Opinion

Golden rules of FPL to be broken this weekend

Never captain a defender in Fantasy Premier League they say, yet Shane Duffy (£4.7m) is the talk of the town this week ahead of Brighton’s Double Gameweek against Bournemouth (home) and Cardiff (home).

Following Harry Kane’s (£12.6m) injury midweek, Son Heung-min (£8.6m) is the new leader of the captaincy poll, followed closely in second by the Irishman who has found the back of the net five times already this season.

The Seagulls have conceded just 16 goals at home in 15 matches in 2018/19. Two clean sheets in Gameweek 34 is a distinct possibility. Even if Duffy only managed one clean sheet out of two and a few bonus points, it would be a healthy return of points from your captain.

Let’s hope we don’t see a repeat of his 2016 performance playing for Blackburn when he scored two own goals and got sent off in a game against Cardiff! Maybe they are his bogey team?

After the impressive win over Manchester City in the Champions League, Mauricio Pochettino may use the Huddersfield fixture this weekend as an opportunity to rest some of his key men ahead of the return leg next week.

Let’s face it, Spurs could field their under-23s against the Terriers and still pick up the three points. Son looked exhausted towards the end of that City game which puts me off him for the captaincy.

Duffy, who will play twice vs Son who may get a rest is an easy decision in my eyes, although I haven’t ruled out giving the armband to the in-form Jamie Vardy (£9.2m) at home to Newcastle on Friday night. The Englishman is flying under Brendan Rodgers, scoring eight in his last eight. He’s going nowhere on my Wildcard.

A big question this week for those going for the Wildcard 34/Bench Boost 35 strategy is whether to go all in on the Brighton triple up or not. It looks great on paper for Gameweek 34 with the two home games but not so good in Gameweek 35 with two away ties against Wolves and Spurs.

In contrast to their solid defensive record at home, Chris Hughton’s side have shipped 30 goals on their travels. Ideally, you don’t want to have to use any more than one Brighton asset in Double Gameweek 35. For this reason, I’m unlikely to opt for the triple up as it means booking in transfers for next week when there is likely to be other fires to put out ahead of the Bench Boost.

The Kane injury is a spanner in the works for those managers who had him earmarked for the triple captain chip. If he does miss the rest of the season (yet to be confirmed) we need to look for alternatives for that chip.

Liverpool at home to Huddersfield in Gameweek 36 springs to mind with Mohamed Salah (£13.2m) and Sadio Mané (£10.1m) the likely candidates. The final day of the season is often a goal fest and it may be worth holding on to the chip until then. Son could be an exciting prospect against Everton, Manchester United face Cardiff at home and if the title goes down to the wire, the Liverpool and Manchester City assets will be options as well.

Good luck for the Gameweek and enjoy your weekend folks.

All aboard the Duffy Express.

1,028 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FPLShaqiri
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Other than Duffy & Dunk which Brighton defender is most likely to start both games this GW?

    1. Obi-1 Kenobi-0
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Montoya

      1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        This

      2. FPLShaqiri
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers, more nailed than Bernardo you think? For my Draft league so money not an issue

    2. BOATIES FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Ryan if u want triple Brighton defence

  2. Hairy Potter
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Currently on this as my WC with the intention of using BB next week.

    Ryan, Foster
    TAA, Duffy, Doherty, Vertongen, Valery
    Salah, Mane, Eriksen, Son, Jota
    Vardy, Jimenez, Deeney

    Do I need some Man City attacking cover? Maybe Mane to Sterling or Sane?

    1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Have you thought about Lloris and Dunk over Ryan and Vertonghen? Otherwise It's a great team very similar to one of my drafts 🙂

      1. Hairy Potter
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah, I figured that I would play Ryan this DGW week and still want a Spurs defender against Huddersfield.

    2. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Looks very similar to mine. I might go without City attackers

    3. BOATIES FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Mane to KDB, then do vardy to Bobby for 36

      1. Hairy Potter
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks, definitely a possibility. Not sure I'm feeling KDB at the minute though.

  3. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Bottomed
    Option a- 4.1itb to get salah for eriksen for TC in 36

    Foster Ryan
    Taa Doherty kola bednarek Peltier
    sterling eriksen son Jota jwp
    Aguero jiminez Deeney

    Option B- 0.3itb

    Foster Ryan
    Laporte taa Doherty kola valery
    Salah sterling eriksen son Jota
    Jiminez Deeney Llorente

    Or option C- 4.2 itb to get salah for TC

    Foster Ryan
    Laporte taa Doherty Duffy bednarek
    Sterling eriksen son Jota Deulofeu
    Vardy jiminez Deeney

    Thanks guys!!

    1. royals forever
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A or C

      1. Rhodes your boat
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks mate:)

  4. Transferred Out
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    For this GW

    A. Vardy & KDB
    B. Deeney & Sterling

    1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A

    2. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      b

    3. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A

    4. royals forever
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A

    5. BOATIES FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Definitely A for this week only

  5. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Which one do you prefer?
    A) Sterling+Hojbjerg as 8th attacker
    B)KDB+Jota as 8th attacker

    The 8th attacker only plays in 35 and 37 but may be needed because of rotation too!

    1. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      a by a country mile

    2. royals forever
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A

    3. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      B then downgrade one of your 8 attackers to bench fodder in 36.

    4. Sotamendi84
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Im on b. I thought sterling not nailed from rotation?

  6. Fuddled FC
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Play

    a) Deeney
    b) JWP
    c) Robertson

    1. jaywills
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A

    2. royals forever
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A

  7. Tempestic
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Ooooh just stumbled across this slightly differential mess:
    0.1ITB

    Lloris Foster
    Laporte TAA Doherty Duffy Valery
    Sterling KDB Eriksen Son Camasara
    Lacazette Firmino Jimenez

    Camasara > Hojbjerg for gw35

    Far from set in stone and definitely want to see how the Arsenal game goes tonight.
    What are peoples thoughts?

    1. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      camarasa punt not worth a ft at this stage

      expect auba due to return which mitigates laca minutes. have settled on vardy myself and hoping for the best. not keen on kdb pick but if you plan on switching to mane before hudds its not end of world.

    2. Fuddled FC
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Not sure you can wait for the game tonight

  8. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Lost on last page

    Please help me with the final part of my WC puzzle

    Help is needed please

    In your opinion who is the best 11.5 DF/MF combo for this GW34 WC/GW35 BB team

    Ryan Leno

    Trippier Duffy Valery Doherty xxxxxxxxx

    Eriksen KDB Jota Propper xxxxxxxxx

    Aguero Rashford Vardy

    GW35 Vardy > Jimenez/Deeney
    GW36 KDB > Mane/Salah

    Any ideas would be welcomed

    1. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      sterling

      id go jimenez over rash for now then do vardy>rash before gw37

    2. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      TAA and JWP maybe?

  9. Typo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Mkhtryan an option? I like it

    1. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      If you like it, then go for it!

    2. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      haha

    3. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Emery starts him in away fixtures & they have 4 in 6.
      Could work mate

  10. GoodFella93
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I'm not sure about captaining Son against Huddersfield, I think Eriksen is a better differential bet especially against what should be a compact defence.

    I'm tempted to go Hazard, I really fancy him to score again. He loves a goal against Liverpool, and it'd be typical Chelsea in a fairly dead season to go and influence the title races at an important moment like this.

    1. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      why do you need a "differential" in a week when captaincy is not obvious

      1. GoodFella93
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I mean differential to the obvious Spurs pick of Son

    2. tucaoneo
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      He does have a history of doing that.

    3. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Depends on their game tonight

      Pool had a reasonably easy game and have longer rest

      Son could easily be rested depending on who comes through the fitness test (Lamela etc)

      Poch is going to want to be strong for the two city matches coming

      1. GoodFella93
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        All the more reason to go for Eriksen, I think he's nailed for Spurs for the rest of the season given they've got no Kane.

        1. Eat my goal!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Yep agree - I’m waiting for the pressers but Eriksen is likely my move and Captain

  11. yer old da
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Robbo and KDB, or TAA and Sterling?!

    1. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      b

    2. royals forever
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Robbo and KDB

      1. EMBOLOFAN
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        why?

  12. Fantasydreamer
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    For the Dgw only who is best - JWP/docoure/jota?

    And would you start any over Mané this week?

  13. FredrikH
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Dunk (have Duffy) Robbo KDB or Bednarek TAA Sterling

    1. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Bed, taa, ster

  14. jaywills
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Who wants to slate my WC team?

    Ryan, Lloris
    Doherty, TAA Duffy (AWB, Valery)
    Son, Eriksen, Mane, Sterling (Hudson Odoi)
    Vardy, King, Jiminez
    (Idea is to transfer vardy to lacazette next week)

    1. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      What do think I am? A Roofer?

      1. jaywills
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Yes. Roof me up

    2. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      King, AWB and Hudson Odoi all picks I haven't seen on any WC's, rest is good.
      Maybe Deeney, camasara worth a look in?

      1. jaywills
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        King primarily due to fixtures, AWB had since gw1 so with Hudson Odoi he is an enabler. Both costing me 4.2 mill

  15. KUNingas
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    A) Firmino + Deulofeu
    B) Deeney + Mane

    1. jaywills
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      B

    2. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      b

    3. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A

      1. KUNingas
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Not template pair

  16. Caleb's Kitties
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    G2G? BB35

    Ryan (gunn)
    Robbo alderweireld duffy (doherty valery)
    Sterling kdb eriksen son (jota)
    Aguero deeney jimenez

    1. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      not bad at all prefer laporte to alder though

      1. EMBOLOFAN
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        ah u have 3 city. well fair enough

    2. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Way too much city for my liking

    3. OleGGMU
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I'd say G2G , but monitor city's selection policy for GW34 and the CL match before locking Sterl and KDB for GW35. Perhaps Mane for either or haz for sterl?

      I have this horrible feeling sterl will be rested GW34 to save him for the CL, if it goes that way and he plays the 90 in CL then he might be a concern for limited minutes against spurs in the league to save for the derby

      1. Eat my goal!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Exactly, you just know that city Players aren’t going to play every game and the games aren’t great either

  17. Nailed Jesus
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    for WC34 & BB35
    a) aguero & mane
    b) laca & pogba

    already got rashford & sterling

    1. Nailed Jesus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      sorry it's
      a) aguero & pogba
      b) laca & mane

    2. zon
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Laca and Mane

    3. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Give Pogba a Chance

  18. zon
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I think I got it, just want to share it with you:

    Ryan
    Vertonghen / TAA / Duffy
    Sterling / Mane / Son / Eriksen(vc)
    Deeney / Jimenez / Vardy (c)

    Foster Laporte / JWP / Valery

    Vardy to Bobby GW35

    1. dbeck
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Nailed it

  19. Holteenderinthesky
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    How we looking? 1.0ITB
    Ryan
    Duffy, Valery, Trippier
    Mane, Sterling, Son(C), Eriksen
    Laca, Vardy, Jimenez

    Foster, Deulo, Doherty, Kola
    Gw35 - Vardy>Deeney
    GW36 - Eriksen>Salah.

  20. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    For those having vardy in their WC are you removing for gw35? If so for who (own jiminez and Deeney too)

    1. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      no keeping

    2. zon
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Yup, for Bobby F (car, HUD, new, WOL)

    3. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Aguero probably depending on Champions League game. Leaving 3 million in the bank so I can decide if I want a city player next week 🙂

    4. tucaoneo
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      This should be a hot topic. I am still not sure.

    5. Obi-1 Kenobi-0
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Nope. Keeping until 36 when he’s a straight swap for Firmino for Liverpool triple up vs Huddersfield

      1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        He has Arsenal at home in 36 and he loves scoring against them, how about swap to Rashford after 36? United have Cardiff, Huddersfield last 2

  21. FredrikH
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Bench Deeney or Jota? Deeney only scored 2 out of his 7 goals at home this season.

    1. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      7 goals is a pathetic record in itself which is why i dont own him

      1. EMBOLOFAN
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        so i'd bench him but i wouldn't own him in first place

    2. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Deeney imo

    3. Blueberg
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      He has scored 9... 3 at home.

  22. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Best combo to complete my WC? Cheers

    A Ryan Jota (brighton triple up)
    B Lloris JWP

    Foster xx
    Robertson Laporte Duffy Dunk Valery
    Sterling Mane Eriksen Son xx
    Kun, Jimenez, Deeney

  23. GoodFella93
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Pick a number and a letter to play:

    1. Trent
    2. Valery

    a. Ward-Prowse
    b. Deeney

    1. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      1B

  24. Jimmy Boy
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Who's everyone captaining this week? Leaning more and more towards Vardy

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Between Eriksen/Son/Raz

      1. Jimmy Boy
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        All three of those are at threat of being rested imo

        1. Jimmy Boy
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          I also own all three but have been put off by that

        2. Amey
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Absolutely.
          Let me through another 3in
          Kun/Firmino/Duffy
          😀
          I'm lost atm

  25. FPL Maldini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Is anyone getting Lukaku in their WC teams? So so tempted

    1. Obi-1 Kenobi-0
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Tempted by what? He’s not the main striker and has no form.

    2. Jimmy Boy
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I am, will likely be for the short term though

    3. FredrikH
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Rashford surely better value?

    4. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Thought about him briefly. He has an amazing record against West Ham.
      However I’d rather have Aguero and you only have to find 0.9m more.

  26. Emiliano Sala
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Alli or lucas moura?

  27. KUNingas
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    A) Jota + Boly
    B) Deulofeu + Doherty

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

      A

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

    Last very small decision... Currently on A & going all out Brighton.

    A. Dunk (switch next week to B or C)
    B. Cathcart (play Laporte)
    C. Coady/Jonny (play Laporte)

    Ryan
    TAA. Duffy. XXX
    Eriksen. Son(C). Sterling. Mané
    Agüero. Jiménez. Deeney
    (Foster, Laporte, JWP, Bednarek)

  29. twoplustwo
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Is Pogba to Son worth -4? He's been awful of late.

  30. FPL Maldini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    If Alli is fit, who is a better option?

    A) Alli

    B) Eriksen

    1. jdp219
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I think I would still go B.