This article is part of our FPL Bargain Bin series.
It is the holiday portion of the Premier League schedule, and for fans of the sport, it is an exciting time. Teams will play four matches in the span of 13 days. This also spells trouble for fantasy owners, as Premier League managers may adjust their lineups in order to keep players healthy and prevent them from picking up a fifth booking before the year is over. This is the perfect opportunity to use a Public Service Announcement to remind everyone to check out the confirmed lineups before locking in your fantasy lineup.
To stay in the holiday spirit, we will take a look at players that will provide fantasy gifts (bargain players that are worth a roster spot this week), as well as players that are fantasy coal (players to avoid this weekend). Enjoy, and happy holidays!
Goalkeepers
Fantasy Gifts:
Costel Pantilimon ($4,900 DraftKings, $8.2M MondoGoal) v. Hull City
If you take away the match at Manchester City, Pantilimon has put up stats that would warrant top money for a goalkeeper. In the seven matches he has played against teams not named Manchester City, Pantilimon has allowed just three goals and made 32 saves. This weekend, he gets a home match against a fading Hull City squad who have been abysmal on the attack recently. By the time Hull City takes the pitch for the Boxing Day match, it will have been 23 days since their last league goal. No team has attempted fewer than Hull City's eight shot attempts per road match, which just goes to make Pantilimon's job even easier this weekend.
Notes:Wojciech Szczesny ($5,200 DraftKings, $6.9M MondoGoal) gets a great matchup against a Queens Park Rangers squad that is basically useless on the road.
Fantasy Coal:
Hugo Lloris ($5,200 DraftKings, $7.7M MondoGoal) at Leicester City
Tottenham will likely win the game, but that is not what is up for debate here. Win or not, a clean sheet is what will gives Lloris his fantasy goodness, and this may not be a good week to plan to use him. Lloris has managed to keep just four clean sheets this season and only one of those was on the road. Simply put, there are better options this weekend than Lloris against Leicester City.
Notes:Joe Hart ($5,300 DraftKings, $8.7M MondoGoal) may appear to have a good matchup against West Brom, but Hart and Manchester City are not the same team defensively on the road as they are at home. This weekend is a good time to stay away from the City goalkeeper.
Defenders
Fantasy Gifts:
Ashley Williams ($3,400 DraftKings, $6.9M MondoGoal) v. Aston Villa
Aston Villa come into this match tied for the fewest number of away goals (four) scored this season. Sure, much of their season has been played without Christian Benteke. However, with him in the lineup for four away matches, Villa has scored just one goal. Using the Swansea City captain looks to be a great play this weekend.
Notes:Phil Jagielka ($3,600 DraftKings, $9.8M MondoGoal) remains the only Everton defender to play in all 17 matches and gets a home match against Stoke City on Boxing Day.
Fantasy Coal:
Pablo Zabaleta ($4,800 DraftKings, $9.2M MondoGoal) at West Bromwich Albion
There are plenty of cheaper options this weekend with a better chance at a clean sheet. He's just not going to be worth the money in any format.
Notes:Nathaniel Clyne ($4,400 DraftKings, $9.1M MondoGoal) and Southampton have struggled recently after a hot start. Before last weekend, the Saints had gone five weeks without a clean sheet and it will be seven weeks (three matches) since their last shutout on the road.
Midfielder
Fantasy Gifts:
Ross Barkley ($7,700 DraftKings, $8.1M MondoGoal) v. Stoke City
Sure, we spent last week talking about how the smart play was to avoid Barkley. Well, that was last week and this is now. Barkley continues to pressure the net, and that includes a second-consecutive three-shot performance last weekend against Southampton. We discussed Barkley's propensity to score against poor quality teams and this week should be no different.
Notes: It was only a matter of time before Erik Lamela would break through for his first Premier League goal, and a favorable matchup at home against Leicester City provides a great opportunity to build off his momentum and make it goals in two straight.
Fantasy Coal:
Raheem Sterling ($8,800 DraftKings, $10.7M MondoGoal) at Burnley
Sterling has only scored once since Daniel Sturridge went out with a thigh injury, and with Sturridge still sidelined, Sterling will likely continue to fail to live up to the lofty expectations put on his shoulders.
Notes:Sadio Mane has struggled to do much this season and is likely not worth the money ($6,600 DraftKings as a forward, $10.3M MondoGoal as a midfielder) even with all the injuries Southampton are currently dealing with.
Forwards
Fantasy Gifts:
Danny Ings ($6,400 DraftKings, $10.3M MondoGoal) v. Liverpool
Ings is on a run that has seen him score a goal or pick up an assist in four of Burnley's last five home matches. There is a good chance for that to continue as they play host to a Liverpool squad that has allowed 16 away goals (tied for second-most in the Premier League) this season.
Notes:Danny Welbeck ($8,700 DraftKings, $9.9M MondoGoal) and Arsenal play host to a Queens Park Rangers team that have allowed a league-high 20 away goals through just 11 matches this season.
Fantasy Coal:
Charlie Austin ($8,800 DraftKings, $12.0M MondoGoal) at Arsenal
Following his hat trick last weekend, the bandwagon is filling up quickly for Austin. However, the weight may cause it to slow down. It is clear QPR are not the same team on the road than they are at home. This holds true for Austin as well, as just two of his 11 goals this season have come on the road. Austin can certainly score, but on the road he just is not worth the cost.
Notes: It's hard to recommend staying away from anyone else as all the top strikers see favorable matchups this weekend.
