Statistically speaking, Gameweek 4 is when most fantasy managers lose their cool. Not just the fair-weathers. Even the try-hards. They spoodge their wad too early by playing a wildcard on a perfectly workable team, make more transfers than they even have starting players for a mahoosive points defecit, or miss a crucial bandwagon opportunity, thereby cementing them into inescapable mid-table mediocrity. We're here to give you all the best transfer tips and remind you that football can be fun even if England did [sigh] play recently.
Buy Low
Nathan Dyer (5.6) -- CHE (@), SOU (H), SUN (@)
The best value midfielder right now is not, contrary to popular disbelief, Siggy. It is in fact his rather speedy Gonzalez teammate. Dyer doesn't usually play the full 90 but makes up for it in points galore. 27 in three games to be exact. Nine points per game for 5.6m? Yes thank you!
Not to be confused with this guy
Steven Naismith (5.4) -- WBA (@), CRY (H), LIV (A)
Not so much putting himself on the map as hacking into the google maps servers and changing the algorithm so it pulls up a picture of his ugly mug every time someone clicks the 'directions' button, Naismith is so un-bored of scoring that he does it every match irrespective of the opposition. Everton's next three fixtures aren't great but they're easier than his last three and look at what he did in those (9,9,6 against Leicester, Arsenal and Chelsea). You'll be worried he won't start but you shouldn't be. The Scot's played every minute of every game so far, Lukaku's only 50-50 with turf toe or whatever and Eto'o would appear to be playing the role of an impact sub, rather than octogenarian starter. Sadio Mane (7.0) -- NEW (H), SWA (@), QPR (H)
You haven't heard of him. Why would you put him in your team? Well watch this and prepare to be agog -
I know, right? OK so based on that, all the defenders in the Austrian Bundesliga clearly have their shoelaces tied together, are playing with their eyes closed and/or have bets on but that's not really the point. This kid (22) would look good dribbling in a vacuum and puts it in places even Chelsea's goalkeepers can't reach. There's a buzz about St Mary's and Mane is 0.5m cheaper than Tadic. Graziano Pelle is coming into his own and Southampton have a strong midfield and a great fixture list but that's not even the best bit - their new £10m-man (I can't believe you've never heard of him) can play as a striker or anywhere in a front 3. It's ten past goals o'clock.
Sell High
Eden Hazard (10.0) --SWA (H), MCI (@), AVL (H)
To get 16 points in three games would be good if you hadn't shelled out 10m of your squids for him and Chelsea hadn't scored 11 bloomin' goals. More expensive and less productive than Fabregas, he's one of the easier premium players to get away from if you're plotting a cabinet reshuffle. He's still riding high off last season with his ownership of 16.8% and is overpriced considering all the value midfield options right now.
#RidingHigh
Don't get rid just for the sake of it - he's still a great player - but Swansea and Villa aren't as easy going as they used to be and those fixtures alternate with Man City and Arsenal so certainly not time to be buying in.
Fool's Gold
Alan Hutton (4.1) -- All the Best Teams (A,H,A,H,A)
A few weeks ago Hutton was a great shout as a long-term prospect due to his price, nailed-on starting status and Villa's astonishingly un-shit defending. Now he faces the worst fixture list in the history of the sport (it's no coincidece that is kinda spells AHAHA) and has already risen in price. No point cutting him as long as you've got the subs but the hundreds of thousands transferring him in are the kind of guys you want to organise your stag do, not the ones you want picking your wife - if you catch my drift?
Bargain Basement
Aiden McGeady (5.5) -- WBA (@), CRY (H), LIV (@)
The Everton winger isn't normally guaranteed game time but with Pienaar sidelined and having scored a belter in the first game, produced an assist against Chelsea and bagged a brace for Ireland over the international snore break, he could become Roberto Martinez's go-to guy. Call me out-of-touch but I still loves me a risky play and McGeady is just that.
Hang Fire
Diego Costa (10.6) --SWA (H), MCI (@), AVL (H)
It didn't look like he'd play last weekend and he put up 12 points. It looks like he will play this weekend so... you do the maths. I hate maths. Selling him isn't just premature - it's lunacy given how well Chelsea are playing. And benching £10.5m-worth of Fantasy talent is madness especially as you're probably benching him for Siggy - who's away to Chelsea this week isn't he?
Short Shorts
Bench or sell Lukaku - he's injured.
Don't expect Dier to play - he's got a knock and was at fault for all three of Liverpool's goals last Sunday.
Sturridge is probably going to miss out against Villa after getting hurt in training.
