Premier League Fantasy Football: Who's Hot and Who's Not in Gameweek 32
By Ali Rampling
As another weekend of football looms, there's plenty to ponder for fantasy football managers up and down the land following the first two rounds of Premier League fixtures.
A selection of tasty fixtures lie in store for Gameweek 32, including a showdown between Manchester City and Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium.
Thursday's hotly anticipated clash of the titans rounds off a fixture list that also includes Brighton taking on Manchester United, Tottenham pitting their wits Sheffield United and West Ham clashing with Chelsea.
With a selection of clubs set to part ways with players as their contracts conclude on 30 June, it's time for you fantasy managers to do the same. Who should you show the door to? Who's going to grab you some goals? Let's take a look at the best and the worst after the first week of football.
Goalkeepers
Who's Hot
Kasper Schmeichel: One positive to take from Tuesday's drab 0-0 between Leicester and Brighton was the performance of Schmeichel. The Leicester keeper pitched in with a clean sheet and a penalty save to bag 14 points, making him far and away the highest scoring keeper of the week. Leicester travel to Everton on Wednesday, with the Toffees only finding the net once (from a set piece, against Norwich) since the Premier League returned. The Foxes then welcome Crystal Palace, the league's joint second lowest scorers, in Gameweek 33.
Jordan Pickford: The Everton keeper is yet to concede since the Premier League returned, notching up 15 points over the past two gameweeks - the highest scores he has recorded in successive weeks since the season began. Everton face an out of form Leicester this week, who have only found the net once since the top flight got back underway.
Who's Not
Bernd Leno: The Arsenal goalkeeper sadly won't be picking up too many points from the treatment table. Leno sustained a nasty knee injury against Brighton and is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Defenders
Who's Hot
Michael Keane: It's been a good couple of weeks for the Everton defender, who helped his side to a clean sheet against Liverpool before getting himself on the scoresheet against Norwich - pocketing a combined 20 points in the process.
Jonny Castro Otto: Wolves have enjoyed a strong return to action, with two wins and two clean sheets from their opening two games. Jonny has racked up 14 points in the process and with a visit to relegation threatened Aston Villa on Saturday to come, followed by a relatively straightforward run-in, the Spaniard could see you through to the end of the season.
Who's Not
David Luiz: Put simply, Luiz is suspended and that's why you shouldn't select him. Nothing to do with his defensive abilities.
Midfielders
Who's Hot?
Anthony Martial: According to the boffins at Fantasy Premier League Martial's a midfielder. Is there anything more satisfying in life than a loophole? Splash out and pop the centre forward who bagged a hat-trick in midweek into the middle of the park.
Fabinho: The defensive midfielder suddenly had all the attacking flair in the world against Crystal Palace, grabbing a worldie goal and assist as Liverpool ran riot. Fabinho racked up 15 points - his biggest score in a Gameweek all season. However, air with a side of caution before selecting the Brazilian this week. At £5.4m he's a steal - but will unlikely enjoy such a fruitful evening against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City on Thursday.
Who's Not?
Ryan Fraser: It's not rocket science, but don't go selecting someone who's been told he's played his last game for Bournemouth. We know how you feel, Eddie Howe. Last season's assist king has let us all down.
Forwards
Who's Hot?
Raul Jimenez: Two in two for the Wolves striker since the Premier League returned, with a trip to the division's leakiest defence up next. For £8.3m, Jimenez is a shrewd purchase.
Marcus Rashford: When he's not too busy being the swellest guy in the north West, Rashford's pretty decent at football too. Two assists against Sheffield United grabbed the United forward nine points and he's got plenty more to come, surely.
Who's Not?
Teemu Pukki: The Norwich forward was the masterstroke fantasy signing at the start of the campaign, but he hasn't found the net in his last seven. Pukki was rested for the game against Everton, and with Norwich looking set to go all guns blazing in the FA Cup at the weekend, he may not have much left in the tank for Wednesday's clash with Arsenal.
Bargains
Willy Bolly: With two successive clean sheets, the Wolves defender has racked up a healthy 13 points in the last two games. With a trip to lowly Aston Villa on the horizon and a relatively comfortable run in, Bolly is well worth the £4.8m.
Phil Foden: The youngster looks set to feature more heavily towards the end of the season, and has already racked up 22 points in two games - despite playing just a little over 100 minutes. At just £5.1m, you can't go wrong.
Allan Saint-Maximum: The winger has grabbed 12 points in the last two games after a particularly impressive display against Sheffield United. With out of form Bournemouth up next, Saint-Maximum could run riot. He's worth a punt at just £5.4m.
Dwight Gayle: He only scored his first Premier League goal of the season on Wednesday, but goals are like buses, aren't they? They are when you've got Bournemouth up next, anyway. Could be worth a gamble at just £5m.
When's the Deadline for Gameweek 32?
The most important things is getting your business done. So with that in mind, Saturday 27 June at 11:30 is your last opportunity to make changes.