This article is part of our FPL Barometer series.
Now five matchweeks into the Premier League season, the first real wave of injuries struck some marquee names this week. The likes of Wayne Rooney, Thibaut Courtois and Christian Eriksen missed out altogether because of injury, while fantasy Premier League studs including Sergio Aguero and Seamus Coleman departed matches early after picking up knocks of their own. While the injuries provide more a sudden boost in value for lesser known FPL commodities, the prolonged struggles of regular contributors have opened the door for others to shine, while steady contributions from some more obscure names have landed them firmly on the fantasy radar. Capitalizing on these fluctuations in value can make all the difference throughout the 38-week-long season as FPL owners look to get the most out of their allotted budgets.
RISING:
Theo Walcott
Walcott started for the second straight match Saturday against Stoke City and cooly slotted home the game-winning goal after deftly controlling a long ball from Mesut Ozil on the counter attack.
View post on imgur.comThe tally was the 26-year-old's 11th in his last 11 league starts, a figure manager Arsene Wenger is unlikely to ignore after Arsenal's impotent start to the season in the goal-scoring department. Although Olivier Giroud is still firmly in the picture, as he scored a goal of his own against Stoke in a substitute appearance, the added speed dimension Walcott brings to the Gunners' attack and his record of production will make Wenger's choice that much easier if Giroud continues to squander chances. This situation still bears watching from week to week, but Walcott's stock is on the rise as he presses for a consistent role.
Asmir Begovic
With Chelsea No. 1 goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois expected to be out until December after suffering a torn meniscus during training last week, Begovic will step in as the starter for the Blues. Chelsea are off to a miserable start to the season and have conceded a league-high 12 goals in just five matches, but the reigning champions cannot be expected to continue this level of ineptitude and their next four Premier League opponents have combined for 18 goals in 20 matches this season. Begovic proved himself more than capable as a full-time starter in leading Stoke City to the seventh-best defensive record in the league last season, and the Bosnian can still provide a decent return on investment for his FPL owners if he can be had at a moderate price.
Wes Hoolahan
After a Man of the Match performance against Bournemouth on Saturday when he scored a goal and set up another, Hoolahan sits atop the Premier League with four assists through five matches. The Irishman has thrived in his attacking role with the Canaries and is already over half way to his previous Premier League high of seven assists. Hoolahan's form has been that much more impressive given that Norwich's top goalscorer last year, Cameron Jerome, scored Saturday for the first time this season. With an extremely low price tag after ascending from the Championship, Hoolahan is proving to be an excellent bargain in the early going.
FALLING:
Rickie Lambert
At the beginning of the season, Lambert was poised to serve as the focal point of the West Brom attack as forward Saido Berahino appeared set to leave for Tottenham in the transfer market. Since then, the struggling Baggies have signed Salomon Rondon to play up front and recently received the news that Berahino intended to return after briefly holding out when he wasn't sold to Spurs. Lambert, who made way for Berahino after just 55 minutes against Southampton this weekend, will likely be the odd man out once the latter works his way back. Manager Tony Pulis is expected to pair Berahino with Rondon at some point to shake up an attack that has generated just three goals in five matches, and Lambert is running out of chances after failing to find the back of the net this season despite being the only striker to appear in all five.
Simon Mignolet
After starting the season with three consecutive clean sheets, Mignolet and the Liverpool defense have allowed six goals in the last two matches, an embarrassing 3-0 home defeat to West Ham and a 3-1 loss to Manchester United this past weekend. The Belgian saved just two of the eight shots on goal he has faced in that span and looks far from a safe fantasy play with the back line underachieving. Mignolet's price is still relatively high after his strong start and there are quite a few other options out there capable of giving you more bang for your buck.
Connor Wickham
Wickham looked to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of Glenn Murray's summer transfer to Bournemouth, as he stood poised to occupy the coveted striker position in front of a dynamic midfield that includes the likes of Jason Puncheon, Wilfried Zaha, Yannick Bolaise and Yohan Cabaye. However, the 22-year-old's place in the team has come into question after Palace's acquisition of Bakary Sako has created a rotation of sorts at striker that has seen the Malian and Bolaise both occupy the position. Wickham also recently picked up a knock that caused him to miss last weekend's match against Manchester City. The Englishman could still force his way into the starting lineup at some point, but there quite a few obstacles in way at the moment.
