Pro Pundits

My Free Hit draft for FPL Double Gameweek 30+

As the Fantasy Premier League Double Gameweek 30+ deadline edges ever closer, I am feeling more confident about my latest draft.

As you know, it has been a strange few months. So strange in fact I now own three Manchester United players but only two from Liverpool.

I made the most of the slow Wildcard over the last few weeks, bringing in players who had good overall fixtures left, although in hindsight the decision to play the fixtures in the same order was a pretty obvious outcome, and one I didn’t think much about.

With £2.0m in the bank my team is flexible enough, at least from Gameweek 31+ onwards.

andys-pp-article

The only chip I have left is Free Hit. While I’m quite happy with this side for Gameweek 31+ (as happy as anyone can be not knowing how teams and players are going to react to the long break, and who might be in form), I’m not so happy about it for Gameweek 30+. There are not enough Double Gameweek players for my liking.

As there aren’t any more Double Gameweeks planned I don’t see a great reason for holding the Free Hit chip with only nine Gameweeks to go and that’s why it will be activated before Wednesday’s 5pm deadline. Here’s how the current draft looks.

andys-pp-article 1

There’s some players that have been in every single draft so far, they’re the more obvious picks, lets get them out of the way first:

Sergio Aguero (£11.8m) has scored 16 goals already this season, that’s the same as Mohamed Salah (£12.7m) in 849 fewer minutes. There’s naturally concerns about the Argentinian getting two starts but I’m hoping the temporary five substitute rule may actually help teams like Manchester City have a more consistent starting XI that they can manage the minutes of easier. 

Kevin De Bruyne (£10.6m) was the first name in my team. From a pure FPL point of view he’s finally shown us what he can do while being fully fit for the season. He looks on course to smash his previous record season tally of 209 points and if anyone outside of Edersen (£6.0m) has a chance of starting twice, it’s De Bruyne. He’s top for minutes played by an outfield Manchester City player in 2019/20.

Aston Villa are not a team I’m looking to load up on players from. They’re very generous when it comes to conceding goals and I can’t get excited by many of their attackers. Jack Grealish (£6.4m) has to be in though. He’s had a good season with seven goals and seven assists and I’d expect him to continue as the main points scorer in the team. No midfielder at his price or under has scored more points, and he represents good value going into this week.

I see some concerns from people about having Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.m) in their teams, but he’s been so consistent again this season whether playing as a centre-forward, or in a wider position. I can’t look past him when he has two games, even if one of them is against Manchester City.

The bench is Emiliano Martínez (£4.2m), Matt Targett (£4.4m), Jamaal Lascelles (£4.3m), and Ondrej Duda (£4.7m). I’m hopeful that I won’t have to rely on it this week.

John Lundstram (£4.9m) is currently missing from the team mostly due to fears of him having not won his place back completely from Sander Berge (£4.8m). The two goals he scored during a behind closed doors game has piqued my interest again though. I’m really hoping for early teams news that will let me swap him for John Egan (£4.6m). Lundstram has five double-figure hauls already this season. That’s four more than all of the other Sheffield United defenders combined. One start and a bench appearance in the other game could be enough to see him outscore the other options, and I, for one, am sick of being punished by ‘The Lord’.

With 10 clean sheets already this season I see the appeal of triple Sheffield United defence. My slight concern is whether there will be some rustiness to shake off which may lead to a few more goals than normal as players get up to speed. Dean Henderson (£5.3m) is also the goalkeeper who has prevented the highest expected goals at 4.4. You can view that from two ways – he’s a great goalkeeper, or at some point, he may not be able to keep preventing the number of good quality chances that the defenders are allowing. The triple up is an all eggs in one basket approach and I’m currently looking to avoid.

My third Sheffield United slot goes to Oliver McBurnie (£5.7m). I’ll be honest, this is a hard sell and you’d probably be better off without him, especially considering he has just four goals in 1,428 minutes of football. Around Gameweek 22 he started getting regular starts and minutes, although in the seven game period until the end of the season still only managed one goal. But there were some encouraging underlying statistics in that time. 

Elsewhere in the side, Raheem Sterling (£11.7m) gets one of the midfield slots. For the first 29 Gameweeks, I think it’s fair to see he’s flopped considering his hefty price tag. He’s scored fewer points than Riyad Mahrez (£8.5m) having played considerably more minutes.

I am encouraged by the fact he has the second-highest expected goal involvement for all players this season. It hasn’t gone right for him in terms of actual points so far but at some point I’d expect it to click. The enforced break, and the potential return of Leroy Sané (£9.3m) could really help him too. This is a player with over 32 and 35 attacking returns in the last couple of seasons. This year he has 13 and if there’s anyone that is going to come back and be the opposite of the rest of the season I’m putting my money on Sterling. 

I’ll quickly touch on the single Gameweek players in the starting XI. As I mentioned for McBurnie and Sheffield United, I don’t think you can go wrong targeting Aston Villa’s defence for conceding goals and that’s why I’m looking at Chelsea players. It’s difficult to know exactly which side Frank Lampard will go with, but Mason Mount (£6.2m) has only failed to start three times in the league this season and with the ability to play centrally and off the left I’m hoping he’ll be given another start, although there is a lot of competition for places in that Chelsea team. 

Raúl Jiménez (£8.1m) is definitely a consideration up front instead of McBurnie but at the moment I’ve gone with Matt Doherty (£6.3m) for my Wolves player. When I look at single Gameweek fixtures in Gameweek 30+ a few stand out, and one of them is Wolves getting to play a poor West Ham side.

Jiménez is incredibly consistent and I don’t for one second think he won’t get some kind of return this week. But in a week when I’m using my final chip and am trying to improve on a poor rank I want to do something different. The Mexican has 19 attacking returns so far, but when you include clean sheets, Doherty isn’t far behind on 16. The Irish wing-back also has four double digital hauls vs Jiménez with three, so it’s not like he’s any less explosive on his day.

That trio of McBurnie, Mount and Doherty is about the only part of this team that’s now fully locked in. That could be any combo of Sheffield United, Chelsea or Wolves player, and I’d even be tempted by an Arsenal defender instead of Leno to go for something even more different.

But for now I’m trying not to overthink. I know the fixtures I want to target, and  I have a good core of Double Gameweek players I’m very happy with, alongside some calculated differntials.

We’re about to go into the unknown. We’ve heard the phrase “a new normal” a lot over the last few weeks and it’s going to apply to football as well. I’ve gone with what I know when picking this squad but the new normal could mean things are completely different, I just hope I’ve got at least some of it right. 

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4,183 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Puncheon Guly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Has any announcement been made about the transfer window? Will clubs be able to buy and sell from the end of June? Will they be allowed to register new players if they sign players on a Bosman?

  2. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Sterling or Mahrez for this long term BB30+ front eight

    KDB Mount Grealish Sarr xxxxxxx

    Aubameyang Jimenez Nketiah

    Any ideas would be welcomed

    1. BENOIT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Sterling

    2. FPL_DON
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Sterling

    3. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Mahrez quickly becomes Bruno

      Additionally Mahrez has proved to be as explosive as kun

      His downside was always minutes but he became a big part of the season and peps comments should only boost any fear about not getting minutes

  3. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    not pumped about Pepe but this works, pretty good GW32 team (ars v nor, wol v villa, che v whu)

    Henderson Leno
    Doherty Alonso Ota Lundy(c) Egan
    Pepe Sane Mahrez Grealish Sarr
    Auba Tammy/Wilson Jimenez

    FH31
    Sane -> Bruno for GW32
    WC33

    How do I change Ota to Mendy?

  4. Lav
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Ahh the pages are flying. FFS is back.

  5. Lord Flashheart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    so, to mcgin or not to mcgin - that is the question

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I have him and grealosh

    2. RyanBund
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      he's almost guaranteed to start, its a fairly good set of figures, I think he's a short term option but a strong on and if you need the money to free up Auba or Augero I would go for Mcgin

  6. Big Hands Barry
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    A) Boly, Mount, Ritchie
    B) Boly, Ozil, Lascelles
    C) Doherty, El Ghazi, Targett

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

      C with Lascelles for me.

      1. Big Hands Barry
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers

  7. _Gunner
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Thoughts on this BB team?

    Leno Henderson
    Egan Hanley Lascelles TAA Targett
    KDB Sterling Grealish Saka Cantwell
    Aguero Samatta Auba

  8. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    People going El Ghazi over McGinn because of the time off?

    1. Big Hands Barry
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Yeah managers comments that will manage mcGs minutes

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

      Yeah and was said in presser his minutes would be managed.

    3. BENOIT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Yeah, McGinn won't start both

  9. Karhumies
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    DH:

    A) Doherty, Lundstram, Willian
    B) TAA, Basham, Mount

    1. Big Hands Barry
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Trent lundy mount

      1. Karhumies
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Could do Robertson, Lundy, Mount 0.1 ITB

        FH:
        Henderson 3.9
        Robertson, Lundy, Egan (Lascelles 3.9)
        Sterling, KDB, Bruno, Mount, Grealish,

        1. Karhumies
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Aguero C, Auba (Nketiah)

        2. Big Hands Barry
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Hmm tough one for doherty v robbo. Mount over william for me

      2. Karhumies
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        So essentially:
        Robertson + Lundy vs. TAA + Basham

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

      I prefer B, Mount more nailed IMO.

      Could easily see Pulisic and Pedro starting, Pedro in good form in warm up games

      1. Karhumies
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Worth it to A) with Pedro or Pulisic over Willian?

    3. Keep Calm and Play On
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      C) Doherty, Stevens, Mount

      1. Karhumies
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        0.6M ITB, what to upgrade?

        Henderson 3.9
        Doherty, Stevens, Egan/Basham (Lascelles, 3.9)
        Sterling, KDB, Bruno, Grealish, Mount
        Aguero C, Auba (Nketiah)

  10. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Thoughts on this team please.

    Got BB, WC and FH left. Planning to BB in GW 30 and go from there.

    Henderson, Leno
    Egan, Stevens, Targett, TAA, Aarons
    KDB, Mahrez, Grealish, McGinn, Saka
    Auba, Aguero, Jimenez

    1. The Mighty Whites
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I like it, just not sure on Saka

      1. TheDragon
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Any alternative suggestions? I’d prob have to go Cantwell...

        1. The Mighty Whites
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Cantwell / Duda

  11. CheesyZoot
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Egan or Basham?

    1. Kudo Warrior
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Egan

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

      Egan, not a lot in it though.

    3. CheesyZoot
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Cheers guys

  12. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Doherty or mount for sgw spot ? Thanks

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Doherty

  13. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    So it basically comes down to Reina & Egan or Henderson & Targett. The first option is 0.6 cheaper but I feel Henderson is much safer & better option than Reina. Targett also more attacking. Thoughts?

    1. BENOIT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B, easy

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

      Yeah B.

    3. Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Cheers guys

    4. Rover
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I would take A for three reasons:
      1) Egan has more chance of attacking returns than Targett, especially against two sides with poor set-piece defending records, and especially if O'Connell is indeed out which would make Egan the main target for corner takers
      2) I expect whoever the Villa starting keeper is to get more saves than Hendo over the two games. Yes there is practically 0 clean sheet chance, but the saves rack up. And I personally don't want to triple up on a defence in the absence of form (assuming you already have Lundy or Enda)
      3) What can you do with the extra 0.6m elsewhere in your squad?

      1. Rover
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Ignore the part abut tripling up

  14. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Which one?

    Egan + 4.7
    The Lord + D.Luiz/4.4

  15. Aaa
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Best 30+ 5.6m or lower defender one week punt? Any villa or single game week player. Currently on Chilwell

  16. merin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Considering Abraham over Jimenez for this week. Anyone else considering it?

    1. Geordie19
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Could be gold

    2. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      yup, rumours of a Giroud start are putting me off though.

      Tammy more likely to start than not imo.

      1. merin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Tammy is clearly their main man. Don’t believe the rumors

    3. Rover
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I expect Tammy to start but also feel he will almost certainly be the first sub off for Chelsea. Either they will be comfortable and he will be rested for City, or the game will still be tight and Giroud will be brought on to change things up.

  17. CheesyZoot
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    What's better:

    A) Tammy + Saka

    B) Jota + Mount

    1. Geordie19
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B

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

      B

  18. Geordie19
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    A) PVA and Fleck
    B) Cahill and Mount
    C) Cahill and HBarnes

    Last positions...thanks

  19. ooooo
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    How likely is Mahrez to start both games?

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I don't see any City attacker starting both. KDB if any.

    2. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Not very

  20. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Pick one for BB team this GW only, please:

    A) Guaita, O’Connell, Saïss and Mount
    B) Reina, Lundstram, Doherty and Fleck

  21. EWH2020
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Best SGW player for my FH?

    A) Doherty
    B) TAA
    C) Bruno
    D) Jimi

    1. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Doh

    2. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I have A,B and D in my FH team.

  22. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Transfers done, BB activated, just the 1.2 mill wiped off my team value, ouch!

    Will cost 0.5 to get back the players I want for the rest of the season, so not too bad!

  23. Bambi
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    convince me on Saka guys. Tierney a threat?

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

      Saka isn't featuring in the predicted line ups the rags have been posting

    2. The Mighty Whites
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I think I’d rather have a sure starter in Duda / Cantwell rather than Saka with Tierney & Kolasinac pressing

    3. Sj3451
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I’ve got him at the moment. Think Tierney will start, best case he plays LW with Auba up top. Either way he’ll get minutes. Not too far off being arsenals best player this season

  24. Lord Flashheart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    just for this week:

    A TAA + mcgin
    B Alonso and barnes

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      All of a sudden SHU picks are looking not so good.

  25. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Help with 2 decisions. Pick one of each for GW30 only

    A) Aarons
    B) Lascelles
    C) Targett

    1) McGinn
    2) El Ghazi

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

      Roll the dice on the double with C

      Torn on the 2nd choice, currently on 1 but worried his minutes will be managed

  26. FPL AXE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    So, does anybody have a good answer for this... what happens when the fa cup and champions League starts up? Will we be getting blank and double gameweeks? And if so, why is nobody holding onto free hit and other chips instead of playing them now for GW30+?

    1. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      They have cleared spaces for FA cup. CL mini tournament will be 11th - 23rd Aug.

      1. FPL AXE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks for the answer. So, there's basically very low chance of any more DGWs?

  27. Mr. O'Connell
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Captain:

    A) Sterling (most explosive)
    B) Grealish (guaranteed 180 mins barring injury, likely on pens)
    C) Lundstram (if lineup leaked)

    Don't have Aguero, don't have Auba. KDB would be smart, but I'm feeling risqué.

    1. FPL_DON
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Sterling out of those

  28. FPL_DON
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Sorry guys slight panic here, almost certain I haven't used my second wildcard, although says unavailable on the app transfer page - please tell me that it says this for everyone....would be eternally grateful

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

      Go to your game week history then scroll down, will show you which chips you have used.

      If you have still got WC left it will only say Wildcard once

    2. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      You have unlimited transfers so cant use WC

  29. Sj3451
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    A) Bruno
    B) Mahrez

    1. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B this week, A every other.