EFL Fantasy Gameweek 17: Suggested picks, teams, captain and differentials

We preview Gameweek 17 of EFL Fantasy and share our suggested player picks, team picks, captaincy contenders and differentials.

Goalkeeper to consider

David Harrington (Fleetwood Town)

Fixtures: Colchester United (H), Doncaster Rovers (H)

Only two teams possess a double gameweek, of which Fleetwood Town are one, with Charlie Adam's side back in action for the first time in three weeks following consecutive fixture postponements.

Earning a maiden call-up from Craig Bellamy to the Wales squad, David Harrington has been in excellent form for the Cod Army, keeping four clean sheets in his previous eight outings.

While boasting the seventh-best goals prevented tally in League Two, the 24-year-old has been aided by a relatively watertight Fleetwood backline who have conceded the joint-fewest shots on target in the division alongside Walsall.

Defenders to consider

Maxime Estève (Burnley)

Fixtures: Stoke City (A)

While Scott Parker continues to scour for a remedy to their allergies in front of goal, the Burnley boss can take solace that their rigid defensive foundations have kept them in the Championship title race.

Pivotal to the Clarets' remarkable defensive numbers is centre-back Maxime Estève, who's forged an impenetrable partnership with CJ Egan-Riley which has resulted in four consecutive shutouts.

The Montpellier academy product has chalked up 61 clearances, 21 tackles and 11 blocks in 17 appearances and Esteve will be vital if Burnley are to chalk up another clean sheet on their visit to the Potteries.

Carl Johnston (Fleetwood Town)

Fixtures: Colchester United (H), Doncaster Rovers (H)

The opportunity that an additional fixture presents is too enticing to resist and wing-back Carl Johnston is the pick of the defensive bunch.

Contributing 21 tackles and 31 clearances, the 22-year-old also provides an attacking threat having chalked up an assist in the 2-2 draw against Salford City and Johnston has tallied an impressive 80 points from his 14 appearances so far.

Given Fleetwood's strong underlying defensive numbers and two visiting opponents which are susceptible to conceding, Johnston is an outstanding candidate.

Midfielders to consider

Kwame Poku (Peterborough United)

Fixtures: Burton Albion (H)

Kwame Poku has been in irresistible form for Peterborough United this term and the visit of Burton Albion may see a deluge of attacking contributions from the fleet-footed winger.

Posh's star man has chalked up 10 goals and five assists this term and they scratch the surface of Poku's productivity, with the 23-year-old ranking highly across a variety of metrics including chances created and successful dribbles.

His record against the teams in the bottom four makes for even better reading having scored in each of the fixtures against Shrewsbury Town, Leyton Orient and Cambridge United; the basement Brewers may need to strap themselves in.

Jack Payne (Colchester United)

Fixtures: Fleetwood Town (A), Swindon Town (H)

Fleetwood have taken precedence so far in the topic of the two double gameweek teams but now we turn our attention to Colchester United's dynamic midfielder Jack Payne.

The former Charlton and Swindon man has made a superb start to life at the JobServe Community Stadium and leads the key passes chart in League Two with 31 so far.

Contributing two goals and six assists, his innovation in the final third is complimented by his ability to muck in defensively and Payne's 88-point total has been aided by seven interceptions.

Averaging 5.5 points per match, he's worth backing in two fixtures where the U's will be heavily dependent on his influence.

Lewis Wing (Reading)

Fixtures: Cambridge United (H)

Reading have thrust themselves into League One play-off consideration and Lewis Wing has been at the forefront of several strong results, with the Royals losing just one of their last six.

Chalking up six goal contributions, 28 key passes and 19 interceptions, the all-action midfielder is made increasingly attractive due to his set-piece responsibilities.

Against a Cambridge outfit who have conceded the fourth-most goals from open play, Wing's ability to split opposition defences with the likes of Sam Smith and Harvey Knibbs running behind could prove profitable.

Forwards to consider

Borja Sainz (Norwich City)

Fixtures: Luton Town (H)

What a season it's been for Borja Sainz.

In previous weeks I've attempted to ignore the Spaniard's remarkable marksmanship but after bouncing back from three blanks with a hat-trick against Plymouth, it would be naïve to overlook the Canaries frontman.

Scoring 14 goals from an xG of 7.6, Sainz is ruthlessly efficient and scores from a variety of scenarios. That bodes well for this weekend with Norwich encountering one of the Championship's leakiest defences in Luton Town, who have shipped 29 goals.

Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough)

Fixtures: Hull City (H)

A pre-season contender for Championship Top Goalscorer, Emmanuel Latte Lath's campaign has largely underwhelmed but the Ivorian appears to have unearthed his shooting boots in recent weeks.

Despite ranking third for xG and xGOT, Latte Lath is also positioned third for big chances missed and yet he's demonstrated his clinical touch with five goals in his previous four outings.

Middlesbrough will be desperate to atone for their subpar showing against Blackburn in midweek and the visit of a managerless Hull City presents Latte Lath with an opportunity to continue his divine form.

Captain picks

1. Tom Payne (Colchester United)
2. Kwame Poku (Peterborough United)
3. Borja Sainz (Norwich City)

Club picks

Fleetwood Town
Fixtures: Colchester United (H), Doncaster Rovers (H)

It's a double up of the two teams who are in action more than once in this gameweek, with more points on offer with an additional fixture.

Saturday's encounter between Fleetwood and Colchester is intriguing in the sense the hosts rarely lose at Highbury and they've conceded the joint-fewest amount of goals at home, although Charlie Adam would suggest they've drawn too many fixtures.

The visit of Doncaster appears a far tougher assignment on paper but the promotion-chasers have stumbled of late, drawing three matches on the spin.


Colchester United
Fixtures: Fleetwood Town (A), Swindon Town (H)

Fleetwood's aforementioned tendency to draw at home mirrors Colchester's away form, with Danny Cowley's men drawing five of their eight league fixtures on their travels.

An encounter with Swindon in Essex may be the rewarding fixture as the Robins are winless in their previous six league matches and have been consistently exposed at the back.

Differentials

Matt Macey (Colchester United - Goalkeeper - Ownership: 0.5%)

If you're unsure of Harrington's credentials, Macey presents another solid pick on the other side of the double gameweek coin. The U's shot-stopper chalked up a clean sheet away at Grimsby last time out and is averaging 2.6 saves per contest.

Ryan Porteous (Watford - Defender - Ownership: 0.1%)

Watford's form at Vicarage Road has been exemplary and Porteous has been a pivotal figure in a Hornets rearguard who have shipped just four goals at home this term. The visit of struggling QPR presents another viable clean sheet opportunity.

Dean Campbell (Barrow - Midfielder - Ownership: 0.3%)

An essential cog in Stephen Clemence's midfield, Campbell has scored no fewer than six points in his previous five appearances and the Bluebirds lynchpin has chalked up 34 interceptions in 17 matches.

Ronan Coughlan (Fleetwood Town - Forward - Ownership: 0.8%)

Of the double gameweek options, Fleetwood striker Coughlan is the most potent selection and the former Waterford man has tallied six goals this season, scoring in each of his previous two appearances.