The Debrief - Week 11 - Fantasy League

Whisper it quietly, but could this be shaping up to be one of the all-time great Premier League seasons?

We’ve been here for every single one since 1992 (and the year before that if you include the old money First Division!), but the subplots in today’s vintage are everywhere.

There’s Roy Hodgson’s odds-defyers Crystal Palace, Brendan Rodgers overseeing a flying Leicester, Frank Lampard coming home and coming good…and that’s without mentioning the consistent brilliance of Liverpool and Man City.

And the stories kept coming in last weekend’s action.

Starting at Bramall Lane where Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United saw off Sean Dyche’s Burnley, with the former seeing his side enter the top six.

Heady days indeed, and for you as Fantasy League managers too if you had known this was going to happen all along.

But come on, hands up who of you had Enda Stevens in your first matchday XI?

If so I want you on my next lottery numbers.

After a modest start to life in the Premier League, the Irish left-back’s recent performances have been extraordinary. He has picked up 13 Fantasy League points in his last four appearances, and so far this season has five clean sheets and three assists.

Even now you might be able to pick him up at a snip. Even though we’ve just given him some exposure. Sorry.

Perhaps we should’ve known. After all Wilder’s men only conceded 41 goals in 46 Championship games last term – the joint-best.

But who can ever tell whether that will translate to the very highest level? And who knows if it will even continue this season once teams find them out?

It’s in your Fantasy League managerial hands to decide.

Whilst we’re on in-form teams, let’s travel south and have a look at Brighton.

It’s three wins in their last four league games for Graham Potter’s charges – and not against insignificant sides either, with both Everton and Tottenham both being swatted aside (and Norwich on Saturday).

Like Sheffield United, the value looks like it’s in their defence.

Dan Burn and Lewis Dunk are not only ever-presents so far – helping your points tallies – but are matching each other stroke for stroke on clean sheets and assists, with four and two each respectively.

Very respectable hauls from a side that wasn’t looked at too favourably at the start of the season, and whose first few games didn’t help that suspicion.

We’ll end on perhaps the unlikeliest result of the weekend. Newcastle had only scored six times in 10 games before visiting West Ham on Saturday, but managed to get three before the hour at the London Stadium.

As devastating as the Toon were at set-pieces and on the counter, the Hammers were diabolical – and if you have thought about a straight swap in your squad to replace the injured Lukasz Fabianski with Roberto, perhaps best to watch the second goal and then decide.