Gameweek 7 Preview: Fantasy Premier League #FPL

Written by @FantasyGaffer

You can read the FantasyYIRMA Gameweek 6 Review HERE

A week ago I told you, right here, to captain Alvaro Morata. But did you? No. YOU DID NOT. And you know what? If you had, it would have completely redeemed you from scads of poor choices – like following any of the other advice in last week’s column. (Ed: Questionable sales pitch as per usual John.)

Defender: Sead Kolasinic, Arsenal

14 different defenders have scored this season, but only David Luiz and Jamaal Lascelles (2) have scored more than once. 22 defenders have recorded an assist with Chelsea’s Dave sitting top of the pile with 4, but Chelsea have to face Manchester City this week while Kolasinic turns out of Arsenal home to Brighton. With Wenger electing to stick with his back three, Bellerin and Kolasinic have been turned loose on the wings. Plenty will be touting Ben Davies this week at Huddersfield, but the Gunner is owned in 8% fewer leagues (20% – 12%) and will still have a job when Danny Rose gets healthy.

Midfielder: Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Stoke City

Four names for the price of one is a deal too good to pass up. The Potters midfielder has take 19 shots already this season, that’s level with prolific (if misbegotten) ball-striker Christian Eriksen and the pride of Tyneside – HossEhLoo. Remarkably, it’s just one less than Alvaro Morata and four fewer than both Kun and Salah. The Saints are known for being a stingy defense and haven’t been breached in two trips away from St. Mary’s this term. But EM C-M is worth a play here (bonus that he’s a differential!) Now that I’ve hit all the key words for an FPL analysis – I’ll repeat Hoss-eh-Loo.

Forward: Jamie Vardy, Leicester City

Terrible Human™ Jamie Vardy is quite a good FPL asset. Even when it appears he’s injured, the England international (own it) seems to make Shakespeare’s XI and pop in with a goal. The Cherries might choose to man mark Vardy down the middle, but recent scoring spates from Slimani and Okazaki might force them to play a flat back four. Bournemouth have conceded a goal in every match this season, and have allowed 2+ in five on the spin. He’s getting one; there will be the most overwrought ‘party’ tweets; you’ll feel dirty for cheering his success.

Captain: Romelu Lukaku, Manchester United

Little reason to bet against Manchester United, at home, against the already almost mathematically relegated Crystal Palace. He’s second in the EPL in shots (27) with 19 of those coming inside the penalty area. He’s level top of the EPL in goals (6) with four of those from inside the penalty area. Crystal Palace (37) have allowed the most shots of any team in the EPL and their 13 goals allowed are dead last. This is not going to be a ‘get right’ game for Roy Hodgson; if you captain Big Rom you’ll be in the majority. But sometimes the majority is right.

Outsider: Chris Wood, Burnley

Everton are likely to be without Phil Jagielka and Michael Keane when Burnley comes to town. Given that the Toffees are threadbare at the back, the lack of both will provide an opportunity for Robbie Brady and Chris Wood to reach for an 8pt weekend. Wood gets the nod slightly ahead of Ireland’s finest midfielder because he’s been leading the Clarets in a single-striker formation. There will be ample chances created here with Wood the most likely recipient of most of them.

Draft: Matt Ritchie, Newcastle

No team has allowed more away goals this season than the 10 conceded by Jurgen Klopp’s team. Sure, Newcastle have only scored six goals in six games, but Ritchie has been involved in four of them. More importantly, the team is currently running through him making his FPL draft stock rise. With 68.5 points this season, he’s the highest scoring Geordie on Togga and a full 20 points better than Mikel Merino, the next best midfielder.

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.