Premier League Fantasy Football: Who's Hot and Who's Not in Gameweek 16

06 December 2019 13:11

​No time to breathe, people, more Premier League action is coming your way with the hectic Christmas schedule only getting started.

The first midweek gameweek of the season certainly didn't disappoint, with Spurs on the receiving end of a Marcus Rashford masterclass, Everton likewise with Sadio Mane, while the mightily impressive Brighton turned over Freddie Ljungberg's Arsenal in the Swede's maiden home game as interim boss. 

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But we all know the most important thing is how all of the above affected our fantasy football teams, right? For those who built your side around Mane (15pts) or a resurgent Rashford (13pts), you certainly weren't disappointed, but, if you were like me and deployed John Lundstram as your skipper, then you were left questioning whether this whole fantasy thing was even worth it anymore.

Conceding two goals at home... to Newcastle, Steve Bruce's Newcastle. Seriously?

Nevertheless, let's get our teeth stuck into the weekend's fixtures and see who's 'Hot' or 'Not' for the upcoming gameweek...


Goalkeepers

Who's Hot


Vicente Guaita: The Spaniard has proven himself to be more than a competent gloveman since arriving from Getafe in 2018. He's already kept five clean sheets this season - including two in his last two - and there's a great chance he'll add to his tally over the next couple of weeks with Watford and Newcastle both in the offing for the Eagles.

Martin Dubravka: Newcastle's backline proved their worth once more last night with a stout display against Sheffield United. Bruce's back five are such a tough unit to get past, with Dubravka, despite a few blips, generally showing he's a steady shot-stopper between the sticks. With a few favourable fixtures coming up, expect the Magpies' clean sheet tally to rise.

Vicente Guaita

Who's Not

Ederson: Yeah, things are pretty tough for Manchester City all the way up until Christmas as they play Manchester United, Arsenal and Leicester in their next three. City have failed to keep a clean sheet since their 3-0 victory over Aston Villa on matchday ten and, despite Ederson's tremendous ability, it's unlikely that they'll get another anytime soon.


Defenders

Who's Hot


Reece James: This one is purely on potential attacking output. James has excelled from right-back since he came into the Chelsea side and looks to be a real threat in the final third with a crossing ability that can be likened to Trent Alexander-Arnold - setting up Tammy Abraham's header against Villa in the week. Forget the clean sheets, James will soon become an assist king and at £5.0m, he's certainly worth picking up.

Serge Aurier: Under Jose Mourinho, you can expect Aurier to produce in the attacking third of the pitch. With the way Spurs are set up under their new manager, the Ivorian often finds himself playing as the right-winger at times. He's certainly inconsistent with the balls he puts into the box, but with the positions he's taking up on the pitch, he should be bagging assists with relative ease.

Reece James

Who's Not

Lucas Digne: His nine goal contributions last season - which helped him to a healthy 158 FPL points - would've convinced many to back the Frenchman this time around. But so far, Digne has mustered just 42 points and has brought home two one-pointers and drawn a blank in his last three outings, with Everton's fixture-list toughening significantly. It doesn't get much easier for Digne's side either, as they play Chelsea, United and Arsenal in their next three. Get rid.


Midfielders

Who's Hot


Sadio Mane: Expensive? Very. On-fire? Certainly. Worth it? Absolutely. Mane has been unplayable this season and put in one of his finest performances in a Liverpool shirt in midweek - scoring once and setting up two in the Reds' 5-2 win in the Merseyside Derby. With 15 goal contributions thus far, the Senegalese star is one of the highest point scorers in the FPL with 109 points. Build your team around Sadio, simple.

Dele Alli: Well, well, well, it looks like Mourinho's working his magic with number ten's once more. Wesley Sneijder, Deco, Mesut Ozil and Oscar have all reaped the benefits, now it's Dele's turn. The 23-year-old has returned to his favoured role - playing off the shoulder of Harry Kane - and has three goals and an assist in Jose's three Premier League games with the Lilywhites. He's simply on fire at the moment and his incredible finish against United in the week epitomised the confidence that this man is playing with at the moment. Special.

Dele Alli

Who's Not

Daniel James: A relatively popular choice in the FPL world, James hasn't really built on what was a fantastic start to life in Manchester. One assist in his last five isn't great and he looks like he's lacking a little bit of confidence in the final third. Nevertheless, with United's tasty schedule after the City game on Saturday, the Welshman is a player you could draft back into your side. 


Forwards 

Who's Hot


Danny Ings: The former Liverpool man has been Ralph Hasenhuttl's saviour in recent weeks, scoring in each of Southampton's last four games as the Saints have climbed out of the relegation zone. A tough fixture away at Newcastle is in the offing for Ings, but after that, the Saints' schedule loosens as the play West Ham and Villa (both hold bottom-five defensive records). For £6.2m, he's certainly great value as well.

Marcus Rashford: As a Spurs fan, it was unfortunate I wasn't able to really enjoy Rashford's display on Wednesday night - as it really was Cristiano Ronaldo 2008-like. The Englishman has thrived out on the left, making seven goal contributions in his last six games after a rather indifferent start to the campaign where he was often deployed as United's number nine. Nevertheless, Rashford is the definition of 'in-form' at the moment and you can expect him to cause all sorts of problems against a vulnerable City backline in the Manchester derby this weekend.

Marcus Rashford

Who's Not

Wesley: While Rashford defines 'in-form', Villa's Wesley is certainly out of it with the Brazilian failing to score or set up a goal in his last seven games. With Leicester and Sheffield United - two of the league's best defences - coming up, it doesn't look like the former Club Brugge man will end his drought anytime soon either.


Source: 90min