Winter Wildcard – Forwards

Having assessed Goalkeeper Rotation, Defenders and Midfielders, our final Wildcard article turns to the men up front. From premium to budget, we assess the options across the price ranges and also have one eye on the treatment rooms as a handful of protagonists edge towards a return to action:

Luis Suarez
With 52% ownership, the Uruguayan is now the most popular player in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game and has been acquired by 20% more managers than any other frontman. Despite missing the first five Gameweeks through suspension, Suarez, with 164 points to his name, is still on course to eclipse Robin Van Persie’s tally of 262 points from 2012/13 – an average of 10.9 points per game is indicative of his level of performance this term. Attacking returns in 12 of his 15 appearances, eight sets of double figures and at least a goal in every home match so far, Liverpool’s talisman has reached heights we have rarely, if ever, witnessed before. With trips to Stoke, West Brom and Fulham supplementing three home games (AVL, EVE, ARS) in the next six, some may also look to Daniel Sturridge as a complementary route into a side that have racked up 46 goals thus far. The former Chelsea man is now down to 9.1 compared to Suarez’ 13.3 and could be in line for a return at the Britannia this weekend, according to reports – nine goals and a pair of assists in just 12 matches earned him an average of 6.4 ppg before he sustained an ankle injury.

Sergio Aguero
The City forward’s recovery from injury is keenly awaited by Fantasy managers. Only yesterday, Manuel Pellegrini confirmed Aguero would be back at some point this month but, with another 23 days to go in January, it seems we’ll need to be a little patient and monitor the situation carefully, re-assessing our wildcard plans until the Argentine is fit and available. The only frontman to even come close to Suarez’ exploits so far, Aguero has averaged 7.8 ppg and produced a goal or assist in 11 of his 14 starts before picking up a calf problem midway through the Gameweek 16 win over Arsenal. Those who opted for Alvaro Negredo as City coverage in his striker partner’s absence have been rewarded with just a goal and assist over four matches – the Spaniard’s average of 4.5 ppg highlights the difference in the pair’s output. Aguero is now down to 11.9 and currently sits in a mere 8% of teams – a potential return for Gameweek 22 would hand him four home games (CAR, CHE, SUN, STO) and a trip to Norwich in the subsequent six to wreak havoc once again.

Wayne Rooney
When fit and well, Rooney has been the most efficient of United’s forwards so far this season. The issue, of course, is that neither he nor Robin van Persie are currently available for selection, according to David Moyes – leaving the 7.2-priced Danny Welbeck in the box seat to continue the form that has harvested five goals and an assist in his last five matches. Certainly, if the current situation continues for much longer, Welbeck looks a decent mid-price option – United have Swansea, Cardiff and Fulham at home in the next five, in addition to a trip to Stoke. Moyes’ vague press conferences have proven a real source of frustration for Fantasy managers this term but if Rooney “has a chance” this weekend, many may choose to hold him – six double figure hauls in his last 10 appearances and a price of 11.6 to Van Persie’s 13.6 suggests he will still be many managers’ United forward of choice if and when both are finally fit and available.

Romelu Lukaku
Since moving to Everton on loan back in Gameweek 5, the big Belgian has racked up nine goals, four assists and 13 bonus points in 16 appearances. Lukaku’s lack of consistency has tested the patience of many, though – over the last seven, he’s returned just a single strike and three assists, a couple of which were fortuitous. Having started every one of Everton’s last 14 league matches, though, he’s proven an injury-free and reliable acquisition for our three-man frontlines and has five very kind home matches (NOR, AVL, CPL, WHM, CAR) and trips to West Brom and Cardiff over the next 10 Gameweeks to improve upon a respectable average of 5.7 points per game for the Toffees.

Olivier Giroud
Like Lukaku, he’s frustrated many a Fantasy manager over the last couple of months. Some may feel that Lukas Podolski will offer competition for the lone forward role but Giroud’s physical presence up top is likely to keep him ahead of the German in the pecking order. Now down to his original price of 8.5, the upcoming schedule could hand him the chance to return to form – Fulham, Palace, Sunderland and Swansea roll up to the Emirates in the next nine, while trips to Villa and Stoke also bode well for the league leaders.

Loic Remy
Another forward who has stuttered over the last few Gameweeks. Remy has now scored in just one of Newcastle’s last eight matches yet, like Lukaku and Giroud, offers a consistency of game time which keeps him in our thoughts. The 8.1-priced Frenchman has produced 10 goals and a pair of assists since joining up on loan back in Gameweek 3 and has showdowns with West Ham, Norwich and Sunderland in the next four to help him get back on track.

Emmanuel Adebayor
A striker re-born under new Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood, Adebayor’s early adopters have already reaped the benefit from their canny investment. Handed just 45 minutes under Andre Villas-Boas, the Togo international was cast out into the Fantasy wilderness but, since the Portuguese’s departure, he’s come to life alongside Robert Soldado in a 4-4-2. A brace and maximum bonus against Southampton, a pair of assists at home to Stoke and a goal and couple of bonus points away to United means he’s averaged 7.75 points per game for Sherwood. With the new man in charge determined to go on the offensive, Tottenham’s main attackers seem ready-made differentials for those tired of the template – at 7.7, with an ownership under 5%, Adebayor has Palace, Swansea and Hull in the next four to further impress any would-be suitors.

Jay Rodriguez
The number one forward in terms of “value” this season in the FPL game. Rodriguez was slow to find his form, drawing blanks in the opening six Gameweeks, before embarking on a run which has seen him rack up eight goals, a pair of assists and 14 bonus points in the subsequent 14 fixtures. Currently priced at just 6.2, Rodriguez sits in just 10% of FPL sides despite his recent endeavours – up next, however, he’s set for a run of 10 fixtures which is ranked as second to none by our season ticker. Home games against West Brom, Stoke and Norwich, supplemented by five potentially profitable road trips (sun, ful, hul, whm, cpl), suggest he’ll be making his way into many a Fantasy manager’s plans before long.

Wilfried Bony
A double against City on New Year’s Day was followed by the cup winner at Old Trafford just four days later as Swansea’s record signing got 2014 off to a flier. Finally free of injury, Bony will be hopeful he can maintain that sort of form and fire his side up the table – given that all six of his league goals have arrived at the Liberty, though, he need to step up in consistency. Indeed, two of his last three home appearances have harvested double figures and, with Michu still sidelined due to an ankle problem, his output is key to Michael Laudrup’s side. Despite his previous couple of performances, some may be deterred by upcoming games against United and Spurs – the schedule from Gameweek 23 onwards, though, is far more appetising for the 7.3-priced Ivorian, with home games against Fulham, Cardiff and Palace and trips to West Ham and Stoke in the subsequent six.

Dimitar Berbatov
The enigmatic Bulgarian has produced attacking returns in all four of his league games under new Fulham boss Rene Meulensteen. Berbatov had previously managed a single goal and assist over 11 matches under Martin Jol but, in what has been a stark turnaround in fortunes, has racked up three goals and an assist and, with five bonus points also thrown in, has averaged 6.75 points per game since the new manager’s arrival. A home clash with Sunderland looks promising this weekend but, with Arsenal, United and Liverpool also in the next six, the fixtures are stacked against him somewhat. Now down to 7.0, though, and with an ownership of just 3%, his 15 goal-haul from the previous campaign serves a reminder that he has the class to prevail.

Gary Hooper
Like Rodriguez, he’s another “unglamorous” pick but Hooper’s recent form deserves a mention here. Coming in at 6.1, he has produced five goals and an assist over the last 10 Gameweeks. Crucially, these have been spread out over six matches for Norwich – an indication that, while Hooper is not an explosive option, he has been very consistent, with 12 bonus points accrued over the featured period, too. Home games with Hull and Newcastle and trips to Cardiff and West Ham hand him the chance to continue in the same vein over the next six.

Fraizer Campbell/Andreas Cornelius
For those considering a 3-5-2 formation, the Cardiff situation could be worth monitoring. In his first match in charge, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer immediately installed Cornelius in the lone forward role away to Newcastle in the FA Cup, though it was Campbell who got amongst the goals by climbing off the bench to notch in the 2-1 win. The Bluebirds have West Ham, Norwich, Villa, Hull and Fulham at home in the next 10 and if either one can nail down the regular role (Campbell at 5.3, Cornelius 5.2), they may appeal to those on the hunt for a cheap forward.

Marouane Chamakh
Coming in at 4.8, the Moroccan has proven to be a key player under Tony Pulis. Chamakh’s aerial presence in the box has benefitted from his new manager’s more physical approach – a goal in the weekend cup win over West Brom means he has now scored four of Palace’s eight goals in all competitions since Pulis’ installation. Crucially, he rotates home/away with Cardiff and, partnered with one of the above two, would offer a run of eight favourable home fixtures (WHM, STO, HUL, NOR, WBA, AVL, HUL, swa, FUL, sun) over the next 10 Gameweeks.

Saido Berahino
A goal in each of the last two Gameweeks has earned the West Brom forward a recent price hike, shifting from 4.5 to 4.6. Many are eyeing Berahino up as a cheap third forward ahead of games against Villa, Palace, Fulham and Sunderland in the next eight but, with the Baggies managerial situation still undecided, his acquisition looks a risky tactic. Certainly, if he can nail down a regular role, he has the potential to be a real bargain but it remains to be seen where he stands in the pecking order once the new West Brom boss is in place.