

Stoke City (A)
– Gameweek 29 –
Tottenham (A)
Chelsea (A)
Man City (H)
Everton (A)
West Ham (H)

The best fantasy premier league budget home defences

1.  Swansea

20 goals conceded and 5 clean sheets at home in 13 games.  2 clean sheets in their last 5 home games.  Conceded more than 1 at home 7 times.  How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams:  1

They definitely aren’t one of the best defensive teams at home but the remianing fixtures at home are strong which is the reason for their selection.  There’s clean sheet potential in every game apart from the Chelsea game giving a total potential  clean sheets of 4.  Chico at £5.0m is  my best choice.  2 goals in 4 games shows his attacking potential.   He’s also priced similarly to everyone else.  A blank in GW29 but that was an away game to Arsenal which had minimal points prospect anyway

4 potential home clean sheets to the end of the season

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.  Sunderland

21 goals conceded and 3 clean sheets at home in 13 home games.  Conceded more than 1 goal 7 times at home.  2 clean sheets in the last 5 home games.  How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams: 4

Ignore the above.  It’s about Poyet as an excellent defensive coach.    Its 7 clean sheets in 19 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 19 games he’s played.  GK Mannone offers value in rotation at £4.5m.  With the 3 DGWs coming up he offers excellent potential for save points if nothing else in these DGWs

2 blanks in GW28 and GW29 plus a postponed game against WBA.  Should have a DGW in GW31

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)

3.  WBA

16 goals conceded and 3 clean sheets at home in 14 games.  Conceded more than 1 goal at home 4 times.  0 clean sheets in last 5 home games.  How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams:  0

On the face of it not much to recommend them.  Especially after they failed to keep a clean sheet at home to Fulham.  However despite the poor clean sheet record and recent home defensive form they have played well defensively and  have good defensive underlying stats.  They also have 3 home games in the 5 remaining at home with good clean sheet potential.  Blank in GW28 away to Sunderland.  McAuley at £5.2m is the best bet.  He’s a similar price to the others but has good attacking potential.  2 goals and 1 assist this season but nothing simce GW11 again isn’t a great recommendation but he’s looks dangerous at set pieces and his underlying attacking stats are very good.

3 potential home clean sheets to the end of the season.  Blank in GW28

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

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

4.  Hull

10 goals conceded and 6 clean sheets at home.  Conceded more than 1 goal at home 2 times.  1 clean sheet in his last 5.  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 doubts at the moment though.  Form hasn’t been that great although a few tough fixtures in that run and injuries have diluted that.  Fixtures are mixed though going forward but potentially 3 clean sheets at home before the end of the season.  Chester is the budget option at £3.8m.  Should start again after coming back from injury but not guaranteed.  After that you’re probably best to go to Davies at £4.7m who is the best attacker although only 1 goal so far to show for it.

Potentially 3 clean sheets before the end of the season at home.  Blank in GW29.  Should have a DGW in GW31

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

Newcastle (H)
Man City (H)
West Brom (H)
Swansea (H) West Ham (A) GW31
Arsenal (H)
Everton (H)

5.  Norwich

11 goals conceded and 3 clean sheets at home in 14 home games.  Conceded more than 1 goal 3 times at home.  4 clean sheets in the last 5 home games. How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams: 3

The home defence has really come right as you can see from the 4 clean sheets in the last 5 home games.  Only Man City and Arsenal have more home clean sheets.  Plus they cover you over GW28 and GW29.

Olsson at £4.3m and Bassong at £4.7m are my best choices here.  Bassong has been unlucky at set pieces and should at some stage get some attacking returns which are zero at the moment.  He’s also the best bet on bonus.  Olsson is the cheaper version with some assist potential and is forward thinking but only has 1 assist this season

3 potential clean sheets at home out of the 5 games to go.

Next  home fantasy premier league fixtures until the end of the season:  No blanks in GW28 or GW29

Stoke City (H)
Sunderland (H)
West Brom (H)
Liverpool (H)
Arsenal (H)

6.  West Ham

20 goals conceded and 6 clean sheets at home in 14 home games.  Conceded more than 1 goal 6 times at home.  2 clean sheets in the last 5 home games. How many times  do they feature in the top 10 fantasy premier league managers teams: 3

Actually are one of the better teams away from home.  Are they an overall team though rather than a rotation team?  Thats questionable for me as I think they have been lucky with alot of clean sheets. They have more clean sheets than anyone though.

Demel at £4.5m is my best choice as Reid could return against one of the CBs.  There are a number of LBs to challenge McCartney so just Demel at RB as the only gametime secure player.  The GK Adrian is also a reasonable option

2 maybe 3 clean sheets to the end of the season.  Blank in GW29

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

Man Utd (H) GW31
Hull City (H) GW31
Liverpool (H)
Crystal Palace (H)
Tottenham (H)

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fantasy premier league league code: 149188-42149