Fantasy football scout tips gameweek 16: Eden Hazard, Aaron Ramsey, Roberto Firmino and the other best tips

Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter for the latest tips and offers

Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice

A late bloomer this season after his start was postponed by injury, Eden Hazard is quickly becoming essential. His 15 points against Newcastle United last weekend was his third double-digit haul in the last seven gameweeks.

For those frustrated with Harry Kane’s unreliability as a captain will find a ready-made alternative in the Belgian who, unlike in previous seasons, now seems just as capable of scoring well on the road as when at Stamford Bridge.

Hazard travels to West Ham United this weekend, who have lost heavily to other ‘big six’ sides at home already this season.

Aaron Ramsey

Arsenal have been criminally overlooked by many managers, especially given how a lack of Champions League football means they do not need to rotate as heavily as their rivals at the top of the table.

No player has slipped under the radar more than Aaron Ramsey. His assist for Alexandre Lacazette last weekend made it six in his last seven and the Welshman is now the fifth highest-scoring midfielder in the game.

Where did that come from? We don’t know, but with a kind run of fixtures over Christmas, it may be time to start taking Ramsey as a serious option.

Roberto Firmino

A frustrating fantasy player if there ever was one, but after his two goals at Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend, we might be willing to drink the Roberto Firmino Kool-Aid again.

To go without a Liverpool player at the moment would certainly be dangerous, and the fact is most managers own one in particular, with 54.6 per cent investing in Mohamed Salah. Far fewer have Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mané but over a busy festive period, both carry a slightly higher rotation and have a troublesome history with injuries.

Firmino, meanwhile, has Daniel Sturridge and Dominic Solanke for competition, but neither quite do the same job as Klopp’s ‘false nine’ and considering the dearth of fantasy options up front at the moment, he is one to consider again.

Kiko Femenia

Watford may have generally impressed this season but their defensive record could improve.

Marco Silva’s side have conceded the fifth-highest number of goals in the top flight. Five clean sheets is still a respectable total, though, and things should tighten up with a favourable set of upcoming fixtures during the Christmas period.

With that considered, plus the potential of attacking returns, we like wing-back Kiko Femenia. If his £4.6m price tag puts him ever so slightly out of your reach, his team-mates Christian Kabasele and Marvin Zeegelaar offer cheaper alternatives.

Mamadou Sakho

The steady resurgence of Crystal Palace continues at the foot of the table.

Roy Hodgson’s side are unbeaten in their last four and have kept two straight clean sheets after goalless draws against Brighton and West Bromwich Albion.

Another shut-out could be on the cards this weekend with Bournemouth, who have only four goals to their name on the road, visiting Selhurst Park.

Mamadou Sakho looks like the best route into Palace’s backline. The former Liverpool defender rakes in bonus points, taking eight extras in his last three gameweeks.