Fantasy Football – Hey Big Spender!

Our resident Fantasy Football guru Richard Beaumont aka Treakz on Twitter, having scoured the bargains, looks at the big money shots.

Having spent the majority of the week googling The Samaratins number, walking perilously close to cliff tops on my holiday and losing sleep after my wild card play backfired spectacularly, this week I am looking at some of the big names that could be vital in the coming weeks, especially with injury and suspension issues hitting Paul Pogba and Sadio Mane.

A friendly reminder from the blog that this weeks deadline is affected by Friday night Premier league action.

Dele Ali (9.5) / Eriksen (9.7)

Slightly cheating to include two but both Tottenham midfielders are more than worthy replacements in midfield. Three goals and three assists between them already this season and following a huge victory midweek against Dortmund, Spurs tails will be up as they welcome Swansea to Wembley this weekend. This is followed by three further fixtures rated as FDR 2. I’ve previously ignored the influence of Ericksen but looking at his influence, creativity and threat ratings at present, there is no surprise he is due to pass Pogba into the top midfielder this weekend. However, if Spurs are to rotate, with Ali being suspended in Europe, he may be guaranteed more Premier League minutes in the coming weeks.

Jesus (10.4)

Having been in my team since week one I rashly decided to remove him ahead of the Liverpool thrashing. A huge mistake. Three goals in as many matches. Plus a goal midweek in the Champions League. Man City are coming to life with Jesus at the forefront of the action. Carrying the 4th highest threat level in the game, his partnership with Aguero looks to be showing that both can be accommodated in the side, after an early season dip in price, he looks a bargain at 10.4 million. After a trip to Vicarage Road, Man City host Crystal Palace, Stoke and Burnley at The Etihad.

Alvaro Morata (10.2)

Three goals, two assists and currently the top-scoring striker in the game. The new Chelsea frontman is high class. His influence and threat level remain high, playing as the lone frontman for the reigning champions. This makes him one of the first names on the team sheet. Chelsea do welcome both Arsenal and Man City to Stamford Bridge in the coming weeks. But with goals likely in both fixtures, Morata is likely to be in and around the points.

Benjamin Mendy (6.5)

At present Mendy only features in 1.2% of teams, this stat will surely not last long. Mendy has completed 90 minutes in the previous two FPL weeks, returning a clean sheet and an assist. His threat level is higher than any other Man City defender and as we saw so often with Monaco last season, his supply from the left is lethal. With favourable fixtures home and away coming up for City, I imagine the defence will tighten, with Mendy to spend more time in the opposition half than his own.

Mohamed Salah (9.0)

My captain last week, unceremoniously hauled off at half time which added salt to the wounds of Mane’s earlier red card. But, if unlike me, you don’t have both, then Salah can be a direct replacement for Mane. Salah previously suffered a price drop following Klopp’s early season rotation. Following last weeks 5-0 demolition at The Etihad, it seems unlikely anything less than three points will do especially having dropped points midweek in the Champions League. Salah looks to be more of a goal threat than Mane. He regularly turns up in the six-yard box on the end off of crosses with pace to burn and is due up against Burnley, who were poor on the road last season. Two goals, two assists and plenty of chances. If Liverpool do fire at home this week, expect Salah to be at the heart of the points.