fantasy premier league GW15 – “ones to watch” best defenders/GKs

Here’s my gameweek 15 “ones to watch” article ranking the best defenders. It also gives a table of stats for you to make your own decision.  There’s also some narrative on each player and the next 10 fixtures to take a longer view than recently given.

fantasy premier league GW15  – “ones to watch” best defenders/GKs

Well before you read this I should tell you that I haven’t been on the mulled wine. The injuries, rotation and change in fixtures have meant that there are some surprises in the table to say the least.  Just remember that I try to balance out attacking potential vs the premium price you pay for that player rather than just going for the attacking player automatically.  The attack vs value decision is really a matter of personal choice so in the narrative I talk about both options.   I’ve put together a table of stats with a key below it to rank the 10 best defenders.  Below that I’ve put some narrative on each player plus their next 10 fixtures to give you a longer view.  That takes you to the end of the January wildcard option.  I’ll also try and talk about the GK option and other players whether value or attacking defenders where relevant

Key:

Team ownership:  The total defence and GK ownership to give you an idea of how many FPL teams have a GK or Def from that team

Mins per FPL point:  How long it takes a player to earn an FPL point.  The lower the better obviously

Goals/Assist;  Goals/Assists so far in the season

CS – H/A:  The clean sheets so far this season.  Home/Away

Pred CS:  Predicted clean sheets in the next 10 games

Top 10 FPL managers own:  How many of the 10 top FPL managers I follow have the player in the team

Azpilicueta

It was only a matter of time before the excellent underlying defensive stats in all categories finally saw Chelsea get the rewards they deserve with 3 consecutive clean sheets.  There’s no doubt that Ivanovic has significant attacking potential to add to that.  It’s just whether he’s worth the £7.2m and £1.1m over Azpilicueta.  Ivanovic has had an attacking return since GW3 but he is the only player who is in the leaderboard for shooting and creating chances so the returns will come it’s just when.  Personally £1.1m is a lot of money to invest elsewhere in the squad so I’ve chosen Azpilicueta.  He may have some rotation risk over this busy period which is less so for Ivanovic.  Terry  and is a halfway house at £6.3m but also could be rotated.  Cahill probably less so at £6.4m

GK Courtois is £6.0m.  Thats quite an expensive GK.  Good for clean sheets but little save points.

Next 10 fixtures:

Newcastle (A)
Hull (H)
Stoke (A)
West Ham (H)
Southampton (A)
Spurs (A)
Newcastle (H)
Swansea (A)
Man City (H)
Aston Villa (A)

Kompany

He’as injured this week but expected to be back for the UCL game.  Difficult to pick anyone else from City as 2 players for each position.  Clichy was great value but faces Kolarov back soon. Kompany is necessary to give any defensive solidity as too many big chances conceded.  However still a good set of fixtures and enough in the underlying stats to suggest things will get better although 1 clean sheet in the last 4 is hardly helpful.

GK Hart gives a stable selection although at a hefty £6.0m GK price with little save points

Everton (H)
Leicester (A)
Crystal Palace (H)
West Brom (A)
Burnley (H)
Sunderland (H)
Everton (A)
Arsenal (H)
Chelsea (A)
Hull (H)

Gibbs

2 consecutive clean sheets coyld finally mean that Arsenals excellent underlying stats are finally bringing a reward.  Arsenal is a tricky one at the moment and just for clarity I’m not saying sell Chambers!.  Chambers has been the outstanding value for Arsenal but with Debuchy back in training and he should be available for GW16. However he may start with sub appearances which will negate both their gametime.  The CB’s are around the £6.0m mark which leaves Gibbs as the value option at £5.3m.  He seems to be ahead of Monreal in selection but will always be subject to some rotation risk. It’s just whether you think the extra £0.6/0.7m m is worth it for Koscielny/Mertesacker.

Mixed fixtures although the earlier ones are best

GK Martinez is outstanding value at £4.5m but Szczesny is now back in training so that loophole is shortly to be closed

Stoke (A)
Newcastle (H)
Liverpool (A)
QPR (H)
West Ham (A)
Southampton (A)
Stoke (H)
Man City (A)
Aston Villa (H)
Spurs (A)

Fazio

This where you are really thinking I must be going crazy.  It’s 8 games since the last clean sheet and I’m picking someone wioth no premier league record.  However look at the next 4 fixtures. The problem is who will play?  Rotation, lack of form, injuries and the Europa League means it’s difficult to predict who will line up.  If Rose is fit and gains his place then at £4.9m he is the best choice I think.  However thats alot of if’s.

The underlying defensive stats are terrible though so you’ve got to think that the fixtures will be the catalyst for Pochettino to finally get it right

The GK LLoris does give GK security at £5.6m

Crystal Palace (H)
Swansea (A)
Burnley (H)
Leicester (A)
Man Utd (H)
Chelsea (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Sunderland (H)
West Brom (A)
Arsenal (H)

Jenkinson

Again good fixtures and especially the next 3.  Also some good home games going forward which seems to be where they have been able to get clean sheets.  Mixed underlying defensive stats though and certainly the defensive performances have been mixed.  2 clean sheets in the last 4 gives you hope though.  There’s no doubt Creswell is the best attacking option it’s just whether you think the extra £0.5m at £5.5m is worth the extra expenditure.

GK Adrian is reasonable value at £5.0m

Swansea (H)
Sunderland (A)
Leicester (H)
Chelsea (A)
Arsenal (H)
West Brom (H)
Swansea (A)
Hull (H)
Liverpool (A)
Man Utd (H)

Johnson

The Liverpool RB has (like the rest of the defence to be fair) criticised greatly this season.  1 in the last 5 and only 3 all season means you can see why.  However looking at the basic underlying defensive stats they aren’t too bad it’s just the big chances and errors which are killing them.  However hard to be confident after such a long time when poor defensive performances have continued.  The attraction is longer term though and after Man Utd and Arsenal have gone the fixtures are really good.  So one to keep an eye on.

Sunderland (H)
Man Utd (A)
Arsenal (H)
Burnley (A)
Swansea (H)
Leicester (H)
Sunderland (A)
Aston Villa (A)
West Ham (H)
Everton (A)

Baines

I’ve ranked Baines quite low but that is merley due to the fixtures.  If you take the view that he is really equivalent to a midfielder who has pens and free kicks then the clean sheets are the icing on the cake rather than any necessary component in his ownership. Just as well with none in the last 4 and only 3 all season.  The fixtures are pretty mixed though.  You don’t really want to be facing Man City twice in the next 10.  Alcaraz who is available for selection at £4.3m is the real baragin if he can win his place back.  Thats a big if.

Man City (A)
QPR (H)
Southampton (A)
Stoke (H)
Newcastle (A)
Hull (A)
Man City (H)
West Brom (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Liverpool (H)

Hutton

Back fit and back in the side.  The team that seem to be getting clean sheets away rather than at home have a pretty good set of fixtures and that’s the focus.  The basic underlying stats are ordinary but the big chance and error chances are good which has helped them.  Good fixtures with only Man Utd in the early games a really difficult one.  Villas 2 clean sheets in the last 4 give some optimism.

Guzan is a great option at £4.6m as a solus goalkeeper and one of the few £4.5m ish GKs available

Leicester (H)
West Brom (A)
Man Utd (H)
Swansea (A)
Sunderland (H)
Crystal Palace (H)
Leicester (A)
Liverpool (H)
Arsenal (A)
Chelsea (H)

Wisdom

WBA are another side that have got their clean sheets away rather than at home which makes it difficult for a cheapie that ideally you would look to rotate when at home.  .  No clean sheets in their last 4 though isn’t great.  Nothing great about the underlying stats either.  Again though it’s a fixture punt with 4 of the first 5 fixtures are very good.

The away form makes Foster an excellent cheap solus £4.5m GK option

Hull (A)
Aston Villa (H)
QPR (A)
Man City (H)
Stoke (A)
West Ham (A)
Hull (H)
Everton (A)
Spurs (H)
Burnley (A)

Yun

A very cheap option for home rotation where they are at least better at home than away making rotation easier. No clean sheets in their last 5 games isn’t helpfuk though.  Absolutely no defensive stats whatsover and they are really a 3rd defender rotation option at best due to the value.  3 good home fixtures next though if you do need to use him.  Caulker is the attacking option but £4.7m is a steep price.

GK Green is another £4.5m option who may not get alot of clean sheets biut does get save points

Burnley (H)
Everton (A)
West Brom (H)
Arsenal (A)
Crystal Palace (H)
Swansea (H)
Burnley (A)
Man Utd (H)
Stoke (A)
Southampton (H)

Follow us on twitter @fantasyfoot20 or www.facebook.com/fantasyfootballgeek

This website is free.  If you find it useful please support us via the donate button on the site

fantasy premier league league code: 11254-4258
Telegraph fantasy football: Code 8000919 league name: fantasy football geek
Sky Sports fantasy football: League name: FANTASY FOOTBALL GEEK PIN 8026353
Sun Dream Team: PIN 8295737
Fox Sports EPL fantasy: Classic 3195-609 H2H 3195-610
Fox Sports fantasy A League 8318-1626

fantasy premier league GW15

fantasy premier league GW15