POWER RANKINGS 2018/19: The Aftermath of FPL Gameweek 12
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 13 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.
GW12 POWER RANKINGS: Goalkeeper Picks
New entries: Kasper Schmeichel (LEI)
Falling out: Mat Ryan (BHA)
1) Jordan Pickford (EVE) vs. Cardiff (H)
2) Alisson (LIV) vs. Watford (a)
3) Ederson (MCI) vs. West Ham (a)
4) Martin Dubravka (NEW) vs. Burnley (a)
5) Kasper Schmeichel (LEI) vs. Brighton (a)
We're nearly back into the swing of things in the world of Fantasy Premier League, with the final international games coming to an end. England have finished top of their Nations League group, pipping Croatia and Spain on the final day, which Jordan Pickford in goal for the all crucial victory against Croatia on Sunday.
Pickford's FPL season is so far a tale of two halves, with Pickford earning just 12 points from his opening 6 games, compared to 43 points from the following 6. We've had a lot of engagement with our tweet regarding Pickford's recent success and it is afe to assume that a small chunk of his owners ditched him before the going got good.
In a Merseyside one-two, Alisson fills the silver medal position after returning to clean sheet ways in a 2-0 home victory against Fulham. Alisson has made 3+ saves in back-to-back games for the first time in the Premier League, making 3 saves in Gameweek 11's 1-1 away draw at Arsenal and Gameweek 12's 2-0 home win against Fulham. Last week was also the first time that Alisson has made 7 points in a Gameweek - both keeping a clean sheet and earning 1 save point.
Just about earning his way onto the podium is a Goalkeeper who has set fire to the defensive potential of Man City in the last two Gameweek's.
Ederson (MCI) last conceded a goal from open play during FPL Gameweek 4's 2-1 home victory against Newcastle. Since then, the Brazilian kept 6 consecutive clean sheets before conceding back-to-back penalty kicks in home games against Southampton (GW11) and Man United (GW12).
Newcastle's Martin Dubravka earned 3 points in a home victory against Bournemouth, but it kept up a good run of points for the Slovakian shot-stopper. Dubravka has managed 18 points across his last 3 matches, so is ticking along nicely with an average of 6 points.
Rounding off the list is the latest addition to the Power Rankings, Leicester's Kasper Schmeichel. Leicester have been going through an incredibly distressing time after the passing of club Chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha. Kasper was at the heart of the mourning, but it hasn't let it affect him in FPL. The Dane, who was in good form for his national side in a 2-1 victory against Wales, has kept clean sheets against Burnley and Cardiff, which given the climate of points right now, is more than enough to merit an inclusion.
GW12 POWER RANKINGS: Defender Picks
New entries: Ben Chilwell (LEI), Antonio Rudiger (CHE)
Falling out: Kieran Trippier (TOT), Benjamin Mendy (MCI)
1) Marcos Alonso (CHE) vs. Spurs (a)
2) Andrew Robertson (LIV) vs. Watford (a)
3) Aymeric Laporte (MCI) vs. West Ham (a)
4) Ben Chilwell (LEI) vs. Brighton (a)
5) Antonio Rudiger (CHE) vs. Spurs (a)
Defenders have been all the rage this season, but there are a few changes after Gameweek 12, with 2 of the 'power' 5 ousted from our Rankings. One change was coming, regardless of his knee injury, which of course is the omission of Benjamin Mendy after back-to-back blanks for City. The other, Kieran Trippier, made a cameo appearance against Crystal Palace to earn a single point. For the latter it is the perfect time to take a break from contention.
Antonio Rudiger's inclusion comes after 30 points from the last 5 matches, with Rudiger earning recent clean sheets against Burnley and most recently in a drab 0-0 with Everton. Rudiger's got some attacking potential, but in general is an Alonso-lite, but nonetheless an option to consider given Mendy's injury.
Lower down the price bracket is Leicester's Ben Chilwell, with the offensive left-back keeping clean sheets against Cardiff and Burnley, with the England international also managing an assist against Cardiff. Chilwell is showing some good signs of form that he managed near the end of last season, and with a good run of fixtures, form is on his side in the race for a Mendy replacement (which is apparently the only topic of conversation with the FPL Community right now).
At the summit of contention, as predicted, is the FPL's top scorer, Marcos Alonso, and Liverpool's Andrew Robertson. The former was the most likely scorer in Chelsea's 0-0 home draw with Everton, adding 8 onto his tally, whilst Andrew Robertson (as well as Trent Alexander Arnold) were the difference makers for Liverpool in their victory over Fulham.
GW12 POWER RANKINGS: Midfielder Picks
New entries: Ryan Fraser (BOU)
Falling out: Gylfi Sigurdsson (EVE)
1) Anthony Martial (MUN) vs. Crystal Palace (H)
2) Mohamed Salah (LIV) vs. Watford (a)
3) Eden Hazard (CHE) vs. Spurs (a)
4) Raheem Sterling (MCI) vs. West Ham (a)
5) Ryan Fraser (BOU) vs. Arsenal (H)
Chop and change is the nature of the business of these Power Rankings, though even we are beginning to lose track of the number of midfielders who are finding themselves in our top five picks of any week.
Less than a month ago, if you would have used the phrase 'Anthony Martial will be the top midfielder at any point in the season', we wouldn't have believed you. With the trio of Sterling, Hazard and Salah, all featuring often this year, Martial's form has been enough to take him right to the tip-top of our Rankings.
54 points from 5 games, an average of 10+ points-per-game since Man United's 3-2 home win against Newcastle, was the real turning point in Martial's season. Playing as a Forward, listed as a Midfielder, goals in each of his 5 games (6 in total) and a single assist, is form that just can't be ignored, especially ahead of a home tie with Crystal Palace this weekend.
Aside from Martial, Ryan Fraser owners have been well rewarded for their patience, with the Scottish international managing Bournemouth's assist in their defeat at Newcastle. Tough days lie ahead with Arsenal and Man City up next, but we thought given the form of alternatives, that Fraser deserved a swansong before a likely departure in the next few Gameweek's.
GW12 POWER RANKINGS: Forward Picks
New entries: Raul Jimenez (WOL), Alvaro Morata (CHE)
Falling out: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ARS), Marko Arnautovic (WHU)
1) Sergio Aguero (MCI) vs. West Ham (a)
2) Callum Wilson (BOU) vs. Arsenal (H)
3) Raul Jimenez (WOL) vs. Huddersfield (H)
4) Alexandre Lacazette (ARS) vs. Bournemouth (a)
5) Harry Kane (TOT) vs. Chelsea (H)
There is absolutely no consistency with Midfielder or Forward picks this season, with 'one week wonders' coming and going on a regular basis. Sergio Aguero tops the list this week after scoring in the Manchester Derby last weekend, whilst Callum Wilson's still in the top picks despite failing to score against Newcastle at St James's Park. Alexandre Lacazette also stays in contention, despite being an injury doubt for an away trip to Bournemouth next weekend.
The big mover this week is Wolves's Raul Jimenez, with the Forward catching many of his FPL owners (including ourselves) out with his recent good form. If like me (Rob) you've benched Jimenez the last two Gameweek's, you'll have benched a healthy 18 points. The Mexican international has scored and assisted twice and has the luxury of a home tie with lowly Huddersfield, which is the perfect occasion to bank of the form of Jimenez.
The other mover is Harry Kane, whose 12 points against Wolves and Crystal Palace are enough (believe it or not) to merit an inclusion. Kane scored in the victoy at Wolves, and his header from a corner eventually set up Juan Foyth's winner at Selhurst Park. A home tie against Chelsea doesn't get much harder, so there's a chance another one week wonder is on the cards.
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All aboard.
