WhoScored Tipster: Who to buy in Yahoo! Fantasy Football this week

The focus might be on two tantalising FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley this weekend but there are still Premier League fixtures ahead of us for our fantasy football teams. WhoScored.com has partnered with Yahoo! for their Fantasy Football to provide users with tips for each gameweek, continuing this weekend.

Before running through our team for gameweek 34, UK users can get a £50 bonus on Yahoo! when you deposit at least £5 using the WhoScored bonus code WS50.

Goalkeeper – ARTUR BORUC

The Bournemouth No.1 might not be the best goalkeeper in the Premier League but there are moments when Artur Boruc can produce stunning performances for the Cherries. He is currently a top-20 form player in England’s top tier and should continue that when Bournemouth host relegation strugglers Middlesbrough this weekend.

Boro have not won away from home in the Premier League since their first away game back in August and have failed to score in seven of their last nine away matches. Given only two goalkeepers have made more saves in England’s top tier this season than Boruc (103), there should be big points to be made on a relatively cheap option.

Defender – STEVE COOK

Continuing with a theme, Middlesbrough’s chances of picking up points look very slim. They are the league’s lowest goalscorers this season and look set for relegation. It’s about maximising these opportunities when you can.

Not only has Cook scored three times this season, but the reported West Brom target will also pick up defensive points on Yahoo! Fantasy Football, averaging 1.1 tackles, 1.9 interceptions and 1.1 blocks per game – all points scoring methods on Yahoo! Bournemouth have not conceded to Middlesbrough in their two previous meetings and don’t look set to here either.

Defender – ANDREA RANOCCHIA

With Hull returning to home soil this weekend it’s worth noting that Marco Silva hasn’t lost a domestic home match in more than three years. They face a Watford side that have lost nine of their last 11 away matches, but failed to score in seven of those.

Ranocchia, a January signing, has made a positive impact for Silva’s side in their unlikely bid to beat the drop and has even scored or assisted three goals in his last four appearances for the Tigers. Harry Maguire isn’t a bad alternative, as Hull look set to win their eighth home game of the league campaign.

Defender – BEN MEE

All the attention will be on Michael Keane when Burnley welcomes his former side Manchester United this weekend but Ben Mee’s performances alongside him have gone without any real praise. Mee is currently a top-20 form player and can expect a busy afternoon when they welcome United on Sunday, but busy could also mean high scoring.

United will dominate possession but they will be tired from their Europa League match on Thursday and may follow in the footsteps of Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton to drop points at Turf Moor. Jose Mourinho’s side were held to a 0-0 draw in the reverse fixture and will need to be at their attacking best, something they’ve not been for most of the season, to break a Burnley outfit that have won 32 of their 36 league points at home this season. 

Midfielder – XHERDAN SHAQIRI

Stoke’s season is threatening to peter out but Mark Hughes’ decision to change formation to a back three last weekend has offered promise to a happier end to the season. His decision to move both Marko Arnautovic and Xherdan Shaqiri in behind the striker paid dividends as both scored and assisted in their 3-1 win over Hull.

Mark Hughes side travel to a Swansea side that are in freefall at the moment and Shaqiri will be looking to build on his good showing last time out. Given Shaqiri takes set-pieces for Stoke, he will also be able to rack up extra points for crosses.

Midfielder – IDRISSA GUEYE

Not all players in Yahoo! Fantasy Football need to be goalscorers. Given you earn extra points for tackles and interceptions; it’s hard to look beyond the master of that trade in Idrissa Gueye. In fact, no player has completed more combined this season than the Everton midfielder (190) who is not only one of the bargains of the season but a cheap option for fantasy football users looking to free up space for other players.

Midfielder – PAUL POGBA

The world’s most expensive player in the world continues to divide opinion but United’s best moments have usually revolved around the Frenchman. No player has attempted more passes in the Premier League this season than Pogba (2070) and he should add to that tally against Burnley, who only average 41.8% possession at home.

Pogba isn’t afraid of testing the goalkeeper from distance either and that could be a familiar trend on Sunday, particularly if Burnley’s resilient defence frustrate United.

Midfielder – KAMIL GROSICKI

We’ve picked some Hull players at the back but now we need someone to rack the points up in attack. Grosicki, another player signed by Silva in January, has registered three assists in his last two appearances at the KCOM Stadium.

Utility – JOSHUA KING

The Bournemouth striker has enjoyed a sensational 2017 and has established himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet for Eddie Howe as a result. In fact, only Romelu Lukaku (14) and Harry Kane (12) have scored more goals in this calendar year in the Premier League than King (10).

A return to home soil should benefit Bournemouth as they look to steer clear of the bottom three and facing a Middlesbrough side that offer little in attack should provide Bournemouth with the platform to risk going forward, with King the most likely option to break the Boro defence.

Striker – ROMELU LUKAKU

We backed him last weekend and he didn’t disappoint and we cannot dispense with the Premier League’s top goalscorer (24) this weekend either. Lukaku is on fire at the moment and should be chomping at the bit to get at a West Ham side that have underwhelmed all season.

In fact, Lukaku has scored more goals against West Ham (9) than any other team in his career. 64.1% of Yahoo! Fantasy Football users picked Lukaku last weekend and you can expect more of the same, if not more this time around. He is a player that cannot be missed.

Striker – CHRISTIAN BENTEKE

The Belgium international will be looking to prove Jurgen Klopp wrong this weekend when he returns to Anfield after the Liverpool manager deemed him surplus to requirements last summer.

Benteke failed to make the grade at Liverpool but has scored three goals on his two previous appearances at Anfield as an opposition player. The Palace striker has scored or assisted four goals in his last four appearances and is also the third highest rated player away from home in the league this season (7.71 rating). Palace may not win, but Benteke should enjoy a happy return to Anfield.