Fantasy Football: Top 5 Transfers Target For Gameweek 5
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – AUGUST 03: Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal during the Arsenal 1st team photocall at London Colney on August 3, 2016 in St Albans, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
With European football underway, we return to the Premier League and fantasy football. Here are five transfers to target for gameweek five.
With the first international break long gone and the return of European, the nitty gritty of the football season is here, and with it, comes the infuriating game of fantasy football. Thanks to a whole host of big hitting midfielders and strikers, many of our squads are still in a state of flux, as the template players are yet to form.
However, as last week showed, fantasy football is tough to predict with each week bringing its own challenges. Here are five fantasy football transfer targets to consider before gameweek five.
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 16: Jordan Pickford of Sunderland in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland at White Hart Lane on January 16, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
5. Jordan Pickford
There are a few schools of thought when it comes to assembling a fantasy football squad, and much of it, surprisingly, stems from the importance placed on the goalkeeper position. Some see it as a position worth spending money on, investing in the likes of Petr Cech or David De Gea in the hope of continual and consistent returns. Others see it as a position to save as much money as possible to maximise the effectiveness of the squad in other areas. I tend to side with the latter.
Consequently, when a bargain like Jordan Pickford emerges due to a knee injury to starter Vito Mannone at Sunderland, I am often one of the first to jump on the train. Priced at only £4.0, Pickford is in the cheapest possible category for goalkeepers. His appeal is immediate, and it is purely based on price. Saving an extra £0.5-£1.0 at the goalkeeper position can make a huge position in attacking areas, and having a playing goalkeeper at the cheapest possible price is never a bad thing, no matter the team.
Sunderland have not looked good defensively whatsoever this far. Nonetheless, their upcoming fixtures are kind. They travel to Spurs this weekend but then enjoy two plum home ties, hosting Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion. Pickford is unlikely to ever start for your teams so his potential points return is not all that important when considering transferring him in. His price, though, is wonderful, and it will free up much-needed funds elsewhere.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Kelechi Iheanacho of Manchester City celebrates scoring his sides second goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on September 10, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
4. Iheanacho
Replacing Sergio Aguero was the topic of conversation among fantasy managers during the international break. Thanks to a rogue elbow, the Argentine suffered a three match ban – two of which are Premier League games – and costing as much as he does, it was seen as unwise to let him sit on the bench for two weeks. Consequently, major surgery to many squad was undertaken, but there was one man who slipped under the radar.
The man to replace Aguero in the Manchester City lineup was Iheanacho, and the young forward adding to his growing reputation as a tremendous goal getter, scoring in the Manchester derby off a Kevin De Bruyne shot that rebounded off the post.
The goal was not particularly spectacular, but it did display a knack for being in the right place at the right time. That old thing called anticipation is an attribute shared by all the great goalscorers throughout history, and Iheanacho is yet another who possesses such a trait.
With Aguero banned for one more match, Iheanacho will likely resume his role as the starting forward in a side that has blossomed recently, showing truly outstanding attacking potential. Having a City attacker is essential, and without Aguero, there are many options to choose from. At only £7.0, Iheanacho may be the best of them, at least for one game. That game, by the way, is Bournemouth at home. That is as juicy as it gets.
MALLORCA, SPAIN – AUGUST 06: Jonny Evans of West Bromwich Albion during the Pre-Season Friendly between RCD Mallorca and West Bromwich Albion at Iberostar Stadium on August 6, 2016 in Mallorca, Spain. (Photo by Adam Fradgley – AMA/WBA FC via Getty Images)
3. Jonny Evans
If you are an experienced fantasy manager, then you will understand the near necessity of having a Tony Pulis defender in your squad. The man churns out clean sheets like no other in the league, and while his sides offer little to nothing going forward, they are always well-drilled, disciplined and difficult to break down.
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In four games thus far, West Brom have recorded two clean sheets and conceded only three goals (two of which came against a dangerous Everton side). Many have seen fit to invest in Ben Foster as their goalkeeper of choice with others seeing Gareth McAuley as adequate cover for the West Brom defence. Both are sensible investments, but they leave money on the table.
Jonny Evans, although he hasn’t scored like McAuley, is playing in the same defence, still offers a goal threat from set pieces and looks more likely to secure bonus points if the Baggies do keep a clean sheet thanks to his extra two points from gameweelk three. All this comes at £0.2 cheaper than McAuley.
While many managers see the Scottish centre-half as the sensible addition – that is why his price has risen to £4.7 – it his Northern Irish teammate that offers the cheaper and higher potential option. Evans is a very shrewd investment indeed.
WATFORD, ENGLAND – AUGUST 20: Watford’s Etienne Capoue celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match between Watford and Chelsea at Vicarage Road on August 20, 2016 in Watford, England. (Photo by Craig Mercer – CameraSport/CameraSport via Getty Images )
2. Etienne Capoue
Seemingly on an annual basis, fantasy football is throwing up cheap midfielders who surprise everyone with scintillating goal scoring form. Last year it was a combination of Riyad Mahrez and Dele Alli and three years ago it was Aaron Ramsey and Raheem Sterling. These types of players are game changers for fantasy squads, as they offer consistent returns while also providing funds for the more established names.
This season, the mantle of cheap and cheerful could fall on the shoulders of Etienne Capoue, and my word is he cheap and cheerful. Entering the season at the lowest price bracket for a midfielder of £4.5, Capoue was a good bench option early on. However, after three goals in his first four games and an assist last week against West Ham, he is now the top scoring player, and still only £4.8.
Even if he is simply a bench player, Capoue is a must buy and he now has a delightful run of fixtures that vindicates any investment even further. While he plays Manchester United at home this week, in his next five, Capoue faces Burnley (A), Bournemouth (H), Middlesborough (A), Swansea (A) and Hull City (H). There is not a player who has been transferred in more than Capoue this week and it is easy to see why.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 21: Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal celebrates as he scores their first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion at the Emirates Stadium on April 21, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)
1. Alexis Sanchez
There are many attacks that are extremely difficult to decipher only five games into the season. With Juan Mata currently starting for Manchester Untied, Pep Guardiola seemingly willing to rotate his plethora of attacking midfielders and Liverpool boasting a whole host of quality attackers, it is tough to invest in players who are definitely going to start. Another team who offer such problems are Arsenal.
As Arsene Wenger has decided to gradually ease his stars back into action, his team selection has been difficult to predict somewhat. However, as we enter the routine of the regular season and players build their fitness levels, Arsenal’s team sheet should settle down. There are two players that will, barring injury or fatigue, will always start for the Gunners in attacking areas. They are Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.
With Ozil starting the season off slowly, though, it is perhaps the greater goal threat of the Chilean that offers the more accomplished Arsenal coverage. Sanchez is pricey, at £11.0, but if you can afford him, he has the form and fixtures to truly excel.
Wenger’s sides are often free flowing and high scoring, and while that has not come to fruition just yet, there are signs of improvement in attacking areas, and investment in an Arsenal forward is essential. Sanchez could well be the best option.
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