Each week, Sport360 will bring you tips for the English Premier League’s official fantasy football game. Fancy pitting your wits against us? You can join “Sport360 Fans'” league using the code 118790-38575.
With the second international break now behind us, the Premier League has really kicked into gear.
The league is starting to take shape and managers have a slightly clearer idea of which players will fetch them points on a regular basis.
But first, a shout out to these tactical geniuses who top our Sport360 fans league going into this week!
WHO TO PICK AS CAPTAIN
If you don’t have Alexis Sanchez in your side, you may be missing a trick. If you do have the Chilean, then this one should be a no-brainer. Handing him the captain’s armband this weekend should be your first move.
Arsenal, like in most seasons, have begun their campaign well. They’ve got a comfortable run of fixtures coming up too and take on a struggling Swansea City side without a win since the opening weekend.
Not only is Sanchez in great form, but the fact that he’s being deployed as a striker on a regular basis now while scoring points as a midfielder makes him a bargain too good to pass up on.
The Arsenal man has steadily grown into his role as the lone forward and seems to be involved in virtually every attack. If the Gunners fire early at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, it could well be a heavy defeat for Swansea with Sanchez in the thick of things.
THREE PLAYERS DUE FOR MORE ASSISTS
ROSS BARKLEY (Everton – 7.4m)
As far as the Fantasy Premier League goes, it’s been a strange season for Ross Barkley. Following on from a goal in the first week and an assist in the second, he’s failed to register a weekly score greater than two since.
Interestingly though, the English midfielder has actually been playing well. He’s been creating plenty of opportunities and has looked like a threat in front of goal but has just been unlucky.
With Everton riding high in fifth place and Romelu Lukaku bang in form, it’s only a matter of time until Barkley’s FPL drought comes to an end.
However, you may want to hold off on recruiting the attacking midfielder for now with the Toffees travelling to Etihad Stadium to face Manchester on Saturday.
Great save but @RomeluLukaku9 should have scored from there quality ball in from @RBarkley20 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/AAxV4aGW1J
— LEsTEr 1878 WoOdARd (@lestereverton80) September 24, 2016
DUSAN TADIC (Southampton – 7.2m)
Fun fact – it was at this time last year (Gameweek 8) that Tadic won over most FPL managers with a stunning 23-point haul in a 6-0 win for Southampton after claiming four assists.
It’s unlikely that he’ll replicate that tally but given that the Saints play Burnley at home, there’s certainly every opportunity for Tadic to earn some points.
He’s created the third most chance in the Premier League this season (22). Unfortunately, his team-mates haven’t been able to finish but with Charlie Austin looking better, that could soon change.
Dusan Tadic: Has created more chances from open play (20) than any other player in the Premier League this season #saintsfc pic.twitter.com/ZwRyssPuP5
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) October 13, 2016
JASON PUNCHEON (Crystal Palace – 5.5m)
Palace let themselves down in the second half of last season but have started this one in good nick. Jason Puncheon has looked particularly threatening, creating the most number of chance across the league so far (24).
The 30 year-old already has three assists this season, second only to Kevin De Bruyne (4) in the league.
He looks set to add to that tally though given that he takes the majority of Palace’s set-pieces and now has a superb target to aim for in Christian Benteke.
The Belgian scored a hat-trick during the international break and could be the man to ensure that Puncheon’s efforts leads to more goals for the eighth-placed side.
Fancy pitting your wits against us? Join the “Sport360 Fans'” league using the code 118790-38575.
