This article is part of our Mondogoal Fantasy Soccer series.
As the Premier League campaign approaches its close, teams will need to make up their respective games in hand, with both Everton and Crystal Palace slated to play twice in Week 33.
While those clubs playing twice could impact some fantasy formats, Mondogoal's Perfect Million contest will remain unaffected, as it only includes the 12 teams scheduled to play Saturday after the tasty Arsenal at West Ham opener.
So with those six matches in mind, here's a roster that adheres to their usual £100 million budget and could net fantasy owners much more real cash come Saturday.
Formation: 3-4-3
Goalkeeper:
Thibaut Courtois, at (£6.2M): With four saves against Aston Villa last weekend, Courtois clinched his fifth clean sheet of the campaign. Although that figure pales in comparison to last year's 12, Courtois has played only 20 games this season. Additionally, he's narrowly missed out on a number of clean sheets lately, conceding just one goal in five of his six matches prior to last Saturday's effort. By falling short on those occasions, Courtois' salary sits at only £6.2M, making him very affordable ahead of this weekend's game at Swansea City. Despite being sent off in Chelsea's season opener versus the Swans, Courtois' revenge bid Saturday comes against the league's fifth-worst attack, and a team Chelsea blanked on the road last season.
Defenders:
Nicolas Otamendi, v. (£8.8M): Amid injuries, inconsistencies and rotations riddling many of his fellow Man City defenders, Otamendi has been one of the Citizens' more reliable backline members this season. The Argentine has started 24 of 26 Premiership games since making his debut, and he comfortably leads City's defense in both passes intercepted and tackles won. In fact, Otamendi boasts 38 more interceptions and 18 more tackles than his next closest defensive teammate. Not to mention, he's secured nine clean sheets, including one last weekend at Bournemouth. Man City also shut out West Brom before Otamendi arrived this summer, and now the Baggies carry the second-fewest away goals into Saturday's match in Manchester.
Simon Francis, at (£7.0M): Another multi-faceted defender, Francis ranks ninth in passes intercepted (75) and third in tackles won (64) among Saturday defenders. Such production gives Francis the seventh-most total points at his position, and no player ahead of him comes at a cheaper price. Even while Bournemouth was smashed 4-0 by Man City last weekend, Francis still harvested 6.45 fantasy points, exceeding his season average. This weekend, he and the Cherries face a far inferior opponent in last-place Aston Villa, which not only has scored eight fewer goals than any other side, but also hasn't scored for four straight games.
Jose Fonte, v. (£7.0M): Checking in at the same price as Francis, Fonte also offers supreme bang for fantasy bucks on Mondogoal. In starting all but one of Southampton's 32 games, Fonte has accumulated the fifth-most points among Saturday's defenders. The veteran has been understandably overshadowed by summer signing Virgil van Dijk's brilliance, and fantasy owners surely find the occasional attacking exploits of Southampton's full-backs alluring, but Fonte remains the rock of Southampton's defense nonetheless. No Saturday defender boasts more than his 12 clean sheets this term, and Fonte could very well make it 13 after Saturday's home date with Newcastle, the Premier League's worst away attack.
Midfielders:
Gylfi Sigurdsson, v. (£11.8M): With yet another goal last weekend at Stoke City, Sigurdsson has now scored a sensational eight times, while also assisting twice, in 13 games since the calendar turned to 2016. Such a goal-scoring explosion has brought Sigurdsson's season tally to 10, which tops all Saturday midfielders. The Swans scored twice against Chelsea in their season opener, and though they've often faltered since that starting stage, Chelsea's defense is still a bottom-half unit after their well-documented early deficiencies. With a relatively depleted midfield pool of players, someone as hot as Sigurdsson becomes a must-own commodity this weekend, when the Icelandic international will aim to extend his assault.
Kevin De Bruyne, v. (£10.9M): After missing over two months due to a knee injury, De Bruyne made his long-anticipated return last weekend and picked up right where he left off. He immediately reclaimed his position in Man City's starting lineup and capped off a wonderful attacking move by netting a superb volley against Bournemouth. That gave the Belgian six goals and nine assists through 20 league matches, but he added to his overall account by also scoring in Champions League play Wednesday at Paris Saint-Germain. Even though the Citizens' upcoming return leg versus the Parisians could cause manager Manuel Pellegrini to be careful with De Bruyne's involvement against West Brom this Saturday, the attacker's 9.73 points per game leads all Saturday midfielders, making him hard to pass up.
Oscar, at (£8.2M): Someone whose down season has mirrored that of his club, Oscar came off the bench last weekend to provide an assist in Chelsea's 4-0 romp of Aston Villa. That 10.80-fantasy point contribution, as well as some absences elsewhere in the Blues' attack, could earn Oscar a start for this weekend's visit to Swansea City. Should that transpire, the Brazilian will be salivating at the chance to once again play at the Liberty Stadium, where he bagged a brace in Chelsea's 5-0 triumph last season. Furthermore, Oscar also scored against Swansea in this season's opening match. Given that history, and a sprinkle of recent form, Chelsea's moderately priced midfielder could be a fine selection come Saturday.
Yannick Bolasie, v. (£8.0M): Another attacker fresh off a lengthy injury layoff, Bolasie has re-entered the fold over Crystal Palace's past five matches. For one of the league's worst offensive setups, Bolasie's return has helped the Eagles score two goals in three matches over that span, including last weekend's comeback to draw West Ham. On the whole of this season, the dynamic dribbler is averaging 6.90 fantasy points per match, putting him among the top 10 players at his position among Saturday's clubs. This weekend, Bolasie will square off with Norwich City, presenting a ripe opportunity to capitalize upon the Canaries' rickety defense. Only two teams have shipped more goals than Norwich this term, and Palace put three past its defense on opening day, something that shapes up well for Bolasie this time around.
Forwards:
Sergio Aguero, v. (£13.4M): By finding the back of the net at Bournemouth last weekend, Aguero helped break Manchester City's two-game scoring drought in convincing fashion, as the Citizens ran away with a 4-0 victory. That goal brought Aguero's league tally to 17 goals in 24 games, leaving only three players with more goals than him thus far. This weekend, the Argentine could very well add to his total with a home matchup versus West Brom. Sure, a Champions League return leg against PSG looms, but with Man City still looking to clinch qualification for next season, Aguero figures to start Saturday. That comes as great news for fantasy owners, as Man City has notched three goals in five straight games against the Baggies.
Romelu Lukaku, at (£11.0M): Whereas Aguero is Mondogoal's top priced forward going into this weekend, Lukaku is the third most expensive frontman and one of the three league-wide players that have outscored Aguero this season. Sitting on 18 goals, Lukaku will attempt to end his team's two-match scoreless streak this weekend at Watford. In their opening day meeting, Lukaku doled out the first of his now six assists, kicking off a campaign that's included 286.23 fantasy points. That mark leads all strikers playing Saturday, when he'll be tasked against a Watford side reeling from four straight losses. The Hornets' latest defeat saw them ship four goals to Arsenal, so Lukaku should be priming for a return to the scoresheet Saturday.
Graziano Pelle, v. (£6.3M): While Lukaku ranks first and Aguero places third in total Mondogoal points among Saturday's forwards, Pelle checks in at sixth with 167.49. However, compared to his superiors, Pelle's £6.3M price is pennies. Such affordability is complemented by a resurgence in form from the Italian, who sports three goals and two assists in Southampton's last three outings. Over that short span, Pelle is averaging a whopping 16.4 points per game, and this weekend he is gifted with a home matchup against Newcastle. The Premiership's second-worst side, the Magpies have also allowed the second-most goals this season. What's more, Pelle scored against them earlier this season and bagged a brace in their last meeting at St. Mary's Stadium.