Fantasy Premier League Focus

Our weekly look at the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game is rolled out this afternoon. As always, we analyse the main contenders in the Fantasy Football Scout league, while casting an eye over the frantic transfer market, as the fallout from Marouane Fellaini’s three-match ban sees midfields frantically restructured:

Scout League Standings

Iyad Zahlan not only remains at the top of the Scout League this week, he returns to the summit in the overall rankings after registering 68 points in Gameweek 17. He had mainly two players to thank for his haul; Robin Van Persie and Santi Cazorla. The Dutchman was handed the armband, while Cazorla ran riot at Reading to deliver 47 points between them; Billy Jones and David Silva also chipped in for Iyad’s side.

T.I. moves back into second spot, having racked up 81 points last time out. He also had a captain Van Persie and Cazorla combination, while Adel Taarabt, Stephane Sessegnon and Silva all picked up attacking returns in midfield. T.I. sits eighth in the overall rankings, 21 points behind Iyad.

In third spot is MP, thanks to a Gameweek 17 score of 75 points. He also captained Van Persie, with Cazorla and Sessegnon joined by Demba Ba and Guy Demel in producing the points. MP has moved up to 12th overall, on 1065 points.

Climbing up to fourth is John Schohl. Again, Van Persie sported the armband and was joined by Cazorla, while Silva and Kieran Gibbs both boosted his score to 76 points. John now sits in 40th overall.

The magnificently named Scrunchie Tubritt completes the top five. He followed the pattern set by the above four – Van Persie armband, plus Cazorla. Ryan Shawcross also helped boost his score to 65 points after a four point hit.

Our top five help keep Fantasy Football Scout at the top of the Best Leagues, 16 points ahead of our nearest challenger. Finally, Big Dunc has moved to the top of the Contributors league – no surprise to learn he had Van Persie captain and Cazorla amongst his ranks, as he moved onto 960 points overall, enough to earn a spot inside the top 10,000.

Market Trends

Yaya Toure has proven to be the most popular FPL player this week. The City midfielder has been snapped up by over 122,000 managers as the Marouane Fellaini exodus picks up pace – Toure has already climbed 0.2 in price this week and sits at 7.9.

A trio of Spanish midfielders tuck in behind the Ivorian; Santi Cazorla has acquired over 51,000 new owners after his 23 point haul last Monday, despite the fact he has a blank Gameweek 19. Juan Mata has picked up 45,000 transfers in due to his stunning recent form, while Michu continues to climb in ownership. The Swansea man has been drafted in by 31,000 managers and has a 49% ownership – the most popular player in the game. Both Jason Puncheon and Adel Taarabt have picked up around 29,000 new owners, with their cut-price appeal freeing up cash to splash elsewhere.

At the back, Stoke pair Ryan Shawcross and Asmir Begovic have received a combined 43,00 transfers in, though the Potters’ fixtures stiffen considerably. Seb Bassong (30,000) and Pablo Zabaleta (21,000) have also acquired plenty new investors as we head into the packed festive fixture list.

Up top, Demba Ba’s eleventh goal of the season persuaded over 43,000 to snap up the Newcastle man, though his upcoming schedule looks potentially tricky. Fernando Torres is not far behind the Magpies forward – 42,000 have drafted in the Chelsea player after an upturn in form under Rafa Benitez. Christian Benteke’s stunning display for Villa at Anfield has earned him in excess of 33,000 new owners, Carlos Tevez has proven popular ahead of City’s home game with Reading – over 31,000 have snapped him up, while Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney have received more than 19,000 transfers in as United prepare for a trip to Swansea.

For transfers out, it’s all about Marouane Fellaini. The Everton midfielder’s three-match ban for a headbutt on Ryan Shawcross has seen over 273,000 part company; no surprise, really, given he was the second most popular player in the game heading into last weekend’s clash with Stoke.

Eden Hazard and Gareth Bale have both been shipped out of 20,000 teams, while at the back, Rafael (33,000), Jose Enrique (19,000) and Vincent Kompany (17,000) have seen more sales than any other defenders after the trio missed out through injury last weekend – all three are in with a chance of returning to action for Gameweek 19, however; indeed, Enrique has already been passed fit by Brendan Rodgers earlier this afternoon.

Up top, Dimitar Berbatov and Luis Suarez lead the way for trades out – despite both facing a decent run of fixtures over the next few. With no returns in his last six, the Bulgarian has been moved on by 40,000 Fantasy managers, while Suarez, with four back-to-back blanks, has seen 36,000 make their excuses and leave. Jermain Defoe’s owners have shown little patience with the Tottenham forward – 35,000 have got rid, after he failed to score in his last two matches.