When seven teams with popular defenders keep clean sheets and there are plenty of goals from star players (apologies to Spurs fans), that is the perfect combination for a points bonanza like we saw last weekend. Hopefully you caught the best of it.

GWs 13 and 14 are coming in quick succession next, so try to pick sure starters. However, it is never too early to look to the far future, which is what the waiver wire picks do this week.

Callum Wilson, FWD, Bournemouth

 

Where there’s a Wilson (4% owned), there’s a way! Eddie Howe’s productive striker has returned to good health, and anytime you bag a hat trick, you deserve top spot in the waiver wire rankings.

Worth pointing out that this is not the first time this man has scored three in the Premier League. Draft Fantasy managers might recall the quick start Wilson had in 2015 (including a hat trick against West Ham) before rupturing his ACL.

After that lengthy recovery and some other bumps along the way, it can be said that Jermain Defoe is now an afterthought for the Cherries. Wilson is the main man up top, which means the only real question remaining is what to do with Josh King.

King, now listed as a forward rather than a midfielder is also returning to form and he and Wilson should feed off each other, but the Norwegian international’s stock takes a hit when it would otherwise gone much higher.

Next up: Away to Swansea, home to Burnley, away to Southampton.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, FWD, Manchester United

 

“Lions do not recover like humans.” This is Zlatan’s assessment of his own recovery from a serious knee injury last April, in which he refers to himself in third person as a lion and hardly anyone is surprised.

Zlatan (16%) is simply one of the few players in the world, ever, who can get away with this kinds of things. Despite the hyperbole, it is miraculous that he has been able to return to Jose Mourinho’s squad ahead of schedule.

He didn’t look very mobile during his cameo against Newcastle, but the Swede did reclaim the central role and push Romelu Lukaku to the wing.

Zlatan also showed flashes of his old self, like his falling first-time volley that kept Rob Elliot alert at his back post.

Fantasy managers may not want to start Zlatan until Mourinho does, but Lukaku is ready for a rest and Zlatan would be very keen to prove he still has it this season at 36.

Next up: Home to Brighton, away to Watford, away to Arsenal.

Vincent Kompany, DEF, Manchester City

 

The City captain is back fit, but for how long is anybody’s guess. While Kompany (57%) may not last the rest of the season, he has several fantasy factors in his favour:

First, he has Pep Guardiola’s trust and admiration and has kept his captain’s armband.

Second, City are still in fine form and a threat to keep a clean sheet by way of their huge possession percentages.

Third, Kompany scores his fair share of headed goals, and corners should still be in steady supply.

Fourth, he was rested in the midweek Champions League fixture against Feyenoord, boosting his chances of starting one of the two Premier League fixtures piling up for this weekend and next week.

Lastly, John Stones is out for four-six weeks, which further cements Kompany’s place on the back line. His only real competition is Elliaquim Mangala, who be he worthy of a much riskier add to your team.

Next up: away to Huddersfield, home to Southampton, away to West Ham.

Christian Benteke, FWD, Crystal Palace

 

Bettors could stand to make a tidy profit if any had bet before the season that Zlatan, supposedly out until 2018, would score before Christian Benteke (39%), a second round pick in many 10-team drafts.

But, here we are in late November and both players came off the bench in their previous Premier League match looking to get on the scoresheet for the first time this season.

However different their circumstances, there is sound logic in both backing a player (Zlatan), who will be a backup to a high power team, and touting a figurehead for an awful team (Benteke) which will need to attack often to try and come from behind.

As good as Wilfried Zaha has been for Palace since his return, the dream would be for Draft Fantasy managers to have Benteke do the same when he only cost a waiver pick or a free transfer.

The Belgian has waffled with poor performances with Liverpool and through injury with Palace, but he is still only a 26-year-old bruiser who scored 15 goals last season, and 51 in the four years before that.

He tends to blank and then erupt for big performances, so he might be more attractive in season long formats as he is too unpredictable in head-to-head.

Next up: Home to Stoke, away to Brighton, home to West Brom.

Erik Lamela, MID, Tottenham or Yannick Bolasie, MID, Everton

 

The Argentinian Lamela (7%) shares the last spot on our waiver wire rankings with Evertonian Yannick Bolasie (3%). Lamela seems marginally closer to a return, but Bolasie is not far off.

Both are in similar positions, long-term absentees now training with the Under-23s and being shielded from much fanfare by their clubs.

Truth be true told, Mauricio Pochettino has already said they will not rush Lamela back after 13 months injured, so the festive period remains the probable return time.

Lamela’s advantage over Bolasie is that Spurs are a better squad than Everton, and Harry Kane will be better assist recipient than whoever Everton can muster.

The Spurs midfield is stronger too, which could be a disadvantage if it prevents Lamela from playing. However, at the moment, Spurs could really use some rotation and competition.

Bolasie, like Benteke, might find that his biggest fantasy draw is that his team is not very good this year, and they’ll have to throw themselves into attack however often they go behind.

So flip a coin with these two, assess their availability in your mini-league, and hope you got the best one. Neither will be back in the next three Premier League games, so look at the end of December schedule for any favourable match-ups.