Fantasy football tips: Four in-form Premier League attacking players to you rocket up the table
By Russell Cane
Everyone loves a goal. When setting up your fantasy football team how much time do you deliberate over whether to go for a defensive 5-4-1 or an attacking 3-4-3 formation? Little, right? You want to see your side scoring goals.
Have your forwards been doing the business for you this season? Or is your side in need of that extra boost upfront?
ITV have teamed up with daily fantasy football game Oulala, who have the most sophisticated scoring matrix in fantasy football, based around 70 differential statistical criteria. Using their extensive database of stats, Oulala have identified four of the most in-form attacking players in the Premier League this season.
If your fantasy football team is lacking that attacking threat, then look no further than these four.
Jamie Vardy
Only two players have outscored Jamie Vardy in Europe this season. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski. The pair have netted two more than the Leicester striker, each scoring 13 goals in the Bundesliga. Vardy's current tally of 11 put's him well ahead of La Liga trio - Neymar (9), Ronaldo (8) and Suarez (8). Oulala's stats show that the 28-year-old has scored his 11 goals from 45 shots giving him a conversion-rate of 24.4 per cent. His shot accuracy sits at 57 per cent this season. Vardy is looking to score for his ninth consecutive game as Leicester host Watford on Saturday, and in his current form who would bet against it?
Olivier Giroud
On a per minute basis, Olivier Giroud is the Premier League's deadliest striker this season. The Frenchman narrowly edges Vardy when the goals are broken down to a per minute basis. Oulala's stats show that his six goals from 532 minutes gives Giroud an average of a goal scored every 88 minutes, compared to 89 minutes from Vardy.
Giroud has registered 31 shots this season, a shot on average every 17 minutes. The 29-year-old's conversion-rate sits at 19.4 per cent and his shot accuracy currently stands at 58 per cent. Arsenal take on Spurs at the Emirates on Sunday. With Giroud netting five goals in his last six games in all competitions, Oulala have identified the Frenchman as a striker that you should definitely consider drafting into your fantasy team this weekend.
Georginio Wijnaldum
Newcastle new boy Gerginio Wijnaldum has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water. The Dutchman has netted six goals for the Magpies this season, including four in his side's 6-2 win over Norwich City.
Notably, of any Premier League player to have scored more than five goals this season, Wijnaldum has been the most clinical. According to Oulala's stats he has scored his six goals from just 17 shots, an astonishing 35.3 per cent conversion-rate. The 24-year-old's shot accuracy is just as impressive. 79 per cent of Wijnaldum's shots have been on target this season.
In Saturday's early kick-off, Newcastle travel to Bournemouth, a side that shipped five goals in their last home game against Tottenham. Oulala have singled out Wijnaldum as the Magpies key man in attack as Newcastle look to climb out of the relegation zone before the international break.
Mesut Özil
Arsenal's Mesut Özil currently leads Europe for assists. The German has tallied an impressive nine assists in 10 games. His closest challengers are three behind with just six assists each. Özil's tally should be no surprise considering the amount of clear cut chances that he is creating. Oulala's stats show that the 27-year-old has made 38 key passes this season, an average of one every 22 minutes.
If Arsenal are to beat Tottenham on Sunday, Özil's battle with midfield duo - Erik Dier and Dele Alli - will be key. In the German's current form, and with home advantage, Özil should be the key man for Arsenal this weekend.