GOALKEEPER

With points being deducted for goals conceded in Sky Sports fantasy football  my view is you should stick to the top 6 teams for defenders

Hart – £6.0m – quality  

The best defence despite the Norwich blip and Kompany is the only other secure choice

Stok  H
Ars  A
Ful  H
QPR  A
Liv H

Begovic £4.1m value

Outside the elite teams where Hart is clearly the best option in Sky Sports fantasy football due to closeness of price of the other teams, Begovic is the only other choice.  The most clean sheets and the best underlying stats of the better value teams.  Fixtures aren’t easy though

Mcy  A
Che  H
Swa  A
Wig  H
Ars  A

DEFENCE

With points being deducted for goals conceded in Sky Sports fantasy football  my view is you should stick to the top 6 teams for defenders

Johnson £6.5m  attack 

I’m a huge fan of this guy who plays like a winger with clean sheet potential and has the best shooting stats of any defender.   He’s also slightly cheaper than everyone else in Sky sports fantasy football

Fixtures are now difficult though

Sun H
ManU A
Nor H
Ars A
ManC H

Gibbs £6.8m  

Gibbs is the best value for a secure member of this underrated defence.  Fixtures are reasonably strong

Sout  A
ManC  H
Che  A
Whm  H
Liv H
Stok  H

Nastasic £5.0m value 

Somehow the young Serbian has become the regular partner of Kompany and he’s exceptional  value at that price.  Will be subject to rotation like anyone except Kompany.
Stok  H
Ars  A
Ful  H
QPR  A
Liv H

Cameron £3.8m  value 

The cheapest buy in a great defensive team especially at home although they seem to be able to defend no matter what (Southampton game excepted).  If Kightly gets a regular place back in the side then he’s a great option classified as a defender but playing in midfield.

Mcy  A
Che  H
Swa  A
Wig  H
Ars  A

Luiz £6.8m (Playing in Mid)

Unless you want the game time risk of Azpilicueta at £5.5m Luiz playing in midfield makes the most sense.

Fixtures aren’t easy but Chelsea have the ability to defend with Benitez in charge.

QPR  H
Stok  A
Ars  H
Rdg  A
New  A

Gallas – £5.3m value

He’s a definite game time risk but unless you want to pay £7.2m for Vertonghen its a price you have to pay.

Rdg H
QPR A
ManU  H
Nor  A
WBA  A

I wouldn’t buy anyone outside this group but if you’re looking for some value with game time security here’s some options

Davies – Swansea £3.6m

Fonte – Southampton £3.6m

Bassong – Norwich £3.9m

Nelsen  –  QPR £3.9m 

Reid – West Ham £4.0m

Cuellar – £4.8m

MIDFIELD

With no reserves in Sky Sports fantasy football you want everyone to be able to contribute

Michu £5.5m form value (Currently injured)

Top of the last 6 shooting stats by some distance despite a very difficult fixture list and 3rd overall for midfielders.  Last week played as an advanced midfielder but looked dangerous and unlucky not to score.  Seems strong no matter whether advanced midfield or a striker.   A must buy at the moment.

Avl H
Eve  A
Stok  H
Sund  A
Whm  A

Bale £8.8m Quality form fixtures (Suspened GW21)

The best all round midfielder for my money.  Stats are distorted by not playing a couple of games recently due to injury but  performs no matter what the fixtures in shooting and creating chances.  Not cheap in Sky Sports  fantasy football but worth the money.

Rdg H
QPR A
ManU  H
Nor  A
WBA  A

Mata £8.9m form

I may have discounted him as an option but fantasy football never stands still and he seems to have added getting in to the box to his game this season and has appeared in the overall shooting stats and the last 6 despite very tricky fixtures while continuing to create chances for others.  Again not cheap in Sky Sports fantasy football and I prefer Bale if you need to choose but a very good option

QPR  H
Stok  A
Ars  H
Rdg  A
New  A

Cazorla £6.7m value

Great value at this price and the leading midfield scorer in Sky Sports fantasy football.  Greatly assisted by the pass and tackle bonus rules in Sky sports fantasy football.  the only other player who is is YYT and he’s £1.4m more expensive and off to ACON.  Cazorla isn’t consistent but this is really a value play for a player integral to Arsenal’s attacking.

Sout  A
ManC  H
Che  A
Whm  H
Liv H
Stok  H

Walcott £7.5m (playing as a striker)

If he stays as a striker then he’s a great option as witnessed by his Newcastle hat trick.

Sout  A
ManC  H
Che  A
Whm  H
Liv H
Stok  H

Nolan £4.9m value fixtures

Its now 1 return in 10 games but still 9th in the last 6 shooting stats despite a ridiculous fixture schedule and missing the last game.  I think this shows returns are around the corner despite the Reading hiccup

Nor  H
Sun  A
QPR  H
Ars  A
Ful  A
Swa  H

Fellaini £3.8m fixtures

Similar price to Pienaar but far cheaper than Osman but Fellaini’s been the run away leader in the overall shooting stats playing as an advanced midfielder.  His suspension has meant he’s drifted off the last 6 shooting stats but on his day is unplayable.  Not yet certain whether he can do it amongst difficult fixtures as Pienaar has recently shown but I’m sticking with Fellaini as my option of choice

New  A
Swa  H
Sout  A
WBA  H
Avl H

Players who benefit from the Sky Sports fantasy football

Arteta – £6.2m

6th top midfield scorer  with only midfield revelations Michu and Fellaini cheaper in that list.  Benefits from the bonus rules more than most and also has penalties in the locker as a bonus.  A little more expensive than some of the other options but definitely worth it.

Lucas – £4.6m

Will definitely benefit from these rules if he can establish himself as a 90 minute player in the side.  Still some way from that but worth monitoring.

Schneiderlin – £4.5m

Believe it or not he’s 17th highest midfield scorer

James McCarthy – £5.1m

A little more expensive but has a bit of an eye for goal as well.

Budget in Sky sports fantasy football

Puncheon £4.0m

Sterling £4.3m

Noble £4.7m

De Guzman £4.7m

FORWARDS

RVP – £10.0m – QUALITY form fixtures.

RVP makes sense even at this price and especially now with good fixtures.

Wig  A
Liv  H
Tott  A
Sout H
Ful  A

Suarez £9.6m quality

Leading the overall shooting stats and the last 6.  Has very tough fixtures now but consistently produces the underlying stats but there’s been a long issue with putting it in the net although he then produces goals like we saw at QPR.  Personally I’m a believer.

Sun H
ManU A
Nor H
Ars A
ManC H

Tevez £9.4m quality

5th in the overall shooting stats and 4th in the last 6 games.  Fixtures are a bit ordinary but has the class to plough through what is a lean spell

Stok  H
Ars  A
Ful  H
QPR  A
Liv H

Aguero  £9.9m quality

Came to the fore recently with strong underlying stats and returns away to Norwich.  A class act and its very hard to separate the 2.  Both have had a bit of a lean spell in production but it will come right. Rotation has made it difficult to be a captain option but this should slow down with the Europa league surely not a priority

Stok  H
Ars  A
Ful  H
QPR  A
Liv H

Ba – £9.0m  form .

2nd in the shooting stats for the season and 2nd in the last 6.   Fixtures are tricky though and its a big leap of faith compared to the alternatives at quite an expensive price.  2 goals against Arsenal reinforce his ability to score though. Likely to move in the transfer window and Chelsea are the current rumour which may assist his value and has shown he can score no matter what.  Here’s the fixtures

Eve  H
Nor  A
Rdg  H
Avl  A
Che  H

Defoe £7.8m fixtures value

Great value in Sky Sports fantasy football but personally Bale would be my Spurs exposure of choice and Defoe is a bit of a gamble given that you could possibly argue that Adebayor fits the AVB system better.  However, its hard to see him replaced given his form and the fixtures are reasonably good if you’re willing to gamble on the game time risk .  Here’s the fixtures

Rdg H
QPR A
ManU  H
Nor  A
WBA  A

Torres £9.5m form

Very expensive considering patchy form but has shown some good stats despite a run of tricky fixtures.  Is a game time risk though with Falcao and now Ba among others to be  a transfer target

Eve A
QPR H
Stok A
Ars H
Rdg A
New A

 Budget

Lukaku – £6.2m

Le Fondre – £6.5m

Weiman £6.7m

Benteke £7.5m

Berbatov £7.5m