Fantasy Premier League Bargains, Week 23

With plenty of transfers coming in (and others yet to come), eyes are everywhere for potential bargains. Any way you're looking at things, there's no shortage of attractive bargain options out there at the moment. Let's start with keepers where there's a sudden bounty of cheap choices, so if you've been burned by the cut-rate likes of Thibaut Courtois, Robert Elliot, Brad Guzan or Wayne Hennessey in recent weeks, it may be time to shake things up.

Goalkeepers

Fraser Forster (SOU) [1,707 in Fantrax] Hopefully you snagged him for the bargain basement price of 1,000 following his long-awaited return from injury these past two weeks when he's gotten clean sheets and posted scores of 10 and 12, but even if you didn't, his cost didn't rise much. You may have also noticed that Manchester United is hardly an offensive juggernaut, so you could easily be in store for another shutout.

Mark Bunn (AST) [1,707 in Fantrax, 4.3 in Official ] I like Forster better as a long-term option, but Bunn has notched identical scores of 10 and 12 in his past two games in Fantrax with Brad Guzan out of favor, and you may find Bunn at West Brom preferable to Forster at Old Trafford. As well, he's cheaper in Official if you want to give him a go as your secondary option.

Declan Rudd (NOR) [1,939 in Fantrax, 3.9 in Official] There are splits and there are splits, and this here is a heckuva split. 11 points per game at home vs. -1.6 (that's negative 1.6) on the road in Fantrax. It just so happens he's home this week against a Liverpool team that is the very definition of inconsistent.

Robert Elliot (NEW) [3,957 in Fantrax, 4.0 in Official] I pooh-poohed Elliot a bit in the introduction, but I can see the argument for keeping him if you've already got him or adding him if you're frustrated with Courtois, Hennessey or someone else you've got between the sticks. Broken record alert: Games at Watford tend to be low-scoring, so he could easily better outperform his already solid averages of 3.92 ppg in Fantrax and 3.62 ppg in Official. However, it also just so happens that Newcastle tends to get destroyed on the road, so I'd tend toward caution.

A more expensive bargain:

Kasper Schmeichel (LEI) [4.5 in Official] Three clean sheets in his past four games. At home. Versus goal shy Stoke. You do the math. Of course, I'm having trouble wrapping my head around the shift from 3-2 score lines to 1-0 affairs for the Foxes, but this isn't the week to expect the recent turn of events to change back to the way things were before.

Defenders

Pablo Zabaleta and/or Gael Clichy (MCI) [1,241 and 1,707 in Fantrax, respectively] Either could get the start if Aleksandar Kolarov doesn't recover in time to play. Zabaleta started in place of Bacary Sagna against Palace, and while Sagna will probably return, it is also possible that Zabaleta will be first choice going forward. In that case, Clichy would be the beneficiary if Kolarov is out. City tends to end up in low-scoring games away from home so there's a decent shot at a clean sheet which would be a huge bonus for such a low price.

Aly Sissokho (AVL) [1,939 in Fantrax, 4.5 in Official] 21 points over his past two games in Fantrax and while he's away from home, West Brom is not terribly imposing, agreed?

Martin Demichelis (MCI) [2,948 in Fantrax] Already taking advantage of injuries to center halves Vincent Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala, Demichelis has posted a total of 26 points in his past two games, offering another great short term play in the City back line. As with the Zabaleta/Clichy/Kolarov/Sagna conundrum, be sure to keep an eye on injury reports and try to get a read for Manuel Pellegrini's tea leaves.

Leighton Baines (EVE) [4,732 in Fantrax, 6.1 in Official] If you don't have Baines in your line-up, do me a favor. Run, don't walk, to your local drug store, buy a keg-sized bottle of smelling salts and apply immediately to the nasal area. Mentioning Baines is beating a dead horse, but equine or not, his price tag still hasn't approached anywhere near his true value yet. The Toffees are at Goodison against struggling Swansea this week, to boot.

Miguel Britos (WAT) [5,431 in Fantrax, 4.5 in Official] Averaging 5.69 ppg in Fantrax, and the visit of Newcastle offers a wonderful shot at a clean sheet.

Matt Targett (SOU) [5,741 in Fantrax, 3.7 in Official] As mentioned, Forster's back in net solidifying things. As the shine on Cuco Martina seems to have faded, Targett's notched two straight clean sheets with 23 points scored each in Fantrax and Official. Wow, that's an awful lot of bonus points in the latter! As mentioned, Southampton's playing Manchester United which has a pretty mediocre offense. The only question is, will Targett keep his starting spot the rest of the season? If you're worried about that, you could always open up your wallet a bit more for Ryan Bertrand.

A more expensive bargain:

Phil Jagielka (EVE) [6,827 in Fantrax] Sure the grizzled veteran resembled a crumbling Roman statue on Diego Costa's goal, but he was bound to be a bit rusty coming off injury. He's scored 9 points in each of the past two games following his return and he could easily better that at home against the Swans.

Midfielders

Jordie Clasie (SOU) [3,103 in Fantrax] We've all been waiting patiently for the so-called "Dutch Xavi" to make an impact. Lo and behold, he finally appears to be doing so. Not that we should expect too much in the way of goals or assists, so he's probably not worth a punt in Official, but he's scored at least 6 points in Fantrax each of the past four games which is a safe, tidy return on a minimal investment.

Kevin Mirallas (EVE) [4,732 in Fantrax] The talented Belgian has been an enigma this season, but may have turned the corner with a wonderful display against Chelsea (19 points in Fantrax) where he notched a goal and could have easily had a second were it not for the heroics of his countryman Courtois.

Adam Johnson (SUN) [5,043 in Fantrax] Has managed double digit points in two of his past three games and Bournemouth's coming to town.

Michail Antonio (WHU) [5,974 in Fantrax] Averaging 10.1 ppg in his past seven games, with at least 5 points in each. Of course, you've got to take into account that Antonio's Buster Keaton-esque goal against Southampton is not going to happen again, so that may tip the scales against him, but his header strike against Liverpool could easily repeat itself against other competition.

Dele Alli (TOT) [5.5 in Official] Going to Crystal Palace is usually tough, but the Eagles' confidence is surely waning after Hennessey's howler against Villa and the 4-0 shellacking at the hands (or rather, feet) of Manchester City. Meanwhile, young Alli is definitely outperforming his price.

A more expensive bargain:

David Silva (MCI) [8,146 in Fantrax] 17 points in Fantrax with a goal and assist in a masterful performance against Crystal Palace, he's averaging 7.5 ppg for the season and the Citizens' offense looks to be back in lethal form thanks largely to the Spanish maestro. What world are we living in when Darren Fletcher costs more than David Silva?!

Strikers

Benik Afobe (BOU) [1,000 in Fantrax] The incoming transfer scored 12 points in Fantrax against Norwich, now comes up with another favorable match-up against Sunderland. He was injured late in the game, so be sure to check his status later in the week.

Victor Anichebe (WBA) [1,164 in Fantrax, 4.5 in Official] Has averaged 6 ppg in Fantrax in his past two starts and West Brom welcomes Villa to town. However, he went off injured late against Southampton, so depending on his status, if you really want to go with the Albion attack you could go with Salomon Rondon (WBA) [5,974 in Fantrax] instead.

Joselu (STK) [3,724 in Fantrax] Has started the past two games and delivered 14 points in each. You'll want to keep an eye on the status of Xherdan Shaqiri, and going to Leicester is hardly a cake walk, but if he starts he shouldn't have much difficulty returning value.

Enner Valencia (WHU) [5,876 in Fantrax] Averaging 10 ppg over his past seven games in Fantrax. City is naturally a tough match-up, but at least it's at home.

Troy Deeney (WAT) [5.2 in Official] Has not been as prolific at scoring points as has his heralded strike partner Odion Ighalo, but Deeney's price is accordingly much lower. With Newcastle in town, you have to like his chances.

A more expensive bargain:

Jermain Defoe (SUN) [11,327 in Fantrax, 5.2 in Official] Absolutely on fire with five goals in his past three games, with Bournemouth coming to town. I wouldn't bet on such brilliance continuing into the distant future, but for the near future, why not?

Which of the above bargains are you looking to add into your team? Are there any others you've already fit into your squads or are considering?