<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2622" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/PR.-Cover-3-300x135.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="450" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/PR.-Cover-3-300x135.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/PR.-Cover-3-768x346.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/PR.-Cover-3.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" />
We at <a href="http://www.thehypetrain.co.uk">The Hype Train</a> will be providing a regular series of Power Rankings updates throughout the season for each position in the traditional Fantasy Premier League game for our partners at the Fantasy Football Hub. We will be picking our top five picks for Goalkeepers, Defenders, Midfielders, and Forwards, providing a graphical aid for each chosen player, and the reasoning behind our choices. All aboard.
<h3>How do our Power Rankings work?</h3>
We use player form, fixtures, potential, and our own gut instinct, to form our own opinionated view on who we believe is the best asset for each position in the FPL. Each position (Goalkeeper, Defender, Midfielder, and Forward) has differing criteria which can help generate FPL points on a weekly basis, whether for short term gain or for the long haul.
For the purpose of this article we will list our top 5 and follow up with a player on the rise in that position to also consider.
All player prices and <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a> are reflective of the official Fantasy Premier League game at the time of publishing.
<h3>Power Rankings: Gameweek 8 (GK&#8217;s, DEF&#8217;s, MID&#8217;s, FOR&#8217;s)</h3>
With time not on our side this week we&#8217;re bringing the Power Rankings to you in one bumper edition, with all the risers, non-movers, and those falling, in their respective positions put under the microscope. We take a look at who made the Power 5 for Goalkeeper&#8217;s Defender&#8217;s, Midfielder&#8217;s, and Forward&#8217;s last week, the movers this week, and some insight into each position ahead of the next round of games this coming weekend.
We profile what we believe to be the best five players in each position in the FPL game right now after Gameweek 7 and heading into Gameweek 8.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1939" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Power-Rankings.-JPEG-300x120.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="400" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Power-Rankings.-JPEG-300x120.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Power-Rankings.-JPEG-768x307.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Power-Rankings.-JPEG.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" />
<h3>POWER 5: Goalkeeper&#8217;s</h3>
Who were in the GK Power Rankings last week? 
1) David de Gea (MUN) – a non-mover 
2) Petr Cech (ARS) – rising from 3rd to 2nd 
3) Ederson (MCI) – new entry 
4) Fraser Forster (SOU) – new entry 
5) Kasper Schmeichel (LEI) – new entry
Who are in the Power 5 heading into Gameweek 9? 
1) David de Gea (MUN) – a non-mover 
2) Lukasz Fabianski (SWA) – new entry 
3) Ederson (MCI) – a non-mover 
4) Joe Hart (WHU) – new entry 
5) Nick Pope (BUR) – new entry
We have three new entries into the Goalkeeper Power Rankings this week, with Lukasz Fabianski, Joe Hart, and Nick Pope, all sneaking into the rankings ahead of Petr Cech, Fraser Forster, and Kasper Schmeichel, who all drop out.
Remaining in top spot is Man United’s David de Gea, who collected a seventh clean sheet from eight Premier League matches in a 0-0 draw at Liverpool. De Gea was in fine form at Anfield making five saves, one of which is up there for save of the season so far (vs. Joel Matip). De Gea collected two bonus points to finish with nine points, his highest total from a single Gameweek this season.
A new entry comes straight in at second, with our Goalkeeper’s treating this list like a personal yo-yo. Swansea’s Lukasz Fabianski, who has been in and out of the list, is in the middle of a run with favourable fixtures, and collected a first clean sheet at home in a 2-0 victory over Huddersfield, to complement the three Swansea have earned away from home.
Remaining in third place is Man City’s Ederson, who was on the unfortunate end of proceedings during Gameweek 8’s 7-2 home victory against Stoke. Ederson claimed a spot on the Power Rankings after three successive clean sheets against Watford, Crystal Palace, and Chelsea, but couldn’t do anything as two deflected shots beat him. Burnley at home means that Ederson is in and around the same position he was last week, brimming with FPL points potential.
A second new entry comes into our fourth spot, with West Ham shot-stopper Joe Hart gloating about becoming the first Goalkeeper this season to register an assist, teeing up Antonio with a long-punt down field against Burnley in a 1-1 draw. In his previous five FPL outings Hart has managed three clean sheets to go alongside his assist, with 28 points from the last five. Hart’s also just £4.4 million and provides serious value is you trust the Hammer’s at the back.
Rounding off the Goalkeeper Power Rankings is a player who was recently rounded himself during Gameweek 8, Burnley’s Nick Pope. Whilst Hart profited with an assist against Burnley, there was to be no egg on the faces of FPL players who own Pope. The shot-stopper is yet to score lower than four points from a starting position, accumulating 23 points from four matches, with bonus points in three of those four matches.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1937" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Power-Rankings.-DEF-300x120.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="400" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Power-Rankings.-DEF-300x120.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Power-Rankings.-DEF-768x307.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Power-Rankings.-DEF.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" />
<h3>POWER 5: Defender&#8217;s</h3>
Who were in the DEF Power Rankings last week? 
1) Phil Jones (MUN) – a non-mover 
2) Nicolas Otamendi (MCI) – rising from 3rd to 2nd 
3) Stephen Ward (BUR) – new entry 
4) Cesar Azpilicueta (CHE) – falling from 2nd to 4th 
5) Sead Kolasinac (ARS) – a non-mover
Who are in the Power 5 heading into Gameweek 9? 
1) Phil Jones (MUN) – a non-mover 
2) Nicolas Otamendi (MCI) – a non-mover 
3) Stephen Ward (BUR) – a non-mover 
4) Federico Fernandez (SWA) – new entry 
5) Kieran Trippier (TOT) – new entry
There are two new entries to the Defender’s Power Rankings this week, with Swansea’s Federico Fernandez, and Spurs’s Kieran Trippier replacing Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta and Arsenal’s Sead Kolasinac, with Azpi in particular suffering badly against Crystal Palace, with the award of an own-goal, whilst Kolasinac suffered heartbreak at Watford with defeat in extra time.
Our persistence with Phil Jones at the top of the Power Rankings list, despite being outperformed by his Man United teammates on given weeks, has finally been given its due reward. Jones featured in the 0-0 draw at Liverpool, and once again backed up that he is a BPS magnet, collecting another bonus points. With Bailly dropped against Palace and Liverpool due to an injury niggle, Jones and Valencia are the only two Defender’s to be involved in all seven of Man United’s clean sheets this season.
Nicolas Otamendi remains in second place, having only managed a single point against Stoke, but due to only four clean sheets during Gameweek 8, we didn’t feel it necessary to move Otamendi or Stephen Ward down in the list of priority defenders to consider. Otamendi’s next task is against Burnley, another potentially mouth-watering clean sheet potential, despite points for Man City being concentrated higher up the pitch.
Also remaining in third position heading into Gameweek 9 is Burnley left-back Stephen Ward, who has had a brilliant start to the season. Ward has been both an attacking and defensive asset this season, with a goal, an assist, and three clean sheets, with seven bonus points this season, having played every minute of the Premier League so far. Man City at the Etihad are next up for Ward, with Burnley hoping to provide a defensive resilience against a free-scoring City outfit.
The first of the new entries, Swansea’s Federico Fernandez, comes into fourth place on the Power Rankings, having collected a first home clean sheet of the season against Huddersfield. Fernandez is a regular fixture at the heart of Swansea’s defence, with the defender picking up four clean sheets, and six bonus points spread across three matches. Much like Phil Jones, Fernandez is a BPS magnet, with only Tammy Abraham collecting more bonus than Fernandez for Swansea so far this season.
Coming in at number five is Spurs full-back Kieran Trippier, who has been a ray of FPL points in recent weeks. Trippier missed the opening day of the season against Newcastle, and has since then played the full 60+ minutes in 6/8 matches, only failing to start in the 3-2 away victory at West Ham, a game which saw his replacement Serge Aurier sent-off. In his last five FPL outings, Trippier has four clean sheets, three assists, and five bonus points to his name.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1940" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Power-Rankings.-MID-300x120.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="400" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Power-Rankings.-MID-300x120.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Power-Rankings.-MID-768x307.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Power-Rankings.-MID.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" />
<h3>POWER 5: Midfielder&#8217;s</h3>
Who were in the MID Power Rankings last week? 
1) Mohamed Salah (LIV) – a non-mover 
2) Henrikh Mkhitaryan (MUN) – a non-mover 
3) David Silva (MCI) – a non-mover 
4) Christian Eriksen (TOT) – a non-mover 
5) Richarlison (WAT) – new entry
Who are in the Power 5 heading into Gameweek 9? 
1) David Silva (MCI) – rising from 3rd to 1st 
2) Christian Eriksen (TOT) – rising from 4th to 2nd 
3) Raheem Sterling (MCI) – new entry 
4) Richarlison (WAT) – rising from 5th to 4th 
5) Pascal Gross (BHA) – new entry
There are two new entries in the Midfielder’s Power Rankings this week, with Man City’s Raheem Sterling and Brighton’s Pascal Gross coming in for Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Mohamed Salah, two early season pace setters in the FPL.
Man City’s playmaker David Silva jumps to the top of the queue for Midfielder’s, and was one of the goal scorers in the 7-2 home victory against Stoke. Silva’s goal against the Potters was his first Premier League goal of the season, adding to his six assists, and ahead of a home game against Burnley the addition of Silva, and one/two additional City options in attack of defence is the norm right now.
Christian Eriksen, who is the top FPL midfielder with 56 points, moves up to second on the Power Rankings list, after scoring the only goal of the game against Bournemouth at Wembley. Eriksen’s been alternating his FPL returns since Gameweek 2, which means it might be GW10 when Eriksen strikes again for Fantasy managers. Nevertheless, the Dane is proving an essential buy right now, even if Liverpool are up next.
Coming in red hot at number three is Raheem Sterling, whose goal scoring exploits have earnt him another appearance in the Power Rankings charts. Sterling, who has scored 6 goals in the Premier League this season, is the only midfielder in the top 5 scorers list. A goal and two assists against Stoke has pushed Sterling to 50 points in the FPL, and ownership that has rapidly passed the 10% mark. Sterling’s quite literally on the hype train, and we don’t know if there are any brakes to hold the English international back, even if a stubborn Burnley side are passing through town.
Rising one place in Power Rankings this week is the Brazilian winger for Watford, Richarlison, who has continued his fine FPL form for the Hornets. Scoring a last-gasp winner at Swansea in a 2-1 victory, Richarlison followed this up with another last-gasp goal away at West Brom in a 2-2 draw, and during Gameweek 8 started Watford’s comeback against Arsenal, being fouled by Hector Bellerin in the penalty area, and consequently earning an assist. Overall, Richarlison has three goals, three assists, and four bonus points, heading into a huge match away at Chelsea.
With us dropping Salah and Mkhitaryan out of the Power Rankings, we’ve reserved our final spot for a midfielder who is appearing frequently in sides in the top 1% of FPL players, Pascal Gross. The German assisted Brighton’s goal in the 1-1 draw with Everton, which takes his tally to two goals and three assists this season, with six bonus points to boot. A run of good fixtures ahead will only further tempt FPL players down the route of Gross in the coming weeks.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1938" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Power-Rankings.-FOR-300x120.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="400" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Power-Rankings.-FOR-300x120.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Power-Rankings.-FOR-768x307.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Power-Rankings.-FOR.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" />
<h3>POWER 5: Forward&#8217;s</h3>
Who were in the FOR Power Rankings last week? 
1) Romelu Lukaku (MUN) – rising from 2nd to 1st 
2) Harry Kane (TOT) – rising from 4th to 2nd 
3) Gabriel Jesus (MCI) – new entry 
4) Jamie Vardy (LEI) – rising from 5th to 4th 
5) Marcus Rashford (MUN) – new entry 
 
Who are in the Power 5 heading into Gameweek 9? 
1) Gabriel Jesus (MCI) rising from 3 to 1st 
1) Romelu Lukaku (MUN) – falling from 1st to 2nd 
2) Harry Kane (TOT) – falling from 2nd to 3rd 
4) Jamie Vardy (LEI) – non-mover 
5) Tammy Abraham (SWA) – new entry
There is just one new entry in the Forward Power Rankings chart this week, with Swansea’s Tammy Abraham replacing Marcus Rashford in fifth spot.
Aside from the form of Gabriel Jesus, it was yet another disappointing performance for Forwards in the Power Rankings charts, with four of the five failing to score. Jesus rises to the top podium spot after another brace this season took the Brazilian to six goals and an assist this season. Jesus has completed the full 90 minutes just once this season, against Chelsea in a 1-0 victory, which means minutes are being managed, but that isn’t mattering. Jesus is getting the business done, which is a great relief to FPL managers.
Dropping down from top spot, Man United’s Romelu Lukaku fall to second has begun painting the picture of the season so far, with Man City leading Man United in the goals department. Lukaku is still the outright leading scorer in the Premier League with seven goals from the opening either matches, and has only failed to score against Leicester and Liverpool, but with Lukaku and United only having one shot on goal against Liverpool, there are potentially troubling times ahead for persistent Lukaku owners, if Mourinho is going to park the bus against all top half opposition.
Playing a Wembley means The Hurrikane is downgraded from a storm to a light breeze. Having stormed the Power Rankings charts, Harry Kane now falls having failed to score in a fourth consecutive home match in the Premier League. Expectant FPL players, and angered players who captained Kane for Bournemouth’s visit, must wonder what it will take for Kane to score in the league at Wembley, with 40 of 47 points of Kane’s coming away from home. Kane is rooted on six goals, and it might not be Liverpool who break Kane’s hoodoo at the national stadium, with Spurs not winning any of their last four home games in the league (and it was Roy Hodgson who Spurs beat).
Remaining in fourth place, once again due to the lack of form of FPL forwards, is Leicester forward Jamie Vardy, who does offer up some good fixtures to tempt players, despite not scoring in his previous two matches. Craig Shakespeare’s departure might mean Leicester shuffling the deck, but Vardy’s a lock.
Propping up the rest of the pack is a new entry, Tammy Abraham, who put Huddersfield to the sword in Gameweek 8’s 2-0 victory. Abraham scored both of Swansea’s goals, taking his goal tally to eight, and his bonus points count to eight points. Abraham is the only budget option of these picks, so could be a great third addition, and welcome Leicester, who are without a manager ahead of Gameweek 9.
All aboard.
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