Thursday 6 November 2014 20:38, UK
Our scout looks at whether the game's top scorer is worth selecting and offers up four other in-form options.
New Sky Sports Fantasy Football leading scorer provides a conundrum this weekend as Arsenal face a tough trip to Swansea.
The Chile star racked up 17 points in the Gunners’ 3-0 victory over Burnley to take his tally to 78 but with his supporting cast looking far less convincing, it remains to be seen whether he can repeat such success at Swansea.
Of Sanchez’s team-mates, only Aaron Ramsey has more than half the amount of his points and even the Welshman’s contributions have dried up of late, failing to offer up a goal or assist since gameweek five.
While Sanchez netted another stunner in midweek, Arsene Wenger’s men capitulated at home to Anderlecht in the Champions League - a performance which might concern those who have already signed Calum Chambers (£4.9m) following his 15-point heroics.
Garry Monk’s sixth-placed Swansea have collected 10 points at home this season and conceded just three, recording five clean sheets so far, the second highest tally in the league.
That record has seen Lukasz Fabianski rack up 37 points and a place in 10 per cent of Sky Sports Fantasy Football sides, while Wilfried Bony (£8.2m) has four goals from his last four appearances.
Fraser Forster (£4.9)
As the only goalkeeper with more points to his name, Forster is actually the most transferred in player so far this gameweek after Southampton racked up their sixth clean sheet of the campaign at Hull.
The Saints shot-stopper is just 11/10 with Sky Bet to add to that tally when lowly Leicester visit on Saturday, while the league’s joint lowest goalscorers, Aston Villa, are their hosts after the international break.
Full-backs Nathanial Clyne (£6.1m) and Ryan Bertrand (5.1m) equally interest, with a goal and an assist apiece seeing them rack up 59 and 52 points, respectively, this season.
However, they look short-term moves with Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United to follow, while the Saints’ fixtures over the Christmas period also look far from favourable.
Saido Berahino (£6.9m)
Confidence surely could not be higher for the West Brom striker after his impressive start to the Premier League season was rewarded with a first full England call-up.
The 21-year-old has scored seven goals this season to rack up 65 points, making him comfortably the best value-for-money striker in the Premier League.
The big question, however, is whether he can maintain his free-scoring form, having only found the net five times last season.
Given that was his first season in the top flight and the Baggies’ all-round struggles in front of goal, it would be very harsh to suggest that his form is a flash in the pan.
While Sunday’s visitors Newcastle are enjoying some resurgent form of late, Berahino is still considered favourite to open the scoring at 9/2 and is gaining the respect his performances deserve at just 5/4 to score anytime.
Stewart Downing (£6.2m)
Once a Fantasy favourite back in the early days of his career, the West Ham winger started this season as somewhat of a forgotten man, with just one per cent of managers selecting him.
However, the years have been well and truly rolled back with two goals, four assists and three Sky Sports Fantasy Football man-of-the-match awards seeing him rack up 57 points, the eighth highest in the game.
That form has also seen him rewarded with an England call-up, while his international credentials could well be enhanced further when strugglers Aston Villa visit on Sunday.
Diafra Sahko is also well worth considering after being made available again following a short-term lay-off due to a shoulder problem.
The summer signing has made a remarkable impression with six goals from as many starts for the Hammers and two assists, seeing him rack up an average of 8.83 points per game.
Villa’s woes in front of goal and the suspension of Christian Benteke might encourage some to look to Sam Allardyce’s backline but a solitary previous clean sheet should deter.
Charlie Austin (£7.1m)
On paper, it looks an odd decision looking to bring in a player from lowly QPR to face Premier League champions Manchester City but Austin is proving a man capable of defying what is expected of him.
Following a slow start and amid questions over whether the prolific Championship marksman had what it takes to make it in the top flight, he has racked up three goals in his last two games, taking his tally to five.
That record is even more impressive given his side’s woes, although recent events mean this fixture is far from the one-sided encounter it might have been a couple of weeks ago.
The Hoops recorded a vital victory over Aston Villa before giving Chelsea a real scare last Saturday, while City’s run of three defeats in four in all competitions will add to hopes of an upset.
Trust Austin to be the hero if they are to do it, while a favourable following run, including clashes with fellow strugglers Leicester and Newcastle up next, add to his appeal.
