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. Fantasydreamer
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    Which option is best?

    A. Sterling, deeney, jota
    B. Aguero,JWP, jota/docoure?

    1. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      A

  2. Sepp Blattered
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    Thoughts? Option A or B?

    Sterling Eriksen KDB Son ___
    ___ Jiminez Deeney

    A) JWP/Lukaku
    B) Mane/Ings

    1. DandyDon
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      B

  3. McSauce
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    A) Salah Vardy
    B) Sterling Aguero

    1. gryffsonofarthur
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      B

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      A.

      In insolation, you have to admit there's more than a mininmal chance both Aguero & Sterling are rested in the next fixture.

      I don't think both will be, but would be silly to disregard.

    3. King Kohli
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      B

    4. DandyDon
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      I think Jesus starts in between champions league games

  4. Rash
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    What changes would you make?

    Ryan
    Robbo Duffy Doherty
    Sterling son eriksen jota mane
    Vardy Jimenez

    Foster deeney valery bednarek

    On WC 3.5itb

    Toying with mane to kdb or robbo to trippier.

    1. sentz05
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      I'm going with no liverpool. Can easily transfer in after DGW if I have to.

  5. sentz05
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    Who else is captaining Duffy?

  6. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    Fairly happy with WC, please comment

    Foster Ryan
    Vertonghen taa Doherty kola bednarek
    Sterling eriksen son Jota jwp
    Vardy jiminez Deeney

    35- Vardy to firmino
    36- eriksen to salah TC

    Considering Duffy Deulofeu over kola jwp. Thoughts?

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      All good in the hood

      1. Rhodes your boat
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 15 days ago

        Thanks mate!

    2. soup natsi
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      I also have Vardy but will keep him till gw37. Why wouldn't you keep for leaky West Ham and Arsenal?

  7. soup natsi
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    Is this Good2Go?

    Ryan (Gunn)
    Duffy, Laporte, TAA, (Doherty, Valery)
    Sterling, Son, Eriksen, Jota, (Højbjerg)
    Agüero, Vardy, Jiménez

    1.8itb for Sterling > Salah before gw36

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      Yep. Very nice

  8. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    Bottomed sorry.

    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)

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      B

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 15 days ago

        Thanks. I’m greedy and kind of want to go A haha. I should be sensible

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 15 days ago

          😀

    2. soup natsi
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      C with Jonny

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 15 days ago

        Thanks. Why Jonny?

  9. Amey
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    Do you think Kun will rise in price tonight ??
    I have exact cash, but other transfer involves getting Deulofeu so I'm thinking about waiting.

    OR should i just do the transfers ??
    On WC*

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      Do it pal. Get Kun! Golden boot incoming 🙂

      How’s the rest looking?

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 15 days ago

        Thank you.
        I'm settled on this:

        Lloris • Foster
        Robbo • Taa • Doherty • Duffy • Valery
        Sterling • Eriksen • Jota • Deulofeu • Son
        Kun • Jimenez • Firmino

        1. RAFA THE GAFFA
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 15 days ago

          V nice

    2. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      given that it's the last day before the deadline, I'd say it very possible we'll see quite a few price rises tonight yes

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 15 days ago

        That's my worry.
        😕

  10. gryffsonofarthur
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    Next 3 games

    Jota or Pogba?

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      Jota

  11. gryffsonofarthur
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    No love for Doucoure?

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      Good pick. Just shaded by Jota at 0.2 more

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 15 days ago

        & Deulofeu by 0.2 less 😉

  12. Jay Jay Okocha
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    A) Laca, Jota, Vert, Robbo
    B) Deeney, Sterling, Jonny, Robbo
    C) Deeney, Sterling, Vert, Kola/Boly

  13. Saka Punch
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    So I've used my WC.

    Pogba -> Eriksen worth a -4? Would be a long term move

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      Give Pogba West Ham at home and re-assess if he fails again.

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      I would tbh

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 15 days ago

        And Captain erik

  14. premierleaguefantasy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    Aguero? Sterling?

    Is it just me, or is everyone discounting the fact that they're very likely to be rested given that the Tottenham rematch is only a few days later...

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      Am personally leaning towards Ageuro, so may as well comment that.

    2. Majestic Chanka
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      Not getting for 1 week only

    3. Steiger
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      Maybe one will get rested, but not both. Remember, winning the Prem is more important than winning the CL.

      1. premierleaguefantasy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 15 days ago

        Both are important, especially to Pep. He’s down 1-0 to Spurs with no away goals, and he has Palace.

        I think he’ll bench Sterling/Aguero/both and bring them off the bench. If they get off to a 2-3 goal lead without them, they play 5 mins tops.

  15. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    Help on this WC puzzle 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

  16. Toby Lerone
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    Sterling or KDB on wildcard?

  17. fc_skrald
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    I think I will just go without Man City players on my wildcard. Bench boost will be used next week - Vardy and Camarasa could be changed to two double gw players for a -4 hit.

    So 10-12 dgw players should be ok for bench boost?

    Ryan
    Duffy, Trippier, Doherty
    Son, Camarasa, Hazard, Salah
    Jiménez, Vardy, Rashford

    Foster, Jota, Robertson, Valery

    1.3 million in the bank

    1. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      I get that he has a double...but I'd still play Robbo and even Jota over Camarasa.

      1. fc_skrald
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 15 days ago

        Yes thanks - I'm not sure of him either. Might just keep Hudson-Odoi to save some money

  18. dbeck
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    Defenders from a team that have conceded 1 goal in the last 7 prem games, nailed to play all games and since 2019 have given away the least chances in the box by some way. The Ederson and Laporte double up has been a main stay in all my wildcard drafts. Just feel this is being overlooked a bit

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      Good move mate

    2. Richd
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      The risk ? If you go for double defence and 1 attacker it’s less flexible if you wanted to double up top.

      1. dbeck
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 15 days ago

        Granted but I can assess after the doubles with 2ft. Can’t see many city attackers getting both games in the double

    3. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      Spurs & Utd in the double though and CL squeezed in around it all ... it’s a completely different situation looking forward in comparison to the last 7 games that included some of the easiest fixtures they have had all season 🙂

      1. dbeck
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 15 days ago

        Fixtures aren’t the best over the double but spurs and united are in the same boat with CL. City I feel are close to fixture proof

        1. Hotdogs for Tea
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 15 days ago

          Not fixture proof when it comes to clean sheets with 10 games in a month though ... and after all they just conceded against Spurs and even Swansea put 2 past them

          The last 7 games were against Chelsea, Everton, Fulham, Hammers, Cardiff, Watford & Bournemouth ...

          Looks like you have made up your mind though so good luck 🙂

    4. Majestic Chanka
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      It’s the harsh double that’s putting people off

  19. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    Any Soton fans about?

  20. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    A) Duffy Deulofeu
    B) kola jwp

    1. dbeck
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      Duffy and JWP imo

      1. Rhodes your boat
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 15 days ago

        Interesting

    2. dimo_fpl
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      A

  21. Cash'nBurn
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    Which do you think is the best option?

    a) Aguero + Doucore

    or

    b) Sterling + Deeney

  22. Federico
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    Play Doherty (sou) or Trent (CHE)?

    1. dimo_fpl
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      Doh

    2. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      I'd go Doh but not sure why becasue if it was Doh or Robbo I'd probably go the other way...

  23. Kuzser
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    What is the best option to close the gaps in defence and gk?
    1) Ryan, Foster- Robbo Bolly
    2) Ryan Foster - Taa Trippier
    3) Foster Lloris - Taa Doherty
    4) Lloris Ryan - Robbo Jonny/Kiko
    5) Lloris Ryan - Taa Doherty

    X X
    Laporte Duffy Valery X X
    Salah Son Eriksen JWP (Jota)
    Jimenes Kun Deeney

  24. Tempestic
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    Just stumbled across this slightly differential team with 6 premium(ish) attackers:

    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.

    Thoughts?

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      Beautiful team.

    2. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      like it alot. Similar to mine below

  25. Fred the Red
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    Is Kun fit to play?

    1. dimo_fpl
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      Yes, but who knows who pep will start...

      1. The 5% Team
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 15 days ago

        probably Aguero. Only time Jesus started over a fit Aguero was in GW22

  26. cravencottage
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    How about this as a difference to the template?

    Lloris Ryan
    TAA Laporte Valery Doherty Duffy
    Sterling KDB Son Erikese
    Firmino Vardy Jiminez

    1. dimo_fpl
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      It’s not really that different, pretty good though

    2. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      Forgot Deulofeu

    3. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      Great minds think alike, you got some nice TV as well

    4. Pierce34
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      Which keeper are you playing this week? Lloris has Huddersfield at home and Ryan two great home fixtures.

      I think if you want Lloris and still want the Brighton double-up, another keeper (Foster?) and Dunk makes more sense.

    5. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      U keeping Vardy for whu also?

  27. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    On WC and BB 35.
    More or less settled on this team except the last mid slot which I'll need for gw35.

    Lloris Foster
    Robbo Doherty Duffy Dunk Valery
    Sterling Eriksen Son Jota ??
    Kun Jimenez Deeney

    8.6 for the last mid slot, who would you get?

    Will do Sterling + Eriksen > Salah + Mane for gw 36

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      I was thinking Siggy (Fulham) but already got 3 SGW players.

  28. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    Who to C?

    Lloris - Foster
    Laporte - Trent - Duffy
    Salah - Eriksen - Son - Jota
    Aguero - Jimenez - Vardy

    Foster - Deulofeu - Doherty - Valery

    Add another BHA?

    Not sure about 3 SGW players?

    1. dimo_fpl
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      Vardy for me. Son and Aguero are uncertain starters

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 15 days ago

        Cheers, still not totally happy!

  29. sandman58
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    A) JWP & Kiko/Mariappa
    Or
    B) Højbjerg & Holebas

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      B.

      For me it’s between Dunk/Camarasa and Holebas/Højbjerg

      1. sandman58
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 15 days ago

        Thanks
        Already have Duffy & Ryan though
        And if Camarasa then i have to drop a star name this gameweek

        1. RamaJama
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 15 days ago

          Which of my options would you choose?

          1. sandman58
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 15 days ago

            Holebas Højbjerg

  30. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 15 days ago

    Who for this week and the Dgw?

    A) Dunk
    B) Cathcart

    Don’t want to buen A transfer between now and BB GW 35.

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 15 days ago

      *burn