Metrics

De Bruyne set to dictate Gameweek 34+ for FPL’s top 10k managers

Kevin De Bruyne (£10.8m) is set to hold massive sway over the outcome of Gameweek 34+.

The Belgian has been captained by a whopping 65.5% of the top 10,000 FPL managers ahead of Wednesday’s meeting with Newcastle United.

It has been some time since a player enjoyed such a large majority in the scrap for the armband, which has made for effective ownership inside the top 10k of 161.6%.

By comparison, Bruno Fernandes (£8.9m) has received backing from just 19.9% of the top 10k for the midweek trip to Aston Villa.

The Portuguese international still enjoys effective ownership at this level of 112.7% but those who have handed him the armband will be sincerely hoping De Bruyne somehow underperforms, given how many have captained him instead.

As Fernandes and De Bruyne are the two players with over 100% effective ownership in the top 10k this week, those who went outside of the pair for captaincy will be feeling the nerves in Gameweek 34+.

After Fernandes, Mohamed Salah (£12.6m) is the third-most-popular captain option among this season’s best managers, backed by just 3.9% of them.

For all of Bournemouth’s poor defending since the restart, just 2.5% have decided to captain Harry Kane (£11.0m), and 2.3% went for Anthony Martial (£8.3m) ahead of the trip to Villa Park.

In fact, both Kane and Spurs colleague Son Heung-min (£9.8m) act as differentials for Gameweek 34+ as neither player comes into the round owned by more than a quarter of managers in the top 10k.

The South Korean is the more popular of the two, owned by 24.1%, while Kane sits on just 16.3%. Potentially exciting for those who have decided to play the fixture, as well as ominous for those not convinced by Spurs’ form.

As you can see from the table above, neither player was able to break into the loose template among the top 10k.

The most notable new faces are the budget options, namely Mason Greenwood (£4.6m) and Phil Foden (£5.4m).

The Manchester United forward’s brace was enough for him to form the perfect replacement for Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.4m), who is still goalless since the Premier League restart.

Interestingly, Foden breaks into the template at the expense of Christian Pulisic (£7.2m), but not because the American dropped in ownership.

Before rewarding his owners in the Gameweek 34+ trip to Crystal Palace, Pulisic’s backing in the top 10k rose by 1.2 percentage points.

Foden’s support rose by a larger margin, resulting in 29.3% ownership in the top 10k for the upcoming meeting with Newcastle – although out of the two, Pulisic marginally edges effective ownership (28.3% to 28.2%) on account of receiving more attention for the captain’s armband.

Martial continues to turn the screw on his ownership, each week adding another steady increase, this time at the expense of Salah.

The Frenchman has risen from 42.2% top 10k ownership to 51% while Salah has dropped from 58.6% to 46.3%.

By comparison, there has been very little change in defence, as can be expected with the Gameweeks running out for Fantasy managers.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka‘s (£5.5m) one-pointer against Bournemouth has cost him roughly 5% ownership in the top 10k, with Serge Aurier (£5.0m) overtaking him as the fifth-most-popular defender.

The best Fantasy managers of 2019/20 have been somewhat sparing with their chips in Gameweek 34+.

Just 2% of them deployed their Wildcard for the midweek round, although it was the most popular chip played before Tuesday’s deadline.

It means that 6.3% of managers in the top 10k are saving the second Wildcard for use between now and Gameweek 38+, although they only have four more opportunities before the end of the campaign.

The Wildcard template for Gameweek 34+ is not hugely different from the overall squad picture in the top 10k.

The midfield five remain the same, with some slight ownership differences, while Emiliano Martínez (£4.3m) is, not surprisingly, preferred to David Button (£3.9m) as the back-up goalkeeper.

Cesar Azpilicueta (£6.0m) was included by 30% of Gameweek 34+ Wildcarders although he immediately disappointed as Chelsea conceded twice at Crystal Palace.

Of particular interest is the choice of forwards, especially as that position has proved hard to be excited by recently. 

Greenwood was an overwhelming favourite of these Wildcarders, with Raúl Jiménez (£8.3m) doing just enough to stay in 53% of new-look squads. With little else of great options, it is Danny Ings (£7.3m) who proved to be the third-most-popular forward among Gameweek 34+ Wildcarders in the top 10k.

A smattering of the top 10k managers Free Hitted for Gameweek 34+, although still only 1.4% of them.

It means that the majority of those operating at this level, just over 56%, are waiting for the perfect time to play the temporary Wildcard, perhaps with Gameweek 38+ in mind.

As for those who pulled the trigger on it for the midweek action, there was a heavy focus on Manchester City, Manchester United and Spurs.

Kane and Son both feature in the Free Hit template, as do De Bruyne, Fernandes, Foden and Greenwood.

Statistics taken from LiveFPL.net

1,081 Comments Post a Comment
  1. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Save my FT then move Salah and Saka in 36+ to get triple City for free?

    Patricio
    Doherty,TAA,Azpilicueta
    Salah,KDB,Fernandes,Pulisic
    Rashford,Greenwood,Vardy

    McCarthy,Saka,Taylor,Lascelles 0.0m itb. 1FT

    1. SkeletONv01
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Aye.

  2. Cheeto__Bandito
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Didnt think I would be relying on Kane and Foden to save my season at the start of this year

  3. SkeletONv01
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Im cursed with bad C picks. Thinking about doing a set and forget C until the end of the season. Fernandes a good choice right? In his 9 games, he only blanked twice, with 4 double digit hauls, clearly i cant curse him so hes no gonna score anymore right? 🙂

    1. Robson-Canoe
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah he's the best pick for perma captain.

    2. Whiskerz
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      More importantly, who did you pick this week?

      1. GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Vardy.

      2. SkeletONv01
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Him actually 😛

        1. Whiskerz
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          A goal and 3 bps from a c is definitely not bad.

          1. SkeletONv01
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            No no not Vardy, Fernandes 😛

    3. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Fernandes looks the set and forget option right now.

    4. Whiskerz
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Its not a bad shout tbf. Im employing a similar tactic and going for whoever is vs bournemouth. Excluding DCL.

  4. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    How long can DCL go without doing chuff all ?

    1. Whiskerz
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      4 games

    2. bigbudgie
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      As long as he is in your team. Remove him, and ... voila!

      1. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        just did that with Vardy before his 3 goals ... and Saka mocking me from my bench in the last two game weeks too

        FPL is a cruel mistress

    3. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      im selling after this gw

  5. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Looking at this next week to double up on Chelsea attack also ready for Norwich home.

    Pope
    Alexander-Arnold Doherty Wan Bissaka
    Willian Pulisic Salah DeBruyne Fernandes
    Greenwood Jimenez

    Calvert-Lewin Basham Egan

    Leaves me 1.8itb, will get Ings after next week...

    Any Thoughts?

    1. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      same planning ahead gtg

  6. Cojones of Destiny
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    lads pls

    Mahrez + DCL to Willian + Vardy for a hit Y/N

    * got Puli

    1. SkeletONv01
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I would.

    2. PapaWengzz
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      yeah but wait for all matches this GW to complete

  7. Stimps
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    So who goes to for Vardy?

    A, Jesus
    B, Kane

    1. Hibbo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Wait till they both play.

      Id be inclined to keep Jesus for the Bournemouth fixture.

    2. PapaWengzz
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      b

  8. Max City
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    If you didn't have any CHE or MCI defender, which one would you bring in:

    A) Laporte
    B) Walker
    C) Azpi
    D) Alonso
    E) none, don't believe they are worthy

    1. PapaWengzz
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      E

      1. PapaWengzz
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        i think I prefer Doherty and Digne to all of them. But if i had to pick one it would be Azpi for his assist and Bap potential

        1. Max City
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Doherty is in my team already, so I'd probably bring Digne in.. Thanks!

  9. PapaWengzz
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Early thoughts on this team? Got 2.8m ITB and 1FT

    Pope
    TAA Kiko Saiss
    Salah KDB Bruno Martial Willian
    Rashford Jiminez

    Mccarthy Lascelles Taylor Nketiah

    My inital thought is Lascelles > Doherty

    1. Hibbo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Jimenez to Vardy.

  10. Max City
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    who to lose to get Vardy:

    Rashford
    Greenwood
    Jimenez

    1. Hibbo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Jimmy

    2. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      None of those.

  11. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Been getting killed by lack of 3 utd attackers last few gw's, so finally make a plan to bring in Martial this gw and now seeing so much Vardy love.

    Luckily i can do DCL > Vardy for free but original plan was get Martial as 5th mid have a strong front 8 where i bench DCL in gw35/37.

    decisions... decisions decisions....so hard to tell whether i will be jumping on a train that may have already passed (i.e. Martial) or get on board a new one (Vardy)....united's fixtures are so much better

    Martial (SOT, cry, WHM)
    Vardy (bou, SHU, tot)

    1. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Which Man U players do you have right now?

      1. UnitednationsXI
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        DDG // Bruno // Rashford

  12. Vazza
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    If money was no issue, who would you guys have until the end of the season -

    A. Sterling
    B. Vardy

    1. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Sterling.

    2. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      It’s not the money but more mins. If they both get similar then sterling

      1. Vazza
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        True. But no one knows how many mins Sterling is going to play. So without that knowledge who would you go for?

        1. FPL_Crisis
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Well they are both on my radar this week for Salah
          I prefer Vardy cause it’s part of moving Nketiah out
          Vardy also going for golden boot

  13. BeaversWithAttitude
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Salah so annoying... was like a zombie last week!

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

      Villa weren't giving him much to be fair.