Gameweek 17

DEFENDER: Aaron Cresswell – £5.5m (Home v Leicester)

West Ham left-back Aaron Cresswell’s stock has finally begun to steadily rise after we pinpointed him earlier in the season, with 2.3% of Fantasy bosses now owning him.

Trouble lies ahead in the shape of Christmas fixtures against Chelsea and Arsenal, but if you need a quick fix for this weekend then the arrival of Leicester City to Upton Park should provide Big Sam’s Hammers – for whom Cresswell has played every league minute this season – with a clean sheet.

MIDFIELDER: Ross Barkley – £6.8m (Away v Southampton)

Everton might just be making the trip to St Mary’s at the right time, as a stuttering Southampton have now suffered five defeats in a row.

Missing key midfielders Victor Wanyama and Morgan Schneiderlin, Saints will be lacking in the centre of the field, and Barkley – fresh from his wonderful goal against QPR – can take advantage of that for the visitors.

FORWARD: Andy Carroll – £7.0m (Home v Leicester)

He scored twice the last time he played at Upton Park, and Andy Carroll will now have Leicester City in his sights as he bids to keep up his side’s impressive season.

Carroll has now started all of West Ham’s last five league games, and although he has tough matches ahead this fixture against the Premier League’s current doormats should provide him with some chances.

THE OUTSIDER: Ayoze Perez – £4.8m (Home v Sunderland)

His goal in the 4-1 loss at Arsenal might not have meant too much, but it was a fourth strike in the first English season for Newcastle’s young Spanish forward Ayoze Perez, and his first since three in a row in October and November.

Perez is already well-liked on the terraces at St James’ Park, but a strike against bitter rivals Sunderland in what promises to be a fascinating derby on Sunday will see him take on hero status, and he could be worth a punt at a knockdown price.

THE CAPTAIN: Yaya Toure – £10.8m (Home v Crystal Palace)

Diego Costa scored last week but he might find opportunities hard to come by away at Stoke, and so instead we’re moving further back and picked an old Fantasy favourite.

Yaya Toure has scored in three of his last five and remains one of the first names on the Manchester City teamsheet, which will be displayed before a hugely winnable match at home to Crystal Palace early on Saturday afternoon.

@Mark_Jones86