Premier League Fantrax Waiver Wire — Weekly Picks with Insight
Last weekend was pretty low scoring across the Premier League with 10 teams getting clean sheets (Villa still looking for their first goal). That lead to defenders and goalkeepers making a big impact this weekend, which last weeks predictions highlighted! Also, One thing I think that is a little more clearer than last season is the promoted teams look up for the challenge of avoiding relegation!
Last Weeks VAR Review
| Position | Man of the Match | That’s His Job | On the Bench | Transfer Listed | Did Not Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 4 | 1 | 1 | ||
| D | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
| M | 2 | 5 | |||
| F | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | |
| Total | 5 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 1 |
Man of the Match (MOTM): This player was a great pick up, scoring big and carrying your team.
That’s His Job (THJ): As Roy Keane would say “that’s his job’, putting up a decent score with no surprises.
On the Bench (OTB): this player might not have performed super well last week, but might be worth holding on to.
Transfer Listed (TL): This player wasn’t my finest recommendation.
I’ll be keeping a record to track my accuracy. This is good for you too, if it starts getting bad you know not to read anymore!
Goalkeepers
| Player | Points | Comments | Rating |
| Bernd Leno | 13-16 | Bernd Leno turned up in a weekend full of clean sheets with 3 saves. With Brentford next I think this he more than keeps his spot. Ownership increased by 12% this week! | MOTM |
| Caoimhin Kelleher | 6-9 | Despite conceding 2 goals, Kelleher has a much improved performance in their game with Chelsea that had a late dramatic equalizer. If Leeds nearly, kept a clean sheet away at Fulham, maybe Kelleher can? | THJ |
Both the goalkeepers from last weeks predictions performed well and look to be great assets this season with Viccario now claimed by 91% of teams and Henderson by 79%. Let’s see who are good options for this game week:
Turning up Big: Robin Roefs (Sunderland)
| Last Game | vs. Crystal Palace (A) (19-21 points) |
| Ownership | 31% of Fantrax squads |
| Next Fixture(s) | vs Aston Villa (H), Nottingham Forest (A), Manchester United (A) |
| Interesting Stat | 94th percentile for PSxG-GA – which basically means he saves a lot more shots than he should! |
After a fantastic start that has seen Roefs has scored 15+ points in three of four games, this player looks like a great asset to have in your team. With Sunderland at home against a Villa side that still hasn’t scored this season, it seems like a perfect matchup to continue his impressive form.
Proving his class: Gianluigi Donnarumma
| Last Game | vs. Manchester United (A) (12-15 points) |
| Ownership | 71% of Fantrax squads |
| Next Fixture(s) | vs Arsenal (A), Burnley (H), Brentford (A) |
| Interesting Stat | 36th percentile for PSxG-GA – which isn’t great compared to Roefs above |
Champions League winner Gianluigi Donnarumma put on a masterclass on Sunday, proving that goalkeepers who prioritize shot-stopping can be game-changers. The 26-year-old’s terrific save against Mbeumo’s great volley was a testament to why he’s a European champion. With Donnarumma now in the net for Manchester City, and with them having a string of good fixtures after their away game against Arsenal, he’s a fantastic fantasy option. Given Arsenal’s more conservative style against top teams so far this season, this weekend could be a prime opportunity for Donnarumma to deliver another big points haul
Defenders
| Player | Points | Comments | Rating |
| Marcos Senesi | 8-10 | Despite conceding a goal and getting a yellow card Senesi is proving his fantasy worth with his stock rising a whopping 50% from 36% to 86%. Not quite MOTM in the game, but definitely a must keep for the season. | THJ |
| Joachim Anderson | 12-15 | According to Fotmob he was MOTM so he his rating was justified this week! With Brentford at home this week, Anderson is definitely worth keeping around for now! | MOTM |
Both picks last week proved their worth I am happy to say. Senesi showing what an asset he is despite a yellow card and clean sheet and Anderson being resilient. This weeks picks are:
Not A Fluke: Trai Hume
| Last Game | vs. Tottenham (A) (18-20 points) |
| Ownership | 47%% of Fantrax squads |
| Next Fixture(s) | vs Aston Villa (H), Nottingham Forest (A), Manchester United (A) |
| Interesting Stat | 89th percentile for expected assists – which means he creates a lot of chance vs other full backs |
I think Trai Hume is shaping up to be this season’s version of Alfie Doughty or Leif Davis—a defender from a promoted team who performs well above his value. His recent performances are a clear statement to the rest of the league that he is that player. A quick look at his FBRef profile shows that he offers a significant contribution not only going forward but also defensively.
A Second Chance?: Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)
| Last Game | vs. Burnley (A) (17-20 points) |
| Ownership | 12% of Fantrax squads |
| Next Fixture | vs Everton (H), Crystal Palace (A), Chelsea (A) |
| Interesting Stat | 95th percent for progressive passes vs other fullbacks |
After another unconvincing game from Kerkez, who was substituted just before the 40-minute mark, Andrew Robertson came on and immediately showed his quality and experience. Grabbing Robertson on waivers now could be an absolute steal, especially with his currently low ownership. If you have a spot for a fourth or fifth defender, picking up Robertson is a smart move as Liverpool’s starting left-back position looks to be up for grabs.
Midfielders
| Player | Points | Comments | Rating |
| Brajan Gruda | 1-3 | I’m sure Gruda is more disappointed than me to only see 22 minutes after his late winner against City. I think he is worth picking up if he starts against Tottenham on Saturday. Keep an eye on him! | OTB |
| Crysenico Summerville | 3-5 | West Ham overall were very poor against Tottenham and if this puts Potter under pressure can Summerville help bail him out again against Crystal Palace. Again worth keeping if you have space. | OTB |
The picks from last week didn’t quite pan out, which is a frustration every fantasy manager knows well. I’m not giving up on them, though—I believe they have long-term value. Fantasy football is a game of patience, and their performance in a good run of games will be the ultimate test of your resolve. That said, if you’re ready to cut ties, I’ve got some great alternatives for you to consider:
Improving: Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace)
| Last Game | vs. Sunderland (H) (7-9points) |
| Ownership | 30% of Fantrax squads |
| Next Fixture | vs West Ham (A), Liverpool (H), Everton (A) |
| Interesting Stat | 83rd percentile for expected assists versus other midfielders |
Daichi Kamada has put up a solid points return in the two games he’s played so far this season, averaging about 10 points per match. With Crystal Palace looking consistent and going away to a West Ham side whose performance is unpredictable, Kamada looks like a great option. He started higher up the pitch against Sunderland, getting into some good opportunities, and with Yeremy Pino settling in and Sarr still out, he might have the opportunity to revisit the attacking form he was known for at Frankfurt (45 G+A in 100 starts)
Big Potential: Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham)
| Last Game | vs. West Ham (A) (21-24 points) |
| Ownership | 10% of Fantrax squads |
| Next Fixture | vs Brighton (A), Wolves (H), Leeds (A) |
| Interesting Stat | 98th percentile for successful take ons |
Lucas Bergvall scored one of the goals of the weekend, a fantastic header from a deep run against a struggling West Ham. Notching up a goal and an assist, the young Swede was very impressive. With Tottenham’s nice run of games against Brighton, Wolves, Leeds, and Villa, Bergvall could be a great option as he is given more license to go forward with a Palhinha behind him.
Forwards
| Player | Points | Comments | Rating |
| Beto | 1-3 | So it was not-to-Be-to, and to be honest I’m not surprised to be disappointed by Beto. Back to the waivers you go mate. | TL |
| Callum Wilson | 2-3 | I still think Wilson will add value when he plays and if West Ham hit some form. However, until that moment I’m afraid he’s also back on the waivers. | TL |
Again, a lot of 10 man leagues must feel like they are running out of Forwards. Here’s what I could muster up this week:
Bright debut: Kevin
| Last Game | vs. Leeds (H) (8-10 points) |
| Ownership | 37% of Fantrax squads |
| Next Fixture | vs Brentford (H), Aston Villa (A), Bournemouth (A) |
| Interesting Stat | 99th percentile for non-penalty games, progressive carries and successful take ons |
Kevin made a positive impact in his 13 minute debut against Leeds where he notched up about 8 points. Pretty impressive for a small cameo. With Fulham’s front 4 not completely solidified this season yet and only being 4 games into the season, if Kevin is given the opportunity in the next game to start and makes just as big an impact than he offers promising fantasy returns every time he plays.
Why Not: Tolu Arokodare
| Last Game | vs. Newcastle (A) (1-3 points) |
| Ownership | 12% of Fantrax squads |
| Next Fixture | vs Leeds (H), Tottenham (A), Brighton (H) |
| Interesting Stat | 98th percentile for non-penalty goals and assists vs other forwards |
In a week where picking a second forward is a struggle, I’m taking a punt on Wolves’ new boy Tolu Arokodare. After writing a whole paragraph on Danny Welbeck, I wasn’t convinced by my own argument! Arokdares attacking stats look very impressive, ranking in the 90th+ percentile for non-penalty goals, shots, expected goals, assists and shot creating actions. Granted this was playing in the Belgian Pro League, but imagine if he can translate this to a Wolves team still figuring out their attack. We’ve seen some stars emerge at Wolves over the last 5 years with Jota (RIP), Jimenez, Neto and Cunha. Could Arokodare be the next big star at Wolves?
Fixture Spotlight
Despite losing their opening game to Liverpool (unlucky too), Bournemouth seem to have started the season like they finished last season in great form. With 3 wins in the last 3 games they are on form and next face Newcastle (H), Leeds (A) and Fulham (H). I think this is a great run of games to pick up any available players that you can (especially defenders). Last week’s mention of Senesi was accurate as he’s gone from 30% owned to 86%. James Hill (3%) and Veljo Milosavljevik (3%) would both be good pick ups as they have low ownership and scored well despite conceding a goal against Brighton. Grabbing Petrovic in goal could also be worthwhile as Bournemouth continue to be difficult to score against.
One to Watch
With William Saliba sidelined, all eyes are on his replacement, Cristhian Mosquera. There’s no argument that Arsenal has the best defense in the league, and with Mosquera owned in only 27% of Fantrax leagues, he could be an absolute steal. The young Spaniard slotted in nicely during Arsenal’s win against Nottingham Forest. While the next game against City and Erling Haaland is a real test, if he can hold his own, he’s a great option. With Arsenal’s schedule looking good after the City game, Mosquera’s ability to keep his spot will be key to their success and your fantasy team.
Lastly
As expected, the first gameweek back after the international break brought plenty of surprises, including a rash of clean sheets and some head-scratching lineups. Now, with the European competitions kicking off, it’s a whole new challenge. We’ll have to keep a close eye on which key players are impacted by squad rotation. Best of luck this weekend, and here’s hoping we get more goals. I’m personally hoping for Man United to bounce back against Chelsea, and that the Garnacho brothers don’t have anything to gloat about come Sunday.
Please leave a reply if you have enjoyed reading this, or wish me to stop wasting my time!
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