Fantasy Football advice: Week Eight

It's been two weeks since our last offering of Fantasy Football advice, but the international break has given us a chance to lay low after our mixed success during week seven.

We were right to give you a nudge to select Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero and dismiss Everton defender Phil Jagielka, but our risk on Leicester City centre-back Wes Morgan went pear-shaped and Younes Kaboul helped Tottenham Hotspur keep a clean sheet, but hopefully we can enjoy a clean sweep of positive points over the weekend.

Below, see who has made Sports Mole's lists for week eight as the Premier League gets back underway.

Who to pick

1. Diafra Sakho

When West Ham United signed the relatively unknown Diafra Sakho during the summer, his arrival was met with a mixed reaction but during the first two months of the season, the Senegalese striker has impressed the Upton Park faithful by scoring in five consecutive games in all competitions, including strikes against Liverpool and Manchester United. It's still early days for the 24-year-old but it is hard to back against him continuing his hot streak in front of goal against Burnley, who are still awaiting their first win since their return to the top flight. All things considered, the Clarets have been pretty tight in defence, but pressure to push for three points might leave gaps at the back.

2. Papiss Cisse

Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse endured a disastrous 2013-14 campaign, scoring just twice in 24 league appearances, but after his return from a fractured patella, the 29-year-old has effectively acted as Alan Pardew's saviour with four goals in three appearances. Doubles against both Hull City and Swansea City have helped keep Pardew's job at St James' Park and he will be relying on Cisse to repeat those feats against Leicester City. The Foxes have earned some impressive results this season, but they've kept just one clean sheet in eight and could be there for the taking if Cisse and his teammates find their form in front of their home supporters.

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3. Raheem Sterling

Raheem Sterling has been on the back pages over the past few days for what was seen as a controversial admission that he was feeling fatigued just weeks into the new season. However, the Liverpool winger has been in decent form for his club, scoring three times in 10 appearances during a time when the Merseyside giants were trying to cope with the departure of Luis Suarez and an injury to Daniel Sturridge. Sterling was only used for 70 minutes on international duty with England and that should see him relatively fresh for the game at Queens Park Rangers on Sunday afternoon as manager Brendan Rodgers looks for points to move them up the league table.

Who to avoid

1. Martin Kelly

Incoming manager Neil Warnock has helped turned around Crystal Palace's turbulent opening to the season after Tony Pulis's exit from Selhurst Park, but while two clean sheets have been recorded during the early stages of his tenure, that hasn't stopped 10 goals being shipped in his other four fixtures in charge. That would have cancelled out any points earned by the likes of Martin Kelly and that record isn't expected to improve when Palace host Chelsea on Saturday. The Blues have looked powerful on the way to top spot in the Premier League table and if the likes of Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas can keep their run of startling form going, it could be a long afternoon for the Eagles defence.

2. Younes Kaboul

We advised you to avoid Younes Kaboul in our last Fantasy Football piece, but despite the Frenchman proving us wrong with a shutout against Southampton, we are not backing him to do the same away at Manchester City on Saturday lunchtime. The clean sheet against the Saints was just the second in eight games for Spurs, and with the likes of Aguero, Edin Dzeko, Yaya Toure and David Silva likely to form the opposition at the Etihad Stadium, it looks like a long shot for Mauricio Pochettino's team to cause a shock.

3. Daniel Sturridge

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Liverpool have missed striker Daniel Sturridge since he picked up an injury on international duty at the start of September, and a return to training could indicate that he might be in contention to feature against QPR at the weekend. However, that shouldn't result in the 25-year-old gaining an automatic inclusion in your side. If Sturridge does play at Loftus Road, it's likely to be from the bench, and only if Rodgers feels that he's at no risk of suffering another setback ahead of his team's highly-anticipated Champions League clash with Real Madrid in midweek.