This article is part of our FPL Bargain Bin series.
It's still the holiday season, so here at the Bargain Bin we're still in the mood to hand out gifts. Have no fear, after last week's performance I enlisted some help. This week you will find some great matchups to take advantage of with some players likely to provide top-level production at fractions of the cost. For those players, here is this week's Bargain Bin.
Goalkeeper
Fantasy Gifts:
Asmir Begovic (DraftKings $4,200, MondoGoal $4.4M) v. West Bromwich Albion
Some will look at Begovic's last 10 matches and see just one clean sheet, that 1-0 victory at Everton on Boxing Day. However, it has been a difficult stretch of matches for Begovic. Counting Everton, eight of those 10 games came against teams in the top-half of the scoring table this season. The other two were Crystal Palace (12th) and Burnley (19th). The only match you were really counting on him was Burnley. And sure, he was a big let down in that one. However, there is nothing a visit from West Brom can't fix. The Baggies average just 9.6 shots on target per away match this season and Stoke City do a better job limiting shots at home than they do on the road. Stoke City have actually blanked West Brom in their previous two meetings at Britannia Stadium and will look to make it three-in-a-row Sunday.
Notes:Brad Guzan ($4,300 DraftKings, $7.8M MondoGoal) faces a Sunderland squad that has been blanked in four of their last six Premier League away matches and has scored one goal in the last five meetings with Aston Villa.
Fantasy Coal:
Adrian ($4,600 DraftKings, $8.2M MondoGoal) v. Arsenal
West Ham are the surprise team of the first half of the season, currently sitting fifth place in the table, and much of that has to do with the fine play in goal by Adrian. He has kept four clean sheets and is third among all Premier League goalkeepers this season in saves. This week, however, brings a mighty challenge as Arsenal come to Upton Park, and the Gunners have West Ham's number. Not only do they have the Hammers number, they have the keys to their car and their house. Arsenal has scored at least three goals in each of the last five meetings between these two clubs and come in with 14 away goals in their nine league away matches this season. This is a good week to steer clear of Adrian.
Notes:Lukasz Fabianski ($7.9M MondoGoal) travels to face a Liverpool squad who have scored 11 goals in the last three meetings at Anfield.
Defenders
Fantasy Gifts:
Eliaquim Mangala ($3,000 DraftKings, $7.0M MondoGoal) v. Burnley
If you are not looking to Manchester City for a clean sheet, you are probably looking in the wrong place. They have kept clean sheets in three of their last four home matches and are pushing for a top-of-the-table spot. Coming to town is big, bad, Burnley. Clearly there was some sarcasm there, as the Clarets have just five away goals on the season, including being blanked in five of their eight matches away from Turf Moor. Mangala has started four consecutive matches in the back for City and is a good bet to do so again Sunday. In addition to the clean sheet, he is providing good value in the peripheral stats and is a steal at his price.
Notes: A good clean sheet chance for Begovic is also a good clean sheet opportunity for Erik Pieters ($3,200 DraftKings, $5.7M MondoGoal).
Fantasy Coal:
Aaron Cresswell ($4,700 DraftKings, $9.3M MondoGoal) v. Arsenal
Cresswell has been a popular defenseman because of his ability to pick up some offensive and other defensive peripheral stats. Well, those are things you cannot count on consistently from the position. What you should be relying on, especially in the daily games, is the clean sheets. Cresswell is not a good option this week for that reason. The clean sheet is unlikely to come against Arsenal.
Notes: It's not the same Seamus Coleman ($4,600 DraftKings, $8.0M MondoGoal) you remember from last season. He's not scoring like he did and is not really showing the signs that it is coming. Sure, Everton have a good chance for a clean sheet, but there are better options in the backline for less money or more return. At his price, he's just not worth it.
Midfielders
Fantasy Gifts:
Leroy Fer ($5,300 DraftKings, $7.9M MondoGoal) v. Crystal Palace
Do you know who you want on your fantasy team in a match pitting the two goalkeepers that have allowed the most goals in league play this season? Anyone on the attack, and Fer is better than just being anyone in this matchup. He has proven his ability to score and has goals in two of the last three home matches. Defense will be lacking. Goals will be plenty. And Fer at home is a good bet to find himself on the score sheet.
Notes: Another question: Do you know who leads Leicester City in shot attempts? Do you know who leads Leicester City in assisted shots? If you guessed Riyad Mahrez ($5,000 DraftKings, $7.4M MondoGoal) you would be correct. Sure, there has not been much conversion on those opportunities, but keep creating chances and good things will happen, especially against a team like Hull City.
Fantasy Coal:
Stewart Downing ($7,600 DraftKings, $12.2M MondoGoal) v. Arsenal
We already talked about how Arsenal has West Ham's number. Not only have the Gunners scored on the Hammers, but they've done a good job bottling them up. West Ham have scored just four goals in their last six meetings, never scoring more than once in a match. Downing has been involved in about 30 percent of the Hammers scoring this season, so should they score one goal this Sunday, he would have only a 30-percent chance of being involved. Your money is better spent elsewhere if you're going to pick a top-flight midfielder for your squad.
Forwards
Fantasy Gifts:
Nikica Jelavic ($5,500 DraftKings, $7.1M MondoGoal) v. Leicester City
Jelavic is about the only consistent thing up front for Hull City these days. He's the team leader in goals and shot attempts and proved he could score in limited action on Boxing Day. He should see plenty of playing time against a Leicester City team that has allowed the third-most away goals this season, including multiple goals in seven of their nine away matches. Good odds for Jelavic at a good price for your squad.
Notes:Fraizer Campbell ($5,100 DraftKings, $5.3M MondoGoal) seems to be back in Crystal Palace's starting XI, and we already discussed the plethora of goals expected in their matchup against Queens Park Rangers.
Fantasy Coal:
Danny Welbeck ($8,600 DraftKings, $9.0M MondoGoal) at West Ham United
With Olivier Giroud out, you would expect Welbeck to get a boost in fantasy value. In this week's rankings he found himself ranked 11, 12, and not at all for an overall ranking of 13th. It seems the consensus feels the goals will come from other places in the Arsenal lineup, and that is likely. At his high costs, there are clearly better options at the price level and Welbeck is better left for someone else's lineup.
