AM's Week 10 Player Picks
Welcome to Week 10 of my player picks for the Yahoo Fantasy Premier League game. Last weekend was a bad one for AM FC, mustering just 82 points after disappointing fantasy returns from the likes of Sergio Aguero, Graziano Pelle, Raheem Sterling, Dusan Tadic and Gylfi Sigurdsson, although it could've been a different story with Aguero and Pelle hitting the woodwork three times between them. As a result I've dropped down a significant number of spots in all my private leagues, so I need to show some bouncebackability with a strong performance in Week 10.
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Week 10 Fixtures
Arsenal v Burnley
Aston Villa v Tottenham
Chelsea v QPR
Crystal Palace v Sunderland
Everton v Swansea
Hull City v Southampton
Leicester City v West Brom
Man City v Man Utd
Newcastle v Liverpool
Stoke v West Ham
The approach for this week is reasonably straightforward - load up your fantasy team with Chelsea and Arsenal players. The two clubs have the best fixtures of the weekend by some distance, at home to the league's bottom two sides QPR and Burnley respectively, and both should run out comfortable winners.
Aside from the Blues and the Gunners there isn't too much to get excited about. Manchester City will be favourites to beat rivals Manchester United, but derby matches are typically unpredictable and heated affairs, so it would be dangerous to back the home side too heavily. Tottenham should have enough to win at Aston Villa given Paul Lambert's men have lost five games in a row without scoring a goal, but after the Spurs second-half performance against Newcastle it's difficult to feel 100% confident that they will be travelling back to London with the three points. Crystal Palace should have the edge over Sunderland and resurgent Everton can pick up another win at home to Swansea, but those are the only other fixtures that appear to have a clear winner on paper.
Newcastle v Liverpool and Hull v Southampton should prove entertaining, with a slight edge to the away sides, while West Ham and West Brom are playing well enough to snatch the points at Stoke and Leicester respectively, but score-draws in any of these four these matches wouldn't surprise me in the slightest, and there's always a chance of an upset for the team with home advantage.
With that in mind, click over to the next page to view my Week 10 player recommendations.
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KEEPERS
Thibaut Courtois - Given the fact Chelsea have a home game against Queens Park Rangers and Courtois is so well priced at £7million, I'm not sure you need to consider anybody else for your goalkeeper spot. A certain win and an excellent opportunity for a clean sheet.
Julian Speroni - Crystal Palace also have a winnable home game against Sunderland, so Speroni could be a decent alternative if you're determined to do something different.
Hugo Lloris - Tottenham are on a poor run of form but face an Aston Villa side who simply cannot score a goal at the moment, so Lloris is another alternative to Courtois.
DEFENDERS
Branislav Ivanovic - Luckily for Ivanovic he was able to serve his one-match ban for the Capital One Cup match against Shrewsbury, so he will be able to face QPR. Luckily for fantasy manager the Serbian's price is down to £9million, and he'll have a chance of a clean sheet (and maybe even a goal) this weekend.
Calum Chambers - Adjusting nicely to the right-back role in the past two weeks, Chambers has had a price jump but remains the best choice if you want an Arsenal defender at home to Burnley.
Martin Kelly - Palace manager Neil Warnock has been singing the praises of Kelly's consistency and it's impossible to disagree. Mr Cheap-but-reliable has a terrific home fixture against struggling Sunderland, so deserves to move from your bench to your starting XI.
Filipe Luis - The cheapest way to get on the potential Chelsea clean sheet against QPR, Luis is guaranteed the start at left-back with Cesar Azpilicueta serving the final match of his ban. Steve Rothgeb has more info in his Bargain Hunter column.
Aaron Cresswell - West Ham are flying and Cresswell has been one of the un-sung heroes, producing plenty of energetic performances at left back and adding a couple of assists in recent weeks thanks to his excellent crossing ability. An away match at Stoke presents another opportunity for positive returns.
Ryan Bertrand - A trip to Hull isn't the easiest fixture for Southampton, but the Saints have the best defensive record in the league and Bertrand has been consistent in both defence and attack since making the loan move to St Mary's.
Alberto Moreno - Liverpool's Moreno has been something of a favourite in this column since he burst on to the scene with that stunning solo goal against Spurs in Week 3, and the left-back is capable of causing Newcastle problems this weekend.
Antolin Alcaraz - With John Stones out injured and Sylvain Distain starting to creak, Alcaraz has stepped in alongside Phil Jagielka and the Everton defence is now looking far more solid. The ex-Wigan man is also a danger in the opposition's box and is well priced for the home game against Swansea.
MIDFIELDERS
Eden Hazard - The winger was my top midfield pick last week and didn't perform well enough (a return of eight points) to justify his cost, but I'm backing him to have a massive week at home to QPR. If I can find the funds he will make his way in to my fantasy team.
Santi Cazorla - Having not considered Cazorla for this column yet this season I was surprised to see him priced as high as £14million, but I have a gut feeling that he'll return bumper fantasy points against Burnley. In fact, I'll stick my neck out and state the midfielder will grab his first Premier League goal of the season.
Cesc Fabregas - It's eight assists and counting for Fabregas, who should have the time and space to do further damage this weekend.
Aaron Ramsey - It's been a difficult season for Ramsey so far, with injuries preventing the midfielder from building any sort of momentum, but he remains the Gunners' biggest goal threat from midfield and should enjoy a return to the first team against Burnley.
Mile Jedinak - The Eagles captain has officially taken over Palace penalty duty, so when you combine that with his already-excellent productivity he really has become one of the most effective midfielders in the Yahoo fantasy game. A home match against Sunderland should bring another double-digit return.
Dusan Tadic - Last week was Tadic's least effective performance since joining the Saints in the Summer, but I don't expect two quiet weeks in a row. Hull City beware.
Angel Di Maria - It doesn't matter whether Manchester United win or lose, or whether Di Maria scores or assists - he always seems to return points. The British record signing is averaging a staggering 17 fantasy points per game and should be locked in to your team for the rest of the season.
Ross Barkley - On the bench against Burnley after playing 90 minutes in the Europa League, Barkley will be well-rested after a full week off and is capable of causing Swansea big problems.
Philippe Coutinho - I can't be alone in seeing a return to form from the little man in recent matches, with a match-winning cameo against QPR in Week 8 and promising performances against Hull and Swansea. Raheem Sterling is the obvious choice for a Liverpool midfielder, but Coutinho could be a dark-horse to start and score well against Newcastle.
Ryan Mason - We identified Mason as a player to watch last week, and the midfielder obliged with an assist for Emmanuel Adebayor's header. Averaging seven points per game and available for a bargain price, he's the pick of the Spurs midfield options as they look to take the three points from Villa Park.
Chris Brunt - The former fantasy favourite is showing signs of a return to form for the Baggies and his set piece delivery remains a constant threat. Expect another strong showing from Brunt as his side go to Leicester.
STRIKERS
Diego Costa - The striker was back in training last Friday but wasn't quite ready for the bench at Old Trafford, and was given the night off in the Capital One Cup. However, Costa should return against QPR, and provided team news on Friday backs-up this prediction, he must be in your team.
Alexis Sanchez - The Chilean is on fire now he's fully settled in to the Premier League, bagging three goals in his last two matches to make it five Premier League goals in eight appearances. Arsenal face Burnley at home in Week 10, so it would be dangerous to leave Sanchez out of your fantasy side.
Sergio Aguero - Quite how Aguero didn't get himself on the score-sheet against West Ham is a mystery. The Argentine missed two glorious chances including hitting the bar from just six-yards out, and he will be desperate to make amends in the Manchester derby.
Fraizer Campbell - The signing of Campbell has proved a shrewd bit of business for Palace with the striker (signed for less than £1million) bagging three Premier League goals already. He'll get the chance to add to that at home to former club Sunderland.
Graziano Pelle - Desperately unlucky not to score against Stoke last Saturday after hitting the woodwork twice, Pelle made up for it by grabbing a brace against them in the Cup in midweek. I make that nine goals for the season for the Italian, and you wouldn't bet against him entering double figures as the Saints travel to Hull.
Saido Berahino - One of the success stories of the season, Berahino is the top English scorer in the league and should have done enough to make Roy Hodgson's next England squad. The West Brom man can make absolutely sure of his place by bagging again against struggling Leicester City.
Enner Valencia - Early reports are suggesting Diafra Sakho will miss this weekend's match with a shoulder injury, which puts the responsibility on Valencia to continue his own good form as West Ham face Stoke.
Harry Kane - The young man hasn't let Tottenham down in Europe or the Capital One Cup and scored yet again on Wednesday night. Kane is the club's top scorer in all competitions with six goals and deserves his chance to start against Aston Villa.
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So those are the players I'm considering for my Week 10 Yahoo team. Please make sure you check back here on Friday for all the team and injury news as we analyse the fall-out from the midweek Capital One Cup matches.
My own team page currently looks like this ...
XI: Courtois, Kelly, Luis, Bertrand, Fabregas, Tadic, Ramsey, Di Maria, Sanchez, Aguero, Costa
Subs: Lamela, Cresswell, Thorpe, Gazzaniga
I'm fairly happy with it but I would like to bring Hazard or Cazorla in, so that would require some shifting around.
How's your team looking?
