Weekly Picks: The Bargain Hunter – Week 37
What a time to be alive. We got to witness one of the greatest sports stories of all time and that is something that could never be forgotten. But now that we have Leicester City’s title celebration out of the way, it’s time to focus on your own title challenge.
This week is a double gameweek for eight Premier League teams; however, none of those eight teams are in the top four. That means that you may have to go outside of the box this week to earn maximum points. But that doesn’t mean you should forget about guys like Harry Kane and Hector Bellerin who have been producing for us all year long.
Last week, we got back to a normal schedule following a short week due to the FA Cup, but the only real points my picks got was an assist from Andy Carroll, who also looks like a good pick with the double gameweek ahead.
Without much more delay, here are the bargains for Week 37. I’m welcoming all suggestions and debates on Twitter (@gastelumEPL) and hopefully I can include your thoughts here in my column. Here’s a quick run-down of the different types of buys I refer to in this piece:
One Week Buys (OWB) – When a regular is suspended for a match, ineligible to face his parent club as a loanee, or his fill-in looks to deputize for only a week while the regular nurses a minor injury, this is where to find some replacements. They should only be looked at when you really need help at a position that week alone, and not looked at as long term plays. Best for salary cap leagues with unlimited transactions.
Short-term Buys (STB) – When a regular faces a multi-game suspension, an injury layoff lasting 2-5 weeks, international commitment, etc., this is where you look for players that can offer more beyond one week but do have a limited shelf life in most cases. Worth using a waiver claim or spending a bit more of your free agent budget than the One Week Buys. Can be useful in Fantasy Premier League (FPL.com) format as long as you are comfortable with possibly needing to transfer them out in a few weeks.
Long-term Buys (LTB) – When a regular is either facing a month or more out or has lost his spot seemingly to someone better, these are the players that emerge as potential long-term investments and are therefore the most valuable of the group and worth paying up. Great for any format, but especially valuable in the FPL.com game.
BARGAINS:
GK – Joel Robles (Everton)
Now I know that Tim Howard started last weekend and you would think the Toffees would be inclined to let the veteran start in his final moments at the club. But Roberto Martinez said last week that Howard will start the remaining home games in order to give him the proper sendoff at Goodison Park before leaving for Colorado Rapids, while Joel Robles, who has been the go-to starter since February, will start the away matches. This week, Everton has two away matches, against a possibly hungover Leicester City and Sunderland, and Robles will be the starter. I prefer Robles over most keepers this week with the double gameweek and the fact that he is only £4.3 in FPL.com for those of you using Wildcards and is still available in nearly 70 percent of Fantrax draft leagues gives him great value.
DEF – Antonio Valencia (Manchester United)
Valencia has flown so far under the radar over the past month and it surprised me to see what he has done just in the past three weeks. But the former winger-turned-full-back has created havoc for opposing defenses while also benefitting from clean sheet points. Valencia has played the full 90 minutes in the last three Premier League matches, recording two clean sheets and two assists. Meanwhile, the club has secured clean sheets in five of its last eight league matches. Valencia is available for £5.0 and the club has a double gameweek against Norwich and West Ham, but his best value is in draft leagues where he is available on the wire in 64 percent of leagues and in daily fantasy against Norwich City on Saturday.
MID – Ashley Westwood (Aston Villa)
Now these next two picks depend on the league you are in and how much risk you are willing to take. If you use your wildcard in FPL.com, Westwood could be a vital option being just £4.2; no midfielder under £5.5 is in better form than him at the moment. He is a reliable starter and has recorded two goals and an assist in his last two games after taking on a more attacking role. Westwood is also available in nearly 80 percent of Fantrax draft leagues. But his riskiest and potentially most valuable play would be in daily fantasy this weekend against Newcastle, who gave up nine goals in the month of April. He won’t be a popular option, which is great if he continues in his current form.
MID – Mark Noble (West Ham)
Now if you have a bit more cash to spend in FPL.com or want a more solid option for your daily fantasy team, Noble could be the man for you—although he is likely not available in your draft league. Noble is that one cheap midfielder mentioned above who is in better FPL.com form than Westwood and is available for just £5.5. In just the last two matches, where he earned Man of the Match, Noble has surpassed his goal total on the season coming into Gameweek 34 with two goals against Watford and two more this past weekend against West Bromwich Albion. Noble likes to score in bunches and with a double gameweek against Swansea City and Manchester United, it could be another good week for the captain.
FWD – Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City)
Now here’s a risky pick that could be the value pick of the week in FPL.com and in daily fantasy. Iheanacho is priced at only £4.8 in FPL.com and has played the full 90 minutes in each of the last two Premier League games. The Nigerian international recorded four goals and one assist in those two games against Stoke City and Southampton. Following a Champions League match on Wednesday against Real Madrid, Manuel Pellegrini could return with another weakened lineup with Iheanacho at the helm.
