Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United (captain), £8.9m – West Ham (h)
Fernandes is never a bad call in FPL – it’s just trying to predict his hauls.
The Portugal midfielder has created 35 chances this season, five more than Jeremy Doku and 10 more than anyone else.
His xG of 4.81 is the third highest among midfielders – Antoine Semenyo has 4.82 and has scored six goals compared to the United man’s two.
And incredibly Fernandes has now finished on 11 defensive contribution points (defcon) four times when midfielders earn two points for getting 12.
His last double-digit haul at home was against struggling Burnley. West Ham are in a similar bracket.
Antoine Semenyo, Bournemouth, £7.8m – Everton (h)
Semenyo was unlucky not to return at Sunderland on Saturday.
His xGI was 0.6. The Ghanaian had three shots in the box, created four chances and you probably saw his shot that was going in until Evanilson touched it.
The point is, he hasn’t lost his touch despite a run of recent blanks and Everton at home is a superb fixture for Bournemouth.
Mikel Merino, Arsenal, £5.9m – Brentford (h)
The Spaniard has returned in each of the past three games he has started as a makeshift striker (two assists and one goal).
Even though Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus are fit again, this week is a tight turnaround so expect Mikel Arteta to make a few changes – especially as Arsenal have drawn two of their past three.
So that gives Merino, who is a bargain way into the Arsenal attack, another chance up front against a Brentford side conceding two per game on the road.
Elliot Anderson, Nottingham Forest, £5.4m – Wolves (a)
Anderson’s consistency is incredible – he’s only missed out on defcon four times this season. You need 12 defcon to get two points and on those four occasions he got 11, 11, 11 and 10.
So a high floor for a bargain midfielder who has assist potential, an eye for the odd goal and is not match-up dependent.
Sign me up.
Harvey Barnes, Newcastle, £6.4m – Tottenham (h)
Over the past three games no midfielder has had more goals (3), a higher xG (2.04) or big chances (5) than Barnes.
Phil Foden (3) is the only other midfielder with more than two big chances.
Barnes is flying.
Newcastle are also a good side to back at home, where they can get up a head of steam, and visiting Spurs look short of defensive confidence right now, having shipped 13 goals in their past four games in all competitions.