The three players you need in your Fantasy Football team this week

Time to make the most of your resources.

J-League

No change in the top two despite a relatively mediocre performance from the leaders last time out, although there has been a significant move from one of the chasing pack. Ciaran Tracey’s Bacuna Mata-ta remain in first place, 14 points clear of Allan Johnson’s Comeback Kids, while Pairic Sheehan made up 30 points on both of them and is now within 21 points of the lead. Further back, meanwhile, Crabby Joe’s Spleef Queens and Keith O’Brien’s Hon d’Cabayes are holding onto their regular places in the top five, but only just.

J-League Top 5

1) Bacuna Mata-ta – Ciaran Tracey: 1,592 points 2) Comeback Kids – Allan Johnson: 1,578 points 3) *Team name removed* - Pairic Sheehan: 1,571 points 4) Spleef Queens – Crabby Joe: 1,547 points 5) Hon d’Cabayes – Keith O’Brien: 1,547 points

Gameweek 27

This weekend presents something of a conundrum for managers, with four teams exempt from Premier League duty due to the Capital One Cup Final between Liverpool and Manchester City on Sunday. Everton and Newcastle are the other teams missing out, so managers who have yet to use the bench boost option will be presented with an opportune time to do just that this weekend. On the pitch, Manchester United’s clash with Arsenal is the standout tie, while Leicester couldn’t really have asked for a nicer fixture to bounce back from their heartbreaking defeat to Arsenal than Norwich City at home. A Chelsea side enjoying a decent return to form go up against a Southampton outfit that haven’t conceded a goal in six league games, while if results go their way, Spurs could end the weekend as Premier League leaders if they overcome Swansea at White Hart Lane.

This week’s picks

Safe bet: Dimitri Payet (£8.3 million). If he’s not the signing of the season he’s certainly close to it and he's showing no signs of slowing down the closer we get to the end of it either. The French international scored two wonderful goals in the FA Cup last weekend and in the league, two goals and two assists in his last six games has produced a return of 33 points. Watch out Sunderland. Dark horse: Christian Eriksen (£8.6 million). The Dane hasn’t been attracting as much attention as Dele Alli or Harry Kane this season, but he’s quietly become the fifth highest-scoring midfielder in Fantasy Football circles in recent weeks. Tends to score his points in prolific spurts and he’s in the middle of a good one at the moment, with three goals, three assists and 46 points in his last five outings. Captain’s choice: Jamie Vardy (£7.6 million). As the season enters into squeaky bum time, questions have been asked (not for the first time) about Leicester’s ability to stay in the title race. We have every faith that they will and with four goals and 29 points in his last four games, we’ve no problem trusting the league’s top scorer with the armband for the Foxes’ home clash with Norwich.

Potential to use chips

For probably the first time this season, we can wholeheartedly endorse the use of one of your chips (if you still have it available) as with four teams out of action, you’ll need bench boost to grab as many available players as you can get. Isn’t that right, Mrs. Doyle?