It’s almost as if Jose Mourinho read my article last week (he probably didn’t) as Manchester United finally came to life in the premier league in gameweek four. The same can’t be said for Christian Benteke who isn’t having a lot of luck. As the Premier League takes a break, here’s the ones to target and ones to avoid.
Fantasy Premier League Risers
Eden Hazard
He’s back. To those who took a risk and drafted him; well done. Chelsea managed to escape the tight grip of Real Madrid to keep hold of Eden Hazard and during his first week back to full fitness, the Belgian reminded us exactly what he can do with another sparkling display against Bournemouth.
One of the game’s great all-rounders, his one goal translated to 27 points at the weekend (Togga scoring). Hazard is a Fantrax managers dream. His take-ons, key passes and shots on target, not to mention his goals and assists make him fixture proof and Kevin De Bruyne’s injury may mean his compatriot finishes as the top scorer in Fantrax this season.
At this stage, I’d be amazed if any Hazard owners are looking to trade away. The new year will, no doubt, bring more uncertainty over his Premier League future but a sustained Chelsea title challenge may be enough to keep Hazard at Stamford Bridge beyond January.
Jose Holebas
Who saw this coming? Four games and four Premier League wins for Watford, including four assists and one goal for Jose Holebas. I’m 99% sure no one’s season preview predicted that one.
Watford have come flying out of the traps this season with Troy Deeney and Roberto Pereyra also impressing but their strength at set pieces makes attacking full back Holebas their best FPL asset so far this season.
Whether Watford and Holebas can keep it up is the big question but his dominance of set pieces and his love of joining the attack should mean the Greek veteran will continue to provide good returns.
Alexander Mitrovic
The big Serb goes into the International break as the joint top goalscorer in the Premier League. Mitrovic has set about making a mockery of his Average Draft Position of 95 since the start of the season, scoring four times and averaging an impressive 16.12 points per match.
He’s also part of an attacking Fulham side which seems to be engineered to help him score goals. The best thing about Mitrovic is that he shoots. A lot. Sixteen times to be exact with nine of those being on target; more than anyone else in the Premier League.
Once the trip to the champions is out of the way, Fulham start a run of fixtures in which Mitrovic will surely thrive.
And all this without a red card. So far…
Adama Traore
He’s got to be a starter from now on, surely. The new Wolves man takes “pacey” to a new level and even demonstrated that, as a matter of fact, he can finish when he needs to while becoming the match winner at the London Stadium in Gameweek 4.
One of the crazier FPL related statistics this season belongs to Adama Traore. In 91 minutes of action, Traore has managed one goal, five key passes and an incredible 14 successful take ons, contributing to an overall score of 40 points. Madness.
Astonishingly, Traore is available in 50% of leagues according to the official site. If you’re in that 50%, go and get him.
Alexandre Lacazette
Lacazette’s patience has paid off. After a solid pre-season, the Frenchman was unlucky to be benched for Arsenal’s opening three fixtures but having been awarded a place in the eleven on Sunday Lacazette took the opportunity with both hands.
After an indifferent start, it’s no coincidence that Lacazette and Aubameyang got off the mark this season when paired up. The player in question set up his partner’s strike before smashing home his own first goal of the new campaign to seal the three points for the Gunners.
The relationship between the two of them is obvious and boss Unai Emery would be a fool to not make the most of having them both on the same pitch more often than not. Whether it’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan or Mesut Ozil who pays the price remains to be seen.
Fantasy Premier League Fallers
Mesut Ozil
I love Mesut Ozil as much as the next man but his start to the new campaign has been very poor. No goals, no assists and only three key passes is a far cry from the man who has become a FPL darling.
Arsenal’s run of fixtures are what keeps the spirits of Ozil owners up but that’s working off the assumption that the German keeps his place in the starting eleven.
Being an Ozil owner myself, numerous questions spring to mind. Am I looking to drop/trade Ozil away? No. I still believe he will come good and on his day he is an elite player in an advanced scoring format. Plus, his trade value right now is at an all time low.
Am I worried/less optimistic about Ozil going forwards? Most definitely.
Pascal Gross
I love Pascal Gross as much as the next man but where has last year’s Gross got to? His goal scoring performance against Manchester United aside (even that was a very poorly converted penalty) this particular German playmaker looks miles away from the player who was central to the success of Brighton in their maiden Premier League voyage.
It’s hard to pinpoint the reasons for this, whether it be a lack of fitness or a change in tactics but it’s certainly evident. One goal, no assists and four key passes is not the form of a player who was drafted as high as the third round in a lot of drafts. A possible knock received against Fulham certainly won’t help his cause.
One season wonder? Maybe.
Sokratis
I don’t mean to pick on Arsenal, particularly as they have won back-to-back games, but Sokratis has been woeful. Putting together a highlights reel from his first four games in an Arsenal shirt would be an editor’s nightmare.
The Greek stalwart was meant to shore up the leaky Gunners back line but his arrival seems to have done the opposite. Granted, it’s not entirely his fault: Petr Cech has looked nothing short of clueless this year. Only Fulham, West Ham and Huddersfield have shipped more goals than the Gunners.
At this rate, Laurent Koscielny will walk straight back into this lineup.
Christian Benteke
See last week’s article. Benteke did himself no favours in the fourth week of the campaign, missing three more sitters to add to the ever-growing catalogue.
How does he still have his starting place at Crystal Palace? I feel sorry for Benteke owners.
Leroy Sane
Uh oh. Leroy Sane owners look away now.
If I was Sane, I’d be absolutely baffled right now. The season of his young career was rewarded by being dropped for the Germany World Cup squad and now it’s him that seems to be falling the wrong side of the infamous Pep Roulette.
Sane was well worth his Average Draft position of 13 this summer thanks to an extraordinary 2017/18 campaign but those owners, the majority of which will have had to take him in the second round, will now be feeling bitterly disappointed and, to put it bluntly, extremely hacked off.
Sane owners are now in a precarious lose-lose situation. Trading away now will mean suffering a massive loss so the only option is to ride it out and hope that their man finds his way back into Pep’s good books. You’ve got to feel sorry for the lad.