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The race to the English Premier League title is heating up with Arsenal finding themselves back on top, with Manchester City and Chelsea hot on their heels just two points behind. With 14 games remaining, every single game is now of massive importance for each of these teams in their quest for the coveted title. Let's take a look at some players that are currently doing a great job in helping their team succeed and which players are holding their team back in the newest (and only) edition of Who's Hot & Who's Not!
Who's Hot?
Vito Mannone - GK - Sunderland
Vito was thrust into the starting role once Keiren Westwood went down with an injury in the middle of a game in week 10. Westwood had conceded 22 goals up that point so perhaps this was a blessing in disguise for Sunderland. Vito stepped in and has become one of the best keepers in the Premier League. Since stepping in as the starting keeper, Mannone has only conceded 14 goals. He has played in about five more games than Westwood this season and has conceded less goals than Westwood did in his time as keeper. Pretty embarrassing if you're Keiren. In the past two weeks, Vito has put up 11 fantasy points in each game. That's 22 points in two weeks and Vito is only £4.5 - one of the cheapest keepers on the market. Mannone has certainly increased his value and Sunderland may find it hard to keep a hold of him as I would imagine he would be a keeper in high demand for many clubs around the world.
Adam Johnson - LW/RW - Sunderland
Adam Johnson has been on fire for four weeks in a row. During this span, Johnson has scored an outstanding 6 goals and has tallied 2 assists. A total of 51 points in four weeks. He only has 95 total points on the season. In four weeks, he has managed to accumulate about 54% of his seasons total. This run of form all started with a hat-trick and an assist in his teams 4-1 thrashing of Fulham on January 11 which saw Johnson finish with a whopping 22 fantasy points on the day. This victory also sparked Sunderland's current four game unbeaten streak. The following week, Adam had a goal and an assist in the 2-2 draw against Cardiff and finished with 13 fantasy points. One goal in each of the following two matches gave Adam Johnson back-to-back weeks with 8 points. Before this hot streak started he was priced at £6.4. His price has now skyrocketed to £7.0 and he has shoved himself into the top 10 among midfielders.
Kevin Mirallas - RW - Everton
Mirallas was forced to play as a striker last week due to the injuries Everton suffered to all of their recognized strikers. Mirallas was up to the challenge and he delivered with a 85th minute goal to give Everton an all important victory in their quest for a top four finish. The Belgian winger has scored a goal in three of the last four games and he will be heavily relied upon for more goals with Romelu Lukaku sidelined for the next couple of weeks. Mirallas is priced at £7.4 and is level with Adam Johnson on points for the season with 95.
Adam Lallana - AM - Southampton
Adam Lallana is enjoying a career year and will most definitely be in high demand in the summer. He has put up 10 fantasy points in three out of the last four games, doing so twice in the past two weeks. In those three games with 10 fantasy points, Lallana has a goal in each of those games and Southampton have been unbeaten. He has a favorable schedule coming up with Stoke, Hull and West Ham in the next three matches so it's not outlandish to think that this form will continue. Lallana is currently the 3rd best midfielder in fantasy with 124 points, trailing Eden Hazard and Yaya Toure.
Daniel Sturridge - ST - Liverpool
Since returning from injury, Sturridge hasn't missed a beat. He has scored in every single game since coming back totaling 38 fantasy points in that span. Sturridge has played in four games since coming back and has scored five goals and provided one assist. He came off the bench in the first game and played just 25 minutes but managed a goal and assist in that time, putting the rest of the league on notice. He started the next three games and bagged himself a brace in the Merseyside Massacre which saw Liverpool destroy their local rivals Everton 4-0. Here is his line since coming back from injury, in order, 9 points, 9 points, 11 points, 9 points. Get him in your line up, like, four weeks ago, bro.
Who's Not?
Roberto Soldado - ST - Tottenham
He is turning out to be one of the biggest busts of the season. In the past five games, Soldado has totaled a lousy 4 fantasy points total. Tim Sherwood has shown preference to Emmanuel Adebayor and Adebayor hasn't really given him much reason not to. Soldado has been in poor form pretty much all season with just five goals on the season. Four of those five goals came from the penalty spot.
Tim Howard - GK - Everton
The American shot stopper has been very unfortunate in the past few months. It started December 26th where he saw himself sent off after just 22 minutes. The result was -2 points on the day and a automatic one game suspension. After coming back from that suspension, Howard has conceded seven goals in just five games. He has had only one clean sheet in those five games and it came during a 2-0 victory over lowly Norwich. It's not going to get any easier for Howard as he has to face Tottenham this week and Chelsea two weeks later.
Clint Dempsey - AM - Fulham
Since returning to Fulham on loan, Dempsey hasn't really done much of anything. Fulham are still terrible and are now at the very bottom of the table and are in very real danger of getting relegated. Dempsey has played in four games so far and has a grand total of just 7 fantasy points. Of course, now that I have called him out he will probably go and score a hat-trick against Manchester United this week. That would actually be lovely, Clint. Please score a hat-trick against Manchester United. Thanks. And You're welcome.
Feel free to tell us who you think is hot or not in the comments section below.
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