This article is part of our FPL Best XI series.
Gameweek 16 of the Premier League produced a result emblematic of the season thus far, as manager Claudio Ranieri's first-place Leicester City emphatically defeated last season's champions Chelsea behind goals from stars Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez.
In doing so, Ranieri left his former club just one point outside the relegation zone, continuing a catastrophic campaign that led Chelsea to once again part ways with manager Jose Mourinho this week.
While Leicester remains atop the Premiership table, their remaining three 2015 fixtures – Everton (A), Liverpool (A), Manchester City (H) – figure to provide a real test of their talents.
Should the Foxes falter, second-place Arsenal and third-place Manchester City will be keen to capitalize, making this Monday's meeting between the sides all the more important.
Although the Gunners and Citizens playing each other complicates some fantasy lineup decisions, there are still plenty of standout performers to target heading into Gameweek 17.
Goalkeeper:
David de Gea
Despite allowing two goals behind a patchwork back line at promoted side Bournemouth last weekend, de Gea's Manchester United defense still leads the league with merely 12 goals conceded. Amazingly, only one of those goals given up has come at Old Trafford, where the Red Devils will return this weekend to host Norwich City. Only five teams have scored fewer goals than the Canaries this season, and with Man United center-half Chris Smalling (groin) possibly back following a one-game absence, Louis van Gaal's men could be poised for a seventh home clean sheet.
Defenders:
Daryl Janmaat
After posting one goal, eight assists and eight clean sheets in his debut Premiership campaign, Janmaat has started this season with one goal, two assists and three clean sheets through 15 appearances. This weekend, the Dutchman has a golden opportunity to add to his totals, as Newcastle hosts last-place Aston Villa. Not only have the Villains not won since opening weekend, but their 13 goals scored are presently tied for the lowest figure league-wide. Although Newcastle's defense is tied for the most goals allowed, the Magpies are fresh off back-to-back wins over Liverpool and Tottenham, and could claim three straight with a clean sheet Saturday.
Scott Dann
Almost mid-way through the season, only Leicester City, Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United have earned more points than Crystal Palace. The Eagles' ascent has come thanks to a top five-ranked defense, as well as stellar form on the road, where their six goals allowed are tied for tops in England. At the heart of that defense sits Dann, whose three goals scored are tied for the most at his position. This weekend, Dann could notch a fifth clean sheet of the season at Stoke City, since no team has scored fewer goals than the Potters thus far.
Aaron Cresswell
A player sitting on five clean sheets already, Cresswell and West Ham have held opponents scoreless in consecutive weeks entering Sunday's game against Swansea City. That newfound defensive solidarity could help the Hammers break their current six-match winless streak, particularly because they play on the road, where only two teams have totaled more points this season. Also helping Cresswell's case is the fact that Swansea have failed to score in four of their last six outings, which has left them 17th in the standings and still without a permanent manager in advance of Sunday's contest.
Midfielders:
Mesut Ozil
In a Premier League season starring numerous individual streaks, Ozil brought his streak with at least a goal or an assist to 10 straight games at Aston Villa last weekend. The German playmaker did so by setting up Arsenal's second goal of the game, giving him 13 assists already on the campaign. That total is at least four more than any other player in Europe's top five leagues, and Ozil's 121 chances created during 2015 Premiership games is 24 more than the next closest player. Such consistent creative ability allows Ozil yet another inclusion in the Best XI, despite a tough matchup against Manchester City on Monday.
Riyad Mahrez
The only midfielder ahead of Ozil in fantasy points in the Premier League's official game, Mahrez has simply been the best player in England this season. The Algerian attacker's ability was on full display Monday, when he assisted Leicester City's opening goal against Chelsea, and then followed that with a breath-taking finish for the Foxes' second. That sublime showing came after Mahrez scored a hat trick in Gameweek 15, and overall, he now boasts 11 goals and seven assists. While that's enough reasoning for fantasy owners to include him, this weekend's matchup at an Everton home defense tied for third-worst provides added incentive.
Georginio Wijnaldum
A player that sensationally scored four goals in a single game earlier this season, Wijnaldum resurfaced with a goal and an assist in Newcastle's most recent home match, bringing his season accounts to seven scores and three helpers. Remarkably, all seven of Wijnaldum's goals this season have come at home, exhibiting a clear preference for playing at St. James' Park. Fortunately, that's precisely where Newcastle will host last-place Aston Villa this weekend, and the fact that only Newcastle have allowed more goals than Villa over their last six away matches makes Saturday's venue even more of worth to Wijnaldum.
Ross Barkley
Rounding out the Best XI midfield, Barkley is only behind Mahrez and Ozil, and just ahead of Wijnaldum in fantasy points in the Premier League's official game. While that evidences the top-heavy composition of this week's squad, it also points to how the Gameweek 17 matchups favor open encounters among the league's elite fantasy performers. With six goals and five assists, Barkley has helped Everton become the league's highest scoring team over the past six weeks. Such firepower could prove problematic for leaders Leicester City, who have fielded a bottom-half defense despite their success this season.
Forwards:
Jamie Vardy
Speaking of Leicester, their emotional leader jumped right back into the thick of things last Monday against Chelsea, grabbing the opening goal a week after seeing his 11-match scoring streak snapped. In doing so, Vardy now fabulously flaunts 15 goals and two assists through 16 matches, a record that makes him as reliable as they come. Furthermore, once Vardy scored versus Chelsea, he kept Leicester as the only Premier League team that hasn't been held scoreless yet this season. With a record like that, Leicester should be able to break down Everton's defense Saturday, and more than likely, Vardy will play a part in doing so.
Odion Ighalo
Another incredible story through the first half of this season, promoted outfit Watford has now climbed to seventh in the standings on the back of three straight wins. The league's fourth-leading scorer, Ighalo supplied one goal in each of those three games, giving him 10 goals to go with five assists ahead of Sunday's match versus Liverpool. Although Watford's goal-scoring record at home is surprisingly poor, the Hornets have obviously been hot lately, with only one team scoring more over their last three matches. Factor in a Liverpool side reeling from consecutive disappointing outings, and Ighalo and Watford could make it four in a row this weekend.
Romelu Lukaku (C)
Saturday's match between Everton and Leicester City will pit Lukaku against Vardy, the league's top two goal-scorers this season. While Vardy's record-setting scoring streak recently came to a close, Lukaku extended his to six straight games by scoring at Norwich City last weekend. Through 16 games, Lukaku has contributed toward 16 goals (12 scored, four assisted), and he will be keen to stake his claim as this season's top striker opposite Vardy on Saturday. Also working in his favor is the fact that Everton scored twice in both games against Leicester last season, a pair of 2-2 draws that provide further reason to expect goals at Goodison Park this time around.
BENCH
GK: Thibaut Courtois
With his club in disarray, Courtois at least has a good clean sheet opportunity this weekend at home against Sunderland, the league's fifth-worst offense.
DEF: Craig Dawson
After scoring his second goal of the season last weekend, Dawson also enters Saturday's home game against promoted Bournemouth with the fact that West Brom has posted the most clean sheets in 2015 (16) on his side.
DEF: Allan Nyom
Thanks to back-to-back clean sheets, Nyom, who also doled out an assist last weekend, trails only one defender in the clean sheet column heading into Sunday's game versus Liverpool, whose attack has been hit-or-miss lately.
MID: Junior Stanislas
Soaring from two straight wins against Chelsea and Manchester United, Bournemouth have gone unbeaten in their last four, a span in which Stanislas has three goals and one assist, before going to West Brom on Saturday.
MID: David Silva
Although he's slated to play at Arsenal on Monday, Silva still pulls the strings in Manchester City's second ranked attack, and could have striker Sergio Aguero to target once again this week.
FWD: Ayoze Perez
The young Spaniard's confidence should be brimming following last weekend's late winner at Tottenham, which gave him four goals and two assists in 10 games leading into Saturday's match against last-place Aston Villa.
FWD: Anthony Martial
It's probably no coincidence that Manchester United has struggled to score lately, considering their massive summer signing Martial hasn't scored in the league since September. That being said, Saturday's home date with Norwich, a defense tied for third-worst on the road, shapes up well for Martial to finally make an impact.
