Fantasy Football: Boost your defence with these big team bargains

We’ve some big name bargains for you this week.

Three of the top four teams are at home, as are in-form Liverpool, and Manchester City are away to struggling Aston Villa. The smaller sides have performed well so far this season, but this could be a gameweek where the bigger teams strike back.

We’re tipping three players from the big teams to buy, two of whom are criminally undervalued, and three that you need to get rid of ASAP.

Three players to sign:

Marcos RojoFixture: Manchester United v West Brom

Value: 5.4 million

Selected by: 1.7%

Most of the focus in recent weeks has been on how boring Manchester United have been, Wayne Rooney’s poor form and Louis van Gaal’s side lack of incision. The team’s striking woes have overshadowed United’s solid defence.

Van Gaal’s team haven’t conceded a goal in four games, and was last breached in the Premier League over a month ago against Arsenal. That defensive solidity should continue this gameweek, despite West Brom’s decent record at Old Trafford.

The Baggies have won their last two away games against United, and kept four clean sheets in their last five games, but don’t score a lot and look unlikely to breach United’s defence.

Marcos Rojo has been in very good form for the side, scoring 22 points in his last three games, and is owned a tiny percentage of Fantasy Football managers. He does have a tendency to get booked – picking up two in his last three games – but offers a threat going forward and is the cheapest of United’s starting defenders.

Six points from Rojo looks likely, but don’t expect a classic at Old Trafford. Only West Brom, with 109, have attempted fewer shots than Manchester United, with 110 in the Premier League this season.

Christian Benteke

Fixture: Liverpool v Crystal Palace

Value: 8.3 million

Selected by: 13.5%

Looking for an-form striker who isn’t Jamie Vardy? Then Christian Benteke is your man. The Liverpool forward has scored three goals in his last four games, despite making his way back to full fitness.

During Benteke’s time at Aston Villa, the Belgian striker tended to go on scoring streaks, including a spell last spring when he scored 12 goals in 12 games that ultimately kept the side in the Premier League.

Although Sunday’s opponents Palace should prove tricky for Liverpool – Pardew’s side have 28 away points in 2015, second only to Arsenal – there’s enough to suggest Benteke could be amongst the goals again.

The Belgian’s last three goals have come in the last 15 minutes of games, perhaps owing to Jurgen Klopp’s side increased fitness and intensity in games.

Nicolás Otamendi

Fixture: Aston Villa v Manchester City

Value: 6.5 million

Selected by: 0.8%

Another player for a big team in excellent form, yet Otamendi is selected by less than one per cent of players. The Argentine centre-half has 19 points in his last two games, and looks a banker to claim another clean sheet against struggling Aston Villa.

Otamendi also looks to cemented his place alongside Vincent Kompany, and poses a threat from set-pieces.

Three players to sell:

Bafétimbi GomisFixture: Norwich City v Swansea

Value: 6.8 million

Selected by: 12.3

The Swansea striker started the season in sensational form, scoring four goals in his first four games. Gomis has scored since, and looked desperately short of confidence when he missed a one on one chance against Arsenal last week.

He may fancy his chances against a Norwich side leaking goals, but with other, more in-form options available, it’s probably best not wasting another gameweek with an out of form striker in your side.

Memphis Depay

Fixture: Manchester United v West Brom

Value: 8 million

Selected by: 7.5%

He hasn’t had a start in United’s past three games, wasn’t scoring points when he was in the team anyway, and looks to be out of the team for the foreseeable future thanks to his own poor form, and Jesse Lingard’s impressive showings.

To the 7.5% who have the Dutch winger in your team, get rid of him and do it now.

Diego Costa

Fixture: Stoke City v Chelsea

Value: 11 million

Selected by: 6.7%

Diego Costa was so bad against Liverpool last week he barely resorted to his trademark WWE badguy routine, while his confidence appears to be so depleted he’d rather throw himself to the ground than take a shot on goal.

Costa has been a shadow of the player he was last season, and, at a such a high price, it is hard to justify his inclusion.

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