Here’s the Telegraph fantasy football “ones to Watch” for game week 20 (date written 27/12/2012)

GOALKEEPER

Hart – £4.0m – quality  

As per each week, the best defence and Kompany is the only other secure choice

Nor  A
Stok  H
Ars  A
Ful  H
QPR  A
Liv H

Begovic £3.0m value

Outside the elite teams where Hart is clearly the best option in telegraph 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

South  H
Mcy  A
Che  H
Swa  A
Wig  H
Ars  A

DEFENCE

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

Johnson £3.9m  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 is slightly more expensive than everyone else but not significantly so and has that attacking edge.

Fixtures are now difficult though

QPR A
Sun H
ManU A
Nor H
Ars A
ManC H

Gibbs £3.7m  

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

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

Nastasic £3.2m value 

Somehow the young Serbian has become the regular partner of Kompany and he’s pretty good value at that.  Will be subject to rotation like anyone except Kompany so Hart maybe a better choice

Nor  A
Stok  H
Ars  A
Ful  H
QPR  A
Liv H

Cameron £2.9m  value ( suspended this game week) 

The cheapest buy in a great defensive team especially at home although they seem to be able to defend no matter what at the moment.

South  H
Mcy  A
Che  H
Swa  A
Wig  H
Ars  A

Luiz £3.8m (Playing in Mid)

Unless you want the game time risk of Azpilicueta to save £0.5m Luiz playing in midfield makes the most sense.

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

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

Gallas – £3.2m value

He’s a definite game time risk but unless you want to pay £3.9m for Vertonghen its a price you have to pay.

Sund  A
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 £2.7m

Fonte – Southampton £2.6m

O’Brien – West Ham £2.8m

Bassong – Norwich £2.9m

Neville/Distin – Everton £3.2m

MIDFIELD

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

Michu £3.3m form value 

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.

Ful  A
Avl H
Eve  A
Stpk  H
Sund  A
Whm  A

Bale £5.5m Quality form fixtures

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 TFF but worth the money.

Sund  A
Rdg H
QPR A
ManU  H
Nor  A
WBA  A

Mata £5.8m 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 TFF and I prefer Bale if you need to choose but a very good option

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

Cazorla £3.2m value

An absolute steal at this price.  Isn’t consistent but this is really a value play for a player integral to Arsenal’s attacking

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

Walcott £4.3m (playing as a striker)

If he stays as a striker then he’s a great option.  That’s a big if but with reasonable fixtures then its worth the gamble in my mind although personally I prefer the value of Cazorla

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

Nolan £3.3m value fixtures

Its now 1 return in 9 games but still 7th 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 and he has the fixtures to do it with Reading away next.

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

Fellaini £3.8m fixtures (suspended for 1 more game)

The Everton midfielders are all a similar price 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

Che  H
New  A
Swa  H
Sout  A
WBA  H
Avl H

Budget

Puncheon £2.4m

Sterling £2.6m

Schneiderlin £2.8m

Noble £3.0m

De Guzman £3.0m

FORWARDS

RVP – £7.0m – QUALITY form fixtures.

Even with a non captain based format RVP makes sense and especially now with good fixtures.

WBA  H
Wig  A
Liv  H
Tott  A
Sout H
Ful  A

Suarez £6.6m quality

Leading the overall shooting stats and 2nd to RVP in 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.  Personally I’m a believer.

QPR A
Sun H
ManU A
Nor H
Ars A
ManC H

Tevez £6.4m 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

Nor  A
Stok  H
Ars  A
Ful  H
QPR  A
Liv H

Aguero  £6.7m quality

Cam to the fore recently with strong underlying stats.  A class act and its very hard to separate the 2.  Both have had a bit of a lean spell in productionbut it will come right.

Nor  A
Stok  H
Ars  A
Ful  H
QPR  A
Liv H

Ba – £6.0m  form .

2nd in the shooting stats for the season and 3rd in the last 6 albeit on good fixtures.   Fixtures are tricky though and its a big leap of faith compared to the alternatives.  Likely to move in the transfer window which may assist his value and has shown he can score no matter what.  Here’s the fixtures

Ars  A
Eve  H
Nor  A
Rdg  H
Avl  A
Che  H

Defoe £5.4m fixtures value

Great value in TFF 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 but 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

Sund  A
Rdg H
QPR A
ManU  H
Nor  A
WBA  A

Torres £6.5m 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 among others to be  a transfer target

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

Kone £5.2m value

Has consistently been in the overall and last 6 shooting stats but suffers from a bit of the Suarez’s and struggles to finish.  Fixtures aren’t easy but one of the better value options.  Here’s the fixtures which are mixed at best

Avl  A
ManU  H
Ful  A
Sund  H
Stok  A
South  H

 Budget

Lukaku – £3.5m

Le Fondre – £4.0m

Weiman £4.1m

Benteke £5.1m

Berbatov £5.2m

KEY

quality – an elite player for his position

value – a player at a value that is less than the returns I expect

fixtures – a player facing good fixtures over the next 6 games

budget – filler at the minimum price the position allows. Should play

sleeping giant – a player with past form who may have had a quiet season last year but has the potential for far greater returns than his value

YC – card magnet

DGW – has 2 games in the specified game week

pre-season – has pre-season form

pens – should take penalties

short term – will only play for a few games

Form – current form

hope that stimulates some thought for your fantasy premier league team.