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Steven Fletcher has been in flying form this season. Mike Egerton/EMPICS Sport
Value for Money

Fantasyland: Looking for value to climb the leader board

There’s no point in signing the same players as everyone else if you want to make a move up the leader board.

INCREDIBLY, FIVE GAMES into the 2012/13 Premier League season, six teams – Reading, QPR, Liverpool, Norwich, Stoke and Sunderland – are still without a win.

However, Southampton are proof that just one win can do wonders for your Fantasy Football team.

The Saints had two players in last week’s Dream Team with both Nathaniel Clyne and Rickie Lambert making the starting 11.

This is good news for FF players currently playing catch-up in their league as points can still come from unpredictable sources and that’s the key to clawing back those at the top of the leader board.

Two players to pick this week

Steven Fletcher (Sunderland): Steven Fletcher is a goal machine. The Sunderland striker has scored in every game this season with four goals from just five attempts. He only costs £7.2 million and, best of all, is owned by less than 8% of Fantasy Football teams. With Sunderland at home to the porous Wigan this Saturday, you have to imagine he can continue his good run of form.

Julio Cesar (QPR): When QPR and West Ham meet, the home goalkeeper usually picks up his clean sheet bonus. Indeed, the home team has won five of the last six encounters with the away team scoring in just two of those games. At just £5 million and only owned by 1.4% of FF teams, Cesar could be your secret weapon this week.

Two players to avoid

Marouane Fellaini (Everton): Fellaini has been brilliant this season but, before you go adding him, remember that 28% of teams in Fantasy Football now own the Everton midfielder so if you really want to make a move up the table, it’s best to look elsewhere.

Eden Hazard (Chelsea): No, I’m not crazy. The Belgian has been Chelsea’s best player since his arrival at Stamford Bridge but almost half of all FF teams now own him. You can pick him up for a pricey £10.3 million if you insist but there’s very little chance it will help you avoid mid-table mediocrity.

Predictions

Arsenal 1-1 ChelseaSunderland 2-1 Wigan

Reading 0-2 Newcastle

Stoke 1-1 Swansea

Norwich 0-2 Liverpool

Fulham 2-2 Manchester City

Everton 2-1 Southampton

Manchester United 1-1 Tottenham

Sunday

Aston Villa 0-2 West Brom

Monday

QPR 1-0 West Ham

How my team got on last week:

I scored just 49 points despite having three players in double figures. No fewer than eight of my team scored three or less points. Disaster.

Who’s leading TheScore.ie Primera Division?

Gavin Gingles’ ‘Meath Lovers Pizza’ have stretched their lead at the top with Neil Cullen’s ‘Riggins’ Rovers’ being the only new entry in the top five.