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Aston Villa v Palace team news: No Martinez, Malen + Guessand start

31 August 2025 714 comments
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The final match of Gameweek 3 – and the last Premier League fixture before the October international break – sees Aston Villa and Crystal Palace square off at Villa Park.

Unai Emery’s side are yet to score this season and have a poor recent record against Palace, having failed to win any of their last five encounters.

Kick-off is at 19:00 BST.

TEAM NEWS

Unai Emery makes five changes from the team that lost at Brentford last weekend.

Marco Bizot comes in for Emiliano Martinez in goal, with the Argentine linked with a move away before Monday’s transfer deadline.

Ezri Konsa, Ian Maatsen, Donyell Malen and Evann Guessand also start.

Out go the benched Pau Torres and Lucas Digne, as well as the injured Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana.

Palace boss Oliver Glasner makes two alterations from Thursday, as Tyrick Mitchell and Will Hughes replace Jefferson Lerma and Borna Sosa.

LINE-UPS

Aston Villa XI: Bizot, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen, McGinn, Tielemans, Malen, Rogers, Guessand, Watkins

Subs: Proctor, Digne, Buendia, Pau, Bogarde, Rowe, Jimoh-Aloba, Burrowes, Patterson

Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Munoz, Hughes, Wharton, Mitchell, Sarr, Kamada, Mateta

Subs: Benitez, Lerma, Pino, Clyne, Esse, Sosa, Rodney, Devenny, Cardines

714 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Kodap
    • 8 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Is Cunha & Wood > Sarr & Ekitike too much of a risk with the Isak transfer? I have Gakpo already.. will likely do the Sarr move anyway.

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  2. Ribus
    • 12 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Sarr or Grealish?

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    1. Kodap
      • 8 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      I'm also trying to decide this, Sarr edges it i think for me.. next two fixtures are lovely too.

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    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      Both great options. Sarr maybe better fixtures?

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      1. Ribus
        • 12 Years
        10 months, 20 days ago

        Over the next 5-6 its prett even fixture wise

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    3. Pornchef
      • 2 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      Both I think although Grealish looks like he could be an absolute steal this season and will keep rising in price and keep returning

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    4. NoOneCares
      10 months, 20 days ago

      Ndiaye is the one to have from Everton and is on pens. Grealish helps him.

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      1. wowo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        10 months, 20 days ago

        I d Save 1.5 from both getting KDH, playing 10

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    5. Gubby-Allen
      • 4 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      Grealish but nothing wrong with having both

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  3. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Don't know what to do with Watkins. I have the feeling selling could en up the same way than for people who ditched Bowen this gw.

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    1. el polako
      • 9 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      9m - 6 points over 3 games.
      Do you expect him to start scoring all of the sudden?

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      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 11 Years
        10 months, 20 days ago

        Why not ? 🙂

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        1. el polako
          • 9 Years
          10 months, 20 days ago

          Because he’s shite.
          Bowen is a good player in a shite team.
          Watkins is a shite player in a shite team.

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          1. x.jim.x
            • 11 Years
            10 months, 20 days ago

            Shite players often get 84 goals and assists over their last 3 seasons, after all

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            1. el polako
              • 9 Years
              10 months, 20 days ago

              Clearly, as we can see from Watkins’s example.

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              1. x.jim.x
                • 11 Years
                10 months, 20 days ago

                Please name another

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                1. el polako
                  • 9 Years
                  10 months, 20 days ago

                  Dominic Solanke.

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                  1. x.jim.x
                    • 11 Years
                    10 months, 20 days ago

                    I'd love to see how you turn 14 + 21 + 16 into 84

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                    1. el polako
                      • 9 Years
                      10 months, 20 days ago

                      Use your imagination.
                      Same type of player just slightly different shade of shiteness.

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                      1. x.jim.x
                        • 11 Years
                        10 months, 20 days ago

                        Open the schools

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                      2. Benedict_Alexander_Arnold
                        • 1 Year
                        10 months, 20 days ago

                        Your ideas are intriguing to me, and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

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            2. wowo
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              10 months, 20 days ago

              Watkins got good stats even not scoring over 3 seasons, but these 3 games he got nothing nor his team, worrying!

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              1. x.jim.x
                • 11 Years
                10 months, 20 days ago

                Been living off scraps these last few games tbf to him, but yeah he's been a poor asset to own.

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      2. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
        • 9 Years
        10 months, 20 days ago

        Well yeah, that’s kind of how form works, it can unpredictably start, if it wasn’t this game would be easy

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        1. el polako
          • 9 Years
          10 months, 20 days ago

          So you’d advise people to hold him?
          Pay 9m and wait, however long it takes for young Ollie to start licking the ball in the right direction.

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          1. Ajax Hamsterdam
            • 11 Years
            10 months, 20 days ago

            I wanted to sell dorgu for Munoz maybe so selling Watkins would be for a hit .

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          2. Gubby-Allen
            • 4 Years
            10 months, 20 days ago

            He has been that way for the last ten years. Scores 6 in 10 then goes five games without scoring

            If you catch it right it works out but you could do without him.

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    2. MBK 42
      • 11 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      I’m afraid this is the way as a Watkins owner

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  4. Sting
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    I sold Munoz for Lacroix on my WC, and then benched Lacroix this week..

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      Oof 🙁

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  5. FPL Scoop
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Lacroix + £0.5m or Muñoz, I’ll inevitably ask myself countless times over the next two weeks

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      I reckon Lacroix will score higher. The extra .5m is a bonus

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  6. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Lacroix 11pts was totally unexpected, and nearly as enjoyable as Remy’s videos. (nsfw) 🙂

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    1. ball c
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      Very well done.

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  7. ball c
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Any reason why I should keep Rogers, Writz and Watkins? Might be time to WC. Have stayed patient but the eye test just ain’t doing it for them.

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    1. Drizzle
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      I have similar issues with these 3 (Tielemans instead of Rogers).

      My thinking is a hit sorts the Villa boys out and Wirtz gets the Burnley and Everton games. If they are your only big issues it's not enough to wildcard imo.

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      1. ball c
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        10 months, 20 days ago

        Yeah it’s going to take a hit to sort this out.. one of the Vila guys is going.. they’ve been so poor.. but they have the fixtures still.

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  8. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Stick with my gw1 Diakite pick who had a great goalscoring record before joining Bournemouth or change to Senesi?

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    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      Stick if not on WC, switch on WC

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      1. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 months, 20 days ago

        Yeah going to pull the trigger on WC I think

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  9. andymck
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Sels Dubravka
    Ait Nouri Porro Murillo Andersen Rodon
    Salah Wirtz Kudus Reijnders Rutter
    Watkins Wood Mateta

    Is this actually WC worthy or am I just being a raging knee jerker?

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    1. andymck
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      *Kelleher not Sels, not sure what happened there lol

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    2. Sgt. Schultz
      • 9 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      Watkins to JP and ur good

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      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 months, 20 days ago

        This, or Wirtz to Gakbo or a hit for both

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  10. One for All
    • 7 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Who's site is more accurate for price changes?

    A) livefpl
    B) fantasy football hub

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    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      A

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      1. One for All
        • 7 Years
        10 months, 20 days ago

        Thanks

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    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      https://whatthef.pl/

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      1. One for All
        • 7 Years
        10 months, 20 days ago

        Nice one

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  11. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    What would you do with 1 ft?

    A) Bruno to Salah

    B) Guiu to Pedro/Sesko/Gyokeres/Etikite/Isak or other forward

    C) Watkins to other fwd

    5.8 mill in cash

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    1. One for All
      • 7 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      C

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    2. Stimps
      • 13 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      Watkins to Pedro

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  12. shirtless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Triple Forest & triple Spurs what a waste of a freehit! Only plus side is that only one of my regular picks burnt me that being KDH. Welcome back!

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  13. Cilly Bonnolly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    This has to be my worst ever start to a season. Red arrows from the beginning and now seven million in the world after three weeks.

    I’m wildcarding. I cannot be patient with this lot.

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    1. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      What site are we trusting for price changes?

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      1. Sgt. Schultz
        • 9 Years
        10 months, 20 days ago

        LiveFPL

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        1. Cilly Bonnolly
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          10 months, 20 days ago

          Cheers

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  14. AF90
    • 14 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Sels, Dubravka
    Cucurella, Milenkovic, Konsa, Richards, Reinildo
    Bruno, Palmer, Kudus, Reijnders, Gakpo
    Pedro, Watkins, Kroupi Jr.

    This needs a WC right? Got 6.5m itb to bring in Haaland/Salah next GW but think whole team needs an overhaul.

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    1. Sgt. Schultz
      • 9 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      Watkins > Haaland (C), irrespective of WC or not

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      1. Pompel
        • 12 Years
        10 months, 20 days ago

        I think you can get away with Watkins -> Haaland and maybe a hit for Palmer to Sarr (if fit) or Grealish or something,

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    2. Gubby-Allen
      • 4 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      I don't look at that team and think there is anyone glaringly missing who should be there. Grealish maybe, definitely someone Arsenal at the back but that's it.

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  15. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Mbuemo looking like rising tonight. Will he get a second rise before gw4 do you think?

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    1. wowo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      Their fixture says no

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  16. FPL Scoop
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Villa may inevitably come good over the international break, but I’ve had enough - wildcard active, triple Villa (the usual suspects) all gone.

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  17. Pompel
    • 12 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Team scrambled together in a hurry for GW2 start , and already in need for major overhaul after two dismal GW's

    Sanchez Dubravka
    Gabriel Tosin Ait-Nouri Gudmundson Ballard
    Gakpo Reindeer Semenyo BJohnson King
    Haaland Watkins Wood

    Thinking Watkins toJP for now, and then reassess after IB whether to take additional hit, play FH or WC.
    Your thoughts?

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    1. Gubby-Allen
      • 4 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      Just that one transfer. Who else improves it outside of for one GW?

      King will come good, not sure about Gakpo with so many good attackers but could be fine.

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      1. Pompel
        • 12 Years
        10 months, 20 days ago

        Thinking of Reindeer or BJohnson to Grealish or Sarr, or Wood to Eiktike (depending on Isak situation). Will keep Gakpo if not WC'ing.
        Also like to swap Ait-Nouri and Ballard for the likes of Porro , VdV , Lacroix or Semesi, but not for a hit so that will have to wait.

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  18. Gubby-Allen
    • 4 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    What has changed with Haaland from last season?

    I kept him far too long and as captain. From about GW5 on here people were telling me to ditch him. By about GW 18, he stood out a mile as the reason for a 2 million rank with so much money tied up in him and I couldn't post a team without ridicule that i had not sold him.

    Then I did and rocketed up.

    Man City don't look any better, new players bedding in, so is it that Salah isn't as prolific?

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  19. ViperStripes
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    FT Rogers>
    a) Grealish
    b) Mbuemo (already got Bruno)

    Means sticking with Watkins or taking a hit to bring i Ekitike

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    1. aleksios
      • 10 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      A

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    2. ViperStripes
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      c) Sarr

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      1. FPL Scoop
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        10 months, 20 days ago

        Did he pick up an injury tonight or was I seeing BS on Twitter?

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  20. FPL Scoop
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Grealish v Ndiaye going to be a real conundrum on WC.

    Anyone going KDH for the savings? Not watched any Everton so far this season, may need to have a trawl through highlights and stats!

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  21. aleksios
    • 10 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Just did
    Dogru-Cunha-Gyokeres
    to
    Chalobah-Grealish-JP
    for a -8.
    It feels so great!

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  22. TiAgoFPL
    • 6 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    WC active
    FH kind of sucess , 15 net pts but a red with the failed captain , if I had captained Haaland would be on a green and 500k
    We move

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  23. pundit of punts
    • 13 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Any news on Sarr?

    Hamstring injury?

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    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/comment/27303353

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    2. Ginola
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      Should be fine.

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    3. pundit of punts
      • 13 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      Cheers both

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  24. Ginola
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    I’ve been in exactly these kinds of situations with Watkins before, where I subbed him out and he punished me hard for it.

    Can anyone remember that match against Brighton at the start of the season? Also once on Boxing Day against Crystal Palace.

    I have to keep him with the upcoming fixtures.

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    1. Pompel
      • 12 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      GW4 against Everton is not a good fixture, I think. Rather ditch him now and get him back on WC if he (and his team mates) find some form

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  25. Chalobah's Witness
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Guys I have a question. Got 3 LFC players at the moment and thinking of replacing Watkins with Isak now. So if they finalise the transfer by tomorrow, how will this work with my team? I mean he’s technically a Newcastle player right now.

    Thank you!

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    1. Ron_Swanson
      • 15 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      The first transfer you do after he moves will have to be to remove one of your four Liverpool players

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  26. pundit of punts
    • 13 Years
    10 months, 20 days ago

    Wirtz or Gakpo on FH?

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    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 months, 20 days ago

      Gakbo

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