POWER RANKINGS 2018/19: The Aftermath of FPL Gameweek's 14, 15 & 16
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 17 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.
GW16 POWER RANKINGS: Goalkeeper Picks
New entries: Kepa Arrizabalaga (CHE), Lukasz Fabianski (WHU), Kasper Schmeichel (LEI)
Falling out: Jonas Lossl (HUD), Ederson (MCI), Martin Dubravka (NEW)
With a trio of Gameweek's to cover in our Power Rankings this week, there is a lot of chop and change in each position, and we start with 3 new Goalkeeper's who are worthy of their place in our Power Rankings in the aftermath of Gameweek 16.
1) Alisson (LIV): £5.8m - vs. Man United (H)
2) Kepa Arrizabalaga (CHE): £5.5m - vs. Brighton (A)
3) Lukasz Fabianski (WHU): £4.5m - vs. Fulham (A)
4) Jordan Pickford (EVE): £5.0m - vs. Man City (A)
5) Kasper Schmeichel (LEI): £5.0m - vs. Crystal Palace (A)
Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga is having a good season from a statistical point of view, with the Spaniard keeping an 8th clean sheet of the season, the latest coming in a memorable 2-0 home victory over Man City at Stamford Bridge. Kepa's shut-out in London equals Ederson's 8 clean sheets this season. Kepa has kept 4 clean sheets in 7 games, earning 34 FPL points, with Ederson keeping 2 clean sheets in the same time and only managing 25 points.
Lukasz Fabianski has also had a decent November and early December with the West Ham shot-stopper benefiting from a clean run of fixtures. Fab's last (and only second) clean sheet of the season came in a comfortable 3-0 away win at Newcastle during Gameweek 14. The Polish international then saved Joe Ralls's penalty for Cardiff at London Stadium in a 3-1 win, his third consecutive spot-kick save.
Kasper Schmeichel also fills the final slot this week despite a 2-0 home loss to Spurs. The Dane has managed 3 clean sheets from his last 6 fixtures and has totalled 28 points in that period, which is more than other contenders such as Hugo Lloris.
The remaining spots are held for the retained list, with both coming from Merseyside. Alisson is having a terrific season for Liverpool and just saved their bacon in the Champions League to qualify ahead of Napoli, whilst Jordan Pickford's monumental form in October and November is enough to see his recent record keep him up in contention with the best, though a trip to Man City and a home tie against Arsenal, are daunting prospects in the next 2 fixtures.
GW16 POWER RANKINGS: Defender Picks
New entries: Matt Doherty (WOL), Virgil van Dijk (LIV), David Luiz (CHE)
Falling out: Trent Alexander-Arnold (LIV), Aymeric Laporte (MCI), Michael Keane (EVE)
Our defensive Power Rankings have seen a few changes, with Aymeric Laporte the key omission this week after a stagnant period for Man City. The mainstay of recent weeks has played the last 6 games, though appeared as a 1 minute substitute during Gameweek 15's 2-1 away win at Watford, though the Spaniard has only managed 1 clean sheet in that period. This lowly figure is enough to see the tide turn in favour of both new and familiar faces.
1) Andrew Robertson (LIV): £6.4m - vs. Man United (H)
2) Marcos Alonso (CHE): £7.0m - vs. Brighton (A)
3) Virgil van Dijk (LIV): £6.1m - vs. Man United (H)
4) Matt Doherty (WOL): £5.0m - vs. Bournemouth (H)
5) David Luiz (CHE): £5.6m - vs. Brighton (A)
One familiar face is that of Matt Doherty, with the Wolves full-back return after a lengthy absence in our Power Rankings. As seen above, Doherty has managed attacking returns in a trifecta of Premier League games, with match-winning contributions against Chelsea and Newcastle in recent weeks.
One new face is that of Sideshow Bob himself, David Luiz, with the Chelsea central defender shaking off an abysmal performance against Spurs during Gameweek 13's 3-1 loss to register 21 points from his last 2 fixtures, which includes a massive 15 point haul against Man City of all opposition. With 73 points, Luiz is level with Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose rotation has seen the full-back omitted.
Sticking with Chelsea, Marcos Alonso aded an 8th clean sheet of the season, which means he has now equalled his defensive returns with attacking returns (1 goal, 7 assists). If you're like me, and you benched Alonso against Man City, you'll never make that mistake and just always play the left-back, rain of shine.
Top of the billing though goes to Liverpool's continued pursuit of the Premier League tital, with Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson absolute essentials if they're going to lift the trophy in May. Andrew Robertson in particular has impressed, tallying 36 points from his last 4 games, an average of 9 points-per-game.
GW16 POWER RANKINGS: Midfielder Picks
New entries: Felipe Anderson (WHU), Richarlison (EVE), Lucas Torreira (ARS), Eden Hazard (CHE)
Falling out: Anthony Martial (MUN), David Silva (MCI), Gylfi Sigurdsson (EVE), Raheem Sterling (MCI)
The trend of leaving out Man City players continues with our Midfielder picks, with a bold call to leave Raheem Sterling out of the top 5 selections after Gameweek 16. With Sterling failing to feature in the 2-1 win at Watford, and unable to make an impact against Chelsea last weekend, despite what has been going in with the media and the continued racism saga, we were left with no choice but to be cut-throat with our picks, and the stats back up our inclusions.
1) Mohamed Salah (LIV): £13.0m - vs. Man United (H)
2) Felipe Anderson (WHU): £7.3m - vs. Fulham (A)
3) Richarlison (EVE): £7.1m - vs. Man City (A)
4) Lucas Torreira (ARS): £5.1m - vs. Southampton (A)
5) Eden Hazard (CHE): £10.9m - vs. Brighton (A)
Top of the pile in our Goalkeeper, Defender and Midfielder picks are all Liverpool assets, with little surprise that The Egyptian King, Mohamed Salah, returning to his throne after a first hat-trick of the season in a 4-0 away win at Bournemouth. We've been over Salah's week on over at our Stats page on Twitter - @HypeTrainStats - so it's best we just let the stats do the talking with Salah this week.
1) Mohamed Salah (LIV) is the 4th player this season to register 20+ #FPL points in a single Gameweek.
1) GW2 - Sergio Aguero (MCI): 20 points 2) GW5 - Eden Hazard (CHE): 20 points 3) GW11 - Raheem Sterling (MCI): 21 points 4) GW16 - Mo Salah (LIV): 21 points
2) Mohamed Salah (LIV) became the second player to reach 100 FPL points this season (after Raheem Sterling), with the Egyptian managing 21 points during GW16 in a 4-0 win against Bournemouth. Eden Hazard (CHE) shortly became the 3rd player to reach the landmark, also in GW16.
3) Mohamed Salah (LIV) became the second player this season, the first being Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ARS), to score 10+ Premier League goals this season. Salah has scored in 8/16 matches this season, with GW16 the first time Salah has scored a brace or more in a game.
4) Despite managing to provide attacking returns (goals or assist) in 9 of his first 15 Premier League appearances this season, during GW16 Mo Salah (LIV) managed the maximum 3 bonus points in FPL for the first time this season. Salah's 5 bonus points is the 67th highest in the league.
5) Mohamed Salah (LIV) became the third player to score a hat-trick in the Premier League this season, managed during FPL GW16's 4-0 victory at Bournemouth. Salah's treble is the first hat-trick away from home this season.
Richarlison is also in the same bracket at Mohamed Salah - a winger playing out-of-position as a Forward for his club. The Brazilian has scored in back-to-back Premier League games for the second time this season. The FPL midfielder scored a brace at Wolves (GW1) before scoring against Southampton (GW2). Richarlison later scored in consecutive home matches against Newcastle (GW15) and Watford (GW16).
Arsenal's Lucas Torreira has also become the latest cheap bandwagon for players, with the central midfield providing attacking returns (2 goals, 1 assist) in his last 3 matches, with his goal against Huddersfield during Gameweek 16 a match-winning strike.
Rounding off the list is Eden Hazard, who once again is climbing up into contention after a trio of consecutive Fantasy returns of his own. Hazard broke 100 points this season with 9 points against Man City and has now provided 4 assists in his last 3 games and will now be looking to get back on the score-sheet for the first time since Gameweek 8 when the midfielder netted in a 3-0 win at Southampton.
GW16 POWER RANKINGS: Forward Picks
New entries: Roberto Firmino (LIV), Javier Hernandez (WHU)
Falling out: Callum Wilson (BOU), Sergio Aguero (MCI)
Our final stop takes us to the ever-erratic Forward positions, with very few out-and-out attackers impressing this past weekend. Harry Kane and Raul Jimenez, who just about have enough clout right now with FPL players retain their places (just) after only appearing as substitutes during Gameweek 16, whilst a sudden and abrupt injury to Callum Wilson ruled him out of the weekend altogether.
1) Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ARS): £11.5m - vs. Southampton (A)
2) Harry Kane (TOT): £12.5m - vs. Burnley (H)
3) Roberto Firmino (LIV): £9.2m - vs. Man United (H)
4) Javier Hernandez (WHU): £6.4m - vs. Fulham (A)
5) Raul Jimenez (WOL): £6.1m - vs. Bournemouth (H)
For those that played, they all managed attacking returns this weekend. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang salvaged hopes of his captaincy credentials by providing a late assist for Lucas Torreira in Arsenal's 1-0 home win against Huddersfield. Auba remains in the driving seat as a Forward and is only 2 points shy of the 100 mark, so we anticipate that the ceiling will be shattered in a trip to Southampton this weekend.
Roberto Firmino is the first addition to the list, with the Liverpool attacker used deeper on the pitch as a CAM more than anything in recent weeks, with Bobby playing behind Mohamed Salah in a 4-2-3-1 formation. 2 goals and 3 assists in his last 4 fixtures shouldn't be enough to detract you though, with Firmino feeding Salah twice against Bournemouth, and is still a snip at £9.2 million.
The only other new entry is here due to an injury crisis at West Ham (shocker) combined with an upturn in form of his own. Javier Hernandez has looked back to his best in recent weeks, managing 24 points across 3 Gameweek's. Chicharito scored twice against Newcastle during Gameweek 14, wasn't involved in any of West Ham's 4 goals in a 4-1 win over Cardiff and most recently both scored and assisted against Crystal Palace. With Marko Arnautovic and Callum Wilson on the injury table, the Mexico international is looking a a steal at £6.4 million with some delightful fixtures still on the horizon.
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All aboard.
