Gameweek 6 Preview: Fantasy Premier League #FPL

Written by @FantasyGaffer

You can read the FantasyYIRMA Gameweek 5 Review HERE

Defender: Kyle Naughton, Swansea City

This is a play on the team, not Naughton particularly. If you happen to love Martin Olsson or Alfie Mawson then play those boys instead. Naughton leads Swans defenders with 26 points this term with an assist and three clean sheets. Interestingly, Paul Clement’s side have recorded clean sheets in each of their away matches and not kept one at home. That could change against Watford, but we’re actually looking at Naughton as an offensive force. Last year Olsson (2 goals) and Mawson (4 goals) each failed to record an assist – so did Naughton in truth  – but we’re feeling lucky with Watford having been carved open at will by Aguero, Jesus and KDB. Certainly Bony, Tammy & Sanches will prove equally efficient with the defenders reaping the assist points.

[Note: yes, you’re starting #Mengy but that’s rather boring to write].

Midfielder: Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal

We’re fairly certain Alexis still plays for Wenger’s team, despite minimal minutes and anonymous performances. Of course, nothing cures a scoring drought like West Brom. Hasahtag Welbz is injured; Theo Walcott is injured; Alexis might get to start alongside Alexandre Lacazette or play just behind to the side. Or back, and to the left if you like your FPL advice mashed-up with Oliver Stone conspiracy flicks. Don’t forget a year ago he had 24 goals, 11 assists – this is still Alexis team when he wants it to be. He’s 2.4% selected and deserves to be added now with Brighton and Watford to follow.

[Note: yes, you’re starting KDB. We’re all so proud of how quickly you got him back into your squad and only for a -4 hit]

Forward: Wayne Rooney, Everton

The Vardy Party meets a block of concrete. Rooney hasn’t been a model citizen off the pitch but Everton don’t look remotely troubled by his antics. While that might not send the best message to society, FPL is hardly the hoi polloi. With City, Chelsea, Spurs and United firmly in their rearview, the Toffees get Bournemouth, Burnley and Brighton on the spin. Everyone in Koeman’s squad will get healthy returns and experience a minor resurgence that his the back pages buying into the summer spree. Just don’t get suckered by Davy Klassen, eh Talkin Togga?

[Note: yes, you’re a big boy with fancy pants and plans to match. Running that Gabriel Jesus out there this week is genius, pal.]

Captain: Alvaro Morata, Cheslea

The Blues will rebound nicely from the 0-0 draw against Arsenal in GW5 when they visit the Potters on Saturday. Morata has been exceptional against most opponents. Stoke will not be able to rely on Kurt Zouma’s presence with the on-loan defender forced to sit this one out. Geoff Cameron and Ryan Shawcross are both unlikely to feature meaning Kevin Wimmer is the most stable part of Mark Hughes’ backline. Sparky is in trouble. Morata has played at least 77′ in every week save the curtain-raiser and he’ll continue on here without causing FPL managers angst.

[Note: yes, you’re ALWAYS CAPTAIN KUN]

Outsider: Christian Benteke, Crystal Palace

It’s been five games without a goal and the only thing that will make Palace’s season seem worse by comparison is to have Benteke finally score a brace while they give up seven in a rout. If you can find odds better than even on that proposition you take your worldly possessions down the bookies and throw the lot of it on Benteke scores, Palace lose. If you utilize a fancy bookmaker that doesn’t allow for barter-based bets, do yourself a favor and at least get him into your OFPL or Togga Perfect XI.

[Note: yes, you’re going to take the piss out of your mini-league and start Sterling despite the massive price tag for a part-time player.]

Draft: Solly March, Brighton

March has a goal and an assist over his last two matches but it is the four key passes in GW3 that drive the value here. A visiting Newcastle side haven’t been lock-down in the midfield and March should have ample opportunity to fill up the score sheet with a couple key passes, a couple successful take-ons and a handful of defensive plays. That makes him a good bet for 10+, a level he’s hit in three straight, with upside closer to 20. This is a team still looking for an identity and the box-to-box midfielder might be the man who embodies the Seagulls fortunes come seasons end.

[Note: yes, you’re sick of this bit and of course starting all your CITY in draft – even what’s left of Ederson and Vincent Kompany’s uninjured leg]

John (aka FantasyGaffer) has been playing fantasy sports for more than a decade.

An avid supporter of Liverpool since the days of the Spice Boys, he has earnestly worn a white suit on multiple occasions. You’ll find his work on fantasy draft site PlayTogga.

Prior to joining Togga, he wrote for EPLIndex, MLB.com/fantasy, BackPageFootball and his own site, FantasyGaffer.