Fantrax EPL: September Break Stashes

The Premier League has postponed the GW7 fixtures, and we may not see the next kickoff until GW9 at the start of October! This makes for some potentially attractive Fantrax player stashes - read below for who to target during the break!

September Break Stashes

With the Queen's recent passing, the Premier League has been indefinitely postponed. The GW7 fixtures have been called off, and given that the Queen's funeral is due to take place on either Sunday 18th or Monday 19th (10 days after her passing, as per Operation London Bridge), that means GW8 could also be shelved. And then we're at the International Break.

So we could be looking at an extended break until October 1st. The situation is fluid and things are still up in the air. But this month-long reset could give some injured players enough time to recover before the next GW (or at least be close to full fitness/dramatically reduce the number of GWs missed due to injury). Here are some of these players that you should consider swooping on the off chance this long pause does indeed happen - they could prove to be valuable pickups ROS.

Liam Cooper

Position: Defender

Team: Leeds

Rostered: 19%

A persistent calf injury has kept Cooper out all season but he finally returned to the bench last weekend. The ghost point God was due to return this GW anyway, so will only benefit from even more training and recovery. He was a good pickup even before this delay so he's a no brainer pickup right now. To refresh your memory, last season, Cooper averaged nearly 9 points per start and a ridiculous avg of over 11 ghost points per start. If he returns to this form and can stay healthy, he could be a set and forget DEF2.

Harry Wilson

Position: Midfielder

Team: Fulham

Rostered: 39%

The promising midfielder picked up a nasty knee injury in a preseason friendly v Aston Villa and has yet to feature this season. For those of you who drafted him, it was terrible luck. For the rest of us, it might be time to pick him up as he is due to return in the next month or so (TBD). Wilson lit up the Championship last season, racking up 10 goals and 19 assists in 40 starts. Fantasy-wise, this translated to over 15 points per start (10 ghosties), as he benefited from set piece duty. He is more than capable of taking that step up to the Premier League, if fit and firing. He will take some time to get back into the swing of things but also has the added motivation to hit his old lofty heights to prepare for Wales' World Cup campaign. He should be worth the punt.

Aymeric Laporte

Position: Defender

Team: Manchester City

Rostered: 74%

The Man City defense hasn't looked the same without Laporte, whose knee injury has kept him out all season. But he is due to return in early October and should help lift all Man City defensive boats with some additional clean sheets. His numbers last season were a bit boom or bust (welcome to Man City defenders) but is a decent shout, especially in good matchups. He should be a lower priority waiver claim (if he is even available in your league).

N'Golo Kante

Position: Midfielder

Team: Chelsea

Rostered: 51%

Before his injury, Kante was one of the few bright spots in the old Tuchel side. He dropped 14 & 5, all ghost points, in his only 2 starts this season. While it's hard to know how exactly he'll fit into Potter's system, he will surely remain a key piece of the midfield. Historically, he averages around 8 points per start and can nick the occasional attacking return, providing solid MID3 value on his day. His consistent injuries are cause for concern but is a good and guilt-free pickup right now if you need midfield depth. And who doesn't?

Honorable Mention:

Chelsea Assets: With new manager Graham Potter coming in, some players may get a clean slate and a newfound lease on life. The most fantasy relevant assets include: Christian Pulisic, Armando Broja, Conor Gallagher, and Hakim Ziyech. They could be worth a punt on the off chance they are incorporated into the starting XI under Potter. All Chelsea assets also should get a boost from the EPL respite as they will now have more time to train with the new manager and learn the system, which could allow them to hit the ground running when play resumes. Someone like Mount should be a top trade target.
Ethan Pinnock (Brentford, DEF): Many will see this as an opportune time to pick up another fantasy darling currently on injured reserve. But we would advise against it as he seems to be out for an even longer amount of time. A little too early for ole Ethan, unfortunately, but certainly one to monitor.
Thiago Alcantara (Liverpool, MID): Glass Thiago didn't even last 70 minutes before succumbing to an injury in GW1. But he's now back and was due for his first start back before this break was announced. And Liverpool desperately need his creativity. Like everyone else, the additional time to train and regain fitness will do him good. Try and get him in if you can.
Dominic Calvert Lewin (Everton, DEF): DCL is another one who picked up a knock early on in the season and is on the verge of a return. He will now cost you less GWs - if you believe in his resurgence, now is as good of a time as any to pounce. This may knock Maupay out of the team before he was really given a chance...
Jordan Pickford (Everton, GK): Lord Pickford is coming off an impressive 20+ point outing in the Merseyside derby; the bad news of his injury, which is due to keep him out for 3-4 weeks, is now not that big of a deal. As he has become a set and forget GK, he should be worth holding over the break, unless his injury is more serious than expected. Pickford is currently ranked second in our Chaps GK Rankings!
Allan Saint-Maximin (Newcastle, MID): ASM's injury now becomes less detrimental to your team - just like DCL, if you want to bring him in, the time is now.
Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool, DEF): The Liverpool defense is in very bad shape and could use an injection of something. Konate may be able to provide that but it looks like he will continue to be on the injury table even after the potential October 1st resumption of EPL. He is tempting but probably not worth swooping just yet.