This week’s waiver wire recommendations feature new arrivals and hopeful revivals.
This year’s January transfer window was actually one of the most active and expensive in recent memory, and several big names actually moved when in the past it had been mostly rumours.
Quality strikers have been hard to find on waivers this year, but suddenly there are multiple options that you can get for free.
Check out the players listed below, depending on your positional need and squad balance, and put in a claim for whomever helps you most.
Keep one eye on the future as Olivier Giroud, Andre Ayew, and Jack Stephens didn’t make the cut this week, but they may pop up on the waiver list next time.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, FWD, Arsenal
Is Aubameyang’s arrival from Dortmund enough to save Arsene Wenger’s job and Arsenal’s season? Maybe not both.
Though the Gabon international is now reunited with last week’s top waiver recommendation, Henrikh Mikhitaryan, Arsenal were woeful in their 3-1 loss to Swansea and it is hard to see how they will get back on track.
Nevertheless, strikers like Aubameyang don’t come along very often, and whatever risk he carries is far outweighed by his promise.
Even though he will probably play in a front two with Alexandre Lacazette and that stands to lower the points ceiling for both, Aubameyang is Arsenal’s new record signing because they will expect him to deliver.
Yes, it is a bad situation to walk into, and the Gunner fans are right to be upset about the outlook of their club, but Draft Fantasy managers should not pass him by.
Next up: Home to Everton, away to Spurs, home to Manchester City.
Aymeric Laporte, DEF, Manchester City
Many pundits and fans alike expected Pep Guardiola to replenish the City defense, and Laporte does just that.
Pep even started the 23-year old from Athletic Bilbao right away against West Brom, and he earned a clean sheet.
Guaranteed starters like Laporte are becoming increasingly important with only about 1/3 of the Premier League season left to play.
The Frenchman is essentially a record signing – currency valuations for Kevin De Bruyne aside – and though City have been spending a lot in the last year, the expected champions have Draft Fantasy value at every position.
The center back figures to partner Nicolas Otamendi on most occasions, thus pushing the injury-addled Vincent Kompany and pressured John Stones down the bench.
Like the other new arrivals, he is 100% available until waivers are processed, so get him while you can if your waiver priority is high enough.
Next up: Away to Burnley, home to Leicester, away to Arsenal.
Seamus Coleman, DEF, Everton
Coleman is the first player to appear on this week’s list who is not a new arrival, but he might as well be since he hasn’t played all season.
That is, until he started and played 90 minutes in the 2-1 win over Leicester.
The Irishman is returning from a long absence due to a gruesome broken sustained on international duty, and he’s finally back on the pitch getting minutes again.
When at his best, Coleman is an elite attacking option as a fullback.
If given some time to properly reacclimatise, he should be a top option again for the last dozen games this year. After all, he has 18 career Premier League goals.
Clean sheets have been surprisingly elusive for Jordan Pickford and the rest of the Toffees, but that too could improve for the stretch run under Sam Allardyce.
Coleman is 38% owned right now, but expect that to go up.
Next up: Away to Arsenal, home to Crystal Palace, away to Watford.
Daniel Sturridge, FWD, West Brom
Sturridge, unlike Laporte and Coleman, did not start in midweek, but he is worthy of recognition anyway.
There has been much attention given to Sturridge’s exquisite form when he partnered Luis Suarez, but the years since then have been hampered by injury.
It’s been discussed as nauseam, so suffice it to say that Sturridge desperately needed a change so that he could try and get back to his better days.
He’s a very different player than Solomon Rondon and even Jay Rodriguez for that matter.
Pardew should start Sturridge against Chelsea or, more likely, versus Huddersfield and see how long he can go.
A goal, or at least a promising showing, would make him rosterable in eight-team or larger leagues.
Pardew has already played up his England chances, but Sturridge has much more to prove than that.
Next up: Home to Southampton, away to Chelsea, home to Huddersfield.
Lucas Moura, MID, Spurs
Another new arrival – Moura has signed for Spurs for Paris St. Germain on a multi-year deal.
The right winger had 11 goals last season, and has been an important cog in PSG’s machine the last several years. S
imilar to his reunited teammate Serge Aurier, Moura will most probably have been promised regular playing time by Mauricio Pocchetino.
However, it’s hard to see how both Moura and the in-form Heung-Min Son play together with Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen undroppable.
Some expect Moura to actually switch to the left side and relegate Son to the bench.
In any event, Moura is quick and seasoned, and after he adjusts to the Premier League this year, he could be a mid-round pick in next year’s draft.
For the time being, he is a decent gamble on the waiver wire.
Next up: Away to Liverpool, home to Arsenal, away to Crystal Palace.
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