Which of the Cherry Forwards is Bourne to Run?

Jermain Defoe, Callum Wilson, Josh King, and Benik Afobe. The four Bournemouth forwards have each had varying degrees of success and failure this year, and now halfway through the season, and Draft Fantasy managers are still asking themselves: which is worth the gamble?

The Cherries, currently sitting in 16th in the EPL table, have been surprisingly erratic considering what high hopes many pundits had for them going into the season. The red and black on their jerseys might as well be a metaphor for the roulette wheel, and that they are simultaneously capable of dismantling Huddersfield 4-0 and being taken to task by Liverpool for the reverse score.

It is fitting then, that Cherries are back to being sponsored by Mansion who own an online casino, a previous sponsor of other EPL clubs and a leader in the online industry.  Bournemouth staying up the past few years, getting sponsorships, and keeping the coveted Eddie Howe as manager has all been good business. But the present squad (January transfer notwithstanding – and little is expected) is struggling to create clear distance between themselves and the relegation fighters. Despite the on-again off-again production from their quartet of forwards, there is much work left to be done.

So let’s take a look at each of Wilson, Defoe, King, and Afobe, and break down the potential fantasy implications.

Jermain Defoe, 37 points: 3 goals, 1 assist

First up: Jermain Defoe. The 35-year-old Englishman is back with Bournemouth after a brief loan spell to start the new millennium way back in 2000. That’s how long he’s been around, and he’s pretty much scored wherever he’s been. Defoe is in direct competition with Callum Wilson, it would seem, for the striker position where each would be asked to play on the last defender, try to get in behind, and do whatever they can to scrap for goals. Defoe doesn’t necessarily need the team to do well, as evidenced by his 15 goals for Sunderland last season. But he does need regular starts and a lot of minutes, which is no longer a guarantee. He’s still probably the best option in all Draft formats, but he’s only played more than 70 minutes in seven EPL matches so far. With 37 points in standard scoring, his value will stay where it is as long as injuries threaten the others, unless it doesn’t due to his recent apparent injury. But, when they’re all fit, it’s a roll of the dice.

UPDATE: Defoe will reportedly be out until February

Callum Wilson, 25 points: 3 goals, 0 assists

Wilson, the 25-year-old Englishmen from Coventry hasn’t yet shown that he can coexist with Defoe, or that he has overtaken him in the pecking order, but he’s nevertheless an intriguing option. His three goals on the season are all from one hattrick appearance, and he’s still having to fight through health problems after a rupturing ACLs in both knees over the course of the last two seasons. Coming back from such serious injuries means he may never be the same again, but there is still the relatively recent memory of 2015 when he scored 5 in 13 and was a waiver wire hero, before his injury, that is. A distinct advantage he does have over Defoe is that while Defoe is 38% owned, Wilson is less that 10% owned and therefore more widely available. If Wilson can overcome his most recent problems, Howe would be wise to let him take over the central striker role for years to come.

Josh King, 41 points: 2 goals, 1 assist

The Norwegian King was fantasy royalty last year when classified as a midfielder and scoring goals for fun over the second half of the season. The returns have been much more muted this year, and not helped by the fact that he was reclassified as a forward and thus losing out on midfield cleansheet points and the extra point for goals. King had played almost every minute of the EPL season before last weekend’s Liverpool game, where he went off with a suspected hamstring injury.  The full extent is not yet known but Howe is said to be “hugely worried” about King, who is at least certain to miss the next match and probably more. Even in a support role to Defoe/Wilson, King was valuable as a guaranteed starter and especially so in TIR leagues where his deep-lying position sometimes garnered bonus points. When he comes back, continue to roster him in TIR but be wary to start him or even roster him in standard leagues. It’s somewhat surprising he’s still 55% owned.

Benik Afobe, 0 goals, 1 assist

The youngest of the bunch at 24, the out-of-favor Afobe might be sold in the next transfer window, but if he is still a Bournemouth man come February, he’s one to monitor. All four strikers have been banged up, so Afobe just about remains in contention. The Championship doesn’t usually translate to similar EPL production, but it’s still impressive that he had 22 in 46 for Wolverhampton. Not as impressive is 6 in 31 last year for the Cherries. Yet Howe has played Afobe in 12 matches, so there is still some faith in his abilities.