Fantasy Football: Week Eight studs revealed

So we are through another international weekend and it was full of drama again. Fancy not closing the roof. Ah well, least its over and done with and we can get back to the Premier League for a good few weeks.

This weekend is going to be a cracker for me, due to the Tyne-Wear derby, and you can read all about mine and Sunderland reporter Sarshar Hosseinnia’s opinions on that here.

Luckily most of our Premier League favourites seem to have got through this weekend unscathed, apart from Theo Walcott (chest), Borini (broken foot) and David Silva (hamstring).

Defenders

Leighton Baines: Good fixture for the Everton defender away to QPR. Rangers have only scored one goal at home this season. Also Baines is an ever present threat from dead ball situations

Sasha Reither: Showing some real potential getting forward. Also a reasonably easy fixture at home against Aston Villa. Cheap price tag makes him the pick of the Fulham defenders for me.

Liverpool: If you can figure out who is going to play where in the Liverpudlian backline, then go for it for their fixture at home against newcomers Reading. Take note of Andre Wisdom, who is cheap and getting the starting nod at left back.

Carl Jenkinson: Jenkinson has being playing with real prowess this season, and with this week against a lacklustre Norwich side and next week against QPR, I fancy the young fullback. He is cheap as well.

Midfielders

Michu: Even though Swansea have gone off the boil, Michu keeps getting those points. I’d like to think he will do well at home against Wigan this weekend.

Santi Cazorla: The main man at Arsenal this season. See my reasoning for Jenkinson, and add significant attacking threat.

Damien Duff: Duff is killing it this season! 37 points already. His price is only 6.3 and a tasty fixture against Aston Villa, the Irishman could be good to cash in on.

*Both Tottenham and Chelsea midfielders are normally go to players. But they are up against one another. If you have them, stick with them. But don’t go splashing the cash on them this weekend unless you are predicting a goal frenzy at White Hart Lane.

Attackers

Luis Suarez: You all know I hate him, but as any good fantasy manager will tell you, you have to look past personal motives when picking a team. He looks on form and coming up against Reading he should score.

Arsenal Forwards: Not much more to say about the Arsenal/Norwich game. Just that I think there will be goals for the team from London.

Andy Carroll: At home against Southampton, the big lad should cause lots of trouble. I like him for this fixture.

Berbatov: Currently with a light yellow ‘i’ on the website. With 75% chance of playing. If he does play he’ll be up for some good points against Aston Villa.

*Manchester United: Although the Red Devils are coming off a 3-0 victory against Newcastle, no strikers scored that game. RVP and Rooney the midfielder aren’t playing up to their exorbitant price tags. I can’t justify purchasing them. If you have them and are holding on to them . . . good luck.

GoalKeepers

Vito Mannone: That other Arsenal goalkeeper (the one with the name I can't spell) is reported to have had a setback in his rehabilitation. So that leaves Mannone who is priced at a bargain 4.5m to play the next couple of games.

Jussi Jaaskelainen: Playing well, as well as having a cheap price tag. Possibility of a clean sheet against Southampton.

Mark Schwarzer: See my above reasoning for Fulham players. Good chances of a clean sheet. Bit more expensive (5.0) than the others above.

Oh, and congratulations to Chris Sherrard who has been top of the table over the international period. Let's see if he can hold onto it with the rest of the league nipping at his heels.