Gameweek 8 saw a few unexpected results and, with injuries causing problems for some popular Fantasy Premier League picks, managers have decisions to make ahead of Saturday’s deadline.
Bournemouth’s fixtures are turning nicely, Aston Villa have a striker finding form and Tottenham have an interesting home match against Crystal Palace.
Here are five players I’d consider bringing in for Gameweek 9. Want more Fantasy tips? You can also read our guide to the FPL players to ditch in GW9.
1. Nicolas Jackson (Aston Villa) – Fantasy Premier League hotshot
Price: 6.8m
Ownership: 12%
Position: Forward
Opponents: FUL (H), MUN (A), SUN (H)
Jackson looks a far better FPL option than he did a month ago. Four goals in his last four league appearances, including both in Villa’s 2-1 win over Manchester City, have brought 30 points since Gameweek 5.
There’s a warning in the underlying numbers: his four league goals have come from roughly 1.8 xG, so he won’t keep finishing everything.
But Jackson is getting a shot away about every 20 minutes recently and the fixtures are hard to ignore. Fulham at home comes first, followed by Manchester United, Sunderland and Ipswich.
At 6.8m, he’s a very tempting replacement for the injured Joao Pedro.
2. Marcus Tavernier (Bournemouth) – FPL star on form
Price: 6.4m
Ownership: 19.8%
Position: Midfielder
Opponents: LEE (H), IPS (A), NFO (H)
Tavernier has become hard to ignore, even if we highlighted him last week.
The Cherries livewire has scored in consecutive matches against Sunderland and Manchester United, taking him to five goals and 52 FPL points.
The numbers aren’t just about his finishing: he’s created five big chances, had five himself and is involved in Bournemouth’s set pieces.
Bournemouth’s home game against Leeds begins a run that also includes meetings with Ipswich Town, Nottingham Forest and Fulham.
There is a concern, though. Tavernier is converting nearly 30 per cent of his shots – far above his previous seasons, so the goals may slow down. At 6.4m, the fixture run still makes him worth buying.
3. Cole Palmer (Chelsea) – back from ban for Fantasy Premier League
Price: 9.8m
Ownership: 27%
Position: Midfielder
Opponents: MUN (H), SUN (A), LEE (H)
Palmer might be an awkward buy after Chelsea’s defeat to Spurs but I wouldn’t let one poor team performance put me off.
The England international’s totals of 25 shots and 17 chances created are both Chelsea highs, while he has been involved in eight big chances.
Manchester United, still without a Premier League clean sheet, visit Stamford Bridge before Chelsea face Sunderland and Leeds.
Palmer will also be available this weekend despite his red card against Spurs, having served the ban in the League Cup.
Joao Pedro’s thigh injury is a genuine concern because Chelsea looked short of ideas without him, but Palmer retains penalties and remains their likeliest source of a return.
4. Pedro Porro (Tottenham) – FPL DEFCON points
Price: 5.3m
Ownership: 4.8%
Position: Defender
Opponents: CRY (H), LEE (A), IPS (H)
Porro is a tempting punt if he’s ready to start. Palace have conceded plenty from set pieces and looked vulnerable down their left, which suits his deliveries from right-back.
Spurs then face Leeds and Ipswich, so there’s more than one fixture to target. The catch is Porro’s hamstring: he’s started just three league games, and buying another rotation headache isn’t ideal.
For a safer alternative, teammate Jan Paul van Hecke (4.9m) has played every minute of his seven starts and picked up six DEFCON points, reaching the threshold three times as well as scoring a goal this season.
Porro offers the attacking upside, but Van Hecke looks the better buy if minutes matter.
5. Igor Thiago (Brentford) – Fantasy goals to come
Price: 7.8m
Ownership: 8.8%
Position: Forward
Opponents: NFO (H), BHA (A), EVE (H)
Thiago has one league goal from nearly 3.8 expected goals, which sounds like a reason to avoid him until you look at where the chances are coming from.
Brentford’s striker has played practically every minute, is first-choice on penalties and has added assists in each of his last two matches.
Forest visit the Bees this weekend having won only once and managed just one clean sheet in eight games.
Brentford have also generated almost 14 xG, so the attacking environment is healthy. At 7.8m, Thiago’s more expensive than Jackson or Evanilson, and the finishing has been frustrating.
Still, the underlying numbers suggest there should be goals ahead.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: 101greatgoals.com
