After a painful Gameweek 14, the punishment continued last weekend. The stuffing was well and truly knocked out of anyone with enough sense to have the likes of Aguero, Fabregas, Austin or Chambers. Some of us (me) even had the entire bloody quadfecta. It was almost as if someone wanted to ruin my Xmas - or at the very least was apathetic as to whether I had a merry one.
Let's do some pre-Xmas swapsies, then, and see what we can get when we return some of these dud Fantasy stars. I hope you kept your receipts.
Buy Low
Andy Carroll (6.9) -- West Ham | SUN (A)
Do you believe in Christmas Carrolls? Evidently not as he's only owned by a ballsy 0.8% but four games back in action and the route 1 ranger produced arguably his finest display in a Hammers shirt. Two goals and three BPs sets him up nicely for a trip to Sunderland. Given Wham are currently sitting in a Champions League spot after three wins on the bounce, you'd be wise to board this bandwagon early. With Aguero out for the festive season at least, those who already have Costa may be tempted to trade in for a cheaper model and upgrade one of those pesky mid-priced midfielders. I'm talking Aguero-Carroll; Chadli-Sanchez or Hazard. Although realistically that will be one of thirteen transfers you'll need to make this week. If only we weren't so close to the January mulligan...
Stewart Downing (6.2) -- West Ham | SUN (A)
Haven't I already suggested a West Ham player? Yes. Can I believe I'm suggesting people buy Stewart Downing? No. Am I becoming a West Ham fanboy? A little bit. Is this all a bit much considering they're still a team spearheaded by Kevin Nolan, managed by Sam Allardyce and only four points ahead of Newcastle? Probably.
Still, the lad puts crosses in relentlessly and with AC back in the mixer, it's hard to see how he won't average an assist a week from now until the end of time. Ride the wave past a few tricky fixtures into the new year but if he starts to stumble against West Brom and Hull at home, you have my permission to pull the plug.
Big Pimpin Fo' Reals
Sell High
Danny Welbeck (7.2) -- Arsenal | NEW (H)
No prizes for guessing who the top two strikers are in the 'transferred out' column but what does surprise me is how few people have lost faith in England's finest. Once upon a time 7.2m or thereabouts was cracking value for Arsenal's main striker. Now with Giroud back, however, his playing time looks limited - just a half against Stoke but he was left at home for the relatively dead rubber Galatasaray match implying he may be utilised as a starter this weekend. It's a watch this space - but wouldn't you rather be watching from the comfort of your own Wilfried Bony (8.5), rather than from behind the sofa with your hands stretched over your eyes? Consider the ocular pat down performed. You're cleared for passage. Passage outta here that is.
Fool's Gold
Aaron Ramsey (8.7) -- Arsenal | NEW (H)
The Welsh Wizard's long-range thunderblast mid-week was nothing short of amazeballs but he picked up a hammy complaint (typical) and with all his current injury woes, Wenger may decide to wrap his star midfielder in cotton wool this Saturday against the Toon. I have no doubts that this will be a cake walk for the Gunners so if he does play there could be points for grabs but this is a player with chronic injury problems who couldn't manage 90 minutes for an eight-game stretch this season. He's also yet to produce a game with more than one attacking pointscor (e.g. a goal AND an assist - there's no nifty way of saying that) and hasn't bagged a Bonus Point since week 2. Not a sexy option.
"Let it all hang out," they said. "It will be a conversation starter," they said.
Puntsville, USA
Christian Benteke (7.9) -- Aston Villa | West Brom
I'm allowing myself to put this in the Puntsville column because:
a) he plays for Aston Villa;
b) Only 1.1% of Fantasy managers own him; and
c) he plays for Aston Villa
To the untrained eye, a) and c) may look very similar but bear in mind he only ever gets to play for Aston Villa. He can't play for anyone else. Not allowed In fact he plays for Villa all the time. He'll probably play for them more than twice again this season so really a) and c) deserve repeating a few more dozen times, but what with all this cold weather and mulled wine I've come over all lethargic. Anyway Bentekkers is pucker (the cockney kind, not the urban dictionary kind) and has a goal and an assist in his first two games back since missing most of the season with various boo boos. He's not the most eligible bachelor at the party what with Bony, Pelle, Sakho (5.8) and Dzeko (8.1; another good punt this week with Kun out of action) but provides a nice little differential for ya if you're so inclined.
