The Waiver Wire must go on, but it continues to be stretched thin as the must-haves (Leroy Sane, Pascal Gross, Phil Jones, Antonio Rudiger, and Davinson Sanchez) are already taken in many competitive leagues.
Nevertheless, the powers that be continue to slowly shift, albeit more at a glacial pace rather than sudden and exciting quakes. Here are the latest players who have edged themselves into consideration.
Demarai Gray, MID, Leicester
Claude Puel gave Leicester the new-manager-bump, and his new squad dispatched Everton who are still searching for their new boss.
The uber-talented Gray (just 1% owned) has been starved for starts since he joined roughly a season and a half ago, but Puel might be the man to get the best out of the 21-year old Englishmen.
From Birmingham, both in terms of hometown and prior club, Gray has pace and the ability to go past his man, such as when he assisted the assister for Jamie Vardy’s first goal, and then also when he architected the second goal.
It may be a bit generous to credit Gray when it might’ve been an own-goal, but I’m sure he won’t mind. Keep an eye on this reborn Leicester side if they can string together some performances.
Gray’s fellow English youngster Ben Chilwell (also just 1%) could benefit from the new management as well.
Next up: Away to Stoke, home to Manchester City, away to West Ham.
Kevin Mirallas, MID, Everton
We need to talk about Kevin. The Belgian has waffled between brilliance and disappointment for a few seasons now, but he is still a player that fancies a shot and Everton need whatever injection they can get.
With Ronald Koeman now out, the Toffees have to be the most disappointing team to date. Jordan Pickford hasn’t kept his sheets clean, Gylfi Sigurdsson has been a ghost of his former self, and the future is not particularly promising.
Wayne Rooney has had a few moments, but they can’t rely on him much longer. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been decent in other competitions and could be one to watch, but he still hasn’t scored in the EPL season. Oumar Niasse can’t seem to catch a break.
So, whoever ends up in charge, the 15% owned Mirallas could be given another chance to roam free in the attacking third. Someone has to be given a chance to score. As an attacking midfielder, you might take a punt on him if the forward line continues to defy prediction.
Next up: Home to Watford, away to Crystal Palace, away to Southampton.
Glenn Murray, FWD, Brighton
A-B-S. Always. Be. Scoring. This is the apparent belief of in-form forward Glenn Murray (6%), and if you pick him up this week, you can change your team name to Glenn Murray Glen Ross.
What happened to Tomer Hemed after his suspension? Well, the Israeli is available again but Murray was preferred because he has three goals in the last two and Brighton have only conceded one in the last three.
They seem to like having him up top. Murray is always a fun player to root for, dating back to his playing origin with the Wilmington Hammerheads, the third-tier American Soccer league.
He has had injury problems throughout his journeyman career, but when he plays, he scores. 175 goals in his career. Maybe a few more still to come, and hopefully you don’t end up chasing points.
Next up: Away to Swansea, home to Stoke, away to Manchester United.
Andre Ayew, MID, West Ham
The Ghanaian Andre Ayew (14%) got a chance to shine with Andy Carroll out, and thoguh they aren’t like-for-like, Ayew offers a unique threat for Slaven Bilic’s side.
Ayew scored a brace in the last Carabao Cup game, and he added another last weekend. You get the feeling that Ayew’s relationship with the players around him might offer more to the Hammers than Carroll.
For a chance at consistent returns, Ayew has more movement, and covers more ground. He must go the full 90 minutes more than he has, which has only been gameweeks one and ten.
He also has to pass his younger brother Jordan at Swansea in the total points race, which is an interesting fraternal battle this season. Jordan has played more than 400 more minutes, but the younger brother only has three more points in standard scoring.
Andre’s edge is that he is classified as a midfielder and can earn clean sheet points, and an extra point for his goals. He also was the higher draft pick, on average, than his brother, and must begin to repay that faith more regularly.
Next up: Home to Liverpool, away to Watford, home to Leicester.
Joe Gomez, DEF, Liverpool
Touting a Liverpool defender feels like playing with fire. It’s sort of like thinking about getting back with your ex because even though they’ve burned you in the past, they’re still a good person at heart (and can you really do any better?!). It might be a mistake, but Joe Gomez (4%) looks like a pretty good option right now, if only for a fling because you’re desperate.
James Milner stepped up in defense, at least in Draft Fantasy’s eyes, and scored 9 points in standard leagues, nearly half of his season total of 20. However, he does not qualify for the waiver wire as he is more than 70% owned. Joel Matip (56%) will rue his missed headers, otherwise he might have scored a few this year.
Perhaps Dejan Lovren’s absence helped the entire defensive unit keep their clean sheet vs. Huddersfield, and hopefully Jurgen Klopp will use his stylish spectacles to read between the lines. Of the seven games Gomez has started, he has four clean sheets.
He also puts in some crosses and could get a few assists over the course of the season, even playing in a back three. Andy Robertson was a sleeper going in to this season, but Gomez seems to be the top choice of who is likely available.
Up next: Away to West Ham, home to Southampton, home to Chelsea.
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