Our Sky Sports Fantasy Football guru looks for bargains ahead of the midweek Premier League fixtures.
Our Sky Sports Fantasy Football guru looks for bargains
If you're a Sky Sports Fantasy Football manager with some ground to make up, it's time to tweak your team with some unique but astute acquisitions.
The key to hacking into a lead is to think outside the box and pick up the undervalued squad players your rival has so far overlooked.
With a full midweek schedule making up a double gameweek, it is the perfect time to make up some ground - especially if your rivals get complacent and forget to make changes during the crammed schedule.
There's an abundance of players who possess the potential to propel your points tally without the frustration of every other member in your league duplicating your gain.
Take Norwich's Javier Garrido, for example. The former Manchester City left-back, on a season-long loan from Lazio, has played 12 of the Canaries' 13 Premier League games, helping to keep four clean sheets.
The Spaniard, available for just £5m, has so far amassed more points than popular defenders Martin Skrtel (£6.7m) and David Luiz (£6.8m), and has been a key figure in Norwich's recent good form.
Possessing a delicious delivery with his left peg, Garrido is partial to the odd assist, as Sebastien Bassong discovered at Goodison Park at the weekend, while the 27-year-old also has a keen eye for goal when a set-piece arises a little closer to the target.
Speaking of Spanish left-backs, Jose Enrique's return to form for Liverpool simply cannot be overlooked as Brendan Rodgers continues to play the former Newcastle man in an advanced left-wing role.
Although his price tag of £6.9m is somewhat debatable in terms of value, it's clear Enrique is relishing the challenge of playing further forward, with a goal, assist and clean sheet earning him a cool 20 points against Wigan of late - while he also had a good, somewhat harshly ruled out at Swansea on Sunday.
It must be stressed, though, that Liverpool travel to Tottenham having lost at White Hart Lane on their last five visits.
Of the midfield also-rans, Mark Noble is accumulating a tidy total for West Ham, with the Hammers hero boasting 57 points, just three behind team-mate Kevin Nolan, who's proving a popular choice with Sky Sports Fantasy Football managers.
However any move should be delayed until after the midweek fixtures with Noble, West Ham's penalty taker, suspended for the trip to Old Trafford.
Another midfield dynamo available on the cheap is West Brom's James Morrison, who has scored three goals in 12 starts for the surprise package of the season, with two Sky Sports Man of The Match awards thrown into the mix.
His tally of 55 points in return for just £6.4m of your fantasy money represents excellent value, particularly as the 26-year-old all-round midfielder has picked up bonus points for his tackling and passing contributions for the high-flying Baggies.
Up front, it's best to stick with the big guns. It's rare that Robin van Persie goes three games without a goal, and he's 8/15 on to score anytime against the Hammers, so hand the Dutchman your captain's armband if you haven't already.
If you're after a support striker to accompany your heavyweight forward, look no further than Steven Naismith, who has notched three goals in his last five games for Everton.
The Scot, selected by less than one per cent of users, is reasonably priced for a striker at £6.7m, and Everton welcome Arsenal to Goodison Park this Wednesday having scored in four of their last five home games against the Gunners.
