Gameweek 15 Preview: Fantasy Premier League #FPL

Written by John Wallin @FantasyGaffer

You can read the FantasyYIRMA Gameweek 14 Review HERE

Defender: Kyle Walker, Manchester City

In the Friday edition of Talkin Togga I made the not very difficult prediction that Manchester City would win against West Ham on Sunday. However, as I noted there, this match has all the markings of one which disappoints FPL managers. Given how strong the Shark Team is, one (me) would not be surprised if this was a 3-0 win to City with goals for Walker, Fernandinho and a late Bernardo Silva strike. What is very difficult to contemplate is West Ham – without a discernible striker – scoring against Pep’s disciplined side after being run over, around and through by David Unsworth’s Everton. Walker benefits either way.

 Midfielder: Richarlison, Watford

In #FPL he’s a midfielder, so he’s a midfielder in this column. Spurs have been a shadow of their title-chasing selves in the last few weeks and Richarlison has shown he’s capable of doing it against anyone (except a United side which clearly were deployed exclusively to stop him) and will be part of the loan Hornets goal this weekend. So why does he merit Midfielder ranking? Because you’re already in on KDB (vs. West Ham), Alli (at Watford), all your LFC (at Brighton) and Luke Chadwick (remember Luke Chadwick you guys?). He has a goal, an assist, or both in seven of his last nine League clashes including big matches against Arsenal and at Chelsea.

Forward: Alvaro Morata, Chelsea

For as good as Alvaro Morata has been this season, he has managed to ‘blank’ six of the 13 weeks he’s featured including the last two. At Liverpool and home to Swans, Morata played 90′ and scored a total of 3pts. Morata’s only (“only”) scored in six of 14 League matches with five of those being sides outside the top seven. Adding to the optimism are the four shots on target Morata recorded in GW14 against Swans. He’s in a coin-flip scenario if you own Morata, Salah and Hazard (and a three-sided coin) for the captain’s armband this weekend but safer to simply run him out at the top of your attack.

Captain: Mo Salah, Liverpool

If you’re betting against Mo Salah you’re rather a lucky to still be alive. 2, 2, 1, 2 – goals he’s scored in the last four GW. 90′, 79′, 90′, 23′ – minutes he’s played in those matches. 15, 16, 7, 13 – #FPL points he’s scored. There’s a man out there named Ashley who claims “form is Key, class doesn’t matter”. There is no one on earth, in any profession, who is in better form that Mo Salah. If he plays (and he will), he’s going to take something north of 15 shots and at least 2-3 of those should be on target. He’ll score against Brighton, he might notch an assist, and he’ll be on for 2BPS again (he has 8BPS in the last four GW).

Outsider: Aaron Mooy, Huddersfield

You may have heard that Everton are the second-worst team in Professional Football. That’s not true. They’re merely the second-worst team in the EPL. This matters because Everton themselves likely believe they are just fine after thrashing West Ham 4-0 in midweek action. Of course, Huddersfield aren’t managed by an out-of-date tube of store-bought cookie dough, and will likely approach this match with an actual game plan. You know, like a professional football club would. Aaron Mooy will be heavily involved in the attack and will need to only beat Idrissa Gueye to be involved in a goal. With 22 chances created (but just one assist) and two goals to his credit, Mooy hasn’t lived up to expectation yet.

£5.4 price, 6.4% ownership, Huddersfield next five are Everton, Brighton, Chelsea, Watford and Southampton. Not great, not bad, good upside.

Draft: Christian Benteke, Crystal Palace

Benteke hadn’t started a match since GW6, but he did get a full 90′ in the 0-0 draw at Brighton. While the Seagulls were always going to prove hard to break down at home (seven goals allowed in seven home matches with two home CS) but West Brom are significantly worse this season. Regardless of the result in midweek where Albion chocked away a chance for 3pts and finished 2-2 with Newcastle we’d have like Benteke here. Knowing that WBA have already shown the ability to collapse late and knowing Benteke has the fitness to play 90′, this is a great differential play in OFPL and a must-start in your Togga draft side.

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.