This article is part of our FPL Bargain Bin series.
The holiday season kicks off this week as Thanksgiving is upon us. Many of you will gather with family and get your fill of turkey and stuffing. In honor of the holiday, the Bargain Bin is here to provide you with some turkey and stuffing, as well. However, this is not the edible kind.
This week we'll provide you with the fantasy version of a turkey; those unsuccessful players that will not perform up to their cost or expectations. We'll also make sure you get your fair share of stuffing; the players that will fill your stat sheet and fantasy roster without costing you a fortune (or a majority of your budget).
As in recent weeks, we will focus on players in a daily games. Peripheral stats play a role in providing value, but we'll be looking for the players that have the potential for the most production. This means we want clean sheets from our defenders and goalkeeper. On the attack, we are looking for players that are likely to pick up a goal or assist. Odds are the players that provide good peripheral stats will also have a higher likelihood to contribute to the key stats.
Without further ado, here are your turkeys and stuffing for Gameweek 13.
Goalkeeper
Stuffing
Robert Green v. Leicester City ($4,300 – DraftKings, $6.0M – Mondogoal)
Green and Queens Park Rangers are coming off a brutal stretch in which they played Chelsea, Manchester City and Newcastle United in consecutive weeks. Surprisingly, they have looked competent despite earning just one point. Green has gone through that stretch allowing five goals and making 14 saves. His 74 percent save percentage is an impressive number, especially considering his competition. This weekend, Green will have it much easier against a traveling Leicester City. The Foxes may have started the season well, but they have struggled to do much since their surprise victory over Manchester United. In fact, they have scored just two goals and have been held goalless in six of seven matches. In road games, Leicester City averages league-lows in goals (0.17 per match), shots (7.0), and shots on target (2.0). All of this adds up to few chances for the Foxes and a nice path to a clean sheet for Green.
Turkey
Lukasz Fabianski v. Crystal Palace ($4,800 – DraftKings, $8.3M – Mondogoal)
You can find Fabianski listed by my colleagues in this week's rankings, but you will notice he is absent in mine. He certainly has been playing well, but Crystal Palace has been surprisingly successful in scoring goals on the road this season. They rank fifth in the league, averaging 1.5 goals per away match, which includes a pair of three-goal games against teams in the top half of the table. This makes Fabianski not quite worth the cost this weekend.
Defenders
Stuffing
Yun Suk-Young v. Leicester City ($3,100 – DraftKings, $6.3M – Mondogoal)
Young's chances of keeping a clean sheet have already been detailed above when we discussed Green. But his cost and peripheral stat accumulation make him a great option this weekend. Since being inserted into the starting XI, Young has contributed the second-most shots and second-most assisted shots, he is first in crosses, second in interceptions, and second in blocked shots among his fellow QPR defenders. He should be able to get you some valuable points in addition to a good chance at a clean sheet.
Turkey
Seamus Coleman at Tottenham ($9.8M – Mondogoal)
Coleman has picked up where he left off last season. His two goals and three clean sheets in nine appearances make him the third-highest scoring defender in Mondogoal on a per game basis. However, this weekend will be a challenge for Coleman and the rest of the Everton defense. To start, they will be on the road against a Tottenham squad that has scored in seven consecutive matches. Combine that with the fact that Everton will have just played four days earlier in Germany during Europa League play, and it will be a tough task for Everton to perform like they would hope. The Toffees have played four matches after playing earlier in the week in Europa League and have been a disappointment for the most part in those games. This includes allowing goals to Burnley and Sunderland, as well as allowing Crystal Palace to score three times. This may be a good week to avoid the high cost of a player like Coleman.
For those playing DraftKings, Daryl Janmaat will have a tough matchup on the road against West Ham United. This will give better opportunities to players that come at a cost cheaper than Janmaat's $4,100.
Midfielder
Stuffing
Jonjo Shelvey v. Crystal Palace ($5,200 – DraftKings, $6.7M – Mondogoal)
After scoring six goals and adding another six assists last year, expectations were high for Shelvey this season. However, it has been mostly disappointment, as the midfielder has tallied just one goal and no assists through 12 gameweeks. However, the effort is certainly there: Shelvey currently ranks second on Swansea City in shot attempts this season, but he's struggling with a lack of accuracy. Just three of his 14 shot attempts have been on target this season. His 21 percent accuracy is much lower than the 35 percent accuracy rate he posted in the previous three seasons. We can expect that number to rise for Shelvey, and this would be a fantastic week to start. Crystal Palace has the second-lowest save percentage in the league this season. Should Shelvey find his accuracy, he will have a great opportunity to get back on the score sheet. Worried that he was used as a substitute last week? No need. He still attempted two shots and only three teams have allowed more than the seven second-half goals Crystal Palace have surrendered this season.
Turkey
Raheem Sterling v. Stoke City ($8,300 – DraftKings, $8.7M – Mondogoal)
In Sterling's first seven league matches this season he averaged 2.8 shot attempts, 1.3 shots on target, and 2.6 assisted shots. This led to three goals and two assists, and the buzz was high on the Liverpool youngster. In his last five Premier League matches, those numbers have fallen to 1.4 shot attempts, 0.4 shots on target, and 1.4 assisted shots. The drop in chances has resulted in zero goals and one assist. Those are numbers that are not worth the price in daily games, especially when you can get double the production for half the price. Throw in the fact that Stoke City have been good defensively on the road (1.3 goals per away match -- sixth in the league -- on just three shots on target, which is second-fewest) and Sterling should be avoided this weekend.
Forward
Stuffing
Nikica Jelavic at Manchester United ($5,500 – DraftKings, $8.0M – Mondogoal)
Jelavic returned to the Hull City starting XI last weekend and managed to play the full 90 minutes. This is a great sign for a player that missed the four previous games due to injury. Despite missing out on those four matches, Jelavic still leads Hull City in goals (four) and shot attempts (19). The high-volume striker will get a chance against a Manchester United defense that has looked shaky at times and are always in danger of conceding a goal. Good news for a player that does not hesitate to put good looks on goal.
Turkey
Robin van Persie v. Hull City ($9,600 – DraftKings, $10.1M)
Priced at a premium, van Persie has struggled to produce stats worthy of the price. On a per game basis, he is being outscored by players like Saido Berahino, Abel Hernandez, Jonathan Walters, and the aforementioned Jelavic. His name brings the cost, but his production does not warrant spending the money. For the time being, it would be better used on a cheaper player.
