TWO GAMEWEEKS DOWN and too many more to think about.
It’s early days of course but those private leagues are starting to take shape in Fantasy Premier League, not least the one we’re running here at Donegal Sport Hub in association with Champions Travel.
To join our league, the code is 1016561-266253.
1 – Captain’s choice
EVEN AT THIS early stage, bar those who are prepared to throw a curve ball in, have played it relative safe in regards their captain’s choice.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Manchester United and Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero, both of whom have 22 points, are the top-scorers in the entire game after two weeks.
Hill City might’ve won their opening two fixtures but Ibrahimovic – four goals in three games if you include his United debut in the Community Shield – may well continue his form tomorrow. City, for their part, welcome West Ham United, who might be suffering something of a Europa League hangover. Diego Costa, with Chelsea at home to Burnley, is also worth looking at.
2 – Crystal Clear at Palace?
FOR SOME REASON or other, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp didn’t seem to fancy Belgian international Christian Benteke, despite the fact the former Aston Villa finished last season with nine Premier League goals from only eight starts.
Benteke scored a healthy 42 goals in three seasons beforehand at Aston Villa and now has a chance to show his undoubted talent now at Crystal Palace – and not Burnley – as the striker mistakenly tweeted last week.
Palace have yet to pick up a point this season following a home reversal against West Brom and a defeat at Tottenham last week, both on 1-0 scorelines. Palace’s fixtures are appealing though, with their next five looking like this: Bournemouth (h), Middlesbrough (a), Stoke (h), Sunderland (a), Everton (a) and West Ham (h).
[adrotate group=”80″]3 – Burnin’ up
TOM HEATON FROM Burnley was an interesting choice of goalkeeper for 6.3 per cent of Fantasy Premier League managers.
The newly-promoted side weren’t expected to keep an avalanche of clean sheets – although they did manage one last week in a fine 2-0 win over Liverpool – but that would be offset with the notion that Heaton would be rather busy. Two years ago, he scored 150 points over the course of the season and at 14 this term, is the top-scoring netminder.
Although fortune might favour the brave, it’s perhaps a risky strategy going for a player like Heaton, especially since his Burnley side are away at Chelsea, champions Leicester City and Arsenal in the next five Gameweeks.
4 – Bark’ not louder than his bite
ROSS BARKLEY IS a player who is lining out with growing maturity with each passing season.
So far under Ronald Koeman’s brief tenure at Everton, Barkley has two goals and one assist in three outings – although the free-kick in midweek in the EFL in the Yeovil Town counts for nothing in fantasy terms.
Thus far, Barkley has amassed 15 points and, like Benteke, has fixtures that might make it worth taking a punt on his inclusion – Stoke (h), Sunderland (a), Middlesbrough (h), Bournemouth (a) and Crystal Palace (h).
[adrotate group=”80″]5 – Wat’ about taking a chance on Capoue?
NO PLAYER WAS drafted in by as many managers this week as Étienne Capoue from Watford.
He is now the property of 12.2 percent of Fantasy Premier League managers having scored both in the 1-1 draw at Southampton on opening day and then last Saturday, in what evolved into a 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge at Chelsea’s hands.
Watford’s fixtures are reasonably tricky in the next three gameweeks, with visits from Arsenal and Manchester United sandwiching a trip to Stratford to face West Ham United at the Olympic Stadium. That said, with Capoue on a streak, it’s certainly worth taking a punt on the £4.6 million price tag.
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