Injury Roundup/Week Ahead
Everton v Fulham
No regular first teamers are out for either side. Everton players are a good bet this week with Fulham not travelling too well this year (only 2 goals in 4 games scored). The impressive Fulham defense is less so on the road having failed to keep a clean sheet so far.
One to watch: Tim Cahill
Chelsea v Sunderland
Carvalho is back on the sidelines and could be out for up to three weeks. This makes Alex (5.6) an interesting prospect once more with Sunderland at home this week and decent fixtures after that (@Bla, @WH, New). Ballack and Drogba are also sidelined, though there is a chance Cole could return. If you own him for some reason I'd probably keep him out for one more week.
Craig Gordon is also a doubt though you want to avoid him anyway in what should be a win for the home side.
One to watch: Alex
Man Utd v Hull
Hargreaves and Scholes are still out which means Carrick, Fletcher and Anderson will battle it our for playing time. I wouldn't suggest that any of these guys are great options this week. The United defense is a good, but not great play, with Van der Sar being the best value. Hull players are probably best benched though Geovanni may be worth a punt due to his free kicks and long range shooting.
Hull don't have any significant injuries outside of long term casualty Fagan.
One to watch: Dimitar Berbatov
Middlesbrough v West Ham
Mido, Huth and Hoyte are all major doubts and will likely not figure in the game. The Boro defense isn't a terrible option with Turnbull (4.0), Wheater (5.0) and Taylor (4.5) all looking like decent plays. Tuncay played well last game and may be worth a punt at 6.7, as might Downing at 7.0.
West Ham have no new injuries though long term injuries to Ashton and Noble mean the pair will sit again. Cole will miss out again due to his suspension. I'm pretty down on the Hammers at the moment and I wouldn't strongly recommend any of them at this stage.
One to watch: Stuart Downing
Portsmouth v Wigan
Glen Johnson is a doubt and may be worth swapping for Traore, Campbell or Distin to make sure you don't miss out. Kranjcar is back and could challenge for a place in Adams' side after coming on midweek. When fit, Kranjcar should be a nice option at just 6.1m. Defoe owners should assume that their man will return to the side this week with Adams surely going with two up back home at Fratton Park.
Wigan have no new injury worries but are in pretty poor form. Early studs Valencia and Figueroa have gone a bit quiet of late and may be worth divesting if their form does not improve soon. Zaki is scoreless in two but the lack of comparably priced replacements make him all but undroppable right now.
One to watch: Niko Kranjcar
Stoke v Arsenal
Arsenal will look to bounce back from the dissapointment of midweek and have a full strength side to try and do so. The Arsenal defense has just one clean sheet in six and should not be considered a good buy right now, though if you hold them it may be worth playing them this week. Nasri has picked up a goal, an assist and 2 bonus points since returning from injury and is a great buy at 7.5. Cesc is also due a goal after playing well midweek with no points earned and may be a decent buy at 9.9 if your other premium midfielder is out.
Lawrence remains on the sidelines for Stoke, who have limited fantasy options right now. Delap is a good budget play having notched 4 assists so far this season.
One to watch: Samir Nasri
West Brom v Blackburn
Santa Cruz is a doubt for the week and you'd be better off with Defoe or Agbonlahor among others. As mentioned over at 'Never Captain Nicky Butt' Warnock could be a decent punt option, though Balckburn have just two clean sheets on the season. For those in need of a budget striker, Roman Bednar and Ishmael Miller are viable options though neither are guaranteed of the start.
One to watch: Carlos Villaneuva
Tottenham v Liverpool
Fernando Torres is a major doubt and is too risky to keep 11.9 invested in (Adebayour is probably the best high priced sub). Skrtel is also out and either Agger or Hyypia will deputise though with Benitez at the helm it is hard to guess which so Arbeloa would be a safer pick.
Spurs have no new injuries and are an intriguing source of players for the coming weeks. Modric and Bentley looked much better midweek and may be worth a look if they pick up their form again this week. Bent has quietly scored three in three though is far from guaranteed substantial minutes this week.
One to watch: Robbie Keane
Bolton v Man City
Petrov and Johnson remain out though City have no other new injuries. City have been inconsistent so far though normally play well against Bolton (who doesn't at the moment!). Robinho should be a good play this week, as is Wright-Phillips who has done nothing in his last 5. Bolton have failed to score in 3 home games this season and so the City defense looks like a nice option. I would have been quick to recommend Garrido but having been dropped against Boro he may not be a great option. Richards and Dunne (5.3) are the safer bets though Kompany (5.7) probably has a slightly ceiling as he will likely figure in midfield.
One to watch: Shaun Wright-Phillips
Newcastle v Villa
Owen is still out, as is Nicky Butt. Guttierez is now fully fit and might be worth a flutter if you are looking for someone a bit different. No new injuries for Villa and Martin O'Neill has a full strength side to select from. Ashley Young has played every minute this season and broke his three game slump with an assist and a man of the match midweek. Agbonlahor has 21 points in the past two games and is probably the best 8m range striker for the week. The Villa defense has been fairly dissapointing so far and might be worth monitoring if like 30.3% of players you own Laursen. Laursen has just one goal and though the bonus points have been flowing, should these dry up he becomes overpriced at 6.2m.
One to watch: Ashley Young
No regular first teamers are out for either side. Everton players are a good bet this week with Fulham not travelling too well this year (only 2 goals in 4 games scored). The impressive Fulham defense is less so on the road having failed to keep a clean sheet so far.
One to watch: Tim Cahill
Chelsea v Sunderland
Carvalho is back on the sidelines and could be out for up to three weeks. This makes Alex (5.6) an interesting prospect once more with Sunderland at home this week and decent fixtures after that (@Bla, @WH, New). Ballack and Drogba are also sidelined, though there is a chance Cole could return. If you own him for some reason I'd probably keep him out for one more week.
Craig Gordon is also a doubt though you want to avoid him anyway in what should be a win for the home side.
One to watch: Alex
Man Utd v Hull
Hargreaves and Scholes are still out which means Carrick, Fletcher and Anderson will battle it our for playing time. I wouldn't suggest that any of these guys are great options this week. The United defense is a good, but not great play, with Van der Sar being the best value. Hull players are probably best benched though Geovanni may be worth a punt due to his free kicks and long range shooting.
Hull don't have any significant injuries outside of long term casualty Fagan.
One to watch: Dimitar Berbatov
Middlesbrough v West Ham
Mido, Huth and Hoyte are all major doubts and will likely not figure in the game. The Boro defense isn't a terrible option with Turnbull (4.0), Wheater (5.0) and Taylor (4.5) all looking like decent plays. Tuncay played well last game and may be worth a punt at 6.7, as might Downing at 7.0.
West Ham have no new injuries though long term injuries to Ashton and Noble mean the pair will sit again. Cole will miss out again due to his suspension. I'm pretty down on the Hammers at the moment and I wouldn't strongly recommend any of them at this stage.
One to watch: Stuart Downing
Portsmouth v WiganGlen Johnson is a doubt and may be worth swapping for Traore, Campbell or Distin to make sure you don't miss out. Kranjcar is back and could challenge for a place in Adams' side after coming on midweek. When fit, Kranjcar should be a nice option at just 6.1m. Defoe owners should assume that their man will return to the side this week with Adams surely going with two up back home at Fratton Park.
Wigan have no new injury worries but are in pretty poor form. Early studs Valencia and Figueroa have gone a bit quiet of late and may be worth divesting if their form does not improve soon. Zaki is scoreless in two but the lack of comparably priced replacements make him all but undroppable right now.
One to watch: Niko Kranjcar
Stoke v Arsenal
Arsenal will look to bounce back from the dissapointment of midweek and have a full strength side to try and do so. The Arsenal defense has just one clean sheet in six and should not be considered a good buy right now, though if you hold them it may be worth playing them this week. Nasri has picked up a goal, an assist and 2 bonus points since returning from injury and is a great buy at 7.5. Cesc is also due a goal after playing well midweek with no points earned and may be a decent buy at 9.9 if your other premium midfielder is out.
Lawrence remains on the sidelines for Stoke, who have limited fantasy options right now. Delap is a good budget play having notched 4 assists so far this season.
One to watch: Samir Nasri
West Brom v Blackburn
Santa Cruz is a doubt for the week and you'd be better off with Defoe or Agbonlahor among others. As mentioned over at 'Never Captain Nicky Butt' Warnock could be a decent punt option, though Balckburn have just two clean sheets on the season. For those in need of a budget striker, Roman Bednar and Ishmael Miller are viable options though neither are guaranteed of the start.
One to watch: Carlos Villaneuva
Tottenham v Liverpool
Fernando Torres is a major doubt and is too risky to keep 11.9 invested in (Adebayour is probably the best high priced sub). Skrtel is also out and either Agger or Hyypia will deputise though with Benitez at the helm it is hard to guess which so Arbeloa would be a safer pick.
Spurs have no new injuries and are an intriguing source of players for the coming weeks. Modric and Bentley looked much better midweek and may be worth a look if they pick up their form again this week. Bent has quietly scored three in three though is far from guaranteed substantial minutes this week.
One to watch: Robbie Keane
Bolton v Man City
Petrov and Johnson remain out though City have no other new injuries. City have been inconsistent so far though normally play well against Bolton (who doesn't at the moment!). Robinho should be a good play this week, as is Wright-Phillips who has done nothing in his last 5. Bolton have failed to score in 3 home games this season and so the City defense looks like a nice option. I would have been quick to recommend Garrido but having been dropped against Boro he may not be a great option. Richards and Dunne (5.3) are the safer bets though Kompany (5.7) probably has a slightly ceiling as he will likely figure in midfield.
One to watch: Shaun Wright-Phillips
Newcastle v Villa
Owen is still out, as is Nicky Butt. Guttierez is now fully fit and might be worth a flutter if you are looking for someone a bit different. No new injuries for Villa and Martin O'Neill has a full strength side to select from. Ashley Young has played every minute this season and broke his three game slump with an assist and a man of the match midweek. Agbonlahor has 21 points in the past two games and is probably the best 8m range striker for the week. The Villa defense has been fairly dissapointing so far and might be worth monitoring if like 30.3% of players you own Laursen. Laursen has just one goal and though the bonus points have been flowing, should these dry up he becomes overpriced at 6.2m.
One to watch: Ashley Young
Comments
Got my eye on him as well. Already added him at Yahoo, and thinking about doing the same in the FPL. He's fit, he's starting, he can score (a lot), he can set up, he'll get bonus points, and he only costs 6.1. Intriguing.