Week 32 Player Picks: No Rest for the Weary?

With three games coming for all teams within a period barely more than a week, managers will be tempted to give rest to some of their players. Here’s hoping it isn’t the ones you pick!

Keepers

Willy Caballero (Manchester City v. Hull City) [4.7 Official, 4.29 Fantrax]

Caballero let a soft one sneak by him at Stamford Bridge and the visitors are coming off a midweek four-goal explosion, but don’t forget that Hull City is not Chelsea and Manchester City is not Middlesbrough.

David De Gea (Manchester United at Sunderland) [5.4, 10.57]

The Black Cats have not scored in any of their last six games, so feel free to target them again.

Hugo Lloris (Tottenham v. Watford) [5.5, 11.94]

Spurs boast the league’s stingiest defense while the Hornets average less than a goal per game on the road. Sound like a winning combo to you?

Emiliano Martinez (Arsenal at Crystal Palace) [4.0, 1.00]

The bargain basement third stringer handsomely rewarded those of us who took a chance on him with a clean sheet victory against West Ham. Being away from the Emirates makes things tougher, but then again, Crystal Palace averages barely over a goal per game at home.

Victor Valdes (Middlesbrough v. Burnley) [4.6, 6.03]

Burnley has scored the second-fewest away goals and Middlesbrough’s home defense actually is surprisingly fairly decent. On top of that, the price is affordable.

Defenders

Ben Davies (Tottenham v. Watford) [4.8, 4.01]

With Danny Rose expected to be out for most of April, Davies has been filling in nicely, and you wouldn’t be remotely surprised if he earned the clean sheet bonus in this one.

Gabriel (Arsenal at Crystal Palace) [4.8, 3.36]

He might not immediately repeat his performance filling in for an injured Laurent Koscielny which earned Gabriel eight and 13 points in Official and Fantrax, respectively, but he doesn’t have to at his low prices.

Ben Gibson (Middlesbrough v. Burnley) [4.9, 11.19]

Two straight double digit point hauls in Fantrax. The 13th highest scoring defender in Official at the 47th highest price, which simply screams value. And Burnley’s anemic away offense beckons.

Mason Holgate (Everton v. Leicester City) (4.0, 4.23)

Leicester City is surging offensively, but the Toffees have allowed the second-fewest goals at home. And, oh yeah, Holgate is dirt cheap.

Antonio Valencia (Manchester United at Sunderland) [6.0, 13.18]

After being rested midweek, the wing back should be raring to go on both ends at the Stadium of Light.

Midfielders

Dele Alli (Tottenham v. Watford) [9.0, 17.05]

Absolutely on fire with four goals and three assists in his last five games. You have to cross your fingers that Mauricio Pocchetino won’t rest him, but Alli’s youth gives hope that he will get the start.

Marc Albrighton (Leicester City at Everton) [4.9, 8.27]

Averaging 5.0 ppg in Official over his past four games while notching double digit points in each via Fantrax thanks to a quartet of assists, Albrighton is a big part of the Foxes’ recent Renaissance.

Andre Ayew (West Ham v. Swansea) [7.1, 4.10]

Since returning from injury, Ayew is averaging 4.8 ppg in Official and 8.8 in Fantrax. He’s quite affordable and has a home match-up against Swansea which has surrendered at least two goals in each of its last five away trips.

Eden Hazard (Chelsea at Bournemouth) [10.2, 18.03]

Not quite as volcanic as the aforementioned Spurs star, but Hazard’s no chopped liver with three goals and a pair of assists in his past four games. When the Belgian’s in such a rich vein of form, it’s not a bad idea to have him on your team.

Son Heung-Min (Tottenham v. Watford) [7.0, 10.78]

Dele is on a roll while Son is much cheaper than Eriksen, so that’s why I’m rating that pair ahead of Eriksen, but you can’t go wrong with any of the trio who all starred in the big comeback at Swansea. The only worry is that Vincent Janssen could sneak a start in.

Leroy Sane (Manchester City v. Hull City) [7.6, 5.22]

Hull City has allowed the most away goals in the league, so it’s definitely worth a punt on a midfield bargain like Sane. After all, in terms of recent fantasy scoring he’s actually in the same ballpark as the more heralded, and more expensive, likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and David Silva.

Strikers

Sergio Aguero (Manchester City v. Hull City) [12.7, 15.36]

Here’s hoping Kelechi Iheanacho remains on the bench. Kun has scored in three straight and four of his past games, no reason he won’t keep it up against the visiting Tigers.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United at Sunderland) [11.4, 15.24]

Even though he only had the single penalty kick goal against Everton, it felt like Ibra could easily have had a brace or hat trick. Against Sunderland, the feeling should match the reality.

Romelu Lukaku (Everton v. Leicester City) [10.4, 20.39]

For those worried that King Troll may have returned with absolute duds in his past two games, don’t forget that both of those fixtures were on the road. Lukaku has scored at least one goal in each of his past six home games with a total of 10 in that span. Leicester City is coming off a clean sheet, but that was against Sunderland which, again, hadn’t scored in its five prior games either.

Pedro (Chelsea at Bournemouth) [7.2, 11.38]

Pedro has hit double digit points in six of his past seven games in Fantrax, and he barely missed in the other one. He’s not a bad option in Official with two goals and two assists across that span, but Pedro’s a real gem in Fantrax. [Note: Pedro is listed as a striker in Fantrax but as a midfielder in Official.]

Jamie Vardy (Leicester City at Everton) [10.1, 9.95]

With five goals and a pair of assists in his past five games, Vardy has truly been the center of the recent Leicester offensive juggernaut. Everton’s tough at home, but it’s difficult to imagine anyone holding Vardy down at the moment.

Be sure to keep an eye out for late team news regarding rotation. Who are you most worried about being rested? How are your teams shaping up? Join in the comments section below!