Chelsea, Manchester City and West Ham for Gameweek 9??

Oct 19

Gameweek 9 Preview: Fantasy Premier League #FPL

Written by John Wallin @FantasyGaffer

You can read the FantasyYIRMA Gameweek 8 Review HERE

Like Harry Kane in August, big names consistently let us down in FPL. Except Raheem Sterling. He’s got six goal, with two assists despite playing the full 90′ only four times this season. Manchester City are playing Burnley on Saturday. Is this foreshadowing? Probably not!

Defender: Raheem Sterling Marcos Alonso, Chelsea

It’s been a while since Alonso and Chelsea have done much in the FPL. Sure, Dave picked up two assists in the 4-0 thumping of Stoke, but that was back in GW6. This is GW9 – light years beyond those haycion days of yester year. True, Alonso’s 33pts rate level-21st at the position with four others and he’s within just one point of THREE Huddersfield defenders. But last year he scored six goals, with five assists – spacing those out fairly evenly across the year. This year he had a brace against Spurs in week two and nothing otherwise. Expect a better outing against Newcastle.

Midfielder: Raheem Sterling Manuel Lanzini, West Ham

A start and 87′ for Lanzini in GW8 were a welcome sign for draft league managers who got Lanzini in this summer and had to wait for him to get fit. In salary cap games, his long injury helped his price to drop £7.0 to £6.8. Unsurprisingly, his ownership is just 0.6% which makes him a differential of monumental proportions. This Hammers side is in desperate need of an identity and Lanzini may be able to provide it with a driving attack from the midfield in support of Chicharito and, eventually, Andy Carroll. Friday games have been big for home teams with Arsenal topping Leicester 4-3 and Bournemouth recording their only win of the year 2-1 over the same Brighton side Lanzini faces this week.

Forward: Raheem Sterling Gabriel Jesus, Manchester City

Jesus has scored or assisted in five straight League appearances, recording all six of his goals and one assist in that span. It seems unlikely that Pep could risk the long-term health of Sergio Aguero against the minnows, but he’s Pep. Pep cray. Also mind-bending is Gabriel’s return. No one thought he could best his seven goals and four assists in 651′ last season, but through just 475 he already has six and one. A hat-trick of assists against Burnley would be unorthodox but nothing would surprise us with Jesus now.

Captain: Raheem Sterling Eden Hazard, Chelsea

This is a simple double-down on Eden’s return. Pegged the Belgian to perform last week in his return to the starting XI. He didn’t. Picking him for the armband in a week when City get Burnley, United face Huddersfield and Spurs v Liverpool claim the Monday Night lights at Wembley. Hazard will have his points well in hand before the 3pm kickoffs, leaving you smug as a bug in a rug. In my house, that’s how that goes. Which, in a lot of ways, explains how I ended up here.

Outsider: Raheem Sterling Tammy Abraham, Swansea City

Ok, he is 8.9% selected at writing with +120,00 net transfers in over the past two weeks, but Tammy is still under-appreciated in FPL. The on-loan striker hit a brace against Huddersfield last week and has three goals in his last three matches. Sure, it would be nice to see him assist the odd goal for his value, but that would require someone else at Swans capable of scoring. There isn’t. He’s scored 80% of their goals this term and is the only legitimate attacking threat is a side which ‘boasts’ Leroy Fer, Leon Britton and Sam Clucas.

Draft: Raheem Sterling, Manchester City

If you’re lucky enough to play in a good fantasy draft league, you know that that marquee forwards are worth more than gold. You also know that Sterling is rated a forward, not a midfielder. No one has any idea what Pep is likely to do in a given week. Aguero didn’t play last week – but was named to the bench – and Bernardo Silva has been excellent in limited minutes. All that said, if Sterling only played 20′ this weekend no one would be shocked. But his skill off the bench makes Raheem as locked-on starter in draft having scored a goal in 45′ against Everton and a brace in 60′ against Palace. You wouldn’t bet against him (he’s scored in five of seven appearances this season) and he should feature, even if he doesn’t start.