FanDuel

FanDuel Focus – Gameweek 5

Welcome to our regular lunchtime article looking at FanDuel’s games and key picks. Each round we’ll be putting forward a proposed eleven who we think should prosper in the Gameweek’s action, according to FanDuel’s unique scoring system.

There are three deadlines on FanDuel for entering line-ups into contests this weekend. The Friday night 8pm kick-off at Stamford Bridge marks the start of the games that cover all ten fixtures of the round. The Saturday only contests begin at 3pm, while Sunday’s four-match slate starts at 12 noon.

We’ve focussed on players from Manchester City, Arsenal and Spurs in forward positions with all three having favourable fixtures, though their midweek Champions League exertions may limit their appeal.

Everton’s convincing second-half performance at the Stadium of Light has also put Toffees assets on our radar, ahead of the Goodison Park encounter with Middlesbrough.

For our-back-line, we’ve once again pinpointed some centre-backs that have tough opposition, which should see them make strong defensive contributions, a crucial factor in FanDuel where only goalkeepers gain clean sheet points.

To get started register for a free account via this link. When you sign up, enter the promocode “SCOUT” and FanDuel will refund your first paid entry fee, up to £10, as free entry credit if you don’t win cash.

There’s also a strategy guide available that examines which players to target in the various positions based on the average scores they would have accrued if the scoring was applied to last season.

My Team

Claudio Bravo £5m

Papy Djilobodji £5.5m

Steve Cook £7.4m

Curtis Davies £9.3m

Yannick Bolasie £7.7m

Dusan Tadic £9.9m

Christian Eriksen £10.1m

Kevin De Bruyne £15.3m

Alexis Sanchez £13m

Kelechi Iheanacho £6.6m

Romelu Lukaku £9.2m

Key Picks

Claudio Bravo marked his home debut for City with a clean sheet in the midweek clash with Borussia Monchengladbach, the Chilean keeper’s budget price-tag combined with visitors Bournemouth failing to impress in front of goal so far makes the ex-Barcelona shot-stopper difficult to overlook between the sticks.

We also like the look of Everton’s Maarten Stekelenburg (£6m) who may be worth the extra investment as he looks for a third straight clean sheet in the Goodison Park clash with ‘Boro.

Sunderland’s summer signing Papy Djilobodji looks well-suited to the FanDuel scoring system, demonstrated by a 21.75 point average over his three appearances so far. The Senegalese centre-back made seven interceptions and six clearances in the defeat to Everton and at £5.5m should provide value for the visit to White Hart Lane.

Bournemouth may not be facing the suspended Sergio Aguero on Saturday but Steve Cook is still likely to be kept busy at the Etihad. Just three defenders have registered more than the centre-back’s 47 clearances, blocks and interceptions this term.

Curtis Davies continues to top that list by some margin (recording 84 clearances, blocks and interceptions in total). While in such resilient form he appears to be indispensable in the FanDuel format, with visitors Arsenal giving him ample opportunity to add to his impressive defensive statistics.

We’ve gone with Everton’s Yannick Bolasie in midfield based on his performance in Monday’s 3-0 win at the Stadium of Light, where the winger created five chances, earned an assist and had three attempts on goal. The ex-Palace player looks a potentially explosive prospect this Gameweek.

There’s lots tempting selections in the £9.5m to £10.5m bracket for the upcoming round, with Dusan Tadic among our differential recommendations. The Serb proved his capability of scoring well in FanDuel with a 34.25 haul in Southampton’s opening day fixture with Watford. After some disappointing performances, we’re hoping for a return to similar form here as the Saints host Swansea.

Christian Eriksen makes the cut after posting a score of 35.25 against Stoke. His two assists and three chances created shows the Dane is hitting form and we’re expecting the Spurs playmaker to be involved again for the visit of the Black Cats. Dele Alli (£9.8m) also demonstrated some of last season’s threat at Stoke, creating three chances and netting his first goal of the campaign.

Both Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla (£9.8m) and Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling (£9.1m) have had bright starts to the season and are worth considering for their favourable fixtures this Gameweek. However, we’ve managed to fit in their more expensive team-mates, who we believe are worth the extra outlay.

Alexis Sanchez, classed as a forward in FanDuel, has highlighted his goal threat on the road, scoring in back-to-back away matches for the Gunners against Watford in the league and PSG in Europe.

Kevin De Bruyne has created a table-topping 14 chances in the league this season and put in a man-of-the-match performance against Manchester United last weekend. With Bournemouth visiting Gameweek 5 looks an ideal time to invest in the midfield maestro.

Being able to afford those two big-hitters was largely down to the bargain price-tag of City’s Kelichi Iheanacho. The young forward scored against Borussia Monchengladbach after opening his account for the term in the Manchester derby. He looks set to lead the line again in Ageuro’s absence.

We complete the XI with Romelu Lukaku, whose goal drought was broken in style with an 11-minute hat-trick on Monday night. The Toffees front-man now leads the league for shots-on-target (worth five points apiece in FanDuel), alongside Diego Costa.

This Week’s Games

The all-weekend time-frame has the biggest pot of the weekend, the £7500 Fan Favourite contest which has a £5 buy-in and a £750 first-place prize.

There’s also a £25 free game on offer which covers the full-round as well which is ideal for newcomers to test out the format.

Our own contest covers the Saturday matches, the Fantasy Football Scout Challenge is £1 to enter with a guaranteed pot of £150 available, this contest starts at 3pm on Saturday.

The main game for the Saturday only slate is the £1500 special, it has a £3 entry fee with £200 going for first place, the deadline is 3pm though late swap is available for players you select in the 5.30pm kick-off at Goodison Park.

On Sunday there is a similar contest available, also with a £1500 guaranteed and £3 buy-in.

You can register for a free account at FanDuel via this link. When you sign up, enter the promo code “SCOUT” and FanDuel will refund your first paid entry fee, up to £10, as free entry credit if you don’t win cash.

825 Comments Post a Comment
  1. PlayPercentage
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    As a Tadic and Vardy owner, I was disappointed to note the following in the midweek Euro games:
    * Austin on penalties for Southampton
    * Mahrez (serial misser) still on penalties for Leicester

    As a Baines owner, I am still not 100% sure that he might defer to an in-form Lukaku, should Lukaku grab the ball..

    1. GHB
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Was Austins first goal the pen?

      1. PlayPercentage
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Yes.
        Austin and Tadic had a grappling match for the ball!
        Van der Vaart was captain. He pulled Tadic aside.
        Austin was the designated penalty taker, it seems.

        1. GHB
          • 13 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Hmmm if it was first I would take a guess Tadic is still on them. Might just be Austin wanted a goal to kick start his season and score his 1st goal. Tadic has done nothing wrong to come off them

          1. Fitzy.
            • 12 Years
            8 years, 1 month ago

            According to Austin, he'll be taking them in future.

            1. GHB
              • 13 Years
              8 years, 1 month ago

              Oh really? What did he say?

              1. Fitzy.
                • 12 Years
                8 years, 1 month ago

                If there was a question of who will take penalties for Southampton, Austin has his answer, at the very least.

                "It was a little bit silly, I think," Austin told reporters. "But I had a lot of confidence in my ability and I think I should take the penalties. I was lucky it went in but it was all about the team. We got a good start and that was it. We move on now.

                "We've not had a penalty this year, but I'm the centre-forward - I feel I should take it, and rightly so."

                1. GHB
                  • 13 Years
                  8 years, 1 month ago

                  Interesting. Cheers for that mate

        2. devils advocate
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Van der Vaart? Lol. 😉

        3. La Roja
          • 12 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Van dijk*

      2. Sjaugen
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        1st yeah

  2. Atwood
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Barkley > Antonio

    No hits, complete no brainer right?

    1. Nicks93
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Id have Barkley over Antonio thos week with you missing Antonio's rise anyway

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        What does his price rise have to do with whether he's a better prospect than Barkley going forwards?

        1. Nicks93
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          I mean that this transfer can wait a week

  3. Venom Snake
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    On the train to Liverpool to visit Anfield, only to find out that I can't go in to the player change rooms or see the 'this is anfield' sign because of the construction going on 🙁

    Guess I'll have to come back for another trip in the future...

    1. John t penguin
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      take it you didn't get ticket for game then?

      1. John t penguin
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        also why not buy a hard hat from somewhere and pretend you are on construction, unscrew sign and say you are fixing it, hey presto a great memento of visit

      2. Venom Snake
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Nope.

        It had always been my plan since day one to visit Anfield so I am.

        Who knows, maybe I'll loiter around outside Stamford bridge tonight and try find some overpriced tickets lol

        1. John t penguin
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          if you are in Liverpool why not give them your story and maybe they can get you in

          1. Venom Snake
            • 11 Years
            8 years, 1 month ago

            Yeah I will try give them a sob story and see what happens 😀

  4. Simon Says...
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Who is getting the clean sheet - West Brom (right in a mire, with a manager who doesn't want to be there etc) vs West Ham (who throw the ball in their own net)?

    1. Nanoelektronicar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Ham

    2. Your Man With The Hair
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      neither

    3. Sjaugen
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      WBA do better away. WBA were awful at defending vs midfielder runs last year.
      Hammers can't defend. Maybe a WHU cs if Collins gets benched

  5. Gooner Kebab
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Tekkers vs Shay Given.

    It's worth considering for (c) right lads?

    1. devils advocate
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I wouldn't captain Given but go for it if your gut says pick him.

  6. bojack
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Correct use of AoA chip this weekend, in view of Kyle Walker possibly not playing (McAuley would come in)?

    Foster
    Shaw | Walker
    Hazard | Firmino | Mirallas | Redmond | Capoue
    Ibra (c) | Costa (vc) | Benteke

    Subs: Heaton | McAuley | Friend | Amat

    Going to take a hit to do Mirallas > Bolasie, Costa > Kun next week in all likelihood..

    1. Gooner Kebab
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      what's wrong with playing mcauley vs whu?

      1. bojack
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        It's more that I think Walker won't play, and I don't want to have to play Friend (eve).

        Also I expect West Ham to score a minimum of two at the Hawthorns.

        1. bojack
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          So I'm gambling Walker does play.. if not I can accept McAuley.

        2. Gooner Kebab
          • 12 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          I'll put a bet on that 2 goals!

      2. Kings of Lyon ★
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Double against WHU though?

    2. devils advocate
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Why wouldn't Walker play?

      He doesn't miss many games unless injured. Rose is rotated more often as a precaution due to being more sceptical to the odd niggle.

      I don't think you have to worry about Walker not playing.

      1. bojack
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Did Tripper not come in a few times last year to rest Walker?

        I'd like to keep Walker for the full season so hope you're right 🙂

  7. Coffe and the city
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Who to be captain for this week?

    A. Lukaku
    B. Ibra
    C. Nacho

    1. osceola31909
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      B.

    2. devils advocate
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      No offence but you know you can just look at the poll to get a consensus on what people think instead of having to ask here.

      You'll get a larger pool of answers from the poll.

  8. osceola31909
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Besides Alderweireld, what Spurs defender is less prone to rotation?

    1. Carlton P
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Vertongen

    2. okan58
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Faith the defense is not changed. Can I imagine hard anyway.

    3. Bullet Eder
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Vertonghen.

    4. osceola31909
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks!

    5. devils advocate
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Vertongen and Alder are nailed.

      Vertongen could be a bargain if you can rediscover his attacking form and spurs find their defensive touch again.

  9. rozzo
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    I took a hit last week. Costa and Antonio in. 4 goals and 25 points between them.

    Anyone else remember a great hit that payed off?

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Iheanacho vs Bournemouth #inception

  10. Albert Cole
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Hazard (c)?

    1. Atwood
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I'm going Costa, but it's hard between the two

      1. Albert Cole
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Over Ibra?

        1. Sjaugen
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Could work. Can still out for Pool. Expect some clean sheets once he comes back, and closes down a lot of the open areas in front of the defense

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Good shout.

  11. MOUMU
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Captain for this GW?

    Sanchez
    Hazard
    Firmino
    Ibra
    Sterling

    any suggestion?

    1. okan58
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Lukaku 🙂

      1. MOUMU
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        apart form him lol

    2. kalmoffit
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Sanchez

      1. MOUMU
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        i am tied between sanchez and sterling

    3. Right boot
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Nacho

    4. halstho
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Ibra from those I think but Hazard is a good pick too

      1. MOUMU
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        sanchez?

  12. Delhidynamo
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    A)Giroud+Townsend->KDB and Iheanacho

    B)Giroud-> Kaku

    C)Giroud to Janssen(I have Kane already, but i really fancy a Sunderland spanking)

    Wcing next week

  13. arthadox
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Costa -----> Ibra?

    Thanks!

    1. halstho
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      If you have Hazard and its for free then yes.

      Otherwise hold Costa against a Liverpool team that don't both defending.

    2. Steve McCroskey
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Too sideways IMO, unless you have no other pressing transfers

  14. okan58
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Foster
    Walker - Stones - Collins - Shaw
    Özil - Lamela - Hazard - Sterling
    Lukaku (c) - Ibrahimovic
    Subs: Heaton, Gray, Amat and Höjbjerg.

    1FT. Bank: 0.2.
    Any change of my team? What do you think?

    1. Gooner Kebab
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      save, gtg

  15. Conk
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Thoughts on lamela and martial to mahrez and kdb for a hit? Its a one week punt as i plan to wc next gw.. Any help is hugely appreciated

    1. Whazza
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      should pay off!

    2. Simon Says...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Do it.

  16. Shanty Toon
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Got a bit of a defensive headache this week guys, not sure who to bench. Any thoughts?

    Walker (Sun H)
    Valencia (Wat A)
    Stones (Bou H)
    Baines (Mid H)

    1. okan58
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      If all can play.

    2. liiusions
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I'd honestly consider dropping a mid over them... Probably Valencia if any of them though

    3. kalmoffit
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Valencia

    4. devils advocate
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Jesus that's an expensive defense.

      The rest of your team can't be great surely?

  17. Nicks93
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Nacho or Big Rom for captain?

    1. liiusions
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Going for Rom myself, he loves doing nothing for ages then just going crazy for a few weeks

      1. Nicks93
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        I agree he is much safer, but City scoring for fun makes Nacho so tempting. Toughest captain decision for me so far

  18. Nanoelektronicar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Going for Barkley instead of Lukaku on wildcard last week makes me worried now if Lukaku goes mental in the next few games. It would take a major surgery to get both Aguero and Lukaku alongside Ibra. I think it's possible, but it would take 3 or 4 transfers.

    1. liiusions
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Aguero Lukaku and Ibra would be too much up top imo. Your midfield would look awful

      1. Nanoelektronicar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        I think there will be cheap performing mids. I agree it will be less flexible and I won't be able to react to get pricey in form mid, but there are Bolasi, Snodgrass, Lallana, Cazorla etc.

        And of course, Lukaku will be tempting only if he continues to produce double digits week in, week out. Otherwise, Bony and Benteke are good mid price options.

  19. liiusions
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Start one of:
    A) Pieters (cry)
    B) Evans (WHU) - playing Foster as well
    C) Amat (sou)

    Leaning towards Amat myself, not too sure why. Pieters is the obvious one but Stoke have been awful defensively so far

    1. kalmoffit
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I have A+C and going for C, it's a stab in the dark.

  20. John t penguin
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    as many sell man utd players this week, it has one of those arse biting decisions written all over it

  21. Orion
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Stick with Walcott or transfer him out for free... ? Thinking of Tadić or Bolasie ? Or someone else? Cheers!

    1. liiusions
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Antonio?

      1. Orion
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah, looking nice but wanted some of differential...

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      He might play this week according to the tweets

    3. mattymjp
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Having the same dilemma. Bolasie tempting at 1.5 cheaper.

  22. FDMS All Starz
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Get j.evans or Galloway?

    1. Ziegler1988
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Evans since Brunt is back soon

      1. devils advocate
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Galloway is nailed and offers more attacking threat.

        Brunt is a midfielder who was filling in at LB because they had no recognized LB before Galloway was brought in to fix that.

  23. Bobadoba
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Grey will score twice this weekend if you bench capoue. Mark my words.

  24. TSILIKAFENEIAKOS
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Lamela, Negredo to Bollasie, Benteke ? (already have Luk)

    Lamela vs Sun though.

  25. reddick16
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Tadic + Diomande > Capoue + Iheanacho for -4?

  26. No Pirlo No Party
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    I am really struggling this week, some advice would be appreciated lads. 2 FT

    Courtois
    Stones - Shaw - McAuley
    Hazard - Barkley - Ramirez - Redmond - Capoue
    Zlatan - Gray

    (Jaku - Pieters - Friend - Aguero) - 2FT - £1.7m Bank

    1. Your Man With The Hair
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Aguero to Costa/Lukaku save the second transfer. You'll need it next week to get Ageuro back in.

      1. No Pirlo No Party
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        I'm keeping Aguero. No point in wasting 2 transfers.

    2. Netley Lucas
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Gray/Barkley/cash>Lukaku/Bolasie

  27. Zebrahimović
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    I'm guessing Walker is gonna start for Spurs?

  28. MOUMU
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    will Sanchez get full playing time this week?

    1. Orion
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I'm pretty sure he will...

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      yes

  29. ROSSI_7
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Iheanacho Lukaku Ibrahimovic for (C)

    1. AdamJ91
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I'm really tempted to go for Iheanacho.

    2. Nicks93
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Im in the same dilemma. Slightly leaning towards Nacho

  30. kenzo.
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Have 2FT's

    A. Ibra Capoue
    B. Deeney Ozil