Fantasy Premier League 2013 Week 5: Difference-Makers to Save Your Team

Ideally, your fantasy team is filled with players perpetually at the peak of their powers, but that's not often the case. Every fantasy manager needs a player who can save their week, sometimes single-handedly.

Three such men are listed below, so you've got no excuse for bombing out of Week 5.

Mesut Ozil, Arsenal

It only took 11 minutes. Ozil received a pass, took a touch and then played in Olivier Giroud for the first assist of his Arsenal career. If it wasn't for Theo Walcott's allergy to scoring goals, Ozil could have had four assists by the end of the first half.

There's absolutely no reason why this won't continue as Arsenal face Stoke on Sunday. The Potters have clawed some good results after losing at Liverpool in the first week, but will have trouble dealing with the threat Arsenal offer in attack. The fact that Ozil won't have a stomach bug should also help matters.

Ozil's record in La Liga spoke for itself, and Arsenal pulled off an incredible coup in convincing the German to make the move to the Emirates. If you're not at least considering adding Ozil to your fantasy lineup in Week 5, I'm not going to talk to you anymore.

Christian Eriksen, Tottenham Hotspur

Despite not being in the country very long, Christian Eriksen wasted no time in destroying Norwich City last weekend. Eriksen was involved in both Spurs goals and simply looked too good for the Canaries.

Admittedly, Norwich have a history of being undone by creative players—see Suarez, L. and Kagawa, S.—but there's every chance the Danish midfielder will repeat the trick at Cardiff this weekend.

Cardiff have been inconsistent this year, losing to West Ham in one game before recovering to defeat Manchester City in another. Eriksen is a destructive player and should take advantage of an indecisive Cardiff defence to wreak further havoc.

Bring him into your fantasy lineup and enjoy watching him rack up the points. Unless you're a Cardiff fan, obviously.

Daniel Sturridge, Liverpool

Liverpool's failure to put away teams they should beat has derailed their season in the past, and Southampton are a side who could cause an upset at Anfield. The Reds kept the games to 1-0 in their opening three fixtures, despite dominating possession and creating chances.

However, if you're looking for a striker to net you some goals, Sturridge has been a model of consistency in the absence of Luis Suarez. Despite Philippe Coutinho going off the boil slightly, Sturridge has found ways to score and secure three points for his side.

Southampton's defence was a real problem last year, but they've started the year much brighter in 2013-14. Once again, it's likely to be a game decided by a single goal, and Sturridge has to be the one to provide it.

If you've not already got him in your side, make the move.