POSITIONAL RANKINGS 2018/19: FPL Gameweek 13
With so many transfer trends and varying levels of form impacting the strategies of FPL players around the world, ahead of each Gameweek we will be providing our top ten selections in each position (GK, DEF, MID, FOR) for standalone rounds of games. Our player selections will be based purely on our opinion of those players on our watchlist any given week, with may positively sway FPL or Draft players with their own thoughts and decisions heading in to a Gameweek. 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.
FPL Gameweek 13: Goalkeeper Selections
1) Jordan Pickford (EVE): £4.9m - vs. Cardiff (H)
There's only one place to start with our Goalkeeper picks this week, with special mention going out to England and Everton shot-stopper Jordan Pickford without doubt the leading keeper contender ahead of Gameweek 13.
Pickford's 43 points in the last 6 matches is more than 9 of the Goalkeeper's in the Premier League, and as many points as what Cardiff's Neil Etheridge has managed all season. A visit by the Welsh side this weekend has only strengthened the appeal of Everton defensive assets, though none have more potential than England's number one.
2) Martin Dubravka (NEW): £5.0m - vs. Burnley (a)
3) Rui Patricio (WOL): £4.6m - vs. Huddersfield (H)
The best alternatives for Jordan Pickford this week come in the form of newly promoted keepers, with Martin Dubravka and Rui Patricio potentially in for big hauls this weekend.
Patricio is an automatic pick given Huddersfield are near the bottom of the table, though it is worth noting that The Terriers have scored in 4 of their 5 away matches this season. 7 points from 4 games has seen Patricio's appeal cooled, though there could be a sweet renaissance on the horizon for the Portuguese international.
Martin Dubravka's Newcastle side has been on a wave of momentum recently, which has been accompanied by 18 points in his last 3 matches. Burnley away will provide clean sheet potential for Joe Hart as well, though with Newcastle's run of fixtures, it'll be Dubravka that climbs into contention this weekend and next.
4) Alisson (LIV): £5.7m - vs. Watford (a)
5) Ederson (MCI): £5.8m - vs. West Ham (a)
Propping up the list of Goalkeepers this week are the Brazilian duo that find themselves inseparable in our Power Rankings and Positional Rankings. Ederson has been a spawn of the devil the past few weeks having conceded penalties in back-to-back matches against Southampton and Man United, though a trip to West Ham just has Alisson's understudy just about clinging hold of his place.
As for Alisson, who has kept 7 clean sheets this season, only 2 have come on the road - against Crystal Palace (GW2) and Huddersfield (GW9). Liverpool are playing a much more controlled and defensively minded game this day, so we can never rule out a clean sheet, though Roberto Pereyra's form for club and country might be enough to put a dent in clean sheet hopes this weekend.
FPL Gameweek 13: Defender Selections
1) Andrew Robertson (LIV): £6.5m - vs. Watford (a)
2) Virgil van Dijk (LIV): £6.0m - vs. Watford (a)
Liverpool come back from the international break in decent shape, with no real injury troubles to boast. With both City and Liverpool in the capital this weekend we fancy The Reds options ahead of the potential threat of Marko Arnutovic and Felipe Anderson this weekend. With Benjamin Mendy also injured, Liverpool assets will have been top of the shopping list alongside Aymeric Laporte.
Robertson and Van Dijk are the solid options to bank on ahead of a trip to The Hornets, thought 2 clean sheets away from home this season is enough to breed a slight sense of caution.
3) Aymeric Laporte (MCI): £6.0m - vs. West Ham (a)
4) Matt Doherty (WOL): £4.9m - vs. Huddersfield (H)
5) Ryan Bennett (WOL): £4.2m - vs. Huddersfield (H)
6) Marcos Alonso (CHE): £7.1m - vs. Spurs (a)
Next up in the 'Mendy replacements' list are the upper-tier of defensive reinforcements, topped by Man City's Amyeric Laporte. The central defender has seen his price rise by £0.5m so far this season and there is even more room to grow for the Spanish defender. After 8 returns from the first 10 fixtures, Laporte has blanked due to Ederson's recklessness in goal, but a visit to London Stadium to play West Ham is enough temptation to bank on the 7th most selected defender.
Wolves entertain a Huddersfield side who have scored in all but a single of their 5 away games this season, but that isn't enough to distract attacking full-back Matt Doherty from becoming the must-have option as Wolves enter a green patch of fixtures. Ryan Bennett is also the cheaper alternative that will probably be fielded for the first time from the bench from his 11.7% of his owners.
Rounding off the list is Marcos Alonso, the gift that keeps on giving for FPL players. Alonso, the top Fantasy so far this season, has provided returns in 9 of 12 fixtures so far, and has only blanked at home. A trip to Spurs this weekend has writing on the wall for points, especially considering that Alonso scored a brace against Mauricio Pochettino's side at Wembley last season.
7) Lucas Digne (EVE): £4.8m - vs. Cardiff (H)
8) Michael Keane (EVE): £3.0m - vs. Cardiff (H)
9) Benjamin Chilwell (LEI): £5.1m - vs. Brighton (a)
10) Shane Duffy (BHA): £4.7m - vs. Leicester (H)
Out on left-field this week, Everton have become an attractive defensive option, especially with the visit of Cardiff this weekend. Though Jordan Pickford has been the star attraction, Lucas Digne, an occasional set-piece taker for the Toffees, has become a topic of conversation for many. Michael Keane, the one typically on the end of Digne's and Sigurdsson's set-piece delivery, is perhaps the most rock solid option of the two, and a BPS magnet with 9 bonus this season. Both are worthy contenders this weekend just outside of the typical list.
Rounding of our selections are a duo of players who will be duelling in competition this weekend. Shane Duffy and Brighton have been a side to bank on at The Amex this season, with the Irishman managing 4 returns from 5 home encounters. Ben Chilwell and Leicester have managed to keep back-to-back clean sheets, with the attacking full-back looking the real deal with a continued run of fixtures that continue to entertain the possibility of an inclusion this weekend and in the following weeks.
FPL Gameweek 13: Midfielder Selections
1: Richarlison (EVE) - £7.0mil vs. Cardiff (H)
2: Gylfi Sigurdsson (EVE) - £7.5mil vs. Cardiff (H)
3: Anthony Martial (MUN) - £7.6mil vs. Crystal Palace (H)
4: Raheem Sterling (MCI) - £11.2mil vs. West Ham (A)
5: David Silva (MCI) - £8.6mil vs. West Ham (A)
6: Mohamad Salah (LIV) - £13.0mil vs. Watford (A)
7: Sadio Mane (LIV) - £9.9mil vs. Watford (A)
8: André Schürrle (FUL) - £5.9mil vs. Southampton (H)
9: Rúben Neves (WOL) - £5.0mil vs. Huddersfield (H)
10: Eden Hazard (CHE) - £11.3mil vs. Spurs (A)
The midfielder picks this week are straight forward at the top end, but then very sketchy once you get past the most obvious picks. Everton have the most favourable fixture against a team that can’t keep a clean sheet away from home to save their lives, and as such they top the list. The two Manchester clubs are up next against Crystal Palace and West Ham, both fixtures they are expected to win. The same logic applies to both Palace and West Ham…they are horribly inconsistent, and their supporters will agree with every word of it. Liverpool assets end the obvious options, they aren’t playing electric football, but Watford have been performing better than West Ham and Palace which puts Salah and Mane below the Manchester midfielders for potential this week.
Further down we expect an entertaining return for Claudio Ranieri as he sets out to do the impossible again and keep the Cottagers in the league, fortunately they host Southampton who are struggling under Mark Hughes (unsurprisingly) which gives them the most favourable fixture outside the obvious picks. Wolves are also in a position against a relegation battling club, so they must be included for potential alone. Rounding up the top ten midfielders is Hazard, yes, a Chelsea player against Spurs at Wembley. That is exactly the rationale, it is Chelsea at Wembley. Spurs aren’t playing well enough to keep Hazard out, and he is a man that loves scoring in the national stadium.
FPL Gameweek 13: Forward Selections
1) Sergio Aguero (MCI): £11.5m - vs. West Ham (a)
2) Raul Jimenez (WOL): £5.8m - vs. Huddersfield (H)
The only place to start with the upper-tier of Forward picks is with a well-rested Sergio Aguero. The Argentine has had a few weeks off which is a godsend from the perspective of FPL players. Aguero's form, despite his minutes being managed, has led to 8 goals and 6 assists, which is one more attacking return than what Callum Wilson (13) has produced this season. All roads lead to a potentially damaging haul of points against a Hammers side who will almost certainly be on the back foot this weekend.
In Aguero's shadow is one man who has been kicking on nicely in the FPL this season (if slow and steady returns are your thing)...
The international break hasn't been kind to defensive assets for Nuno Santo's side, with Matt Doherty a doubt and Jonny Otto definitely out of the home tie against lowly Huddersfield. With potentially missing out on their two key full-backs, and without a win in the Premier League in 4 matches (3 defeats and a recent 1-1 draw with Arsenal), you'd be crazy to bank on a Wolves captain, right?
Well, against all logic amongst some tough fixtures, Mexican international Raul Jimenez has been a joy and relief to FPL players (unlike us, who benched him twice most recently).
Our alternative picks are typically owned by 10-20% of players, and with Lacazette a doubt, Jimenez is the next best option, and the leading candidate to be a vice captain this week in your squads.
Jimenez's form is also incredible positive, with the Forward managing 7 attacking returns (2 goals, 5 assists) from his last 8 games, earning 18 points in his last 2 matches against London rivals Spurs and Arsenal.
With 188,928 transfer in so far, many are following suit that the Jimenez bandwagon is the one to jump on right now, and if that is the case, the punt for captaincy to us is more appealing than Richarlison's home tie against Cardiff.
3) Glenn Murray (BHA): £6.7m - vs. Leicester (a)
4) Callum Wilson (BHA): £6.8m - vs. Arsenal (H)
5) Roberto Firmino (LIV): £9.2m - Watford (a)
With so few Forward's in contention every week, the fringe options this week include a brace of Englishman in fine form for club (and in one case, for country). Callum Wilson added to his 6 goals and 7 assists this season by scoring on his full England international in a 3-0 win against the USA. Wilson, who recently scored against Man United at home, is an option not to be overlooked as a frail Arsenal defence visit town.
Meanwhile, Glenn Murray has scored in back-to-back home games, against West Ham (GW8) and Wolves (GW10). The absence of Harry Maguire from Leicester's defence will have Murray's 5.6% of owners swooning on the inside.
Last, and definitely least, in our estimations this week is Roberto Firmino. The Brazilian has gone 7 games without a goal or assist, which is insane considering he is as part of the 'Fab Three' with Mo Salah and Sadio Mane. Sooner or later the drought will end for Firmino, with Watford a fixture potentially one to look out for with Firmino. At this point though, Firmino's only here because he plays for Liverpool and due to the support he has.
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