Metrics

Rashford top for transfers in as just two original FPL Gameweek deadlines remain

Fantasy Premier League managers who are making changes to their squads during the current downtime have just two more regulation Gameweeks to go before we enter unknown territory.

The deadlines for Gameweeks 30-36 (the latest of which was on Saturday just gone) have all passed without a ball being kicked, with a small but not insignificant band of FPL bosses continuing to take advantage of the free transfers on offer.

Fantasy managers now only have a maximum of three free transfers to use (depending on whether they have ‘rolled’ one) in Gameweeks 37 and 38.

What happens thereafter is in FPL’s court, although they, in turn, are seemingly waiting on concrete plans being drawn up for a possible Premier League restart this summer.

Will additional Gameweeks be added on to the end of the season? Will the fixtures be kept in the same order as originally scheduled or rejigged? Will the FA Cup still be held on weekends and thus lead to more Blank and Double Gameweeks?

These are all questions that we don’t yet have answers for, making it all the more difficult to know what to do with our abundance of free transfers.

With Project Restart underway and the Premier League set for more meetings with both the UK government and its clubs over the coming days and weeks, the hope is that we’ll get some sort of announcement, one way or another, before the Gameweek 37 or 38 deadlines so that we’ll at least have a bit of extra time to prepare for the resumption.

Given the logistical and moral barriers (eg venues, testing and player cooperation) still to be overcome, of course, there are no cast-iron guarantees that will happen before May 17.

TRANSFERS

During the downtime, we have been keeping track of the transfer ins and outs on a weekly basis.

There were 48,189 transfers made ahead of the Gameweek 36 deadline, a small drop of around 2,000 on the previous week but still a fraction of what we would ordinarily see.

The top ten for purchases and sales in Gameweek 36 are listed below, with their respective positions in the Gameweek 35 tables listed in the final column to see how trends are changing.

PlayerClubGW36 Transfers InGW35 Position
RashfordMan Utd1,779(10)
Calvert-LewinEverton1,718(2)
FernandesMan Utd1,693(1)
PopeBurnley1,316(3)
De BruyneMan City1,181(5)
VardyLeicester1,095(4)
AbrahamChelsea1,090(20)
CantwellNorwich1,078(8)
GrealishAston Villa1,023(9)
MartialMan Utd998(7)

FPL’s recent update of its injuries and bans database looks to have had some impact on the transfer market.

Marcus Rashford (£8.8m) was bought by more Fantasy managers than any other player in the lead-up to Gameweek 36, having had his red flag downgraded to a yellow in the refresh.

The United striker ended the five-week stronghold of Bruno Fernandes (£8.6m) in top spot, with the Portuguese midfielder dropping to third.

Tammy Abraham (£7.5m), another player whose flag status has changed recently, is the one new entry in our top ten, rising from 20th to seventh.

PlayerClubGW36 Transfers OutGW35 Position
IngsSouthampton2,169(1)
AubameyangArsenal2,051(2)
TraoreWolves1,138(3)
SoyuncuLeicester1,020(4)
JimenezWolves984(6)
JotaWolves897(5)
VardyLeicester845(17)
CantwellNorwich783(7)
SalahLiverpool742(13)
ButtonBrighton718(11)

Danny Ings (£7.1m) was the most-sold asset for the fifth Gameweek in a row.

The top six for Gameweek sales, indeed, remained unchanged except for the Wolves strike duo of Raul Jimenez (£8.1m) and Diogo Jota (£6.4m) swapping places.

Jamie Vardy (£9.7m), Mohamed Salah (£12.7m) and David Button (£3.9m) all entered the top ten for sales but the numbers we are talking about represent a tiny percentage of their overall ownership.

Vardy, indeed, also featured in the top ten most-bought players list and made a net gain in owners overall.

Another week has passed without a single price change, making that now a month since we saw any movement in the FPL transfer market.


DEADLINES

The deadlines for the remaining ‘blank’ Gameweeks are as follows:

GW37 – Sat 9 May 14:00 BST
GW38 – Sun 17 May 14:00 BST

45 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Zio
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Transfers don't matter at all to managers with a wildcard left as it looks like fantasy are going to troll everyone with 1 massive last gameweek.

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      No idea what’s going to happen, unprecedented times.

  2. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Hi Neale what would be really useful is a list of high profile FPL players who played every game during the congested Christmas schedule?

    1. Skonto Rigga
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      We might look at that if the fixtures are re-released and the games are twice (or more) a week. So much unknown about the calendar at this stage, though.

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Perfect idea for an article by you. 🙂

  3. HTL
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    I've not used my Free Hit, Bench Boost or Wildcard. None of us in our cash league have used any transfers in weeks.

    If the mega GW38 theory is correct (assuming the Premier League even finishes), presumably we'll need to activate bench boost ahead of the GW38 deadline and just hope the games get added in afterwards?

    Could wildcard this week but frankly what's the point, I feel I've got a solid core of a team if football started up again tomorrow, even though it's not fixture-optimised.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Playing chips blindly doesn't seem like a great idea. Obviously not playing one in GW38 it was the last GW would suck but FPL shouldn't get to that point without informing us beforehand.

      1. HTL
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        This concerns me though (on the main site)

        What happens to the postponed fixtures?
        It is the Premier League’s intention to reschedule the postponed fixtures only when it is safe to do so.

        Points scored in these fixtures will apply to the Gameweek in which the fixtures are played.

        **We will make a further announcement on any fixtures scheduled for after 17 May, 2020.**

        --

        May have to be a game of chicken if the PL don't announce a decision before the original GW38 deadline.

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Sounds like additional GWs if the fixtures aren't set in stone. I don't have a WC(only FH and BB) and doubt I'll play them before the GW38 deadline.

    2. Mikeharbrw
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      This is a big issue that isnt getting as much attention as it should imo. What do we do if we get to half hour before the deadline with nothing from Fpl towers?

      1. alastair
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Given Mark Sutherns' relationship with FPL you would think this site would be on to them asking what they are going to do - they must know by now surely.

  4. GreennRed
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    If it goes ahead with no relegation plenty of 'do-or-die' previously relegation threatened cheaper options will lose their appeal.

    1. HTL
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Sporting integrity of the league out of the window too.

      1. goriuanx
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        It would be a farce to play and have relegation off the table - what's the whole point in playing then?

        If competitive football is effectively 'off the table', they may as well curtail the season and avoid playing altogether.

        To me, it makes more sense to have 22/23 teams in the PL next year than the complete this season with no relegation.

        1. Jambot
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Completely agree. Playing with no relegation is by far the worse idea in the hat.

          1. goriuanx
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 10 months ago

            It's worse than the null and void brigade.

            Punishing success is the worst proposal out there, and rewarding failure isn't too far off. At the end of the day, the priority should be (and looks like) to complete the season, having played 30 odd games out of 38, in an amicable and safe manner be it Project Restart, curtailment or whatever deemed 'reasonable' methodology to have Champions, CL entrants, EL entrants and 3 teams relegated/or at the very least Leeds and co promoted to form a 22/23 team league.

            1. Jambot
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 10 months ago

              Yeah there are a lot of downsides to all ideas at this point and whatever happens will have an element of being ‘unfair’ but I agree that this is even worse than void. I really hope they don’t do it.

  5. Hitmonlee
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Who’s gambling and hitting bench boost in 38?

    Could pay off, could also massively backfire?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Very doubtful given no fixtures = no points.

    2. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      No way Jose

    3. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      So we are thinking that it's more likely that extra GWs we will added, than a mega GW38 now are we ?

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Assuming football is played I’d bet strongly on extra FPL weeks. FPL will want people accessing their accounts and driving traffic and that’ll happen if there is an incentive to make transfers. One mega 38 will mean people filing and forgetting

        1. bitm2007
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Thanks I'm glad I slow WC'd. If extra GW's are added I've still got a proper WC to use before I BB, and if a mega GW38 is announced between the GW36 and GW37 deadlines I got a good team to BB.

          1. HTL
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 10 months ago

            I still don't understand why they didn't just suspend the game in 31 or whatever it was. Presumably they thought we'd be back to normal by 35

            1. pingissimus
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 10 months ago

              Suspect they didn’t as that too would have effectively closed down their site as people would just switch off FPL. By keeping it open they encourage people to access site and make transfers

              1. HTL
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 10 months ago

                But that swiftly fell away to less than 1% of the overall userbase too. Dunno what to make of any of it

  6. Bad Kompany
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Would you rather have Jimenez and Martial or Vardy and Grealish for fpl?

    1. Treadstone
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Jiminez and Martial

    2. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Vardy and Grealish, providing you've got Rashford or Fernandes.

  7. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Man City already won the 20/21 PL title if it's going to be played without fans

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Why ? Do you think the lack of atmosphere at Anfield compared to Etihad will make a big difference ?

  8. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    For fpl

    Who is the best defender for 4.7 million (not Boly)
    And is Cantwell still a good pick for a 5th midfielder?

    Theme guys

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Egan (although fixtures aren't great) and Saka

      1. Champions League Varane
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Does Saka retain his place though?

        They will have all there LB available!

        Egan good shout but fixtures are not great

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

          I'm a bit late, but Arteta really values Saka so he could easily play at LM/LW

    2. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Thanks*

    3. Jambot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      It’s almost worth going down to cheaper ones at that point as below 4.8 there isn’t much. Sheff U options are the best but fixtures aren’t great if you already have hendo or Lord I wouldn’t double up now. If Lascelles rotates well with your existing defence he’s only 4.3 and Newcastle are joint best for goals conceded at home level with Liverpool and he can nick a goal sometimes.

      I think cantwell is the best at his price point and below so if you’re happy to start the other 7 attackers every week I think he’s the best bench 8th attacker out there u less you have some spare cash you don’t know what to do with.

      1. Champions League Varane
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        I haven’t actually got the lord! I do own Lascelles though he and is very good for the price - you have made me consider the lord again though!

        I would need an extra 0.2 for the lord so would have to go for a 4.6 midfielder

        Really appreciate the response hope your keeping well 🙂

    4. Rover
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      I'm tempted by Jorginho for the penalties especially if a bumper GW38 is announced.

      1. Champions League Varane
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Great pick! But he is suspended at the moment

  9. Surfeit of Lampteys
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Anyone else feel like they're treading water a bit, these last few gameweeks?

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      No, going backwards.

      Even now with Salah.

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

    Bring back footy! This summer would be immense if they decide to play all remaining games. All that tinkering and planning...

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Not behind closed doors it won't. Those EL games without fans just before the lockdown without were dreadful to watch without any atmosphere in the stadiums.

  11. Bielsa's Bucket
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Just bang vuvuzela sounds out the PA system to create a bit of atmosphere
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E6ljLSOkbY