The Premier League returns with a bang this weekend. Chelsea vs. Manchester United gets things started, with seven more games to follow on Saturday and Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham all in action.
Here are my picks for Matchweek 9:
Tier 1 Forward
Add: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
He was not with the Argentina squad during the international break, so Aguero should be well rested, and anxious to improve upon a poor performance in the scoreless draw with Liverpool last time out. Aguero had scored a goal and taken at least six shots in Manchester City's previous three games, including their most recent Champions League fixture. And he'll be playing at home against Burnley, who have conceded 12 goals in eight games.
Avoid: Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United)
Lukaku scored both goals in Belgium's 2-1 Nations League win over Switzerland during the break, but he hasn't scored in five consecutive games for Manchester United, including their first two Champions League fixtures. He didn't take a single shot in their 3-2 comeback victory over Newcastle in Matchweek 8, and now he'll be playing at Chelsea, a team that typically dominates possession and has conceded only five goals in eight games.
Tier 2 Forward
Add: Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham)
He's been held scoreless in back-to-back games, but I still like Mitrovic's chances playing at Cardiff City, who have conceded 17 goals in eight games. Mitrovic still took three shots in the 5-1 loss to Arsenal last time out, and has taken at least three shots in every game this season but one. He's second in the league with 34 shots, behind only Aguero (38).
Avoid: Glenn Murray (Brighton)
He has five goals -- tied for second in the league with Mitrovic, Aguero and Harry Kane. But, as I mentioned earlier this week, Murray has done next to nothing besides score those goals. For instance, he's taken only 13 shots, 21 fewer than Mitrovic. Could Murray get another goal this week, playing away at Newcastle? Sure, it's possible. But if he doesn't, he'll probably end up with a very low score.
Tier 1 Midfielder
Add: Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
The toughest decision of the week, because Eden Hazard is the league leader in goals (seven) and fantasy points (179.8). But Sterling is third in fantasy points (120.1), should be brimming with confidence after his brace against Spain earlier this week, and is facing a weaker opponent than Hazard. Maybe I'm putting too much faith in Manchester United's defense against Chelsea? We'll see. I wouldn't be surprised if both players have big days, but I like Sterling's chances a little more.
Avoid: Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
On the surface, he's tempting, with Liverpool playing at Huddersfield Town this week. But Mane suffered a hand injury on international duty, and his status for the game remains to be seen. Regardless, Mane hasn't been in good form of late. He's gone without a goal or assist in six consecutive games, including Liverpool's first two Champions League fixtures, and hasn't even taken a shot in the past two games.
Tier 2 Midfielder
Add: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton)
He's red-hot, with three goals in the past two games, and another goal two weeks prior. Sigurdsson has also taken at least four shots in three of the past four games, and has had at least four chances created in three of the past four games. In fact, he's now leading the league with 23 chances created. It looks like Sigurdsson is finally settling in at Everton, who will host Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Avoid: Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal)
He had a goal and assist in Arsenal's 5-1 win over Fulham in Matchweek 8, but here's the catch. Ramsey didn't start, only coming on in the 67th minute. It's already the second time new manager Unai Emery hasn't started Ramsey, and Arsenal have also recently withdrawn a new contract offer. I don't trust Emery to start Ramsey, or give him a good run -- Ramsey's played the full 90 minutes only twice this season.
Tier 3 Midfielder
Add: Andre Schurrle (Fulham)
He scored Fulham's only goal in that lopsided loss to Arsenal. But what really jumped out to me is that Schurrle took seven shots in the game. He also took 11 shots in a 4-2 win over Burnley earlier this season, and is fourth in the league on the season with 29 shots. I wouldn't be surprised if Schurrle takes a bunch more, and scores another goal, against Cardiff City.
Avoid: Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Burnley)
He's had an assist in three straight games, and scored a goal against Cardiff City in Matchweek 7. But Gudmundsson will be playing at Manchester City this week, who have had 69.4 percent possession so far this season -- tops in the league. Burnley probably won't have much of the ball on Saturday, limiting Gudmundsson's potential.
Tier 1 Defender
Add: Benjamin Mendy (Manchester City)
After missing three league games due to injury, Mendy returned in Matchweek 8 against Liverpool and played the full 90 minutes. He did little in the game, but then again, nobody did in the scoreless draw. However, Mendy had four assists in the four games he played prior to his injury, and is still tied for the league lead in that category.
Avoid: Marcos Alonso (Chelsea)
I'm not saying he's the worst choice in this tier -- not by a long shot. But it's worth noting how quiet Alonso has gone offensively. He's now without a goal or assist in four straight games, and has taken only four shots in those games. He also has only two chances created in the past three games, and faces a more difficult opponent than Mendy does this week.
Tier 2 Defender
Add: Matt Doherty (Wolves)
Three center backs -- Steve Cook, Shkodran Mustafi and David Luiz -- have more fantasy points than Doherty so far this season. But Doherty's form makes him hard to pass up on. He scored the only goal in a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace last time out, and had an assist in two of the previous three games. Wolves are at home on Saturday against Watford, a team who have three losses and a draw in their past four league games, conceding nine goals in the process.
Avoid: Willy Boly (Wolves)
He's just outside the top 10 in fantasy points among defenders, and right behind his teammate mentioned above. But Boly's a center back, and you can't choose him over Doherty, given how much Doherty has been involved in Wolves' attack.
Goalkeeper
Add: Alisson (Liverpool)
He and Manchester City's Ederson are the league leaders in clean sheets with five, and both have only conceded three goals this season. Either one is a good choice this week. Alisson will be playing away from home, but against a Huddersfield Town team that have scored a league-low four goals in eight games, and are scoreless in four games at home. Burnley, Man City's opponent, have scored 10 goals in four games.
Avoid: David De Gea (Manchester United)
You can forget about the fact that De Gea led the league with 18 clean sheets last season. He has only one so far this season, and has conceded 14 goals in eight games. It's certainly not all his fault -- the defenders deserve much of the blame -- but I have no confidence in De Gea keeping a clean sheet at Chelesa.
Captain
Aguero is second in the league in fantasy points with 131.6 and, as mentioned above, has taken a league-leading 38 shots. He already has one hat trick this season, and could have another huge day at home against Burnley.