Sánchez (11.7), carries a hefty price-tag this year after his explosive 2016/17 season which saw the ex-Arsenal midfielder tear the league apart with 24 goals and 11 assists in Fantasy Premier League (FPL). While Tottenham managed to nullify the threat he so often poses in gameweek 25, the Chilean’s credentials cannot be questioned - 60 goals and 29 assists over the last three and a half seasons. His seven goals and five assists for Arsenal this term also shouldn’t be overlooked, coming from just 17 starts. The midfielder has registered an average of 1.4 shots on target per game this season, which is on par with Lukaku (11.3) and Hazard (10.6) while only Agüero (11.9), with 1.8, Salah (10.3), with 1.9 and Kane (13.0), with 2.5 can top him. The 2.7 attempted assists managed by Sanchez per game is also only beaten by heavyweights - De Bruyne (10.2) with 3.0, Özil (9.3) with 3.3, and Fabregas (6.9), with 3.4. Huddersfield travel to Old Trafford for gameweek 26 and we expect a nervous showing from the Terriers given that they lost convincingly to Liverpool in gameweek 25. Huddersfield have conceded a jaw-dropping 21 goals in seven matches versus the “top six” clubs this season and our Fix algorithm predicts Man. United will score 2.59 goals (the most of any club) with Sánchez predicted to pick up 5.1 points. If you own him, captaining him certainly is not a bad idea.
Our budget forward selection from gameweek 23 is back for gameweek 26. Wilson (5.8), boasts solid FPL averages when fit and has now played significant minutes in 12 of the last 16 gameweeks since returning from injury in gameweek 10. The Bournemouth forward has now started the last seven league games in a row weighing in with four goals and two assists in that time. In total this season he has nine FPL involvements (goals and assists) in just 12 starts. Only Agüero and Kane have scored more goals over the last six gameweeks with five and six respectively while Liverpool’s signing of the season, Salah, and the now injured, Arnautovic (6.9), are the only two who have provided more FPL involvements, with seven. It is also worth noting that Wilson’s total of nine shots on target over the last six gameweeks puts him on par with the consistently impressive, Salah. When compared with other forwards, priced at 8.5 or below, the Bournemouth man has taken more total shots, with 17, shots from inside the box, with 14, and shots on target, with 9, than any other player. In gameweek 26, Bournemouth will host a Stoke side who have conceded 15 goals in their last five away games. With the Cherries being renowned for their attacking style, which was clear for all to see against Chelsea in mid-week, they should prove too much for Stoke. Wilson is predicted to score the most points by our Fix algorithm of forwards priced 8.5 and under, with 5.4 points. A worthy addition to any side, but for those who have held on to Calvert-Lewin (5.3), Wilson is surely a must.
Lukaku (11.3), has been struggling for form over a long period now and this week’s game presents an opportunity for him to reaffirm his scoring credentials. Sánchez’ play could help compliment the Belgian forward in the weeks to come, and if he is not up to scratch versus a team who have shipped in an average of three goals per game against “top six” opponents this season, when will he be? So far, Lukaku, has provided 16 FPL involvements sitting fifth in the goal-scoring charts with 11 goals, begind Sterling (8.9), Agüero, Salah and Kane. Lukaku also sits fourth in the stat tables for total shots on target, with 32, alongside De Bruyne and is beginning to show glimpses of his form self with one goal and one assist in the last three league games since recovering from a minor head injury. Over that same period, Lukaku’s four shots on target is just one less than Salah. As referenced in our analysis of Sánchez, Huddersfield have really struggled to fend off the Premier League’s more financially sophisticated clubs. Our Fix algorithm forecasts a score of 5.8 points for Lukaku this week suggesting attacking returns will be likely. Will this be the start of a profitable points run from the streaky Man. United forward? On paper, it looks that way.
Before his injury, Ramsey (6.9), was firmly under many people’s watchful eye, off the back of some healthy point’s returns and strong underlying numbers. After their defeat to Swansea away in gameweek 25 Arsenal require their most creative players on the field for their game against Everton this weekend. The Welsh international completed 90 minutes against Swansea mid-week following his return from a hamstring injury which he suffered in gameweek 16, before that the midfielder delivered 11 FPL involvements in 15 league games, scoring three and providing eight assists. Looking back at that period, Ramsey’s total of 17 shots on target was on par with Hazard. But, it was his 28 efforts on goal from inside the box which stood out the most, with the Welshman only trailing Richarlison (6.3) and Salah who had 42 and 48 amongst midfielders, at the time. Arsenal’s gameweek 26 opponent, Everton, have turned a new leaf since Allardyce took charge in gameweek 15, but it is worth noting that the Toffees have not kept a clean sheet in the past five league games, shipping in goals to three clubs that sit eighthand below in the table - Leicester, West Brom and Bournemouth. Our Fix algorithm predicts that Ramsey will score 4.8 points in gameweek 26, which pits him third in the projection charts for midfielders priced 8.5 and under, behind Pogba (8.0) and Martial (8.1).
Maguire (5.5) and his meaty head have been a rich source of attacking threat and FPL involvements since he began his Premier League career. The Leicester centre-back now has 11 FPL involvements to his name in 4,557 minutes over the last two seasons which roughly equates to an attacking return every five games. Leicester have managed to keep three clean sheets over their last four league games and the two goals conceded over that period is the best in the league alongside Tottenham and Man. United. Maguire has been directly involved in six league goals this campaign (two goals, four assists) and only Azpilicueta (7.0), Alonso (7.4) and Ben Davies (5.5), with seven, have contributed to more FPL involvements, amongst defenders. Over the last four gameweeks Maguire’s total of three shots from inside the box is fourth best among defenders. Swansea will travel to the King Power stadium for gameweek 26 and Leicester will be confident of keeping a clean sheet even with Swansea’s mini-resurgence under Carvalhal, which has seen the Welsh outfit beat both Liverpool and Arsenal in the last two gameweeks. Prior to their last two, however, Swansea had only scored three goals in 11 games versus sides that currently sit in the top 10, including a blank versus Bournemouth in the reverse earlier in the season. Maguire is predicted to be the fourth highest scoring defender via our Fix algorithm this week with 4.4 points.
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