Sky Sports

Sky Sports Focus

We now switch focus away from Wildcards and Double Gameweeks to focus on the Sky Sports game, as we cast our minds back to the previous round of action before preparing you for the incoming fixtures.

We’ll examine the recent run of Man of the Match (MoTM) awards, the bonus point beneficiaries, transfer trends and Watchlist, before moving on to the Scout team and our future plans.

Gameweek 32 Man of the Match Awards

These were the players who caught the eye of the Sky Sports reporters and earned an extra five points as a result.

FixtureMoTM
Bournemouth vs West BromSalomon Rondon
Stoke vs EvertonCenk Tosun
Huddersfield vs Crystal PalaceJames Tomkins
Liverpool vs WatfordMohamed Salah



Mohamed Salah continues to march towards the highest total ever recorded in the Sky Sports game after his eleventh award of the season and a stunning 36-point return.

Given the reduced Gameweek, most will also have captained him to earn 72 points.

A nod to Cenk Tosun, who has featured in our Watchlist for the last few weeks. The 0.1%-owned asset has started to settle at Goodison Park and could be a viable pick for those chasing a differential.

Gameweek 32 Bonus Points

Let’s take a look at any player to earn 45 points or more in bonus for the season

members

Fantasy Football Scout members can access all information regarding bonus points using player stats and clicking the Sky Sports tab.

The Transfer Trends

Top Transfers Out

NameTeamValue% of Managers
KaneTottenham Hotspur12.922%
AgueroMan City12.89.3%
GomezLiverpool6.52.9%
ChristensenChelsea6.43%
CanLiverpool8.62.9%

Top Transfers In

NameTeamValue% of Managers
LukakuMan United12.410.3%
SonTottenham10.88.6%
FirminoLiverpool11.68.6%
TarkowskiBurnley6.14.5%
VardyLeicester11.23.6%

Average Transfers Remaining

Top 10 – 7.70
Top 100 – 8.64
Top 1,000 – 7.58
Top 5,000 – 6.86

Top Five Captains Picked

NameTeamValue% of Managers
KaneTottenham12.922%
LukakuMan United12.49.3%
SalahLiverpool9.48.4%
AgueroMan City12.83.3%
De BruyneMan City11.52.9%


Watchlist

Here I aim to highlight a few differential players with low ownership who I think could be good options for the coming six weeks.

Three specific price brackets will be used to cater for our available budgets.

The players will evolve with fixtures and form, and offer Fantasy managers a nudge in the right direction.

BudgetMid-PricePremium
DefenderJames Tarkowski
6.1m
4.4%
Andrew Robertson
7.8mm
3.4%
Nacho Monreal
8.5m
3.5%
MidfielderJohann Berg Gudmundsson
6.7m
2.3%
Wilfried Zaha
9.3m
3.5%
Mesut Ozil
11.1m
2.1%
ForwardAshley Barnes
8.8m
0.5%
Cenk Tosun
11.1m
0.1%
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
12.2m
2.3%


My Team

Karius
Davies Ward van der Hoorn Christensen
Walcott De Bruyne Salah
Benteke Jesus Firmino

ITB: 2.0
Transfers remaining: 7/40
Last week’s points: 101
Overall points: 2626
Rank: 202nd

Notes

There’s not too much to report this week due to the reduced fixture list last time out.

Thankfully I kept pace with the pack by giving Salah the armband – I had considered Roberto Firmino instead.

This week I think I’ll look to draft in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at the expense of the semi-successful Christian Benteke punt I made a few weeks back. The Arsenal striker offers some favourable captaincy matchdays coming up and is still owned by just 2.3%, so hopefully, he can help me enjoy a rise in the rankings.

Others on my radar include Romelu Lukaku and Willian but, with only seven transfers (soon to be six) remaining, I think I’ll wait a couple of weeks in case surgery is required due to any end of season injuries or rotation issues.

Captain Plan

Sat 31st March – Mohamed Salah
Sun 1st April – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Weekly Articles and Podcast

As well as the weekly Focus article, I’ll be talking through the week’s action, and upcoming plans with FFS posters Buffrey and Lewis on our regular podcast – the latest episode can be found here.

The Fantasy Football Scout League

Our Fantasy Football Scout League is currently topping the League of Leagues as we look to defend our crown in 2017/18.

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561 Comments Post a Comment
  1. zon
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 12 months ago

    Any Watford fans here, your thoughts about Femenia? Will he keep his place on the wing?

  2. Dobswell55
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 12 months ago

    Bottomless Pit

    Plan for the run in, WC Active

    GW32 Team:

    De Gea
    Alonso Bailly Lowton
    Salah (C) Mahrez Willian Son Groß
    Aubameyang Firmino

    Ryan Barnes Morgan Tarkowski

    GW 33 - Firmino > Vardy
    GW 34 - Aubameyang > Lukaku, Bench Boost 14 DGW players + Salah
    GW 35 - Free Hit
    GW 36 - Lukaku & Groß > Kane (C) & King/Kenedy (-4)
    GW 37 - Kane (TC), 11 DGW players (hopefully)

    What do ye think of said plan? All opinions greatly appreciated.

    1. vartshk
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 12 months ago

      Looks solid, if all goes to plan. Would you bring Kane in for 34 instead of lukaku if he was fit?

      Am I missing something re smalling? Seen a few baillys about

  3. stat
      5 years, 12 months ago

      Keep Bailly, or get Mustafi and use a hit in DGW34 to replace him?

      A) Bailly vs SWA, bench in GW 33 vs mci, play in DGW 34 vs WBA+bou
      B) Mustafi vs STK, Mustafi vs SOU, replace in DGW 34 for a hit (need to replace Mkhi+Auba to get Kane anyway)

      1. pundit of punts
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 12 months ago

        Can't see Mustafi playing both 32 and 33. I each for Koscielny and Mustafi with Holding playing both I think.

        1. Salarrivederci
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 12 months ago

          If Holding plays both people should get him 😉

        2. Fitzy.
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 12 months ago

          Reasoning?

          1. stat
              5 years, 12 months ago

              I'm guessing it's because Kos and Mustafi are both injury prone and Wenger will ideally want to start both in the EL games so Holding will slot in for that purpose

              1. Fitzy.
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 12 Years
                5 years, 12 months ago

                Mustafi has played the last 12 games.

                1. stat
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    True, but he's still quite injury prone. He missed 26 games due to injury in the last 15 months.

          2. Prøfeßör …
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 12 months ago

            A, don't plan hits in advance (especially for defenders).

            1. stat
                5 years, 12 months ago

                Cheers - thoughts on the rest of my squad?

                DDG - Ryan
                Alonso - Bailly - Kiko - Lowton - Morgan
                Willian - Mahrez - Gross - Mkhi - Salah
                Lukaku - Auba - Barnes

                0.1 ITB

                1. Prøfeßör …
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 12 months ago

                  Looks great. A few 50:50s. You've gone Bailly, I think I'll go Vertonghen. Kiko looks a decent punt for the next few, but I think I'll go for a DGW 34 defender (double Burnley or Cedric, most likely) but I can definitely see what appeals in Kiko. You have the flexibility to downgrade and upgrade players, so all good.

                  1. stat
                      5 years, 12 months ago

                      I think Vertonghen is great after GW35, I don't see the appeal of starting him vs che, maybe he picks up a CS vs stk, but I can't see him getting one vs MCI (maybe he will vs bha) so IMO it's as if he doesn't have a DGW 34.

                      But looks great from GW 36 onwards - WAT, wba+NEW, LEI

                      1. Prøfeßör …
                        • 7 Years
                        5 years, 12 months ago

                        Fair enough. Yeah, benching him v Chelsea but he's a set and forget for me. Will hopefully focus on attacking transfers from now on. Bailly is tempting but I think he'll probably miss a game too due to the amount of games and centre-backs (as well as the FA Cup game).

                        1. stat
                            5 years, 12 months ago

                            Spurs also play 3 times within a week due to the FA Cup though

                            1. Prøfeßör …
                              • 7 Years
                              5 years, 12 months ago

                              Vertonghen is nailed, we'll see though. There are no wrong or right answers here, I feel.

                              1. stat
                                  5 years, 12 months ago

                                  True - just go with your gut and hope for the best

                2. EWH2020
                  • 10 Years
                  5 years, 12 months ago

                  Not going with Smalling now

                  Christensen or Vert

                  Already have Alonso

                  1. Prøfeßör …
                    • 7 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    Vertonghen.

                3. _figu
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 6 Years
                  5 years, 12 months ago

                  For next two:

                  A) Son (Barnes on bench)
                  B) Firmino (Gud/Kenedy/Cork)

                4. pundit of punts
                  • 11 Years
                  5 years, 12 months ago

                  Will Mustafi play 32,33 and 35?

                  I can see Holding + Mustafi and Holding + Koscielny in at least 2 of those GWs. Same goes for the FBs i think.

                  Is it worth risking him when I won't have a bench in 35?

                  1. Prøfeßör …
                    • 7 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    It think he will play, more likely to be rested in GW 34 - away to CSKA on Thursday at 20:05 and then away at Newcastle on Sunday at 13:30.

                    1. pundit of punts
                      • 11 Years
                      5 years, 12 months ago

                      You think he'll play the 32 and 33 and 2 EL games. Hmmm...

                      What about 35 then? If Arsenal qualify then they will have a midweek game after 35.

                      1. Prøfeßör …
                        • 7 Years
                        5 years, 12 months ago

                        I think he'll play 32 and 33, yeah (assuming he is fit). 35 becomes a bit more unclear. You don't need him for 34 (others on here will have him even for 34), comparing his fixtures against Lowton's, it's probably worth the risk.

                        1. pundit of punts
                          • 11 Years
                          5 years, 12 months ago

                          Cheers.

                          This is a tough one.

                5. ooooo
                  • 6 Years
                  5 years, 12 months ago

                  What changes would you make? 0.3mil itb
                  DDG
                  Bailly Vert Robertson
                  Salah Mahrez Son Willian
                  Auba Lukaku Barnes

                  Ryan Lowton Morgan Millo,,

                6. Jsadler95
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 12 months ago

                  So this is my current team and plan assuming Kane is back for GW34:

                  De Gea, Lossl
                  Alonso, Sanchez, Davies, Van Dijk, Zanka
                  Salah, Mahrez, Mkhi, Walcott, King
                  Auba, Firmino, Wilson

                  TV: 106.0 (including 1.4 itb)

                  GW33: Walcott > Willian, Zanka > Chilwell (-4)
                  GW34: Auba > Kane, Sanchez > Smalling (-4)
                  GW35: FH
                  GW36: Save
                  GW37: Firmino > Auba, Salah > Sterling
                  GW38: Mahrez > someone with a better fixture.

                  Does this seem reasonable? I know dropping Salah is a risk but feel like it's worth it as he has Chelsea away and I get 2 extra DGW players out of it. Thank you!

                  1. Jsadler95
                    • 7 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    May do Sanchez > Jones depending on what goes on GW32 and GW33 for United's defence.

                7. MartialMatas
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 9 Years
                  5 years, 12 months ago

                  How does this wildcard look?

                  DDG McCarthy
                  Bailly Christensen Cedric Lowt

                  1. zon
                    • 9 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    A bit short on the top

                  2. MartialMatas
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 9 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    Whoops.

                    DDG McCarthy
                    Bailly Christensen Cedric Lowton Morgan
                    Salah Hazard Mahrez Son Willian
                    Lukaku Murray Barnes

                    0.4 itb

                    1. wulfrunian
                      • 7 Years
                      5 years, 12 months ago

                      Nice.

                  3. Croaker
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 7 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    Still looks short on the top! Double Southampton defence??

                8. Dannyb
                  • 6 Years
                  5 years, 12 months ago

                  Right I'm done, not looking at this now until gw has started
                  De Gea Ryan
                  Tark Valencia Alonso Morgan Dunk
                  Mahrez Salah Willian Gro£ Gudm
                  Lukaku Auba Barnes

                9. Bonus magnet
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 12 months ago

                  pogba ount anyone

                  armband against swansea?

                  1. Bonus magnet
                    • 7 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    should read punt

                  2. ooooo
                    • 6 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    having him is enough of a punt

                10. barcaa7
                  • 6 Years
                  5 years, 12 months ago

                  best replacement for Smalling?

                11. Klopp's Kids
                  • 10 Years
                  5 years, 12 months ago

                  What happened to Smalling as a pick?

                  1. Rainer
                    • 7 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    Even bigger rotation risk now than he was a few days ago.

                    Jones & Rojo fit for Swansea.

                    1. Klopp's Kids
                      • 10 Years
                      5 years, 12 months ago

                      Cheers! Think both are better ability wise

                    2. Klopp's Kids
                      • 10 Years
                      5 years, 12 months ago

                      he's played a very high number of united's games this season interestingly enough though

                      1. william prunier
                        • 8 Years
                        5 years, 12 months ago

                        Do we think that is due to injuries?

                        1. Klopp's Kids
                          • 10 Years
                          5 years, 12 months ago

                          hard to say! Most don't rate Smalling as highly as the other options but perhaps Mourinho does?

                          1. Rainer
                            • 7 Years
                            5 years, 12 months ago

                            Smalling hasn't started a league game all season when Bailly and Jones have been fit to play.

                12. Totti
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 12 months ago

                  guys who are wildcarding
                  any plan how to get kane on gameweek 34?

                  really can't fit him in my team

                  1. william prunier
                    • 8 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    Hits for many

                    1. Totti
                      • 7 Years
                      5 years, 12 months ago

                      like who?
                      alonso to 5m defender?

                      1. BigBarn
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 6 Years
                        5 years, 12 months ago

                        I'm setting up with Mkhi for the next two, and will then downgrade him to free up cash for Kane (or Kaku for 34) without a hit (other stuff notwithstanding).

                  2. Dannyb
                    • 6 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    I'm not, I'm gonna risk it until 37 I think.

                    1. william prunier
                      • 8 Years
                      5 years, 12 months ago

                      Umad?

                    2. Totti
                      • 7 Years
                      5 years, 12 months ago

                      very risky
                      he might punish you on gameweek 34 36

                  3. Croaker
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 7 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    Son and Aubameyang to Kane and Gross

                    1. Totti
                      • 7 Years
                      5 years, 12 months ago

                      may be
                      but son i think is very essential

                  4. Dannyb
                    • 6 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    If he punishes me then fair enough. But I remember what happened last time he came back from injury. I need to start taking risks in my cash leagues tbh.

                13. Tosa86
                  • 6 Years
                  5 years, 12 months ago

                  DDG - Fabianski
                  Davies - Robertson - X - Y - Z
                  Salah - mahrez - willian - A - B
                  Lukaku - firmino - Barnes

                  1) Smalling, Alonso, Ward, Son , McArthur ITB 0.0
                  2) Bailly, otamendi, Ward, Son , McArthur ITB 0.2
                  3) Bailly, christensen, Ward, Son , Towsen ITB 0.0
                  4) Jones, Christensen, lowton, Eriksen, Gudmunsonn ITB 0.1
                  5) Jones, Christensen, lowton, Eriksen, McArthur ITB 0.9
                  6) Jones, Christensen, lowton, , Son, mcarthur + barnes to Vardy ITB 0.5

                  1. Prøfeßör …
                    • 7 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    Too many options, try narrowing it down to two.

                    1. Tosa86
                      • 6 Years
                      5 years, 12 months ago

                      You right...but i'm very confused.

                      at the moment, maybe i can choose between:

                      1)
                      DDG - Fabianski
                      Davies - Robertson - Jons - ward - christensen
                      Salah - mahrez - willian - eriksen - milivojevic
                      Lukaku - firmino - Barnes

                      2)
                      DDG - Fabianski
                      Davies - Robertson - Bailly- lowton - azpilicueta
                      Salah - mahrez - willian - son- mcarthur
                      Lukaku - firmino - Barnes

                      3)
                      DDG - Fabianski
                      Davies - Robertson - Bailly- lowton - azpilicueta
                      Salah - mahrez - willian - 5.6 - mcarthur
                      Lukaku - firmino - Vardy

                      1. Prøfeßör …
                        • 7 Years
                        5 years, 12 months ago

                        I like 2.

                  2. jack149331
                    • 6 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    6 is best option imo

                14. E25
                  • 8 Years
                  5 years, 12 months ago

                  1 week punt, WC next week:

                  Who would you get rid of for Auba:
                  A) Mounie (new)
                  B) Wilson (wat)

                  Play two of:
                  1) Hegazi (BUR)
                  2) Duffy (LEI)
                  3) Ogbonna (SOU)
                  4) Shaqiri (ars)

                  1. Croaker
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 7 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    B, 1,3, but it’s not pretty

                  2. Prøfeßör …
                    • 7 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    A

                    1, 3

                  3. jack149331
                    • 6 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    A - play 3,4

                15. pundit of punts
                  • 11 Years
                  5 years, 12 months ago

                  How bad is the Kolasinac knee injury?

                  Does it make Monreal a safer pick than Mustafi?

                  1. Prøfeßör …
                    • 7 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    Back in training - no injury.

                  2. Hazz
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 6 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    He didn't suffer an injury, apparently. Kolasinac is in contention so neither are that safe.

                  3. pundit of punts
                    • 11 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    Cheers both.

                16. seanie3
                  • 12 Years
                  5 years, 12 months ago

                  with Jones fit again surely he should be picked ahead of smalling, used to be loved by Jose and always played him no matter what and mopped up bonus points when utd keep clean sheets

                  1. Dannyb
                    • 6 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    Smalling is awful imo, he's only played as much as he has due to injuries.

                  2. lugs
                    • 6 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    i hope he does play , i'd have the exact funds to ship Elliot + Bauer for him and Courtois for gw 34 , that's the plan anyway if both are fit and playing 🙂

                17. RamaJama
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 11 Years
                  5 years, 12 months ago

                  Which option for the dgw 34?

                  A) Alonso, Murray, Vardy, one of Lukaku or Kane
                  B) Christensen, Lukaku, Kane, Barnes

                18. WesMantooth
                  • 13 Years
                  5 years, 12 months ago

                  Trying this again

                  What's the "coolest" viable strategy/gimmick that actually could have worked this season?

                  My suggestion is:

                  With Clyne being out longterm ahead of the season: Pick both TAA and Gomez (4.5+4.5)
                  Play TAA bench Gomez = 126pts from gw1-31.

                  That's Bavie, Valencia Walker territory, and also 31pts better than any 4.5 defender (Lascelles)

                  1. Prøfeßör …
                    • 7 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    That's until you realise you'd miss out on either Salah's or Firmino's points..

                    1. WesMantooth
                      • 13 Years
                      5 years, 12 months ago

                      Only Salah's been "essential". I've surely "missed out" on Firmino's pts but still 8k overall. Atleast 5-6 similarly priced mids having performed around the same level as Firmino 🙂

                      1. Prøfeßör …
                        • 7 Years
                        5 years, 12 months ago

                        Fair enough. Good luck with the rest of your season. 🙂

                19. Over Midwicket
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 12 Years
                  5 years, 12 months ago

                  Who's the better pick?
                  A) Dunk + Mariappa
                  B) Scheletto + Kiko

                  1. Prøfeßör …
                    • 7 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    Mariappa and Scheletto are risks. I'd feel safer with A here but not ideal.

                  2. ZeBestee
                    • 9 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    both are meh

                20. ZeBestee
                  • 9 Years
                  5 years, 12 months ago

                  anyone still bringing in Silva on WC? or he is too risky?

                  1. seanie3
                    • 12 Years
                    5 years, 12 months ago

                    would rather sterling, silva isn't going to score two every week as per last game against stoke but will rack up steady points, sterling more likely to get double digit hauls out of no where but worried about rotation CL games

                21. Infamy, Infamy
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 12 months ago

                  Son to Mkhi to afford Alonso over Azpilicueta?

                22. Will - Fantasy Football Hub
                  • 12 Years
                  5 years, 12 months ago

                  Thanks for this Luke. Anyways check-in with this article.

                  My sky diary is up on FFH for any sky players about

                  https://fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/sky-sports-fantasy-football-diary-gw34/

                23. Top Lad Dakes.
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 12 months ago

                  Look set for a final WC draft and order for this week?
                  ddg Ryan
                  Ota Robertson Mee (vdH Morgan)
                  Salah(vc) Mahrez Dilva Son Willian
                  Auba (c)Firmino (Barnes)

                24. Gasthmatic
                  • 9 Years
                  5 years, 12 months ago

                  Standard Salah Saturday (c). Aubameyang looks a great shout with the fixtures, shame Lacazette seems to be injured, differential perhaps.

                  Giroud maybe? Also with Sunday fixtures and cheaper than Morata, maverick me just looking for those gems!

                  Aaron Wan-Bissaka is another player worth a look at on your watchlist Luke, I have wrote about him on my blog for sky players here: https://checkthestatistics.wordpress.com/2018/03/29/hidden-gem-aaron-wan-bissaka/

                  One of the cheapest players in the game!

                25. EWH2020
                  • 10 Years
                  5 years, 12 months ago

                  Already have Alonso and DDG.

                  Pick one:

                  A) Bailly
                  B) Christensen
                  C) Vert

                26. seanie3
                  • 12 Years
                  5 years, 12 months ago

                  what is the WC team Mark is going with...