This article is part of our FPL Best XI series.
The Premier League's record goal-scoring streak came to an end last weekend when Leicester City's Jamie Vardy failed to score at Swansea City, but his teammate Riyad Mahrez picked up the slack by continuing his magnificent season with a hat-trick.
That allowed the Foxes to remain atop the league table after 15 matches, and with Manchester City falling at Stoke City, Claudio Ranieri's side is back in sole possession of first-place.
In Gameweek 16, the surprise side of the season hosts Chelsea, whose form has shocked for all the wrong reasons.
While plenty of fantasy focus will be centered on that match, here are the players that could shine brightest this weekend, as we reveal the latest edition of the Best XI.
Goalkeeper:
Petr Cech
Somewhat unexpectedly, Cech failed to clinch a single clean sheet over Arsenal's past three league matches, which came against the underwhelming attacks of West Brom, Norwich City and Sunderland. However, Cech was able to keep the Gunners' midweek opponent, Olympiakos, at bay, making five saves in Arsenal's triumphant European escape. On the back of that stellar performance, Cech is now matched up with Aston Villa, who have scored the joint-fewest goals this season, and have also failed to score against Arsenal in three straight games.
Bench:
David de Gea
Anchoring the league's best defense statistically, de Gea goes against a Bournemouth outfit barely averaging over one goal per game at home.
Defenders:
Aleksandar Kolarov
A letdown last weekend saw Kolarov and Manchester City concede twice at Stoke City, but this Saturday, the Citizens return home for a timely match versus Swansea City. Fresh off firing their manager, the Swans have been held scoreless in four of their past five games. Meanwhile, Kolarov ranks second among defenders with seven clean sheets this season, and also has both a goal and an assist from his past two appearances at the Etihad Stadium, where he could produce another excellent fantasy outing this weekend.
Toby Alderweireld
Quietly, Alderweireld passed Kolarov last weekend to become the second ranked fantasy defender in the Premier League's official game. That impressive position comes thanks to two goals and two assists, and Alderweireld has also come up with five clean sheets this season. Over his past three games, the Belgian has done a little bit of everything, registering a goal in Gameweek 13, a clean sheet in Gameweek 14, and an assist last weekend. That puts Alderweireld is fine standing ahead of this Sunday's home date with Newcastle's league-worst road attack.
Alberto Moreno
Facing Newcastle last weekend, Moreno and Liverpool's defense allowed two goals in a loss, throwing a wrench into their positive recent form. After that slip-up, Jurgen Klopp's men produced a clean sheet as they advanced in the Europa League this week, which should restore confidence before this Sunday's home match against West Brom. The Baggies are the only team ahead of Newcastle in road goals scored this season, but their mere four scores away from the Hawthorns makes Moreno a safe selection this week.
Bench:
Allan Nyom
Coming off a clean sheet last weekend, Nyom and Watford are now in 10th place and moving in the opposite direction of this weekend's opponent, 19th-place Sunderland.
Aaron Cresswell
Although they sprung to surprise Manchester City last weekend, Stoke City's 13 goals scored are still tied for dead last in the league. That makes Cresswell a solid selection in Gameweek 16.
Midfielders:
Mesut Ozil (C)
In assisting Arsenal's opening goal last weekend against Sunderland, Ozil registered his 12th helper of the campaign already. While that mark puts Ozil on path to push the Premier League record, the German genius' contribution last weekend also pushed his streak of at least one goal or one assist to nine straight league matches. In flying form, Ozil is now pitted against last-place Aston Villa, who haven't won since opening weekend. Along with that outstanding matchup, the fact that Ozil scored in both league games against the Villains last season earns him the Best XI captain's armband for Gameweek 16.
David Silva
An established star in England, Silva has been limited to seven Premiership appearances due to injury, and stunningly, the Spaniard is yet to score in league play. Nonetheless, Silva has still recorded six assists, evidencing his ever-present impact when healthy. Such ability was on display this week in Manchester City's Champions League win, when Silva stole the show and scored inside the first 20 minutes. Man City went on to score four in that match, which should have them ready to rebound domestically at home against Swansea this Saturday.
Riyad Mahrez
As previously mentioned, Mahrez netted a hat-trick against Swansea City last weekend, taking him back on top of the fantasy midfield rankings in the Premier League's official game. In fact, with 10 goals and six assists this term, no player has scored more fantasy points than Mahrez. Fueling the Foxes' first-place outfit, Mahrez will have a great opportunity for another delectable display this weekend against Chelsea. After losing at home to Bournemouth last weekend, the Blues' downfall was worsened, and potentially being outplayed by Leicester City in the lone game Monday would put an exclamation point on both teams' crazy campaigns.
Kevin De Bruyne
Joining his teammate Silva in the Best XI, De Bruyne has kept Man City's midfield in motion during the Spaniard's sideline stint. To that point, De Bruyne has four goals and six assists in his 11 Premier League matches for Manchester City. This weekend, he and Silva are expected to share the keys to the Citizens' league-leading home attack against a Swansea City outfit Manuel Pellegrini's men have dominated lately. In the past four meetings between the sides, Man City has mustered 12 goals, putting De Bruyne in the fantasy spotlight Saturday.
Bench:
Ross Barkley
With six goals and five assists, only Mahrez and Ozil lead Barkley in fantasy points among midfielders in the Premiership's official game entering this weekend's game against Norwich City's fifth-worst defense.
Christian Eriksen
After Tottenham's 4-1 midweek Europa League win, Eriksen should be licking his chops to host a Newcastle team he scored against in his most recent try. The Magpies have also allowed at least two goals in eight of their past 10 league outings.
Forwards
Jamie Vardy
After Vardy, a former lower division player, finally failed to score last weekend, some will be quick to forget about his incredible accomplishment of 11 straight games with a goal. However, that unprecedented reliability should keep him at the fantasy forefront, especially given his home matchup against Chelsea this weekend. Only five teams have conceded more goals than the Blues this season, while no team has scored more times than Vardy's Foxes. With the Englishman leading that attack, Vardy earns another Best XI selection.
Harry Kane
As streaky as they come, Kane has gone scoreless in back-to-back games since going on a four-match, seven-goal streak. That being said, the youngster has still scored in two of his last three matches at White Hart Lane, where Tottenham hosts Newcastle this weekend. Presently in the relegation zone, no team has surrendered more goals than the Magpies this season, and Kane enters his latest matchup versus Newcastle having scored in both of his last two meetings against them, a stretch in which Tottenham scored seven goals as a team.
Olivier Giroud
In contrast to Kane, his cross-town rival Giroud has been a model of consistency this season, scoring 20 goals across all competitions for club and country. That under-appreciated figure includes Giroud's goal last weekend against Sunderland, when he also netted an own goal, but the Frenchman more than compensated with a sensational hat trick in Arsenal's Champions League win this week. Surely upbeat after that vindicating performance, Giroud could continue his tally this weekend at Aston Villa, who he's scored against in four of their past five games.
Bench:
Odion Ighalo
With another goal and assist last weekend, Ighalo brought his season totals to nine goals and five helpers heading into Saturday's matchup against a Sunderland side that conceded three goals last weekend.
Romelu Lukaku
In scoring last weekend, Lukaku brought his streak to five straight with a goal, and also closed the gap on Vardy with 11 goals this season. That obviously has the Belgian trending in the right direction before Saturday's away trip to Norwich City.
