GW9 Waiver Wire Targets

Are Brighton serious title challengers? Does Xabi Alonso have what it takes to find consistent form? Can Manchester City and Maresca turn things around after back to back losses? Are Sunderland, Forest, and Palace really the three worst teams in the league? I do not know the future so I cannot say, but that is why we play fantasy sports games.

Below are a slew of options to help you navigate the chaos, from stalwart defenders being overlooked to midfielders whose roles are quietly growing and a couple of stashes who could pay off once the international break is over. Every player listed is rostered in 60% or fewer of Fantrax leagues, so there’s a good chance at least a few of them are sitting on your waiver wire right now. Whether you’re chasing a title or trying to stop the bleeding, there’s something here for everyone.

Abdukodir Khusanov – 33% – Manchester City

Khusanov has been starting at center back for City, and went the full 90 in the last two games he did, including in the 1-0 loss to Brighton. That loss was City's second straight defeat, which may explain why he's still widely available. City are comfortable favorites at a struggling Forest, then host Fulham. A trip to Arsenal and a home game against Leeds follow. His per-game average already beats many defenders rostered above 60%, as he averages around 9 points per game when he starts the match. I cannot guarantee Maresca won’t change things up to avoid a third straight defeat in the league, but should you see Khusanov in the lineup I would be quick to snatch him up.

Lewis Dunk – 59% – Brighton and Hove Albion

You know Lewis Dunk, you can trust Lewis Dunk, and when Brighton is performing like this, you might need Lewis Dunk. Dunk is one of the best defenders on this list, and at 8.97 points per game, he is literally the best performing defender still under 60% rostered. His clearance and aerial volume give him a high ghost point floor even without a clean sheet. Although he kept one at the Etihad in Brighton's 1-0 win. Brighton as a team are a whole other conversation as they are flying and their Fantrax assets are putting in performances that mirror the results. The next four for the seagulls are home to Brentford, at Hull, then home to Newcastle and at Bournemouth. He's right at the cutoff, so I hope you heed this warning and pick him up if you need a stalwart defender and he is available in your league.

Abdoul Ouattara – 13% – Ipswich Town

PICK THIS GUY UP!

After the hype of his first three starts, and a fourth disappointing performance, Abdoul had a make or break moment this weekend to prove his Fantrax worth. Prove it he did. Coming off the bench, he managed 0, 1, 2 and 2.5 points in cameos that never lasted longer than 17 minutes. In his five starts, he has scored 9.5, 13.75, 9.25, 4 and 17, which is 53.5 points at just over ten a game, and he has gone the full 90 every time. Last Friday's 4 against Forest was his quietest start, but he has proven his quality this weekend against Hull with a massive 17 point haul and an assist. The schedule is tough, (Bournemouth and Tottenham next), but Ouattara has yielded positive points out of more daunting fixtures in the past.

Sepp van den Berg – 24% – Brentford

There is no reason to be streaming suspect defenders when studs like Sepp Van Den Berg are only 24% rostered. One of the best defenders last year, unfortunately was absent at the beginning of the season due to a groin injury, but he has come back like he never left and it seems like most people haven't gotten the memo. He averaged nearly 10 FPts/G last year, and although we only have a small sample size (including a .25 against Liverpool when he was hooked at 70 minutes), he has turned in back to back performances of 9 and 12.5 respectively. He may wallow under 60% owned for a while as Brentford visit Brighton next, then host Everton after the international break before trips to Manchester United and home dates with Arsenal and Manchester City.

Jordan Henderson/Romeo Lavia – 57/17% – Chelsea

This really should say “pick up whoever is starting in central midfield next to Moises Caicedo”. Xabi Alonso may have finally brought some order and structure to the rodeo that is Chelsea Football Club, and his work in the midfield is 100% the reason why. Since the return of Moises Caicedo, Chelsea have won three out of their four games, scored 9 goals in that stretch and earned two clean sheets. Two clean sheets may not be the signal it seems like on paper, but when you realize Chelsea hadn’t kept a single clean sheet since before Liam Rosenior left, the gears start turning and the light at the end of the Todd Boehly shaped tunnel starts to look a bit brighter. Lavia stepped into Henderson this past weekend and turned in a bountiful 19 points, albeit with a clean sheet and assist. If you are setting your lineup, and Chelsea has a favorable matchup, I would seriously think about plugging and playing one of the pivots next to Caicedo.

Tyrique George – 43% – Everton

George’s value depends entirely on whether Jack Grealish plays. Grealish was dropped and fined for a breach of club discipline after failing to report for training. He missed both the 2-0 loss at Arsenal and Thursday’s 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Newcastle, and he wasn’t at the stadium for the cup tie. David Moyes called it “a club decision” that he supports and declined to discuss it further. All 48.5 of George's points have come in his five starts, an average of 9.7 per start. His three appearances off the bench produced a combined zero. His best outing was 21.5 points with a goal against Manchester United. In his most recent start, filling in for Grealish at Arsenal, he scored 9 points with two chances created and four crosses. 9 points at the current champions cannot be ignored, and depending on Everton's performance on Monday against Newcastle, George may be the hottest waiver wire claim this week.

Nico Gonzalez – 20% – Newcastle

González has become one of the most secure starters in Newcastle’s midfield after completing his move from the Cityzens this summer. He has started all six of his league appearances, and after being subbed off around the 70th minute in the opening weeks, he has played the full 90 in each of the last three. That run of 270 minutes has produced 32.25 points, an average of 10.75 per match. His ceiling is limited for a midfielder who doesn’t score often, and he’ll have the occasional low game, like his 2 points against Aston Villa. The case for him is minutes and steady defensive work in a format that rewards both. Newcastle host Everton tonight and visit Fulham on Saturday. Should Fernandez-Pardo be fit enough to start, I would prefer picking him up, but if you are struggling to field a competitive midfield you could do a lot worse than Nico.

Harry Wilson – 58% – Leeds United

Shoutout Tim!

Wilson arrived at Leeds as one of the more dangerous attacking midfielders from his time at Fulham, but a slow start and then a quadriceps injury kept him out of the Crystal Palace match and Wales’ international fixtures. He spent the early weeks largely as a substitute, logging 17 to 19 minutes in several matches, which explains his 3.7 points per game and his lack of a goal or assist so far. The trend is now moving the right way. After returning from the bench at Arsenal, Wilson has started back-to-back matches: 65 minutes in the 0-0 draw at Sunderland, then 83 minutes in the 2-0 loss at Bournemouth. Those are his two best scores since the season opener, and both came in road games where Leeds struggled to create chances. He’s someone to watch rather than an automatic add. If he keeps the starting spot and his minutes keep rising, the goal contributions should follow. Leeds host Tottenham next, then visit Chelsea before home games against Coventry and a trip to Manchester City.

Ibrahim Mbaye – 32% – Aston Villa

This is a situational pick, not a pure plug and play, as most Forwards on the waiver wire are not this season. Mbaye came off the bench against Fulham as he has in all of his league appearances thus far. Alysson seems to be hanging onto the starting spot on the right hand side, but is yet to prove his Fantrax value, and his status as a starter may be nearing an end. Mbaye has scored 25.5 points in about 132 minutes over six substitute appearances, a rate of roughly 17 points per 90. Villa’s schedule is the best in the league: at Manchester United, home to Sunderland, at Ipswich and home to Everton. His average is low, but any increase in minutes on that run would make him startable. If Unai Emery gives him his first start in that run, his scoring rate suggests double-digit upside, hold him as a stash.

Jorgen Strand Larsen – 34% – Crystal Palace

After a defeat to Spurs at the weekend, Palace and Sage find themselves withering in the drop-zone with not much hope for improvement. Mateta’s return proved to be more hurtful than helpful as he was shown a straight red card for a rather cynical raking of van de Ven’s achilles. Ismaila Sarr has only played 15 minutes in the Premier League all season, and any consistency in the team’s performances has been hard to find. But hard times create great opportunities for those who want to fight. Mateta is set to miss the next three league games, meaning Strand Larsen has a small window to validate his 50 million dollar price tag. With a matchup against Liverpool, this week may not be the time to start him, but back to back games against newly promoted teams in the weeks following (at Coventry and home to Hull) means that he could be a very valuable short-term addition.