Fantasy Football: Who to buy, sell and captain for gameweek 8
As we touched on last week, it's not worth thinking too far ahead with your Fantasy Football team due to the looming international break.
With players set to jet off around the world, bizarrely in the middle of a pandemic, Premier League clubs are bracing themselves for an increase in positive COVID-19 tests.
It really is a lottery who will be free to play and you can't make many long-term decisions with your Fantasy Football team for the time being.
As ever, we have picked out someone to buy, someone to sell and who to consider as your captain for gameweek eight.
Who to buy: Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea) - 8.0M
With so much attention paid on Kai Havertz and Timo Werner, as well as Chelsea's problems at the back, Hakim Ziyech became a bit of an afterthought at the start of the season. A knee injury picked up in pre-season saw Ziyech miss Chelsea's first six matches in all competitions. He didn't make his full debut for the club until their 10th game of the campaign but has hit the ground running for Frank Lampard's side.
Ziyech has three goals and assists in as many starts for the Blues and his introduction to the side has seen Chelsea click into gear in the final third. Followers of Ziyech during his time at Ajax will know he is not only capable of scoring goals but also creating them, having finished with 89 goals and assists in 112 league appearances for the Dutch giants.
With Christian Pulisic injured this weekend and Havertz missing after testing positive for COVID-19, Ziyech will once again be in the starting XI to face Sheffield United at home on Saturday. The Blades are rock bottom of the Premier League with six defeats in seven matches. Selected in only 7.2% of all FPL squads, just more than Burnley's Dale Stephens (7.1%!), he could be a gamechanger in your mini leagues.
Who to sell: Tyrick Mitchell (Crystal Palace) - 4.2M
This isn't a glamour transfer by any means but it could prove equally as shrewd if you are looking to pack your side with as many point scoring options as possible. Tyrick Mitchell started the season as Crystal Palace's first-choice left-back but that has changed since picking up a knock, coupled with Patrick van Aanholt's return from injury.
Despite the fact Van Aanholt is back in the driving seat as Palace's first-choice left-back, Mitchell is still in 23.6% of all FPL squads. Only Trent Alexander-Arnold (30%) and Ben Chilwell (24.6%) have been included in more squads of all defenders than Mitchell. The 21-year-old is clearly an attractive option because of his price but he has returned only 15 FPL points across his six appearances. Wolves defender Max Kilman, who costs just 4.3M, has almost double that tally (29) from two fewer appearances.
Kilman has recently established himself as a regular for Wolves. While Palace will battle relegation this season, Wolves harbour hopes of challenging for Europe once again. Moreover, only Manchester City (19) have kept more clean sheets than Wolves (17) since the beginning of last season. A trip to Leicester awaits them this weekend but they have kept a clean sheet in three of their last four encounters with the Foxes.
Who to captain: Timo Werner (Chelsea) vs Sheffield United
After starting the season without a goal in his first four league matches, some doubted whether Timo Werner was the real deal after his move from RB Leipzig in the summer. They are starting to look a little foolish now. Werner is starting to hit his stride for Chelsea, as Frank Lampard's side begin to click at both ends of the pitch.
The Germany international has played a direct hand in eight goals in his last six appearances in all competitions (six goals, two assists). When Chelsea have found the back of the net, Werner has at one point played a decisive part in a goal, whether scoring or assisting. In fact, only Hary Kane (5) has been directly involved in more Premier League goals than Werner (4) since the October international break.
Now first-choice on penalties, there is further reason to back Werner on a regular basis. Chelsea have won six penalties across their opening 12 matches in all competitions, including four in the Premier League - the second most. At home to rock bottom side Sheffield United this weekend, Chelsea are expected to enter the international break with a bang.
