This article is part of our FPL Bargain Bin series.
Gameweek 34 was a rough week for fantasy owners. Scoring took a dip as the regulars took a back seat to some of their lesser-known teammates. In all, 18 of the 30 goals scored were by Bargain Bin eligible players. That's 60 percent of the goals, and that is before accounting for the fact that two of the 30 scores were own goals. The Bargain Bin goals came from all types of players. The week featured a Demba Ba sighting, Jason Puncheon continuing to assert himself, and Martin Skrtel using his newly calibrated compass to find the back of the proper goal. Here is a breakdown of the 18 Bargain Bin goals:Player | Pos. | Club | Notes | Next |
Hugo Rodallega | F | FFC | Goals in back-to-back matches. Quickly earning the open spot up front. | at THFC |
Matej Vydra | F | WBA | Three straight starts = 1 goal, 1 assist, 5 shots, 4 on target. | at MCFC |
Harry Kane | F | THFC | Earning his playing time with two goals in last two starts. Great matchup vs Fulham next | at FFC |
Demba Ba | F | CFC | Just his third start of the year but could see another after the midweek Champions League | vs. SAFC |
Connor Wickham (2) | F | SAFC | Started four of last five Sunderland matches. Posted 2 goals, 9 shots, 5 on target in those games. | at CFC |
Steven Naismith | F | EFC | Scored in three of Everton's last four games, twice as a sub. Can be dangerous in limited action. | vs. MUFC |
Jason Puncheon (2) | M | CPFC | His four goals are the most in the EPL in April. Add his assist and there is not a hotter player | at WHU |
Chris Brunt | M | WBA | First start since knee injury. 2014 stats don't match up to 2013 stats. | at MCFC |
Raheem Sterling | M | LFC | Has made three consecutive starts and attempted four shots while assisting on another eight. | at NCFC |
Cameron Jerome | M | CPFC | Only his second goal of the season and first since December 7 | at WHU |
Matthew Jarvis | M | WHU | First start since injuring his thigh and was only his second goal of the season | vs. CPFC |
Stephane Sessegnon | M | WBA | Involved in the attack but it has not translated to very impressive numbers | vs. CPFC |
Cala | D | CCFC | Has two goals in last three appearances but has only started five matches since joining Cardiff. | vs. SCFC |
Erik Pieters | D | SCFC | First goal of the season, and with only nine shot attempts all year, not likely to add many more. | at CCFC |
Martin Skrtel | D | LFC | Converts 50 percent of his shot attempts, but good luck predicting when they will happen. | at NCFC |
Scott Dann | D | CPFC | With only two shot attempts all year, his value is more from clean sheets than offense. | at WHU |
Other notes: Fabio Borini continues to start and attempt plenty of shots, but until he proves he can convert, he has little fantasy value. Ross Barkley continues to see inconsistent playing time, but he has played in eight straight matches, attempting shots in each. Ki Sung-Yueng sat out Sunderland's most recent match with a knee injury.
Looking at last weekend's assists provides more Bargain Bin guys:
Player | Pos. | Club | Notes | Next |
Steven Jovetic | F | MCFC | With the City front line getting healthy again, Jovetic likely will not see much action. | at WBA |
Marouane Chamakh | F | CPFC | After scoring in three straight in December, has only scored once since, but also has two assists. | at WHU |
Yannick Bolasie (2) | M | CPFC | Has three assists but has yet to score this season. | at WHU |
Steve Sidwell | M | FFC | Still the Fulham leader in goals scored (6) but has not produced much since the January 11. | at THFC |
Marko Arnautovic | M | SCFC | Has a goal and two assists in Stoke's last five matches. Regularly applies pressure on the attack. | at CCFC |
James Milner | M | MCFC | His appearances are too sporadic to count on him for fantasy purposes | vs. WBA |
Thomas Vermaelen | D | AFC | Has started four straight for Arsenal, but is not much of a threat offensively. | at HCAFC |
The clean sheets in Gameweek 34 came from more regular places. Although Everton struggled against Crystal Palace, they managed to keep a clean sheet against Sunderland in the weekend match. Chelsea remained the league's most dominant defense with another clean sheet, and Crystal Palace extended their shutout streak to three against Aston Villa.
Club | Notes | Next |
CPFC vs. AVFC | Are allowing almost an extra shot on goal per match on the road compared to home | at WHU |
FFC vs. NCFC | Fulham have only kept 5 clean sheets this season. The Canaries are far less potent than Tottenham. | at THFC |
CCFC at SCFC | The high shot totals Cardiff regularly allow have limited the Bluebirds to seven clean sheets. | at SCFC |
SCFC vs. NUFC | Stoke City have only kept two clean sheets away from Britannia Stadium this season. | at CCFC |
EFC at SAFC | Everton have allowed just seven goals over their last 10 matches. | vs. MUFC |
CFC at SCAFC | Chelsea have allowed just six goals over their last 18 matches, including 12 clean sheets. | SAFC |
Gameweek 35 contains 10 matches featuring all 20 Premier League squads. Fights at the top and the bottom of the table are sure to keep things interesting all weekend. This week, the Bargain Bin recommends riding the hot feet of attacking players that have been producing at fantastic rates the past couple of weeks. Teams across the board will be looking to improve their position in the table and will certainly turn to the players that are on a run of fine form. Defensively, some teams that do not typically keep clean sheets may surprise as teams at the bottom will be scraping to pick up a point anyway they can. There are also plenty of good matchups in Gameweek 35 that are ripe for fantasy exploitation. If you are looking for some cheap players to round out your lineup or fill in your bench, here are some of the best options from this weekends' fixtures.
Goalkeeper
Simon Mignolet has managed just three clean sheets during Liverpool's current 10-match winning streak. Their run is more a function of their explosive attack than it is their defense. However, a match against Norwich City can change all of that. The Canaries currently rank 19th in goals scored this season and have been held scoreless for three consecutive matches. Liverpool should be bringing their A-game to Carrow Road as they look to avoid a slip up that could cost them their place at the top of the table.
Defenders
Jon Flanagan has been a regular in the back line for Liverpool during their current win streak. In fact, if you go back to Flanagan's last 16 appearances, Liverpool have won 15 of them while picking up a draw in the 16th. With the Premier League title on the line for the Reds over the next four matches, they will certainly be on the hunt for a clean sheet against the struggling Canaries.
Bacary Sagna and Arsenal find themselves in a fight of their own. With fourth place and a spot in next season's Champions League up for grabs, Arsenal will also be bringing their top-game the next four weeks. They get gifted a match against Hull City on Sunday. The Tigers have been held scoreless in seven of their last 14 matches. The Tigers have struggled to score against top competition, as they have scored just three goals and were without a goal in seven in their last 10 matches against teams in the top half of the table. Sagna and Arsenal are great candidates for keeping a clean sheet this weekend.
Midfielders
Jason Puncheon is the hottest player in the Premier League with four goals and an assist in Crystal Palace's last three matches. Saturday, the Eagles will take a trip to take on West Ham United. The Hammers have allowed eight goals in their last four matches and will have their hands full with Palace's attacking leader. The Eagles have improved their attack and are a good bet to score, with Puncheon more than likely to be involved one way or another.
Willian has led Chelsea with five shots and six assisted shots since Eden Hazard injured his calf two matches ago. With Hazard missing Saturday's match against Sunderland, Willian should step into the role of facilitator once again. In doing so, he will be up against a porous Sunderland defense. The Black Cats are allowing over six shot attempts on target and almost two goals per away match this season. Willian should help Chelsea pick up some crucial scores to remain in the hunt for a Premier League title.
Forwards
Harry Kane has come from out of nowhere to make a run at fantasy relevance. The young Tottenham striker has earned a spot in the starting XI the last two matches and had scored a goal in both, while pacing the squad in shot attempts. Saturday, he will look to continue his scoring streak against a Fulham squad that have allowed the most goals this season. The Cottagers' last road clean sheet came all the way back in the first week of the season. Since then, they have allowed a staggering 43 goals in their 17 away ties. Kane and the Tottenham players will have plenty of opportunities to provide good fantasy value this week.
Chicharito has scored twice and added an assist in his last two matches. His value was going to be much higher, until news broke that Wayne Rooney would be fit to face Everton on Sunday. Despite Rooney's ability to take the pitch, it will be hard for Manchester United and David Moyes to ignore the hot streak Chicharito is currently on. Even if he is relegated to a reserve role, he is known for being able to score goals off the bench. But with Rooney dealing with an injury, look for Chicharito to gain extra time on the pitch for at least one more match as he looks to extend his two-match scoring streak.