POWER RANKINGS 2018/19: The Aftermath of FPL Gameweek 4
After the dust has settled in a round of Premier League fixtures, we here at The Hype Train provide a post-mortem in the shape of our Power Rankings. We highlight the five key performers for FPL players in each position (GK/DEF/MID/FOR), with our selections based off of our own opinion of in-game performance and the end result with Fantasy points on the board. All aboard.
Fantasy Premier League: Gameweek 5 Deadline
For the 2016/17 Premier League season, the FPL deadline will be one hour before the commencement of the week's first game. The Premier League website lists each FPL deadline, you can always ask on social media, and you can also view a real time countdown on our Weekly Hype page.
GW4 POWER RANKINGS: Goalkeeper Picks
New entries: Joe Hart (BUR)
Falling out: Ederson (MCI)
Gameweek 4 was very kind to budget Goalkeeper's, and that is evident as we round up our top picks. The only premium selection, remains rooted in second, despite a calamitous error to gift Leicester a goal in Liverpool's 2-1 away victory. Alisson's still on the radar and has seen a 0.8% rise in ownership since the error, which in translation means that the FPL community still back the Brazilian ahead of a crunch match at Wembley this weekend against Spurs.
Southampton's Alex McCarthy, who was called into England squad for their recent UEFA Nations League defeat to Spain, had a stellar Gameweek 4, claiming an assist against Crystal Palace as well as earning 2 save points. McCarthy's home tie against Brighton means that in the short-term his points potential and performance has considered by us as thee go-to shot stopper.
McCarthy primarily overtakes Neil Etheridge, though the shot-stopper did his own Fantasy merits no harm after making 8 saves in the recent 3-2 home loss to Arsenal. With Chelsea and Man City up next though, we have the feeling that the initial hype of Etheridge's FPL appeal is quickly fading. Time to prove us wrong.
Wayne Hennessey's fine start to the season also sees him in the bronze medal position ahead of Gameweek 5. The Welsh keeper has been on brilliant form for his national side during the international break, and kept the score down against Crystal Palace, saving well to deny a poor Charlie Austin penalty. With favourite fixtures, starting with a trip to Huddersfield next weekend, Hennessey finds himself potentially fighting with Aaron Wan-Bissaka for a birth in our Fantasy teams.
Lastly, Joe Hart's start to the season has been good from a personal account. The England international has walked into the starting lineup in a club already boasting a pair of England internationals, and has taken his chance to establish himself in the league with authority. Despite being steamrolled against Man United, Joe Hart was the first to deny Paul Pogba's slow-motion run up from the penalty spot this season.
This all means that Ederson, who has just managed just 2 points in each of his last 2 fixtures, drops out due to a few sobering weeks against Wolves and Newcastle.
GW4 POWER RANKINGS: Defender Picks
New entries: Jose Holebas (WAT), Ryan Bertrand (SOU)
Falling out: Virgil van Dijk (LIV), Kieran Trippier (TOT)
5 spots up for grabs, 5 left-backs accounted. 25% of the starting left-sided players in the Premier League feature ahead of Gameweek 5.
The 'template trio' of Marcos Alonso, Andrew Robertson and Benjamin Mendy are locked firmly in place. Alonso added a clean sheet and assist to his tally against Bournemouth and is in an ideal position to continue tallying points as goal-shy Cardiff visit the Bridge this weekend.
Robertson and Mendy, who both registered assists in sides that conceded during Gameweek 4, are keeping pace with one another, though we expect Mendy to take an advantage next week due to the impending GW5 fixtures.
We decided to move out Virgil van Dijk and Kieran Trippier after the pair failed to deliver during Gameweek 4, with Jose Holebas immediately returning to the fold after notching a braceo f assists in the 2-1 home victory against Spurs.
Ryan Bertrand is perhaps a surprise entry at 5th, but the full-back added a second clean sheet of the season against Crystal Palace, to go alongside his goal against Leicester at home during Gameweek 3. It's been a good and consistent start for Bertrand, whose £5.0m price makes him a more affordable target than the premium options that have now vacated our rankings.
GW4 POWER RANKINGS: Midfielder Picks
New entries: Lucas Moura (TOT), Pedro (CHE)
Falling out: Theo Walcott (EVE), Roberto Pereyra (WAT)
If our defensive picks were all about left-backs, then our midfield picks are exclusively from the wingers that are in front of the full-backs.
Salah one week. Mane the next. Salah then the next. Now we're back to Mane. Liverpool's midfield selections are delivering as expected in the FPL this season, with Mohamed Salah's main competition for points coming from within. Sadio Mane's so far been 'the man' this season for The Red's having scored 4 goals in 4 matches, including a crucial opening goal in the victory at Leicester. For Salah, it was the first disappointing points haul of the season though the 2 points isn't enough to knock him out of contention, despite a recent drop in ownership due to the international break.
Comnig up against the dynamic duo in attack for Gameweek 5 is one of 2 additions to our midfield Power Rankings, with Lucas Moura the only Spurs player to com out with something for show for their Fantasy players in the away defeat at Watford. Moura's assist for the Doucoure own-goal means that Moura has picked up 27 points from 3 matches, which is of course an average of 9 points.
Rounding off our picks is a Chelsea one-two with Eden Hazard's 100% start to the FPL season continuing when he rifled in a brilliant angled shot against Bournemouth in a 2-0 victory for Chelsea. Hazard has become a wildcard favourite this week, with a rise in ownership near enough matching the decrease in Salah owners heading into Gameweek 5. Pedro finalises the list after scoring in 3 out of the 4 games so far this season when he appeared from the bench to spare the Fantasy blushes for the 15% of players that back the Spaniard.
GW4 POWER RANKINGS: Forward Picks
New entries: Roberto Firmino (LIV), Romelu Lukaku (MUN)
Falling out: Harry Kane (TOT), Marko Arnautovic (WHU)
Of all our selections, it is no surprise to see our Forward picks change the most of any position this week. Falling out of contention are Harry Kane and Marko Arnautovic, with both becoming minor footnotes in disappointing weeks for Spurs and West Ham.
Rising to the top is Alexsander Mitrovic, who scored in a third consecutive match away at Brighton to take his tally up to 29 FPL points. Mitro's only downfall last week was a yellow card to limit his BPS potential.
Gameweek 4 was a dire week for Bournemouth's Callum Wilson, who slips to second, though we haven't removed Wilson as we've still got a good gut feeling about his goal prospects as Bournemouth's fixture lists looks promising in the weeks to come.
Sergio Aguero moves up to 4th this week after sparring FPL blushes last week after an assist for Kyle Walker in the 2-1 home victory against Newcastle. 2 returns from 4 matches is below par regarding Aguero's Fantasy expectations when you factor in that 1 return was 5 points, which means his prolific afternoon against Huddersfield has him clinging hold of a place.
The first new arrival in our Power Rankings this week is Roberto Firmino. Going under the radar, Firmino registered his first goal of the season during Gameweek 4, scoring the winning goal with his head from a James Milner corner. This adds to Firmino's 2 assists with the Brazilian providing steady returns from 3 of his 4 league appearances.
Last up is Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian found his feet quickly against Burnley as United dominated their weary-legged opposition, with Lukaku bagging both goals in a 2-0 win. Add in a goal away at Brighton during GW2 and you've got a couple of healthy returns for a Forward who might becoming part of the conversation as the days and weeks pass by.
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The Hype Train is an entertainment website founded in 2015, specialising in the Fantasy Premier League (#FPL), providing beautiful graphics and weekly insight for hopeful players attempting to climb ranking tables. We are also occasional media reviewers, with a keen interest to review movies, live sport, and professional wrestling.
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All aboard.
