Bournemouth and Aston Villa: Key Fantasy Assets for Gameweek 9
The international break is gone, the margins are tightening, and Fantasy managers are staring down a pivotal stretch. Bournemouth and Aston Villa sit at the heart of it, offering value in positions that can reshape squads ahead of a kind fixture swing.
This is where smart managers steal a march.
Bournemouth assets: value with a ceiling
Bournemouth host Leeds in Gameweek 9, the start of a run that looks tailor-made for investment.
Marcus Tavernier (£6.4m) stands out as the headline pick. His recent performances have pushed him firmly into the conversation: direct, inventive, and constantly involved in Bournemouth’s attacking patterns. He brings that rare blend of goal threat and creativity from midfield, the kind of profile that can quietly rack up double-digit hauls while others chase bigger names.
Up front, Evanilson (£6.2m) offers a cheaper route into the Cherries’ attack. He’s not a premium forward, but he doesn’t need to be. Across this run of fixtures, he should see enough chances to justify his price, especially for managers looking to free up funds without completely sacrificing goal potential.
At the back, Antonio Silva (£5.0m) is the defender of choice. He delivers strong defensive contributions and can anchor a backline nicely during this schedule. But this isn’t a side you necessarily want to triple up on. There’s value here, yes, but spreading risk still matters.
Jackson and Villa: form, fixtures, and a minutes headache
If Bournemouth provide the value, Aston Villa bring the intrigue.
Nicolas Jackson (£6.7m) has played his way into the spotlight with four goals in his last four Premier League matches. The confidence is obvious. He looks increasingly settled at Aston Villa, sharper in his movement and more decisive in front of goal. For managers hunting a mid-priced forward with form and a strong run ahead, he ticks almost every box.
Villa’s home clash with Fulham in Gameweek 9 marks the beginning of an inviting stretch. It’s the kind of fixture sequence where a hot forward can define your rank for weeks.
There is a catch. Jackson’s minutes. With Villa balancing Champions League commitments and promising young striker Brian Madjo (£5.4m) back from injury, the risk of early substitutions lingers. Jackson might not always get the full 90.
But at that price, and with his current form, he remains an appealing gamble. Not a reckless punt. A calculated one.
Haaland: still the captaincy king
Manchester City may have suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season, but Erling Haaland (£15.7m) hasn’t loosened his grip on the armband conversation.
He scored again against Aston Villa in Gameweek 8 and still feels like the one player most likely to deliver a monster haul in any given match. You don’t have to captain him every week, and there will be windows to go against the crowd. Yet right now, he stands alone as the only truly reliable premium asset.
Until that changes, he remains the default captain for many.
Time to move on: Joao Pedro and Cherki
Not every big name is worth the wait.
Joao Pedro (£7.8m) is an easy sell after Xabi Alonso’s comments ruling him out for weeks. Some managers will be tempted to bench him and ride it out, knowing how explosive he can be when fit. But the timeline is unclear, and that uncertainty is deadly in a game where every slot matters.
With mid-priced forwards performing and backed by strong fixtures, there’s little justification for holding a sidelined asset at that cost. Jackson and Evanilson both offer form and opportunity. Beyond them, Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.1m), Thierno Barry (£5.6m), and, budget permitting, Alexander Isak (£9.1m) all sit firmly on the radar.
In midfield, Rayan Cherki (£8.0m) looks set to be another casualty of the new landscape. The talent is obvious, but minutes are becoming a real concern. Subbed at half-time against Aston Villa in Gameweek 8, and with previous games already hinting at inconsistency, he no longer justifies his price.
At that level, you want a midfielder who regularly pushes towards 80–90 minutes, not someone you’re constantly checking the teamsheet for. Switching Cherki to a cheaper option like Tavernier not only offers more reliable game time, it also frees up funds to strengthen elsewhere.
Yes, Cherki could punish sellers with a big haul if he starts. That’s always the risk. But the smarter play, right now, is to back the player with secure minutes and a clear role.
Gameweek 9 doesn’t just ask who you’re bringing in. It asks who you’re finally brave enough to let go.
