Pro Pundits

Tips and advice for FPL managers over the busy Christmas period

In our latest Pro Pundits article, Lateriser12 – who has overall ranks of 77th and 189th to his name  gives Fantasy Premier League managers some tips for the Christmas period.


It is the holiday season and the Gameweeks are coming thick and fast. For us Fantasy Premier League fans, this is a gift in itself. During these times, we don’t have too much time to dwell on our decisions and we need to be quick and precise. With this article, I hope to concisely present some important information which might hopefully help you with a few of your dilemmas this Gameweek. We can call it a ‘cheat sheet’, of sorts.

Last time I wrote, I spoke at length about playing the switch-hit against Jamie Vardy (£10.1m). I did it in Gameweek 17 with a Mohamed Salah (£12.2m)-sized captaincy and it led to me halving my rank and jumping from 124k to 66k. This despite not owning Kevin De Bruyne (£10.4m) in Gameweek 17 (else I would have been well inside the top 40k).

I also spoke about Marcus Rashford (£9.1m) at length and I went with my instinct and got him in Gameweek 18 and immediately gave him the captain’s armband. That did not go as well as planned (a small red arrow and I’m currently sitting at 85k) and admittedly I might have a certain bias when it comes to Manchester United assets. That said, when a certain Paul Pogba (£8.4m) came on with 26 minutes to play, we saw a different United playing. Armed with a silky smooth through-ball, he was carving open the Watford defence at will and from memory created three decent chances as soon as he came on. I wonder if the deep block struggle remains if Solskjaer starts using Pogba at number ten.

As a Son Heung-min (£10.0m) owner and a De Bruyne non-ower, the red card wasn’t that big of a problem for me. It led to probably the easiest decision I’ve made this season. In fact, I made the switch three minutes after the red card so as to not overthink this obvious move.

Yes, I can think of hacks and other ‘maverick’ moves to make ground but when it’s this obvious, one must do it. Some might say that De Bruyne is the best value FPL player this season. I say, on current form, De Bruyne is simply the most dangerous FPL asset in the game right now. How he has got away with just 23 points in the last two Gameweeks, I’ll never know.

This leads to one more week in my team for Anthony Martial (£7.7m), Rashford and Christian Pulisic (£7.3m). Hopefully, Mr. Pogba is in a merry mood and puts on a Santa coat gifting big chances to my United assets this Gameweek.

Enough self-indulgence. Now, I’m going to present you with a few pieces of information that might or might not help you with your FPL decisions this week.

First, let us look at fatigue and try determining which of the matches this week might be influenced by them.

If you haven’t already ready Zophar’s excellent piece on the same subject, I highly recommend reading it here. I’m borrowing his chart to determine the ‘fatigue’ factor we talk about here. 

  • Tottenham Hotspur play a Brighton team that have had 20 hours more rest. Both teams have a very short turn-around afterwards.
  • Arsenal have a nice rest period before this Gameweek and a good gap thereafter, as well. They are one of the teams, along with Everton, I will be closely monitoring to see how they line up. There could be some potential bargains from both sides under their new managers.
  • Chelsea face a Southampton team that has had 24 hours more rest than the Blues. That said, Chelsea have a bigger rest period than most teams after this game. We will surely see a fair amount of rotation from Chelsea and I half-expect Jorginho (£5.0m) and Pulisic to start the next game.
  • A tired and half-depleted Crystal Palace team faces a fully fit and rested West Ham side that showed some signs of rejuvenation in their last Gameweek. I wonder if this influences my benching decision between Martin Kelly (£4.4m) and Matt Targett (£4.4m). If he isn’t already, Michail Antonio (£6.9m) should be on your FPL radar.
  • Sheffield United will have had a full day’s rest more than Watford when they meet up. This looks good for Lys Mousset (£5.1m) and John Lundstram (£5.2m) owners. Mousset sat out the last game so he’s looking good to start this one, in my opinion.
  • Manchester United play a Newcastle team that has had a day’s rest more than them. In addition, we need to remember that both Rashford and Martial also played the midweek Carabao Cup tie last week. This means that they have effectively played four games in 12 days already if they start this Gameweek. This has me re-thinking giving the armband to Rashford or Martial despite the positive effect that Pogba might have on them.
  • Leicester and Liverpool will have had the same amount of rest when they play against each other. The big difference here is that most of the Liverpool players played 120 minutes in the game against Flamengo and then had to fly back from Qatar. That said, in the matches after Gameweek 19, Liverpool have a relatively good amount of rest-time to offer their players.
  • Manchester City and Wolves have the highest duration of rest before they meet up for their fixture. It is worth noting that in the two games that follow, both teams have a very short turnaround period. It is impossible to predict if and when De Bruyne gets a rest, but if I were a betting man, I’d say it would be in the home game versus Sheffield United. This will perhaps be influenced by David Silva’s (£7.5m) fitness.

Now I’ll present some important statistical information that might influence your captaincy decision this weekend. We’ll most likely see a split captaincy in Gameweek 19, with there being a number of viable candidates. Here are some noteworthy stats:

Here’s how my squad currently looks for Gameweek 19:

Before I sign off, I would like to wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year. May your holiday season be full of green arrows! I hope this attempt to create a cheat sheet has helped you guys. Until next time.


Fantasy Football Scout user Lateriser12 has a very impressive Fantasy CV. He has registered two finishes in the top 200 (one of them equating to number one in India) and four in the top 10,000 in the last six seasons. The secret to his success has been playing non-conventionally and fearlessly, swearing by ‘upside chasing’ and not giving ownership much of a look.

1,457 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Tempestic
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Moura or Martial for the next few?

    1. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Martial switched to the left when Pogba was introduced and was much much better.

      Moura is going to play more with Son out.

      Moura for me.

      1. Tempestic
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah but that only to accommodate greenwood up front right as he was having a stinker on the wing? I presume James will come back in with martial up front in future?

        1. ZeBestee
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Yeah this is true as well, but Rashford was basically playing upfront with Greenwood slightly off him when Pogba came on. I guess them chasing 2 goals down might be the reason and as you said, James will come back and Martial go back to the middle.

    2. fish&chips
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Martial, Moura could work but you can never be sure with the minutes he'll get

      1. Dr Dream
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Gonna be a long time before he shakes off that uncertainty.

        1. Tempestic
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          With son out tho?

          1. Dr Dream
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Oh aye. Nailed for now.

            1. Tempestic
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Tempted to take a punt on him for the next 3 and then maybe switch to Rich after. U think moura will do well?

              1. Dr Dream
                • 11 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                He might do extremely well...or he might not....and that’s why he’s struggled to nail a spot at Spurs. I really don’t see his work off the ball as being a Mourinho thing...last time I watched him he was giving up in situations where he could at least have pressured a player...but didn’t. I don’t see him as a long term player for Jose. Good pick for now though.

                1. Tempestic
                  • 5 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  Didn’t Jose try to sign Moura at Madrid?

      2. Tempestic
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Looking at the next 3 really with Son our and a potential swap to Richarlison in gw22 to capitalise on their fixtures

    3. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I do have Alli already btw and no United

  2. Ci Siamo
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Rashford or Tammy captain?

    Got a gut feeling with Rashford tbh

    1. HollywoodXI
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I’ve captained Rashford. Feel like Pogba being back will help him haul.

    2. Luton_Fan
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Toss a coin

  3. Mortal.Swinbat
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    g2g?

    Ryan

    Kelly, Lundstrum, Aurier
    Salah (C), Mane, KDB, Grealish
    Vardy, Abraham, Jiminez

    Button, Hayden, Soyuncu, Reid

    1. fish&chips
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Liverpool double up on midfield not for me personally but team looks well set

  4. DeathoftheParty
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    The Lord will be the first defender I've ever captained...

    2 points incoming.

    1. fish&chips
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I'd be a bit wary of Watford's recent revival. Could work though. Good luck!!

      1. DeathoftheParty
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        My Sunday league team would put Utd to bed...

  5. fish&chips
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Merry Christmas everyone!! Thoughts on the below WC draft? No Liverpool mids a risk I'm willing to take. Will likely move kane or Rashford and Maddison / grealish / Alli on for salah in 3-4 weeks time

    Guita,
    Kelly, TAA, Aurier, Lund
    KDB, Alli, Grealish,
    Kane (c), Rashford, Vardy

    Hennessey, Cantwell, Maddison, Chilwell

    0.1 ITB

  6. JoeSoap
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Does Robby/Son>Aurier/Otamendi & Salah/Mane seem ok? (-4)

    Gazza
    Kelly, Lund, Soyu, Robby
    Maddy, KDB, Ali
    Vardy, Jimmy, Rash
    Pope, Dendo, Son, Rico

  7. Jonny HOW SON?
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    I know this has nothing to do with football, but...

    I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

    1. fish&chips
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks mate, same to you!

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Merry Xmas

    3. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Merry Christmas!

    4. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Thank you, you too! 🙂

    5. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      and to you

  8. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Son, Jota to Cantwell, Kane (-4) gives me 1.6 itb and

    Hendo
    Lund Kelly Aurier
    Alli Grealish KDB Mane
    Vardy Mousset Kane
    (Martin, Cantwell, Perreira, Rico)

    Thoughts? Plenty of other options ie Rich/Pogba and Tammy

    1. Jafoole_88
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      No Salah

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Prefer Kane with fixtures tbh

  9. Luton_Fan
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Looks like Son is not dropping tonight.

  10. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Will be nice to bounce some WC teams off eachother in GW20...

  11. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mousset to punish sellers!

    1. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      McGoldrick's time to shine

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I'll cry if he scores

  12. The-Red-1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Here we go.

    About to pull the trigger on this on an attempt to claw back ground:

    Rashford, Abraham, Heaton, Mane out

    Kane, Maupay, Guaita, Salah in.

    Madness?

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Dangerous af

    2. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Madness

    3. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      2 upgrades, 1 sideways and 1 downgrade. For -8 I'm not sure. But GL.

    4. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      you wont claw back any ground starting with a -8 or -12.
      Figure out your weakest players and improve them. Out of those, Heaton is a stand out candidate. All the rest easily can get points any week and you certainly shouldnt be hitting them out

    5. Dr Dream
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Dunno. Kane needs to pick up....and Salah looks like he has picked up.

      What you’re really doing (if Salah and Kane improve) is putting in two captain picks in who rotate as captains fantastically well for as far as the eye can see (check it out). It may be a very smart move....but you’re relying on an upturn in form with both.

    6. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Mad

  13. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Captain:

    KDB
    Abraham
    Salah

    1. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      KDB imo

  14. noahzark22
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Heaton
    Maguire, Lundstram, Kelly
    Cantwell, Zaha, De Bruyne, Pulisic
    Ings, Vardy, Aubameyang

    Button, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Maddison

    Best player out for a one week punt?

    1. asquishypotato
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Looks great, although Vardy is a bit of a dull one if it’s a one week punt job!

      1. noahzark22
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I know, but it'll be an additional .4 to bring him back in.

  15. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Chances of Son dropping in price tonight?

    92% on ff fix
    90% on fpl stat

  16. asquishypotato
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    I plan to bring in another spurs player, which means losing Gazzaniga.

    Which keeper to pair with Pope under 4.8 should I get?

    Henderson (makes it triple Sheff)
    Ramsdale (questions over the defence but great fixtures)
    Ryan (not convinced defensively, mixed fixtures)
    Heaton (not a fan)

    1. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Henderson imo

    2. Kip
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A 4.0mil one

  17. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    ryan (buton)
    kely lund aurier (taa soy)
    kdb son mane grelish (dendo)
    vardy rash tamy

    best GK to have for this gw before WC gw20?, button to:

    A) henderson (have lund)
    B) pickford
    C) guaita (have kely)
    D) start ryan & taa to digne/baldock 442 bench rash
    E) start ryan & dendo out 352 bench rash
    F) start ryan & rash to other fwd. 343
    (2 ft son + 1 from above out)

    1. Kip
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Pickford imo

  18. Grimlock
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    So stupidly I burned my free transfer before son red card... One to many don't even ask... Here endth the leason on early transfers

    A) I got exact money to do son>de bryune
    -4
    B) Or play cantwell and do some other transfer next week... Possibly madison. With Leicester fixtures improving

    I'm prob doing b)
    I got sterling... Who in theory becomes salah gw21ish and I think de bryune gets rotated at some point

    Any thoughts cheers!

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      ye B

    2. asquishypotato
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B is good

  19. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Is Pope to Guaita worth using a FT on with upcoming fixtures?

    Pope - Button
    TAA - Soy - Lund - Kelly - Rico
    Mane - Alli - Maddison - KDB - Grealish
    Vardy - Tammy - Ings

    1. asquishypotato
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      If you have no concerns then sure, I’m not a big fan of spending that much on a keeper. I think the boat has sailed.

    2. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Probably imo

  20. Bad Kompany
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pulisic to richarlison, Moura, or grealish for a hit?

    1. Luton_Fan
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Keep pulisic this gw

    2. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Keep

    3. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Cheers both!

  21. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Am I seriously joining the Kane train lol

    1. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Trap*

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Ahhhh

  22. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    so you know the head to head thing here. It will take me 8 years to move to league one? 😀

  23. Kip
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Is Kiko nailed for the foreseeable future? Looking for a Willems replacement

    1. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I believe so

    2. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Looks a great shout at 4.2

    3. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yes think so.

  24. kysersosa
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    G2G?

    Henderson
    Lord, Kelly, Tomori
    KDB, Ali, Mads, Pulisic
    (A)braham, Vardy, Rash

    Cantwell, TAA, Soy

    1. Kip
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yes
      I wouldnt Bench TAA though

      1. edmac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Agreed

      2. kysersosa
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Kelly or Tomori to make way? I don’t think pool will keep a CS. He’s also played 120 mins in Doha

    2. FPL Theorist
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Your patience with Pulisic is amazing! If he scores you'll get a huge rank rise, as I think most have given up.

      1. kysersosa
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah, I’ve somehow managed to get into the top 20k with him still. He could haul in 2 days and just keep me dangling!

  25. Jimbo-Jones
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Appreciate any help!
    Which WC option?

    A. 4-3-3
    Ramsdale
    taa Lundstram Kelly Soyuncu AURIER
    Salah kdb Grealish CANTWELL dendo
    Jimenez Vardy KANE

    B. 4-4-2
    Ramsdale
    taa Lundstram Kelly Soyuncu AURIER
    Salah kdb Grealish MANÉ dendo
    Jimenez Vardy GREENWOOD

    C. 3-4-3
    Ramsdale
    taa Lundstram Kelly Soyuncu 3.9
    Salah kdb Grealish ALLI dendo
    Jimenez Vardy RASHFORD

    Comes down to:
    A. Aurier Kane (Cantwell)
    B. Aurier Mané (Greenwood)
    C. (3.9) Alli Rashford

    1. Kip
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      C out of those

    2. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B but Alli over Mané for next 3 and keep cash in bank for Liverpool midfield double up

      1. Jimbo-Jones
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Actually really like this idea.
        Do you Prefer Alli or Kane?
        Both possible to use as makeweight to get Mané later.

        1. dunas_dog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Kane if that’s an option- loves the Christmas fixtures

  26. Luton_Fan
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Been round the houses and back again deciding who to get in for son and now ive settled on doing nothing and playing cantwell. (Head in hands emoji thing)

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Loool I got no idea either nate

  27. Jimbo-Jones
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Felt happy with WC but now these moves look odd before I press the button.
    Thoughts?

    OUT
    Pope VVD Zaha Sterling Abraham

    IN
    Ramsdale Aurier Salah Mané Greenwood

  28. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    how do transfers in draft work? Im not trying to trade anyone but trying to swap with free agents. It just says "proposed" will I get those players? Is there soem deadline b4 its approved so others can counter bid?

    1. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      U receive them like the day of the deadline I believe. Not entirely sure how it works but Ik u can list the priority of ur proposed transfers so if you really want a certain transfer to be done, make sure u put it as number one priority

  29. bruuuno
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Son > William

    Ok move if I can do Targett > TAA next gw?

  30. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    On Alli as captain- but very undecided between
    A Alli
    B Vardy
    C KDB
    D Rashford
    E Salah

    Which would you go with?