The 2015-16 Premier League campaign picked up from right where it left off before the week break with a busy weekend that included plenty of drama including Manchester United picking up a big win over Liverpool while Chelsea’s climb up the standings continued to be put on hold despite the fact that they have scored a combined five goals in their previous two games. A 3-3 draw with Everton allowed a pair of Chelsea’s finest to earn honorable mention in this weekend’s fantasy roundup but it wasn’t enough for them to catch the very best. Here is our EPL fantasy recap of the top individual performances by position from this past weekend.
GK: Petr Cech, Arsenal
Arsenal managed to hold tight with Leicester at the top of the Premier League table thanks to a brilliant performance from their goalkeeper Petr Cech, who made five saves to preserve the clean sheet in a 0-0 draw with Stoke over the weekend. Cech has been absolutely outstanding for Gunners all year and his performance was good enough to edge out Aston Villa’s Mark Bunn and Manchester United’s David de Gea for top fantasy honors among goalkeepers from this past weekend. Arsenal has now allowed just 21 goals this season, which is tied for the third-fewest in the EPL.
Honorable Mention: Mark Bunn, Aston Villa; David de Gea, Manchester United
D: Charlie Daniels, Bournemouth
Bournemouth wouldn’t have been able to earn an important three points in the table if it wasn’t for the outstanding play of Daniels, who had a goal and an assist in addition to his excellent defensive play in a 3-0 win over Norwich. Daniels would have been the top defender on the board regardless of the final score but the fact that he earned a clean sheet bonus helped separate him even more from the remainder of the field with Southampton’s Matt Targett and Everton’s Leighton Baines earning honorable mention for their performances.
Honorable Mention: Matt Targett, Southampton; Leighton Baines, Everton
M: James Ward-Prowse, Southampton
Southampton is coming off back-to-back wins over Watford and West Brom to climb in to the top half of the table and Ward-Prowse has been a big part of that including a stud performance in their latest win as he scored twice in their 3-0 victory over West Brom. Ward-Prowse also received a bonus for a clean sheet and a full 90 minutes played and that was the difference for him to stand alone as the top fantasy midfielder from the Premier League this past weekend.
M: Christian Eriksen, Tottenham
Eriksen was right behind him after also scoring a pair of goals in Tottenham’s 4-1 win over Sunderland but that one goal allowed spoiled his chance at a clean sheet bonus even though he was awarded for the full 90 minutes played. Spurs managed to maintain sole possession for fourth spot in the table with the victory and Eriksen was the biggest reason for it as he posted the second-best fantasy score among Premier League midfielders.
Honorable Mention: Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea; Georginio Wijnaldum, Newcastle; David Silva, Manchester City
F: Sergio Aguero, Manchester City
Manchester City certainly looked in fine form in their 4-0 win over Crystal Palace and Aguero was the biggest reason for it as he scored two goals with an assist. There is no doubt that City is as dangerous of a title contender as there is when healthy and Aguero showed why that is again this past weekend as the top fantasy performer among Premier League forwards.
F: Harry Kane, Tottenham
There was quite the drop off from first to second among Premier League fantasy forwards from this past weekend but that doesn’t make Kane’s performance any less impressive as he had a goal and an assist in Tottenham’s 4-1 win over Sunderland. Kane and Eriksen continue to be one of the most dangerous attacking tandems in the Premier League this season and they proved why that is again this past weekend with Kane edging out Chelsea’s Diego Costa and Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney for the second-best fantasy stat line of the weekend among Premier League forwards.
Honorable Mention: Diego Costa, Chelsea; Wayne Rooney, Manchester United; Ayoze Perez Gutierrez, Newcastle
