With the EPL season back in action, here are my top Fantasy Premier League risers and fallers for Draft Week 6.
Premier League Risers
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Ryan Fraser
An obvious one. Asmir Begovic believes that Bournemouth’s front three are as good as Liverpool’s. Even though the Bosnian is some way off the mark, they have enjoyed an explosive start to the season and Ryan Fraser has been their Mo Salah.
In fact, the Scot has outscored the Egyptian so far. Fraser shook off a hamstring injury to add two more goals and an assist to his already impressive tally. Three goals and two assists give the pocket rocket an impressive average of 17 points per game in Fantrax this season, in turn making him the highest scoring midfield player and 6th highest scorer overall.
A player who was available on a free agent in most leagues last season is now a must own.
James Maddison
James Maddison is my FPL crush of 2018/19. Leicester’s new boy has proved that he belongs in the Premier League.
Goals, assists, key passes all over the show. You get the feeling he’s a long way off his best yet. Everything Leicester do goes through Maddison: the hallmark of a dream FPL player.
In the last two weeks, Maddison has tallied nine shots (more than any other midfielder, four of which have been on target and one has resulted in a goal. Six chances created (second best in the league) led to his first assist of the season a couple of weeks back. His next ten fixtures also look tasty.
Struggling Huddersfield come to town this week while Arsenal present the only “tough” opposition up to the start of December.
I made a bold statement on Twitter, hailing Maddison as the next Frank Lampard. Two goals and one assist in five games will be far from what he finishes with.
Matt Doherty
Solid in defence and attack, Matt Doherty ticks all the boxes. An unfortunate own goal at Leicester got his Premier League career off to a dubious start but he’s been faultless since.
Doherty deservedly picked up his first attacking return of the season in GW5. Seven key passes and four shots on target in five weeks suggests there’s plenty more to come. Aerials won (27) also equate to easy points.
After the GW6 trip to Old Trafford, Doherty’s next four Premier League fixtures represent excellent chances for more points.
Felipe Anderson
Anderson could be this year’s Andros Townsend. By that, I mean Anderson doesn’t need goals or assists to get serious points.
The Brazilian totalled an impressive 15 points against Everton on Sunday without directly contributing to a goal, largely thanks to three key passes.
Apart from anything, Anderson is West Ham’s most creative player, meaning more returns will be coming his way as the Hammers improve and their fixtures get easier.
Definitely one to watch. If he’s reachable in a trade, now is a good time.
Anthony Knockaert
Could this be the season that Anthony Knockaert finally leaves his mark on the Premier League?
The injury to Pascal Gross seems to have paved the way for Brighton’s former talisman to regain the limelight, typified by his display at Southampton on Monday.
His set piece delivery was on point. Gross is still on the treatment table, meaning the visit of out of form Tottenham will give Knockaert another chance to shine.
Fantasy Premier League Fallers
Harry Kane
Yes, really. It appears that Harry Kane left his lucky shooting boots in Russia. England’s main man hasn’t been the same since stepping off that plane and, although the curse of August has finally been broken, Kane looks exhausted.
Saturday saw Kane put his wits against golden boot nemesis Mo Salah and his Liverpool team. Whereas Kane dominated Liverpool in a convincing victory in the fixture last season, last week saw him barely register a significant touch in the game, coming away with just one shot on target and two aerials won. That’s the third time he’s scored three points or less in Fantrax this season.
I’m not saying you need to sell Harry Kane. In fact, don’t. His upcoming fixtures are excellent and if anyone can turn his fortunes round, it’s Kane. He just doesn’t look sharp.
Alvaro Morata
He features again. This time it’s not off the back of a poor performance that he’s included in this column but the fact that it’s finally happened; he’s lost his place.
Olivier Giroud was given a chance and he took it. The Frenchman set two goals up and prompted Eden Hazard to refer to him as “the best target man in the world”. I bet Morata was thrilled.
Alexis Sanchez
Another high profile name in the Fallers column. Much has been made of the poor form of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford but I think Alexis Sanchez gets away lightly.
Paul Pogba is playing his best Premier League football since re-joining United, despite playing throughout the whole World Cup. Considering Sanchez had a full summer off, he looks leggy. The Chilean has registered two assists but no goals. Fantrax managers who drafted him in the first round will be very disappointed so far.
No doubt, he will come good eventually but it’s not been the electric start we expected.
Cenk Tosun
The Everton striker can’t buy a goal. Cenk Tosun came in in January to solve their goal scoring blues but he’s done the opposite.
A couple of assists have given him some fantasy relevance but another abject performance in front of goal during the loss against West Ham have led to calls for Richarlison to lead the line instead.
Ben Davies
It’s just not going well for Spurs. We all thought Ben Davies had the left back spot nailed down: we were wrong. Danny Rose was given the nod for the 3-0 win at Old Trafford and kept the jersey against Liverpool.
A poor performance from the England man will have helped Davies. What won’t have helped his cause was a night to forget of his own in the San Siro on Tuesday.
Tottenham’s left back this week is anyone’s guess, meaning the pre-season optimism of Ben Davies owners has vanished. Owners should look to trade for Rose or ship Davies out for a mid range midfielder or striker.
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