POWER RANKINGS 2018/19: The Aftermath of FPL Gameweek's 18-21
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 22 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.
GW22 POWER RANKINGS: Goalkeeper Picks
New entries: Vicente Guaita (CRY), Neil Etheridge (CAR)
Falling out: Martin Dubravka (NEW), Lukasz Fabianski (WHU)
With this the first Power Rankings after the festive fixture pile-up in the Premier League, there is some chopping and changing among all positions after Gameweek 21 concluded with a classic between Man City and Liverpool at The Etihad.
1) Neil Etheridge (CAR): £4.6m - vs. Huddersfield (H)
2) Hugo Lloris (TOT): £5.4m - vs. Man United (H)
3) Vicente Guaita (CRY): £4.2m - vs. Watford (H)
2) Alisson (LIV): £5.9m - vs. Brighton (A)
3) Kepa Arrizabalaga (CHE): £5.6m - vs. Newcastle (H)
In goal, Neil Etheridge has risen to prominence once more. Either side of home defeats against Man United (GW18) and Spurs (GW21), the shot-stopper managed back-to-back clean sheets against Crystal Palace (GW19) and Leiester (GW20). Etheridge saved his 3rd penalty of the season at Leicester in an impressive 1-0 away win, and with some favourable fixtures on the horizon, it might be wise to back on Etheridge to get the job done.
Elsewhere in contention, Hugo Lloris has kept 4 clean sheets in 7 matches for Spurs, whilst Vicente Guaita has kept 3 clean sheets in his first 5 matches at Crystal Palace. Chelsea are also on a run of 2 successive clean sheets, much to the delight of Kepa Arrizabalaga, whose had harder days in the sticks for his new club.
Lastly, Alisson is able to keep his spot despite managing to keep clean sheets against Arsenal and Man City, with the Brazilian the first keeper to 100 points this season, though the Brazilian did concede 2 goals in a single match for the first time in the 2-1 defeat in Manchester.
GW22 POWER RANKINGS: Defender Picks
New entries: Ricardo Pereira (LEI), Patrick van Aanholt (CRY)
Falling out: Virgil van Dijk (LIV), Matt Doherty (WOL)
1) Andrew Robertson (LIV): £6.6m - vs. Brighton (A)
2) Ricardo Pereira (LEI): £5.3m - vs. Southampton (H)
3) David Luiz (CHE): £5.9m - vs. Newcastle (H)
4) Patrick van Aanholt (CRY): £5.4m - vs. Watford (H)
5) Marcos Alonso (CHE): £6.8m - vs. Newcastle (H)
There's a strong hint of blue this week with Ricardo Pereira and Patrick van Aanholt's recent form earning them contention among the FPL's best right now. The Leicester full-back is essentially playing as a midfielder, assisting Jamie Vardy in The Foxes's smash and grab away win at Everton on New Years' day. A brace of clean sheets, 1 goal and 1 assist complete a brilliant 4-game spell for the Portuguese international, a run which has thrown him into major contention as the 5th best defender in the game ahead of a home game against Southampton.
Patrick van Aanholt and Crystal Palace in general, have offered their fair share of value, with Guaita featuring in goal, with any number of Palace defenders potentially filling this role after a run of 3 clean sheets in 5 matches. PVA beats Sakho and Wan-Bissaka due to a huge 12-point haul away at Wolves in Gameweek 21, with the Dutchman assisting Jordan Ayew's brilliant touch and goal combo.
The rest of the pack is filled with familiar faces, with Chelsea's back-to-back clean sheets giving Marcos Alonso owners (or former, as is increasingly become the case) something to regret or rejoice about.
Andrew Robertson is by far the most essential defender in the game this season, assisting twice and keeping 3 clean sheets in his last 6 fixtures. With a favourable run of fixtures, and Liverpool's toughened defence, it'll be unlikely we see Robbo move out of the podium place for the next clear run of fixtures.
GW22 POWER RANKINGS: Midfielder Picks
New entries: Heung-Min (TOT), Paul Pogba (MUN), Bernardo Silva (MCI), Luka Milivojevic (CRY)
Falling out: Leroy Sane (MCI), Eden Hazard (CHE), Felipe Anderson (WHU), Richarlison (EVE)
There's only one midfielder who has survived the chopping block from our last Power Rankings article after Gameweek, with Mohamed Salah the only survivor. Salah, the top player in FPL, and the first to reach 150 points this season, has managed 10+ points in 4 of the last 6 fixtures, a haul which isn't enough to put him at the top of the pile in an ultra competitive midfield.
1) Heung-Min Son (TOT): £8.8m - vs. Man United (H)
2) Mohamed Salah (LIV): £13.3m - vs. Brighton (A)
3) Paul Pogba (MUN): £8.4m - vs. Spurs (a)
4) Luka Milivojevic (CRY): £6.1m - vs. Watford (H)
5) Bernardo Silva (MCI): £7.5m - vs. Wolves (H)
Spurs's Heung-Min Son is about to depart us for the Asian Cup, despite the games getting underway for his native South Korea, and does so leaves FPL players in the richest vein of form. Son, like Salah, has managed 4 returns of 10+ points in his last 6 matches, and has only failed to provide an attacking return in Gameweek 17's 15-minute cameo appearance against Burnley. 7 goals and 5 assists in essentially 5 matches is virtually 2 attaching returns per-game, which is just incredible.
That said, many can't wait to see the back of him.
Talking of big form from big players, Jose Mourinho's departure from Man United has sparked Paul Pogba into life. The French World Cup winner has a handsome 49 points from 4 games (an average of 12.25 points-per-game), which culminated in a 3-point lull at Newcastle in a 2-0 away win during Gameweek 21.
At the base of contention this week are a pair of in-form engine rooms, with Man City's Bernardo Silva entering a purple patch of fixtures on the heels of 4 matches with returns. The mid-range option has 3 assists and 1 goal in 4 matches, with Wolves at home on the horizon, putting the Portuguese international in prime position to be a transfer target for the un-fancied pairing of Richarlison and Felipe Anderson.
Luka Milivojevic sits just above Silva after the Serbian penalty-maestro netted 4 times in 7 matches, including the winning goal at The Etihad in an unforgettable away day for The Eagles.
GW22 POWER RANKINGS: Forward Picks
New entries: Jamie Vardy (LEI), Roberto Firmino (LIV), Marcus Rashford (LIV)
Falling out: Salomon Rondon (NEW), Javier Hernandez (WHU), Raul Jimenez (WOL)
There is some real meet in our Forward selections after Gameweek 21, with big hitters pretty much exclusively running the Power Rankings this week. Harry Kane, who has provided attacking returns in 10 of the last 11 league matches, has a strong grip on top spot, especially after a 12-point haul in a 3-0 away win at Cardiff.
1) Harry Kane (TOT): £12.6m - vs. Man United (H)
2) Marcus Rashford (MUN): £7.2m - vs. Spurs (A)
3) Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ARS): £11.4m - vs. West Ham (A)
4) Jamie Vardy (LEI): £8.9m - vs. Southampton (H)
5) Roberto Firmino (LIV): £9.2m - vs. Brighton (A)
Emerging from the shadow of a defensively minded Manager, Marcus Rashford has seen the light and has been a delight to watch since Jose Mourinho's departure at Old Trafford. The incredibly affordable option has returned in 4 of the last 6 matches, including successive Gameweek's of 10+ points against Bournemouth and Newcastle respectively.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sits in the middle of the deck and with 132 points has 2 more than the chasing Hurrikane. Auba barely saw the ball at Anfield during Gameweek 20 but has been going strong in fixtures against Burnley (2 goals), Brighton (1 goal) and Fulham (1 goal, 1 assist).
Rounding off the Power Rankings is the 9 million range duo of Jame Vardy and Roberto Firmino, with both Forward's turning their form on at will (much to the dismay of this author who took Firmino out before a hat-trick against Arsenal). Firmino added to his treble against Arsenal with Liverpool's goal at The Etihad, scoring in the most 2 unlikely games of the season.
Vardy was Leicester's hero in a 1-0 away win at Everton and has 2 goals and 1 assist from 4 matches, which could be added to when Southampton visit this weekend.
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All aboard.
