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

    Pulisic was dropped, he wasnt rested right? Why r people so confident he starts? You dont rest a player vs Spurs for Southampton xD

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

      Formation change I believe.

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

        Ok thnks

    2. bigbudgie
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Dropped is the wrong word. Much more nuanced than that these days

    3. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Dropped

    4. Dthinger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      With Kovacic suspended and the expected switch back to a 4-3-3, it seems like Mount would have to drop into midfield and Pulisic would be the obvious choice to play on the opposite frank from Willian.

    5. SH
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Not rested. Dropped because of formation/tactics change playing against a strong team. But Lampard might change back to the previous attacking formation playing a weaker team.

  2. bigbudgie
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Ryan
    TAA Lundstrum Kelly
    KDB Alli Maddison Mount
    Vardy rashford tammy

    Money itb for Alli to Salah next week

    No idea who to capt. Rashford probably

    1. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Alli

  3. Drogba Legend
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    1 FT

    Pope
    TAA - Aurier - Lundy
    KDB - Pulisic - Grealish - Son**
    Kane (c) - Vardy - Rash

    Button - Cantwell - Soy - Rico

    A) Pulisic out?
    B) Son > Alli/Moura/city midfielder/Pogba/Martial/Madds
    C) Save

  4. jg7u
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    How nailed on is Holgate? Tough to say with the new manager?

    I'm on a wildcard and I'm wondering if I should get Holgate instead of Rico.

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

      I’d go Rico. Manager singing his praises recently

      1. jg7u
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Rico it is. Thanks.

    2. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      You said it.. New manager. Who knows?

      1. jg7u
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I guess too many questionmarks.. I will probably go Rico.

    3. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Rico

      1. jg7u
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks, will do that more than likely.

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

    Son & Jimmy to Salah & Kane?

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

      -4 hit

      1. Whats the Huth
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Haha

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

          wut?

          1. Whats the Huth
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Laughable transfers

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

              How so?

    2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yes

  6. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Rashford to Pukki captain worth it?

    1. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Haha

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

        ^drunk?

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

      I did it, dont feel like its a move that can be recommended to people, but if you like it then go with your gut. Pogba is very popular here, so you wont get many in favour (and they all own Rash)

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

        i'll let you know how it goes 😀

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

          One other thing to add abou that move, is if Pogba does turn out to be a good option then you can get Pogba next week or whenever, and dont have to fret about having double Man U (with Rash), no one wants that.

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

      Go for it. I captained Ings last week and look how that turned out.

  7. Atwood
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Will Son drop again tonight? Need to get rid but don’t want to make a drunk transfer.

    Merry Christmas all

    1. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Doubt it

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

      I don’t think so but definitely a possibility

      1. Atwood
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I’ll have to risk it. Don’t want to wake up with Fabinho or something.

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

          Lmao, an injured Fabinho for ur fpl team wouldn’t be an ideal Christmas present..

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

      FF Fix says he is dropping tonight but keeps changing

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

      Very unlikely but fpl stats not always accurate so could happen

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

    Fill in the blanks...

    Hendo
    Lund Kelly Aurier Rico Perriera
    Alli Grealish KDB Mane X
    Mousset Vardy X

    Budget of 17.3m. Thinking Kane and Cantwell or Rich and Abraham

    1. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Salah and Connolly

      1. Whats the Huth
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Then Mousset to ings

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

        Not a bad shout tbf

  9. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    What to do with Willems? Keep and play, or out for a hit? Other options are uninspired Dendoncker and Soyuncu

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

    Son/Robby>Aurier/Salah (-4)?

    Currently starting Soyu. Dendo only playing sub. Don't have Mane & have Ali, KDB, Maddy.

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

      Personally I’d rather find a straight swap for son... but if you more willing than I am to take a hit, that looks pretty slick.

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

        Ideally love to do that but would be Grealish/Willian/Moura/Richarlison and would end up having to transfer them out to get Salah/Mane, probably for a hit.

  11. jaguar shark
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Cresswell is looking rather appealing... 3 goals, 5 clean sheets and good looking fixtures. Any other thinking of this? Or who is the best defender under 5.5 atm?

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

      Good fixtures but not for me. Aurier or Otamendi would be my choices.

  12. Cookie Kid
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    A) Salah -4
    B) Start Mousset WAT or Maddison LIV

    Will want Salah next GW anyway

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

      B) Mousset

  13. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Ryan
    Lundstram TAA Kelly
    Son* Mane Kdb Alli
    Jimenez Vardy Abra
    Button Soy Rico* Dendo 0.1itb 1ft

    Son replacement here?
    A. Straight switch to pog/rich/grealish/mads
    B. Son&cheap def to Digne and mid from A.
    C. Son&Jim to Grealish Kane or Rich and Rash

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

    Who is your captain this week and what persuaded you to go with him ?

    Alli here as expect bounce back from Spurs after Chelsea game and Alli to be playing second striker beside
    Kane

  15. @ocprodigy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    SCOUT PICKS CHALLENGE - GAMEWEEK 17 RESULTS

    Top at Christmas results tomorrow... for now, GW17!

    ***** GAMEWEEK RESULTS *****

    1st - Apples...Oranges (73pts) [3pts]
    Top 4% - Polar_Bear (67pts), Squire345, ManUnitedComeBack (66pts) [2pts]
    Top 10% - FC Jammer (64pts), FFS Scout, Ameenkw (63pts), Expected Toulouse (62pts) [1pt]

    with Tets McGee missing out on 59pts, ouch!

    Just to be careful guys - if you are late, and choose a player from the early kick-off, I will NOT include you in the round as its not fair given you have line-up news (especially this gameweek which included Liverpool and Salah CF).

    The score of the combined FFS Scout Picks and Differentials is a total of 79pts... no bonus points for anyone.

    ***** THE STANDINGS *****

    Movement!! Someone's jumping up the ranks. Your top three:

    1st - COYS96 [15pts]
    2nd - Apples...Oranges [13pts]
    3rd - Scratch [12pts]

    Spreadsheet: https://www.dropbox.com/s/oyuz31n7ppeccuu/Scout%20Picks%20Challenge.xlsm?dl=0

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

      Thanks for your great efforts
      Really appreciate it

  16. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Merry Christmas everyone 🙂

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

      You too mate 🙂

    2. Rotation's Alter Ego
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      And you 🙂

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

      Merry Christmas! x

    4. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Merry Christmas everyone.

  17. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Sell Jimmy or Ings for Kane?

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

      Kane

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

        Im getting Kane 😀

        But sell which one of Jimmy/Ings?

  18. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Son > Mane or Salah?

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

      Salah

  19. NotsoSpursy
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Hi
    what should be my priority here 1FT

    1) I have no pool mids so sterling -> salah
    Or
    2) pulisic replacement

    My bench is ok/average

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Save

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

      2

      Pool not a priority this week with tough fixture

  20. NotsoSpursy
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Merry Christmas !

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      And to you!

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

    Son to?

    A. William
    B. Moura

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

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

      Like Moura if he gets regular starts

    3. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Pretty sure I am gonna go Son to Moura. No other mid below 10 mil that I want (already got Alli and Grealish).

  22. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Whom would you sell to bring Moura in?

    a. Zaha
    b. Maddison
    c. Either
    d. Neither

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

      Zaha weakest of the 2, but losing Zaha with WHam doesnt sound right

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

        I assumed it was not just a 1-week punt, is that right?

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          I’ve had Zaha for a little while now but Palace are creating so little despite the favourable fixtures.

          Maddison has a tough fixture on paper but nice fixtures to follow plus much more involved.

          May just save a transfer but Moura seems such a good option with Son out.

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

            I have Zaha as well, its not fun I admit. But going to stick it out until the 1st (im assuming he gets something vs Ham) if he doesnt I might kick him out.

            1. Twisted Saltergater
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Yeah, if I had some money in the bank, I’d swap for Moura.

              I could do Zaha and Maddison to Moura and Willian but not sure on Willian. Part of me things he put in the performance he did just to spite Mourinho.

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

      A

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

      A

    4. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

  23. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    GW20 WC could either be genius or a nightmare - we get to see Everton/Arsenal, Pogba, the potential return of Aguero, fixtures turns for turd like Brighton, for one GW before making a snap decision, wonder how many false conclusions will be made (not even factoring in GW20 rotation)

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

    Otamendi or Aurier?

    1. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Aur.

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

    Take a punt on Moura, Martial or Pogba? Got Maddison as an escape plan from any.

  26. Greenbackbøøg…
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mina nailed on? Moreso than Holgate?

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      New manager. Who knows?

    2. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I am tempted by Sidibe if anyone from Everton def.

      1. Fitzy.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Before or after he turned up in the scout picks for this week?

  27. hb
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pope
    Lundstram-Kelly-Doherty-Rico-Soyunco
    Alli-KDB-Mane-Son-Grealish
    Vardy-Rashford-Ings

    That’s what I have going into this week and I’m considering three scenarios - would love to see what the crowd thinks and why. I’m concerned about B with Newcastle sitting deep. I’d love to get Salah but Leicester is a tough match. And Kane without Son ... maybe he comes alive? Thoughts please - A, B or C?

    A: take -4
    Pope
    Lund-Kelly-Doherty (Rico-Soyunco)
    Alli-KDB-Mane-Grealish-Salah
    Vardy-Pukki (Ings)

    B: no hit

    Pope
    Lundstram-Kelly-Doherty (Rico-Soyunco)
    Alli-KDB-Mane-Pogba-Grealish
    Vardy-Rashford (Ings)

    C: -4
    Pope
    Lund-Kelly-Doherty (Rico-Soyunco)
    Alli-KDB-Mane-Grealish-Cantwell
    Vardy-Kane (Ings)

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nobody got time for that when asleep, pissed or wrapping presents

      1. Hy liverpool
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Lol

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

      I think A unless you really want Kane

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

    Too late to bring Ings in now? If so who is best third striker option under 7 m? Maupay?

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

      I’d say Maupay yes

    2. Greenbackbøøg…
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Not much in that bracket, go creative and punt on someone like deulofeu idk

    3. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      There is no better value striker

    4. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I think it is too late yeah. How about Pukki?

      Maupay looks great after this week though.

    5. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Maupay Deeney And pukki

  29. Hart-ake
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Best punt captain?

    a) Abraham
    b) Alli
    c) Grealish

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      C

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

      Probably C

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

    the value this season has made the game great imo. So many cheap players I never saw so many. And City attackers being irrelevant other than KDB has been nice

    A team that cost 90 mil could be in top 10k