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Tom Freeman’s Gameweek 38 team reveal + Triple Captain thoughts

24 May 2025 215 comments
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With the final Fantasy Premier League (FPL) deadline of 2024/25 nearing, we’re hearing from our panel of guest writers. Here, five-time top 1k finisher Tom Freeman talks through his Gameweek 38 team and outlines his plans for the Triple Captain chip.

So here it is, the final Gameweek of the season.

For my own team, I’m not only deliberating who to transfer in, but also who to hand the Triple Captain armband to.

Against this backdrop, I’ve got three flagged players.

In this article, I’ll reveal my current team, discuss potential transfer targets and outline my plans for captaincy.

TRIPLE CAPTAIN

Firstly, my requirements for the chip:

  • Secure minutes, with a low likelihood of rotation or an early substitution
  • A consistent performer who has at least delivered a few double-digit hauls over the season
  • Ideally a midfielder, given their increased routes to points

This immediately rules out Bukayo Saka (10.3m), who I already own, Luis Diaz (£7.5m), Kaoru Mitoma (£6.3m) and Justin Kluivert (£5.9m).

For Saka, I’m uncertain as to how Mikel Arteta will set Arsenal up on Sunday, and even if he does start, will he get 70-75 minutes with England duty on the horizon, plus Ethan Nwaneri (£4.3m) waiting in the wings? I’m not so sure.

I’ve therefore narrowed it down to two names, with a third, much riskier option, which I won’t completely rule out and will discuss later.

a) Jarrod Bowen v Ipswich Town (a)
b) Bryan Mbeumo v Wolverhampton Wanderers (a)

Averaging 87.4 and 89.8 minutes per appearance respectively, Jarrod Bowen (£7.9m) and Bryan Mbeumo (£8.3m) are both serious options with many routes to points.

West Ham United admittedly don’t score as many goals as Brentford, but Bowen’s 73% goal involvement figure under Graham Potter somewhat makes up for it. Mbeumo’s rate of 43% over the season is promising, too.

When looking at the underlying stats, there isn’t really a clear-cut winner, but what about the matchups?

MBEUMO V BOWEN: THE OPPOSITION

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215 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. MrMartini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    Team below
    Areola
    Taa, gvardiol, kerkez
    Eze, bowen, mbuemo, salah, rogers
    Isak, cunha,
    Subs
    Sanchez, marmoush, munoz, colwill.

    Likely to swap TAA for Schaer for my 1ft.

    Play eze or marmoush? or take a -4 to swap one of them out?

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    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 9 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      Schar sounds good.

      Eze.

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  2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 9 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    GTG or anything worth a hit?

    Pope
    Gvardiol Muñoz RAN
    Palmer KDB Mbeumo Eze
    Haaland(V) Watkins Welbeck(C)

    Murphy Mykolenko Robinson

    2.5ITB

    Could be Haaland C, not yet decided

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    1. Oasthouse FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      Looks good, but I’d much rather have Salah over palmer.

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      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 9 Years
        6 months, 15 days ago

        Yeah, but I can't afford him and wouldn't captain him anyway.

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  3. Yozzer
    • 8 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    Think I'm going to go KDB to Diaz who is massively going under the radar. Why do we think no one is talking about him? If Salah is the best captain option based on how many goals there is expected to be. Go check Diaz home record. Do we not hear about him because they don't wanna bring attention to him?

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    1. OneTeamInBristol
      • 2 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      If I could afford Diaz, I would go there.

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    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      People went Diaz around gw18 and got upset with benchings and blanks etc.

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    3. The Hunt
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      I could have written this post! That's the move I'm making but because there's been so little noise about Diaz I've started to wonder if he's disappeared back home in Columbia or something. This will effectively be a celebration game between two successful teams and numerous goals will be scored. If Diaz doesn't haul I'll be disappointed.

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    4. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      Diaz last 7 homes games. Immense!!! Been saying it all week!!

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    5. EWH2020
      • 11 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      Hard one. Diaz minutes are so erratic, Liverpool been terrible for many weeks. Worry he would play 50 mins then get hooked for some kid to give them some minutes

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  4. EWH2020
    • 11 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    Thinking of sticking in Gordon or Barnes and making them captain.

    Who should I go for?

    A) Gordon - might play as a false 9. But hasn't scored for months.

    B) Barnes - probably more explosive. More than 1 return in a game

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    1. OneTeamInBristol
      • 2 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      Gordon

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  5. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    Bench one out of these foks:
    A. KDB (ful)
    B. Isak (EVE)
    C. Rogers (mun)
    D. Wissa (wol)

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    1. OneTeamInBristol
      • 2 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      C

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    2. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
      • 14 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      C

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  6. Sgt. Schultz
    • 9 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    Sunderland SCORE!!

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  7. Qaiss
    • 9 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    Sunderland have won it, wow

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  8. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    Ridiculous turnaround at Wembley

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  9. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
    • 14 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    TC...
    A MO
    B MBUEMO
    C BOWEN

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    1. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 10 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      A

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  10. akhilrajau
    • 7 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    Pickford, Flekken
    Konsa, N.williams, Gvardiol, Livramento, Obrien
    Salah, Saka, Mbeumo, , Rogers
    Watkins, Wissa, Marmoush
    FT: 1 Bank: 0.0
    Going to play Bench Boost.. please suggest

    I without hit
    A.0brien -> Hujsen / wan bissaka
    B. Pickford -> kepa
    C Marmoush -> Evanilson

    II with hit
    A. Marmoush, Obrien -> Evanilson, Kerkez (-4)
    B. Obrien, Pickford-> Kiwior, Kepa (-4)
    C Marmoush, Obrien, Pickford -> Evanilson, Kerkez, Raya (-8)

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  11. G Banger
    • 7 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    Play had been KDB => Saka but with his minutes far from guaranteed, I think bringing in a BOU player is best:
    a) Mykolenko => Kerkez (RAN bench)
    b) Elanga => Kluivert (Larson bench)
    c) Larson => Evanlison (Elanga bench)
    d) Actually should do KDB => Saka

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    1. Sgt. Schultz
      • 9 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      Kluivert mins up in the air as well?
      If not D, then C. Welbeck could be interesting as well.

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  12. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
    • 14 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    Play one from
    A Konsa
    B Munez
    C Cucurellla

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    1. Sgt. Schultz
      • 9 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      A

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    2. G Banger
      • 7 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      A

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    3. F4L
      • 10 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      a

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  13. g40steve
    • 7 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    Sunderland promoted

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  14. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    Sunderland finished 14pts behind Sheff Utd but get promoted. Absolute joke. They will come straight back down again. Get rid of the play offs and make it top 3 get promoted like it used to be.

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    1. g40steve
      • 7 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      Bit like voting in the UK 😉

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    2. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      Never known anyone with such consistently awful takes as you

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      1. gooberman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        6 months, 15 days ago

        Please explain how its an awful take. Sheff Utd were a significantly better team over the season demonstrated by that huge points gap This isn't a 'take' It's factual.

        Play offs just allow teams who aren't good for the premier league to get promoted. Sunderland will finish bottom of the Premier League next season.

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      2. gooberman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        6 months, 15 days ago

        what are my other awful 'takes' clown?

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        1. x.jim.x
          • 11 Years
          6 months, 15 days ago

          Bin one of the best games of the season
          Luis Diaz best left winger in the league
          Adam Wharton not rated

          Just off the top of me head

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          1. TheBiffas
            • 5 Years
            6 months, 15 days ago

            There aren't that many better left wingers.... I'm not saying Diaz is world class because he's not, there's just not that many good left wingers in the prem

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            1. x.jim.x
              • 11 Years
              6 months, 15 days ago

              Also argued that Wissa, Cunha, Isak, Watkins etc don’t count cos they “never” played on the left despite that being pure bobbins

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    3. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      Sunderland are a poor quality team. They will try, but I think they are one of the worst, if not the worst, team to get promoted ever. I know many think Huddersfield were bad when they got promoted, but Sunderland are at that level IMO and the PL has got better since then.

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    4. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      And you think Sheffield United would say up? Last time they were only fractionally better than Southampton were this time around.

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    5. F4L
      • 10 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      the play offs are decent, keep many teams within reach of promotion, nothing wrong with that. if you come 3rd in your league, not sure you can complain about not being rewarded as much as first (and second). if you're that good, you should've got top 2

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    6. Studs Up
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      and u are certain Burnley and Leeds will stay up?

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    7. davemk
      • 1 Year
      6 months, 14 days ago

      The 14 points was only because Sunderland decided to prioritise prep. for play-offs over pointless point-chasing when it became clear that auto promotion was out of reach. Worked a treat.

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  15. diesel001
    • 9 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    Championship is competitive, but it is a really poor league. Would not be surprised if Sunderland get the fewest points in the PL ever (breaking Derby's record).

    Honestly believe there will be a European Super League within 25 years. The best players are ending up at a handful of clubs in the top leagues and eventually the clamour from the clubs plus the neutral football fans who are not tied to a club, but watch football will lead to it.

    You can see it in the younger generation of football fans these days. More and more of them are following individual players rather than clubs and their loyalty is to the player.

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    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      Why don’t you actually give them a chance first before you immediately write them off before they’ve even made any signings or kicked a ball in anger?

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    2. how now brown cow
      • 11 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      Completely disagree.

      Forest, Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford etc all showing how competitive premier league is.

      Yes, the bottom 3 have been trash this year but the PL has far fewer easy games than most of the others.

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  16. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    Well done Sunderland.

    Glad it wasn’t moany Chris Wilder coming back to the Premier League!

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    1. DeSelby
      • 3 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      I bet all the Premier League officials are relieved. They can go into next season knowing they can eat as many sandwiches as they want with no recriminations.

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    2. davemk
      • 1 Year
      6 months, 14 days ago

      Exactly.

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  17. Burger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    Any better TC candidate this weekend than Evanilson?

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  18. The Red Devil
    • 10 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    One point gap between top 2 in mini league

    Team A

    Raya Areola
    Gvardiol Bradley Munoz livramento Konsa
    Salah Mbeumo Sarr Kdb Rogers

    Team B

    Henderson Areola
    Saliba Timber Munoz cucurella milenkovic
    Salah Mbeumo elanga Murphy Bowen

    Frontline is same for both

    A is ahead of B by 1 point both have 1 FT

    Should A just do Kdb to Bowen to cover B's biggest threat or go for Kdb to saka?

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  19. The Seagulls and the Trawle…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    Hi lads,

    What is global consensus on Isak starting?

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    1. The 12th Man
      • 12 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      He may start.
      He might not.

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    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      He's not

      Unless you are waiting for some sardines

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    3. Qaiss
      • 9 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      He starts if you own

      Doesn’t start if you don’t own

      I think he starts, because I own and because I think Newcastle made sure he was ready for this game

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      1. The Seagulls and the Trawle…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        6 months, 15 days ago

        Thanks

        I own and I lead my league, but he’s my pass to acquiring Bowen. But also can’t afford to risk and sell if he’s got even 50% chances of starting.

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    4. twoplustwo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      Just a guess innit. I think not personally as a non-owner for the past month.

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  20. The 12th Man
    • 12 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    Well done Sunderland.

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  21. HarveyKendallBall
    • 2 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    Congratulations to Sunderland. Biggest club in the north east back where they belong.

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    1. The 12th Man
      • 12 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      Come on, Hartlepool are bigger.

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      1. HarveyKendallBall
        • 2 Years
        6 months, 15 days ago

        Sorry. Should have said most successful club 😆

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  22. Bruno Commando
    • 11 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    Which move would you do?

    1) Mateta to Welbeck, bench Rogers
    2) Mateta to Evanilson, bench Rogers
    3) KDB to Saka

    Raya
    Gvardiol Livra Konsa
    Salah Bowen Mbeumo Rogers KDB
    Watkins Wissa

    Areola Mateta Munoz Saliba

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    1. HarveyKendallBall
      • 2 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      2

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  23. The 12th Man
    • 12 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    Well done Aberdeen.

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  24. boc610
    • 13 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    Ange referencing Seinfeld. The man is a living god.

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    1. DropkickMurphys
      • 4 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      Lol what did he sag

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      1. mookie
        • 12 Years
        6 months, 15 days ago

        No soup for you!

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    2. Sgt. Schultz
      • 9 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      Serenity now !
      Insanity at Deadline !

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  25. gomez123
    • 12 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    I am ahead in my mini leagues (just) so would you go double Arsenal/Man City defence or spread the risk....My defence is currently set at this
    Martinez (AV)
    Livramento (NEW) Kiwior (ARS) Gvardiol (MC)

    Other GK/DEF
    Raya (ARS) Ruben (MC) Williams (NF)

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  26. DropkickMurphys
    • 4 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    Hey guys. Vardy to Marmoush or Evanilson? Why is there such a hype around Evanilson when he blanked 5 games out of the last 6?

    Thanks!

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    1. twoplustwo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      Think there's some blindness due to fixture. Prefer Welbeck I think.

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      1. DropkickMurphys
        • 4 Years
        6 months, 15 days ago

        Yeah that must be it, but Bou really doesn’t have much to play for. City still has to score at least.

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        1. twoplustwo
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          6 months, 15 days ago

          I have Haaland. It has been miserable 🙂 Spuds game could have 5+ goals in.

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          1. DropkickMurphys
            • 4 Years
            6 months, 15 days ago

            Yeah I know right. I have KDB and Gvardiol so I am reluctant to bring Marmoush too. Welbeck actually might be a decent choice

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  27. pl4y8oi
    • 3 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    Hello Everyone
    In need ot some advice here..thanks!

    Palmer n Obrien to Saka n Kiwior

    OR

    Sarr & Isak to Bowen n Evanilson?

    Thanks again :))
    Or any similar options?

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  28. twoplustwo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    Wood to Welbeck/Evanilson for free? Leaning yes for Welbeck. No real concerns otherwise with regards to team.

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  29. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    Damn, can't decide between A. Haaland Rogers Elanga, or B. Isak Evanilson KDB

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    1. twoplustwo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      Haaland has been miserable for me... Isak and KDB both minutes risks?

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  30. EL tridente
    • 8 Years
    6 months, 15 days ago

    Start Cunha or Rogers?

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    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 months, 15 days ago

      If you ca wait for news. If Cunha starts then it's a "no brainer".

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