This article is part of our FPL Barometer series.
After a typically zany opening portion of the Premier League season, parody has subsided to some extent, as four of last year's top-five have ascended to the head of the standings and some teams who overachieved to begin the season have fallen off the pace. Behind the recent success of these perennially strong clubs have been some excellent contributions from some big-name players, who have undoubtedly returned front and center to fantasy Premier League prominence. On the flipside, some promising fantasy prospects from the beginning stages of the season have seen their fantasy value dwindle along with the form of their squads. This week's FPL Barometer features some high-profile players who are making an impact on the standings as well as fantasy rosters.
RISING
Harry Kane
After lighting up the league for 20 goals last season, Kane had been remarkably unproductive through nine weeks, with just one goal to his name. However, the 22-year-old's long-awaited breakout could have finally come after Sunday's hat trick versus Bournemouth. Kane now has four goals in his last four league matches, and he has ripped off 16 shots during that stretch. Kane is beginning to look like the breakout player from last season, and this weekend's matchup versus Aston Villa should present him an excellent chance to continue his recent run of form.
Boaz Myhill
After the 1-0 victory over Norwich in Matchweek 10, West Brom now sit sixth in the Premier League with just 11 goals allowed. Myhill and company have collected six clean sheets in the 32-year-old's last eight starts, and their latest victory vaulted The Baggies up to 10th place in the table. It might have been unthinkable to start the season, but the Welsh keeper has emerged as a viable matchup play for FPL owners who are looking to go cheap at the position. West Brom will face some tough opponents in the coming weeks, but don't let that deter you from considering Myhill.
Mesut Ozil
Ozil's numbers were rather pedestrian during his debut season in England, as the playmaker finished with just four goals and five assists in 21 league starts. He has caught fire to begin the 2015/16 season, however, and his assist in Saturday's 2-1 win over Everton vaulted him into first place in the Premier League with seven. The vast majority of Ozil's production has come in the last four matches, when he has a goal and five assists, and his form has coincided with a 13-goal explosion from the Gunners during that span. The German is poised for a huge rest of the season as a vital cog in the prolific Arsenal attack, and he currently poses the greatest threat to create a goal on any given week.
FALLING
Seamus Coleman
Coleman became one of the most desirable FPL defenders over the last two seasons, when he factored into 13 goals, supplied a steady amount of crosses and picked up a handful of clean sheets as a member of the generally strong Everton defense. This season has been a different story, as the Irishman has factored into just one goal, has contributed to just one clean sheet and has averaged a paltry 2.5 crosses over his past four matches. Coleman's price is still among the highest at his position on most formats, making it tough to justify rostering him until he begins to resemble his former self.
Oscar
If you recall the opening stages of the season, Oscar looked like a genuine breakout candidate, as he was a focal point of the Chelsea attack and was even taking set pieces consistently for the first time since arriving at the club. The Brazilian has endured an abrupt change of fortunes despite his strong start, as he has featured just four times in the league after failing to regain his form after a month-long injury absence. Willian thrived as Oscar's direct replacement and seems to be the preferred option at the moment, limiting Oscar's weekly appeal. He could get a look if Jose Mourinho attempts to shake up his struggling team, but his fantasy value is on the decline as things stand.
Arouna Kone
Kone does have two goals and two assists this season despite starting just five matches, but just one of those contributions has come since Aug. 15, and he has played just 75 minutes combined in the last four matches. The Ivorian earned himself a run in the starting lineup after scoring a goal and providing two assists in the first two games of the season, but that run has clearly come to an end after he played just one minute in Saturday's loss to Arsenal. Kone will likely have the chance to play himself into the lineup in the League Cup, but he is not a preferred option at the moment and his fantasy value is regressing as a result.
