This article is part of our FPL Barometer series.
Due to the constant stream of talent entering the Premier League, ever-occurring injuries and the increasingly common disputes between players and managers, many former FPL stars are currently residing on English benches. However, history has shown that, if the talent is there, players are often given the chance to resurrect their careers after rough stretches due to the cyclical nature of the factors listed above. Now two-thirds of the way through the 2015/16 campaign, several familiar names are ascending to FPL prominence again and appear poised to offer value to fantasy owners at this crucial stage of the season.
RISING:
Fraser Forster (GK)
Forster emerged as an elite fantasy goalkeeper last year before a serious knee injury ended his season prematurely, and after a long-term recovery process, he appears to have picked up right where he left off. The 25-year-old has yet to be scored on in five starts since returning, and he won Man of the Match honors in last week's scoreless draw versus Arsenal when he made 10 saves. Forster's return has coincided with a great run of form for the Saints, who will look to keep it rolling versus a Swansea side that are tied for 17th in the league in goals scored.
Aaron Lennon (MID)
Lennon struggled to find his way into the starting XI for a deep Everton side during the early portion of the season, but he has become a regular inclusion of late and has three goals and an assist in his last three matches after his strike versus Stoke at the weekend. The Toffees have scored 14 goals in Lennon's last five starts, and the winger is likely to remain in the lineup for as long as this run of form continues, with the likes of Gerard Deulofeu, Kevin Mirallas and Arouna Kone continuing to appear off the bench. This weekend's home match versus West Brom should present a solid opportunity for another productive outing.
Gabriel Agbonlahor (FWD)
A former fixture in the Aston Villa lineup, Agbonlahor has made just nine starts in the Premier League this season due to injury problems and the apparent reluctance on the part of manager Remi Garde to insert him back into the lineup. However, due to the suspension of Jordan Ayew, Agbonlahor assumed the central role in Villa's front three last week against Norwich and responded with a goal on four shots. The 29-year-old should remain in the first XI at least until Ayew returns next month, and his basement-level price should make a return on value that much more feasible this weekend at home against a Liverpool side that have given up multiple goals in each of the last three matches.
FALLING:
Troy Deeney (FWD)
Deeney has been a serviceable fantasy option at times this season, with six goals and six assists, but he has just a single assist in league play since the calendar flipped to 2016. Watford as a whole have struggled of late, with a collective four goals in their last seven matches, and they now sit 14th in the league in scoring despite the attacking talent at their disposal. Deeney and Watford should eventually snap out of their funk, but they will carry little momentum into Saturday's away match at Crystal Palace.
Kyle Walker (DEF)
Walker surprisingly took on fantasy value when he returned from an injury-plagued couple of seasons to beat out Kieran Trippier for the starting fullback spot this summer, but the two have regressed into a timeshare of late. Tripper has actually started three of Spurs' last four matches, and has contributed a goal and an assist over the last two. Walker has largely played well this season and manager Mauricio Pochettino is known for shuffling his squad during busy weeks, but Trippier's efforts have obviously earned him a larger share of the minutes. Whichever player cracks the starting XI will make for a solid fantasy play on a given week, but neither player will be trustworthy in season-long formats unless a clear starter is determined.
Joel Campbell (FWD)
Campbell received the first extended run in the starting lineup of his Arsenal career due to a myriad of injuries earlier this season, but with the Gunners' attack near full strength again, he was omitted from Sunday's lineup against Bournemouth in favor of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The Costa Rican has showed his chops as a solid two-way player, but his game never really translated into consistently useful fantasy point totals. Now that the best-case scenario appears to be a three-way timeshare between he, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott for one spot, Campbell's fantasy value is on the decline.
