Pro Pundits

My Free Hit draft for FPL Double Gameweek 30+

As the Fantasy Premier League Double Gameweek 30+ deadline edges ever closer, I am feeling more confident about my latest draft.

As you know, it has been a strange few months. So strange in fact I now own three Manchester United players but only two from Liverpool.

I made the most of the slow Wildcard over the last few weeks, bringing in players who had good overall fixtures left, although in hindsight the decision to play the fixtures in the same order was a pretty obvious outcome, and one I didn’t think much about.

With £2.0m in the bank my team is flexible enough, at least from Gameweek 31+ onwards.

andys-pp-article

The only chip I have left is Free Hit. While I’m quite happy with this side for Gameweek 31+ (as happy as anyone can be not knowing how teams and players are going to react to the long break, and who might be in form), I’m not so happy about it for Gameweek 30+. There are not enough Double Gameweek players for my liking.

As there aren’t any more Double Gameweeks planned I don’t see a great reason for holding the Free Hit chip with only nine Gameweeks to go and that’s why it will be activated before Wednesday’s 5pm deadline. Here’s how the current draft looks.

andys-pp-article 1

There’s some players that have been in every single draft so far, they’re the more obvious picks, lets get them out of the way first:

Sergio Aguero (£11.8m) has scored 16 goals already this season, that’s the same as Mohamed Salah (£12.7m) in 849 fewer minutes. There’s naturally concerns about the Argentinian getting two starts but I’m hoping the temporary five substitute rule may actually help teams like Manchester City have a more consistent starting XI that they can manage the minutes of easier. 

Kevin De Bruyne (£10.6m) was the first name in my team. From a pure FPL point of view he’s finally shown us what he can do while being fully fit for the season. He looks on course to smash his previous record season tally of 209 points and if anyone outside of Edersen (£6.0m) has a chance of starting twice, it’s De Bruyne. He’s top for minutes played by an outfield Manchester City player in 2019/20.

Aston Villa are not a team I’m looking to load up on players from. They’re very generous when it comes to conceding goals and I can’t get excited by many of their attackers. Jack Grealish (£6.4m) has to be in though. He’s had a good season with seven goals and seven assists and I’d expect him to continue as the main points scorer in the team. No midfielder at his price or under has scored more points, and he represents good value going into this week.

I see some concerns from people about having Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.m) in their teams, but he’s been so consistent again this season whether playing as a centre-forward, or in a wider position. I can’t look past him when he has two games, even if one of them is against Manchester City.

The bench is Emiliano Martínez (£4.2m), Matt Targett (£4.4m), Jamaal Lascelles (£4.3m), and Ondrej Duda (£4.7m). I’m hopeful that I won’t have to rely on it this week.

John Lundstram (£4.9m) is currently missing from the team mostly due to fears of him having not won his place back completely from Sander Berge (£4.8m). The two goals he scored during a behind closed doors game has piqued my interest again though. I’m really hoping for early teams news that will let me swap him for John Egan (£4.6m). Lundstram has five double-figure hauls already this season. That’s four more than all of the other Sheffield United defenders combined. One start and a bench appearance in the other game could be enough to see him outscore the other options, and I, for one, am sick of being punished by ‘The Lord’.

With 10 clean sheets already this season I see the appeal of triple Sheffield United defence. My slight concern is whether there will be some rustiness to shake off which may lead to a few more goals than normal as players get up to speed. Dean Henderson (£5.3m) is also the goalkeeper who has prevented the highest expected goals at 4.4. You can view that from two ways – he’s a great goalkeeper, or at some point, he may not be able to keep preventing the number of good quality chances that the defenders are allowing. The triple up is an all eggs in one basket approach and I’m currently looking to avoid.

My third Sheffield United slot goes to Oliver McBurnie (£5.7m). I’ll be honest, this is a hard sell and you’d probably be better off without him, especially considering he has just four goals in 1,428 minutes of football. Around Gameweek 22 he started getting regular starts and minutes, although in the seven game period until the end of the season still only managed one goal. But there were some encouraging underlying statistics in that time. 

Elsewhere in the side, Raheem Sterling (£11.7m) gets one of the midfield slots. For the first 29 Gameweeks, I think it’s fair to see he’s flopped considering his hefty price tag. He’s scored fewer points than Riyad Mahrez (£8.5m) having played considerably more minutes.

I am encouraged by the fact he has the second-highest expected goal involvement for all players this season. It hasn’t gone right for him in terms of actual points so far but at some point I’d expect it to click. The enforced break, and the potential return of Leroy Sané (£9.3m) could really help him too. This is a player with over 32 and 35 attacking returns in the last couple of seasons. This year he has 13 and if there’s anyone that is going to come back and be the opposite of the rest of the season I’m putting my money on Sterling. 

I’ll quickly touch on the single Gameweek players in the starting XI. As I mentioned for McBurnie and Sheffield United, I don’t think you can go wrong targeting Aston Villa’s defence for conceding goals and that’s why I’m looking at Chelsea players. It’s difficult to know exactly which side Frank Lampard will go with, but Mason Mount (£6.2m) has only failed to start three times in the league this season and with the ability to play centrally and off the left I’m hoping he’ll be given another start, although there is a lot of competition for places in that Chelsea team. 

Raúl Jiménez (£8.1m) is definitely a consideration up front instead of McBurnie but at the moment I’ve gone with Matt Doherty (£6.3m) for my Wolves player. When I look at single Gameweek fixtures in Gameweek 30+ a few stand out, and one of them is Wolves getting to play a poor West Ham side.

Jiménez is incredibly consistent and I don’t for one second think he won’t get some kind of return this week. But in a week when I’m using my final chip and am trying to improve on a poor rank I want to do something different. The Mexican has 19 attacking returns so far, but when you include clean sheets, Doherty isn’t far behind on 16. The Irish wing-back also has four double digital hauls vs Jiménez with three, so it’s not like he’s any less explosive on his day.

That trio of McBurnie, Mount and Doherty is about the only part of this team that’s now fully locked in. That could be any combo of Sheffield United, Chelsea or Wolves player, and I’d even be tempted by an Arsenal defender instead of Leno to go for something even more different.

But for now I’m trying not to overthink. I know the fixtures I want to target, and  I have a good core of Double Gameweek players I’m very happy with, alongside some calculated differntials.

We’re about to go into the unknown. We’ve heard the phrase “a new normal” a lot over the last few weeks and it’s going to apply to football as well. I’ve gone with what I know when picking this squad but the new normal could mean things are completely different, I just hope I’ve got at least some of it right. 

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4,183 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Tabbara
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Thoughts on this BB team
    Henderson Leno
    Alonso TAA Doherty Lundstram Baldock
    Grealish KDB Sterling Barnes Cantwell
    Aguero Abraham Nketiah
    Thx

    1. JabariParkersEyelid
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      If you can stomach no Auba it's great.

      1. Tabbara
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        it is this or sacrificing sterling to get Auba.
        Would replace sterling with marhez.

        1. Guru Mediation
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          I'd do that on this binary choice

    2. FPL_DON
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Very strong

  2. sthelenslad92
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    My current team:
    Patricio
    TAA - Stevens - Lascelles
    Salah - KDB - Sarr - Saka
    Aubameyang - Jimenez - Ings
    (Button, Barnes, VVD, Cathcart)

    Would you Free Hit or use unlimited transfers?

    1. FPL_Devil
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Unlimited transfers

  3. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Sterling or Mahrez in FH team??

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Kun & KDB others

    2. JabariParkersEyelid
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Sterling on a free hit.

    3. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I’ve got Mahrez, as need Mane too.
      Really scared of Sterling though

    4. Firminooooo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      And Mahrez on BB.

    5. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Need context. Sterling otherwise.

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        FH team?

        Hendo
        Trent, Lundy, Doherty, Baldock
        Grealish, Sterling, KDB C
        Aguero, Auba, Jimmy

        Martin, Saka, CHO, Taylor

        1. St Pauli Walnuts
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Yep Sterling as you've not had to compromise to afford him. GTG.

          1. g40steve
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Cheers

    6. fusen
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      My main dilemma, if I free hit I can afford Sterling, if I use transfers and BB then I can't afford Sterling as I need the money to be spread around.

      Can Mahrez perform as well as Sterling when they'll both most likely get random minutes and subbed both games.

      Neither are in form, Sterling is the better player. It's a bit of a cointoss

    7. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Cheers

    8. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Raheem

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        My thoughts also just confirmed

  4. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Best option here folks??

    A- Sterling and Abraham +0.4
    Or
    B- Aubameyang and Mahrez

    Thank you

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B

  5. FPL_DON
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Rate my BB team please chaps, could do with some guidance

    Henderson Leno
    Boly TAA Lascelles Egan O'Connell (aware of injury rumours)
    Grealish Sterling Mane KDB Cantwell
    Aguero DCL Nketiah

  6. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Just to keep people in the loop Twitter is suggesting both O’Connell and Fleck are injured.

    This sees both Lundstram and Berge start.

    I’ll provide links to tweets/reddit.

    Apparently it’s from a reliable source who has proven to be before lockdown.

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      There goes my Lundstram advantage

      1. Athletic Nasherbo
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Imagine Lundstram starts both now.

    2. trinzoo
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Will Basham play?

      1. Athletic Nasherbo
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Not sure. Hasn’t been mentioned so seems all fine.

        1. trinzoo
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Thanks!

    3. Big_Andy_GAWA
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Good to know. Let us know what all you can find on the subject...!

      1. Big_Andy_GAWA
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        What about Bešić...what are his chances of starts, should Fleck be out??

        1. Athletic Nasherbo
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Haven’t heard about Besic. Guess he could play/get minutes. Probably see Berge/Lundstram taken off around 60/65 mins for him. Just my opinion here though.

        1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          hmmm was quite settled on fleck, still might play him with a decent sub in place

          1. Athletic Nasherbo
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            If he’s not playing both surely not...Norwood?

    4. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Can you give the reddit links please

      1. Athletic Nasherbo
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Above.

        1. Big_Andy_GAWA
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          That Zlatan chap seems incredibly confident of his claims. Says he'll leave Twitter for a year if he's proven to be wrong. Wow.

  7. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Bench 1:

    1. El Ghazi
    2. Doherty
    3. Trent

    1. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Doherty.

    2. FPL_Devil
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      El ghazi

  8. Pep's Money Laundry
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Which SGW player:

    A. Mount (avl)
    B. Traore (whu)
    C. Other up to 6.3m

    1. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

    2. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

    3. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I'd like to say Traore but might not start, Mount seems likely to so A. Sarr also a good option but not as good a fixture.

  9. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    No chips left, so have tried to set up a team that’s good for the doubles, but also for rest of season.

    Will be doing sterling to son for GW31.

    Leno

    Lundstram, Egan, Basham, TAA

    Sterling (c), mahrez, Grealish

    Auba, Vardy, Jimmy

    Button, Martial, Doherty, Guendoozi.

    0.0 ITB.

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Looks really good. No Kdb or Aguero would frighten me though!

      1. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks mate.

        Yea it is a worry, but somethings got to give and neither are in my long term plans.

    2. FPL_Devil
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Good team would do sterling to KDB tho

  10. Khalico
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    My team good to go?
    Henderson
    Baldock, TAA, Doherty
    B.Fernandes, Son, KDB (C), Mane
    Abraham, DCL, Jimenez
    Subs: McCarthy, Cantwell, Reece James, C.Taylor

  11. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Evening all. Would you free hit this team or use the free WC? Cheers.

    Foster - McGovern
    Rico - Taylor - TAA - Saiss - Fernandez
    Salah - KDB - Saiss - Saka - Bruno
    Vardy - Auba - Ings

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      2 Saiss? Probably wc

      1. Bobby_Baggio
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        oops traore

  12. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    how come lundstram is in so many teams all of a sudden ? not that i m complaining 🙂

    1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Fleck rumoured to be out, would see Berge, Norwood, Lundstram in Midfield

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        thanks

  13. checkit_j
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Rmt bb
    0.2itb

    Hendo / Patrico
    Taa - Egan - Lascelles /Sais / El Moh
    Salah - Kdb - Bruno - Saka / Dluiz
    Kun -Tammy - Jota

  14. SuperMane Returns
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    I will be glad when 5pm passes tomorrow and all the tinkering stress will temporarily be over.

  15. Rover
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    We really shouldn't be looking at it as City having Arsenal + Burnley in 5 days. It's really City having Arsenal + Burnley + Chelsea in 8 days.

    I would expect Aguero to start the two more difficult games against Arsenal and Chelsea and Jesus to start against Burnley. If City is winning comfortably against Arsenal he'll be taken off. If City is winning comfortably against Burnley he won't be brought on.

    Yes he will almost certainly score a brace but I doubt it is going to be the sort of back-to-back hattricks we saw last year. 2G + max bonus = 11 points = 1G+2A for a mid. I would back Sterling to get that, maybe even Mahrez.

    1. Rover
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Tomorrow I will wake up with the realisation that I am just convincing myself why it's okay to go without Kun.

    2. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Think anyone would take a brace right now

      Almost certainly is pushing it tho

      1. Rover
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Just get the feeling that people seem to be expecting a 20+ haul from an Aguero DGW against ARS and BUR at home.

    3. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      This. Will probably want to field a strong team against Chelsea more than Burnley

      1. Rover
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Exactly. And I just realised there's only about 40 hours between City's GW32+ and GW33+ games. Crikey!

    4. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Now with Sane back it reduces playing time even more for City attacking assets.

      1. Rover
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Agreed, although I expect Sane to be eased in over the course of the remaining games rather than during this DGW specifically. Probably minutes against Burnley and then Southampton.

    5. FPL_DON
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Chelsea game being away from home makes me think jesus might play

      1. Rover
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        You might be on to something there, although I'd have thought the strengths of the opposition would play a greater role in team selection than the venue, especially with the empty stadiums.

    6. Easy Cheesy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I’m going aguero and jesus

      1. Rover
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        That's a good shout as well. Whoever is the striker will score in whichever game, so cover them both

  16. Railwayman
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Have a feeling Villa will fight like hell in the remaining GW's, they could surprise us big time...

    1. maglia rosa
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Not a Crewe fan by any chance?

  17. XX SMICER XX
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    On BB, have Aguero & KDB already, would you:

    A: Sterling, Saka, Saiss
    B: Mahrez, Mount, Doherty

    1. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B

  18. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Sarr or Doherty only for this week?

    1. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Doherty.

    2. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Doherty

  19. Big_Andy_GAWA
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    No Scoutpicks, folks, no...? =|O

    1. Rover
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Hopefully tomorrow morning. The articles have been coming pretty regularly early in the day.

  20. EL tridente
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    How is this BB team looking? Don't have WC and will free hit in 31.

    Ederson, Leno
    Boly, Stevens, Egan, Targett, Maguire
    De Bruyne, Sterling, Grealish, Fernandes, Fleck
    Jimenez, Auba, Samatta

  21. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Any ideas if reece james plays?

    1. Loftus cheeky nandos
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      He’s fit to play but as is azpi and rest of defence so may not get a start

      1. how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks

  22. Misunderstood Genius
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Hey guys, can someone clarify this for me? Still a bit unsure.

    I have used my second wildcard and only have BB and FH left. Is it possible for me to use my unlimited transfers to select my team, then make an entirely new squad only for DG30+ using my free hit, and then revert back to my initial squad for DG31+?

    1. Jambot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      If you free hit then your unlimited transfers made this week will all be cancelled when the team reverts back.

      Hoping this is the last time I type that.

    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      No
      BB is your option

  23. Gunner1290
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Why is there no love for Armstrong on here? Great shooting stats 5.2 and saints have Norwich?

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Beach theory

  24. reo19uk
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Which of these looks better?

    A) Ederson, Egan, Cantwell, El Ghazi Abraham +0.3m to improve someone
    b) Reina, Stevens, Mahrez, Saka, Samattu

    Any opinions on them would be big help?

  25. Tinmen
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    For bench boost folks, which option?

    A) Leno Barnes Jota
    B) Henderson Cantwell Abraham

  26. Fernandito
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    A Targett Barnes McBurnie
    B Lascelles El Ghazi Pukki

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      No WC?

    2. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B

  27. Gentle_Turks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Any concrete news on whether Lundstram will play?

  28. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Sterling Salah and Targett
    Or
    Mahrez Mane and Trent

    BB this week, no chip next week

  29. AYLD28
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    FH team, fill in the XX?

    Henderson
    Stevens XX Doherty
    Sterling (c) KDB Mount Grealish
    XX Auba Aguero

    1. TAA & Jimenez/Abraham
    2. Alonso & Jimenez/Abraham

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      1. Jimenez

    2. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      TAA Jiménez

  30. papa89
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Assuming O'Connell is injured, who would be replacing him? In such a case, would be E.Stevens moved from RWB to RCB?