Pre-Season

The best strategies to navigate FPL Blank Gameweek 1 with or without chips

As neither one of Manchester United or Manchester City play in a Blank Gameweek 1 this season, planning for the new campaign is arguably harder than ever for Fantasy Premier league managers.

The awkward nature of the opening round of fixtures is, of course, not the only problem we face.

A short than usual pre-season means we have slightly less data and information regarding starting line-ups, some players are still missing due to coronavirus-related tests, either testing positive or receiving track and trace alerts.

And that’s before we even consider how long the Premier League campaign might last in light of the ongoing pandemic, as well as a new Gameweek deadline and sudden loss of early team news.

Amid all of that uncertainty, Fantasy managers face the challenge of navigating Blank Gameweek 1 without leaving themselves short-handed beyond it.

There are at least four teams that will not feature in Gameweek 1: Manchester United, Manchester City, Burnley and Aston Villa. Their absence from the opening round of fixtures just makes things more complicated for us, considering the two Manchester clubs have plenty of exciting options and Jack Grealish (£7.0m) could, in theory, replicate some of last season’s form.

How should we plan our strategy to navigate the early challenges? In this article, I would like to examine several possible options to solve the problem, added with the analysis of each strategy’s strengths and weaknesses.

Early Wildcard

Activating the Wildcard early has actually been a quite common strategy in the FPL world.

Such tactic has been one of the crowd’s favourite as it gives the flexibility to follow any early season bandwagon that you might have missed out on. Think of the furore surrounding Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.5m) in 2018/19 or the John Lundstram (£5.5m) last year.

Going for the Wildcard sooner rather than later also helps you identify the early-season premium template, which in consequence influences the squad value in a very positive way.

The negative side of using the Wildcard so quickly is on the knock-on effect it has one any long-term plans, as the second one feels so far away.

It pushes the managers to the situation where there is no contingency plan outside taking hits should unprecedented events occur between the first and the second Wildcard activation.

For the 2020/21 season, in particular, there are so many factors to consider.

After the Blank Gameweek, the four fixtureless teams have quite promising runs in the near future, at least according to the Fixture Difficulty Rating (FDR) metric from the official FPL site.

Aston Villa will face a Sheffield United outfit without Dean Henderson (£5.5m) and a newly-promoted Fulham side. Burnley host Leicester and Southampton, while Manchester City face Wolves and the Foxes themselves. Admittedly, those fixtures are not the easiest but they improve beyond that.

Fernandes haul raises the bar for top 10k's most popular captain Salah

However, Manchester United go into Gameweek 2 facing Crystal Palace and then Brighton, so making a move to get on Bruno Fernandes (£10.5m), Marcus Rashford (£9.5m), Anthony Martial (£9.0m) or Mason Greenwood (£7.5m) is tempting indeed.

Deploying that early Wildcard in Gameweek 2 or 3 could certainly help steal a march on those around you, with Fernandes and Martial against Palace or Brighton acting as big differentials.

Furthermore, in this strangest of seasons, it might take longer than usual to find out who the budget enablers are too. In a usual campaign, each team would have played maybe four to five friendlies at least, for us to know the starting £4.0m defenders and £4.5m forwards before Gameweek 1.

This time around, much less is certain with Nathan Ferguson (£4.0m) injured at Palace, Ben Johnson (£4.0m) still competing for minutes with Ryan Fredericks (£4.5m) and Rhian Brewster‘s (£4.5m) Liverpool future still hanging in some sort of balance.

There are significant caveats to this strategy, of course. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the transfer window remains open into the first week of October, after the Gameweek 2 or 3 deadline.

Activating the Wildcard before this shuts could be very risky indeed, especially with Lionel Messi rumoured to be on his way to English shores.

Trying to balance emerging bandwagons, injuries, COVID-19 regulations, or even another lockdown, could prove tricky for those who have already used their Wildcard early on.

EARLY MINI-WILDCARD

Aubameyang outperforms Salah in early audition for Gameweek 1 FPL captaincy

The early Mini-Wildcard strategy is pretty similar to the early Wildcard concept. Instead of activating that precious chip, we could save the free transfer on Gameweek 1 to do three transfers for Gameweek 3 with a four-point hit. It might sound uninspiring to take early points hits, but saving that Wildcard could prove crucial.

Obviously, a number set of transfers should be well-planned. Luckily, the fixtures make doing so quite easy at this stage.

For example, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ful/WHU), Michail Antonio (NEW/ars), and Jamie Vardy (wba/BUR) each have relatively favourable initial fixtures before things get tougher from Gameweek 3 onwards.

This is where the early Mini-Wildcard strategy could take advantage, by replacing the trio with say, for example, Martial (BHA), Timo Werner (wba), and Raúl Jiménez (whu).

The Mini-Wildcard does retain some advantages of the early Wildcard strategy, and leaves the chip intact, but there are still plenty of potential disadvantages.

The pre-planned transfers make our strategy inflexible; should any unprecedented events occur such as injury or transfer / loan out of the players in our starting XI, we are left with no options to navigate the situation, except to (1) change the strategy to the early Wildcard, (2) take hits to transfer out the injured/transferred players, or (3) do nothing and accept the decreased team value.

The early Mini-Wildcard strategy also prevents us from overhauling the majority of our squad at the same time – three players is probably the limit with an acceptable amount of point hits taken.

TRANSFER PLAN TEMPLATE

The template transfer plan might be one of the most popular strategies discussed online. Executed very similarly with the early Mini-Wildcard strategy, this does not involve point hit and uses the free transfer in each Gameweek accordingly.

One of the most fashionable transfer plans mentioned is the switch around the premium players, having Aubameyang and Mohamed Salah (£12.0m) the start, then move the Egyptian for Fernandes in Gameweek 3, and the switch the Arsenal man to Kevin De Bruyne (£11.5m) in Gameweek 3.

The other options are to transfer in Greenwood / Rashford / Martial for Gameweek 2, and Sterling / Werner / Ziyech in for Gameweek 3.

The upside point of the transfer plan template strategy is that the captain selection thinking is going well and inline with the transfer.

By having the aforementioned transfer plan, we could have the captain / vice-captain options of:

  • Gameweek 1: Salah against Leeds or Aubameyang at Fulham
  • Gameweek 2: Aubameyang against West Ham or Bruno Fernandes vs Crystal Palace
  • Gameweek 3: Bruno Fernandes vs Brighton or De Bruyne against Leicester
  • Gameweek 4: De Bruyne against Leeds
  • Gameweek 5: Bruno Fernandes vs Newcastle
  • Gameweek 6: De Bruyne against West Ham

What a set of promising fixture-based captaincy selection that is. However, there is still a certain degree of inflexibility involved in this strategy if other issues arise in that time.

Benching Manchester assets in BGW1

Another popular strategy in the FPL community is to own a Manchester asset in Blank Gameweek 1 and simply bench them.

However, this is likely only effective if you go for one of the cheaper assets, ruling out De Bruyne, Sterling Fernandes.

Rashford, Martial, Greenwood, Riyad Mahrez (£8.5m), or Phil Foden (£6.5m) seem much more appropriate options for this strategy, although you will have to make sure you are confident in your budget enablers elsewhere too.

That’s because you will almost certainly have to start them in Blank Gameweek 1. Tomas Soucek (£5.0m) has already put himself forward for this, while Jarrad Branthwaite (£4.0m), Leander Dendoncker (£4.5m) and perhaps Tyrick Mitchell (£4.0m) are others to consider.

By applying this strategy, the weakness of transfer inflexibility from the previous strategies can be avoided. The managers who go down this route might also end up getting some price rises out of the Manchester asset they hold from the beginning.

However, it goes without saying that this strategy does damage your points ceiling for Blank Gameweek 1 considering you’ll be leaving a heftier than usual chunk on the bench.

CONCLUSION

As tough as the challenge might be, we somehow always have options of escape routes as FPL managers. Obviously, there is no “correct way” to navigate Blank Gameweek 1 as we cannot see the future, but with several medium-term plans and educated estimation, we might optimise our damage control.

Every manager will eventually decide the strategy that suits each of them the most; whether you take the risk of benching expensive assets or activating a Wildcard early.

I, personally, would prefer to bench someone like Greenwood in Gameweek 1 (the cheapest route to the Manchester assets with relatively safe game time).

The uncertainties at this time, such as COVID-19 implications, late transfer window deadline, and even the future of Messi, does not help me to see that taking the risk having no Wildcard could be worth it for higher point ceilings (only) in the first two Gameweeks.

Hopefully you found this article useful but remember to go with the strategy that suits you best.

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1,886 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Pacer.
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    PLAY UP POMPEY!

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

    Who knows how this season will start, this is FPL after all 🙂

  3. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    I still believe anyone benching a premium is utter madness.

    1. ThisPostsOnFire
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Anyone benching premiums is doing so in the belief that long-term it's a better strategy. Nowhere near madness - not that I'm doing it myself.

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        When you do not know what GW2 holds. Is Bruno primed for points in GW2?

        This is FPL, there is no crystal ball involved here.

    2. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      What a simple opinion

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        It is an opinion. I would never bench a 10.5 asset, even to save a FT.

        1. Pacer.
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Things are more complicated than saving a free transfer. As should be obvious from the fact that an FT is -4 and a premium averages more than that

          1. FOO FIGHTER
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Yeah, so is Auba to KDB FT. Sideways AF.

          2. Eat my goal!
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            I don’t see the logic in this FT being -4

            Nonsensical pessimism

            1. Goonsquad245
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 6 months ago

              Yes, because people do well in games of probability by looking on the bright side.

              1. Eat my goal!
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 6 months ago

                A FT is an opportunity to maximise points in any GW

                It doesn’t cost anything unless your team is compromised- even then since we all have a bench you don’t need to take a hit but you may choose to

                In the event you do choose to the hit is based on the merits of the player brought in - if that player supersedes the bench player then the cost is reduced

                1. Goonsquad245
                  • 7 Years
                  3 years, 6 months ago

                  There is an opportunity cost to booking in a FT. It might or might not be 4 points, it might be a move you choose not to make instead or it might be a hit further down the line.

                  Saying it’s nonsensical pessimism is just rude and shows a lack of willingness to understand another’s perspective.

                  1. Eat my goal!
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 5 Years
                    3 years, 6 months ago

                    Not at all, but assigning a price to something that is free for the worst case scenario is surely nothing other than pessimism

          3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Sometimes looking solely at the average scores of the big boys can give a false sense of security for single gameweek decision making too thouh

            The frequency/regularity at which premiums score greater than 6 points is perhaps more relevant when it comes to single gameweek calls

            Like the old “If you have 10 people, and give one of them 10 sweets, then on average each person has 1 sweet” kind of thing

            Salah for example - 40 of his last 49 games have been 9 points or less, with 17 of those 40 being 3 points or less

            That’s 9 out of the last 49 gameweeks where he’d have really rewarded a hit, and somewhere in the region of 25 of the last 49 gameweeks where he wouldn’t have

            He’s not the best example to use for GW1 as he has a home fixture (where he’s traditionally stronger) to a promoted team (against how, he’s also stronger) - but the same type of pattern exists with most big hitters

            They reward hits in single gameweeks much less than we give them credit for - usually you need to be prepared to hold them for 5,6,7 weeks to ensure you get their benefits - and if folks prefer KDB, Bruno, Sterling, Martial etc for the longer term that’s where I can emphasise with the money on the bench GW1

            1. Goonsquad245
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 6 months ago

              Depends on your risk appetite. If a player has a long run points expectation of 8 in a given fixture (for example) - it shouldn’t matter in the long run whether he gets there with 8,8,8,8 or 14,2,2,14 but in the former you win small all of the time whilst in the latter you’re out of pocket half the time but win big half the time to make up for it.

              To me the two are equal and I’d be equally likely to take either bet, but I understand that for some its a different story.

              1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                • 14 Years
                3 years, 6 months ago

                The scenario at hand is very short run though - [single gameweek premium score -4] vs [sub for benched premium score]

                In those short run, single gameweek scenarios you’re really at the mercy of the frequency at which the premiums return greater than 6 points in single gameweeks

                Which for most folks will be a surprisingly lower frequency than they might think, or than a 6.5 PPG long run average might suggest

                1. Goonsquad245
                  • 7 Years
                  3 years, 6 months ago

                  When I say long run though, I mean long run points expectation *in that single gameweek* - clearly what actually happens is just a single outcome of many possible.

                  There is merit to what you’re saying because it reduces variance, but for me whether that 8 point expectation is realised by the player scoring 8 100% of the time or 14 50% of the time and 2 50% of the time (to give a really simple, crude example) doesn’t matter.

                  I definitely agree with your point that premiums don’t score well as often as people think, but it’s possible for it to simultaneously be a mathematically sound decision and only be actually profitable a very small % of the time.

                  1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                    • 14 Years
                    3 years, 6 months ago

                    It would be mathmatically sound where you have a long run supply of these single gameweek blanks for the mancs vs non-blanks for the other premiums over which the variance in their scoring rates would be smoothed

                    And for someone who is risk prone, (and consistent) who would always take the riskier option - over the long run, as the sample size tends towards infinity - things will even out

                    In the scenario Foo Fighter is raising though, it’s very much once off territory, and not a situation the risk prone manager is going to have an infinite supply of opportunities to let the outcomes fall into line with the long run averages - hence where a big hitter has a mean of 6.5 PPG, but a mode of closer to 2 PPG - AND the manager fancies KDB, Bruno or Martial etc over the longer run- that’s the scenario which Foo Fighter (incorrectly imo) describes as madness to have the blank mancs on the bench for GW1

                    But it’s still going to be a big call to bench that type of money - and one that could go horribly wrong if Auba has his shooting boots on...

                    Plenty of GW’s to follow though

                    1. Goonsquad245
                      • 7 Years
                      3 years, 6 months ago

                      What you’re talking about is variance reduction/risk management, not whether a decision is mathematically sound or not. For that, the player’s long run points expectation for that week is all there is.

                      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                        • 14 Years
                        3 years, 6 months ago

                        Put it a different way - mathmatical soundness in this context won’t correlate to practicality for FPL decision making

                      2. Goonsquad245
                        • 7 Years
                        3 years, 6 months ago

                        In your opinion - just giving a different view.

                      3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                        • 14 Years
                        3 years, 6 months ago

                        Sure same here 🙂

          4. RLew
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            I'm not benching Bruno, but I may bench Martial. My hope would be to save a transfer in GW2 and have 2 FTs available in GW3 (in case I need 3 transfers then when things are more settled). I'm not saying it's right and understand the downsides, but I don't think it's an unreasonable strategy.

      2. Cok3y5murf
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Well, it's a simple poster

        1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          😆

        2. FOO FIGHTER
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Link your team.

          1. Cok3y5murf
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Strange coming from a guy with an outdated link.

            1. FOO FIGHTER
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 6 months ago

              I had mine on. Start of the season it will be there.

          2. George Sillett
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            What's that got to do with 6 foot drains ?

            1. FOO FIGHTER
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 6 months ago

              Cesspool?

              1. George Sillett
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 6 months ago

                Point proven. I knew you wouldn't understand that.

                1. FOO FIGHTER
                  • 4 Years
                  3 years, 6 months ago

                  No, I knew you would have your 1 pennie worth.

        3. George Sillett
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          He's certainly proving that theory today.

          1. FOO FIGHTER
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Yes, you like to get involved where you shouldn't, tactfully.

            1. George Sillett
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 6 months ago

              Oh maybe I have misunderstood the concept of a forum where views are freely exchanged . I tactfully didn't realise that it was you who determined who and when they could comment.

          2. FOO FIGHTER
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Or should I rephrase that,not tactfully.

    3. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I think the forced transfer strategy is worse. But I'm starting to see the shortcomings too.. It's a long time to wait before GW2 and if your player somehow is unavailable it's a disaster.

      1. TheBrazilianRonaldo
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Yep. As two big teams are out, there is less of a pool of premiums to choose from meaning more likely top scoring player is not Premium

    4. Kun Tozser
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      +0.1

    5. TheBrazilianRonaldo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Premiums value is in holding as they perform over time. In 1 gw any player can outscore another, so surely benching a premium for 1gw is less risky obviously than for example owning low value players all season. So I’m not sure it is madness. Madness would be owning low value assets all season long and leaving money in the bank.

    6. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Go on holiday

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Lol, I need your cap.

    7. Studs Up
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      37 gwks left if it backfires

    8. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 6 months ago

        A classic Foo Fighter opinion, I'm not doing it myself but I'm also not totally dismissing the tactic, it could easily pay off

        1. Flair
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Put it down next to Salah not being in decline and City regressing even if they sign Messi using the same logic that says Salah is in decline, always amusing.

        2. Apwilkin
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Could certainly pay off. Only reason I’m avoiding, is that I know if i bench a premium he will surely get hurt in training prior to GW2, leaving me with a likely -4 anyways...

          1. Steve The Spud
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Vintage foo fighter

      • All de Gea no iDier
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        I have little choice. We leave home on the 6th and by the 10th we guarantee a phone or Wi-Fi signal until after GW2 commences.

        Just hope and pray that Auba and / or Salah don't turn up on GW1.

        1. All de Gea no iDier
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          That is cannot guarantee a phone or wi-fi signal.

      • im1974
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Rashford on bench gw1

    9. Pjanić At The Disco
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      McCarthy
      TAA | B.Davies | Vinagre
      Salah | Auba | Son | Armstrong | ASM
      Werner | Mitrovic

      Nyland | Justin | Mitchell | K.Davies

      2m ITB

      How's this lookin?

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Survival score for GW1 lol.

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Will be something very low.

      2. Fudgy
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        I made it to gw34 which I was happy with

    10. Jems Reds
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Shameless repost because my last post didn’t get much traction..

      Thoughts?

      McCarthy (Steer)
      TAA, Virgil, Vinagre (Taylor, Ferguson)
      Salah, Son, Soucek, Podence (KDB)
      Werner, Mitrovic, Adams

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        No Aubameyang :O

        Not for me. I think Auba is more important than Salah to start the season.

      2. Essan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Personally I'd have (and currently have) a ManU premium player benched for GW1 rather than a ManC player, and going without Auba could be painful. But who knows ....

      3. Goonsquad245
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Who is your GW2 captain?

        If I were you, I would start with both Salah and Auba and downgrade Auba in GW3.

    11. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      For GW1 only which double up has more upside (assuming Leno is first choice)

      A) Leno and Doherty
      B) Lloris and Tierney

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Lloris Doherty for many GW's.

      2. FPL Theorist
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Are you confident Tierney plays wing-back? If not, then A.

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Think Arsenal will revert back to a back four against Fulham

      3. Warby84
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        I’m in lloris/Doc

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          And of the choices listed?

      4. Scotty Dog
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Are you convinced leno will be no.1 over martinez

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          If I had to put money on it but no certainty and B is safer in that regard

      5. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        A, although I’m not entirely keen on Leno due to question marks of how nailed he is.

        Doherty just head and shoulders above everyone in those options.

      6. Flair
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        B - Doherty less likely to get attacking returns against Everton than Tierney against Fulham.

        1. Flair
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Assuming Tierney plays LWB/LB, not LCB.

      7. Fulgencio Obelmejias
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        A

    12. serhio_harlamos
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      armstrong or saint-maximen?

      1. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Armstrong

    13. Jullepuu
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Madness to pass on Bruno and go for Martial instead?

      McCarthy Nyland
      TAA Davies Egan Vinagre Taylor
      Salah Auba ASM Soucek Greenwood
      Werner Ings Davis

      1. ManofKent
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        I'm going for Martial - a lot less options up front and I think points over season will be similar

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

          Yeah maybe United won't get a ridiculous amount of penalties this season

      2. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        My tactic for this season is going to be to have KDB as my only 11.5+ player to allow a very strong side everywhere else and then rotate captain with Martial as he’s awesome at home for Utd.

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

          Sounds good but for me Salah is still a season keeper but things can change

      3. Goonsquad245
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Not at all. Prefer Rashford though

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

          Over Martial? Isn't he still a bit injured?

          1. Goonsquad245
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Yeah obviously his fitness is a caveat, but if he’s OK I’d expect him to comfortably out score Martial this season. The reclassifications will really make a difference IMO.

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

              You could be absolutely right but I don't feel confident about starting the season with Rashford

    14. FPL_DON
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Are there any articles re the differences and variations between the EPL pre and post lockdown?

      Would be really interesting to see average goals scored per match, cleans sheets etc in each part of the season

      1. Forza
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53553300

        Goals per game stayed exactly the same.

        1. FPL_DON
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Legend, cheers Forza

    15. Champ
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Gonna forget about picking my team to give my head a rest. How about team name instead. Covidnry City?

      1. Goonsquad245
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Nailed it.

      2. Pacer.
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Just pick it Saturday morning like all the casuals who will beat all the chippy nobs here

      3. lugs
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        i like it, i called my 2nd team in the Sky game, Batshuayi Soup 🙂

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

        Real Socialdistancing

        1. NZREDS
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Lmao this brilliant

      5. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Weir a Masuaku

    16. Syphras
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Really torn on this one.

      Thoughts on Kane vs Werner for the opening gameweek?

      I already have Ziyech and Son.

      1. FPL_DON
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        I like Kane myself

      2. Mufc202020
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Werner

      3. Pacer.
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        If you're really torn then find a way to own both

      4. No Professionals
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Kane for me, Fancy him to start hot

    17. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Andy Murray getting absolutely chinned.

    18. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Oops, writer forgot Auba is a midfielder!

      1. Marjie
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Writer also thinks Dendoncker is only 4.5

      2. ritzyd
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Pretty poor - guess nobody proof reads these . . . .

    19. ThisPostsOnFire
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I'm weighing up a couple of options for GW3 and beyond (including wildcard)

      Which of the these would you prefer going forward from gw3?

      A) Taylor, Pulisic, Fernandes, Ings
      B) Dier, Son, Salah, Mitrovic

      1. Scotty Dog
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        100% b

      2. Fulgencio Obelmejias
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        A easy

      3. tbeans22
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        If Pulisic is healthy, A all day. Only way I'd consider B is if Kane is out and Son pushes back to a central striker role

    20. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Is anyway backing Chelsea defenders straight away? Or are we all waiting to see what happens?

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Only interested in Azpi and Chilwell.

        Chilwell unlikely to be ready. Azpi always delivers.

      2. Scotty Dog
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        think they're gonna be that attack minded they'll ship plenty of goals so staying away from there defenders

    21. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      14m for two attackers are the two positions I'm struggling with my team the most.

      Usually we have a 6.5-7.5m MID & FWD who fit the setup but I'm struggling to find any I like. Mitro or Adams & Alli or Ziyech look like the only decent options to start with in this bracket.

      Tempted to just spend 11.5m on these two positions and upgrade one of my 4.5m defenders to Robbo.

      1. Eat my goal!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        I’m sure plenty will appear after gw1 currently we have foden and greenwood as possibilities

      2. Cok3y5murf
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        I'd add Antonio to the list too, but I agree that this is the bracket I struggled with too. There are hardly any options.

        1. Karan14
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Antonio a decent shout but the fixtures aren't good and I've already got Soucek. Also some doubts around him playing as ST with Haller back.

      3. n-doggg
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        4.5 and Werner?

    22. Riverside Red
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      What's the view on Che Adams, surely a better option than Mitrovic..can't understand why a proven PL flop is being considered by many in their squads

      1. Moxon
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        11 goals and 4 assists is a decent flop

        1. Pacer.
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          130 odd points at 6m isn't really decent is it, unless you catch all the points

          1. Karan14
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            THIS!

            People quick to forget that he was frustrating to own for most parts of the season.

          2. No Professionals
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            What is decent for a 6m attacker?

          3. George Sillett
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            And throw into this a less attacking Fulham side.

        2. Riverside Red
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Ayew 132 pts at £5m better value than Mitrovic's last appearance in the PL. Not many takers for Ayew at the moment

      2. Studs Up
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        It depends, if u had Mitro the right time then yeah, he was a benefit

      3. Zalk
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Yeah, Mitrovic scored half of those points between weeks 2 and 13. But if you timed that, well done.

      4. tisza
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Could be that he played better without crowd pressure. There's a few of those about

    23. gergin
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Best mid+for combo, worth up to 15,5? Both should play.
      Have Auba , Kane and Fernandes...

      1. Stockport Hatter
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        JWP and Werner?

    24. n-doggg
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      GW2 onwards - would you rather have:

      A. Bruno and mitrovic
      B. Greenwood and martial

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        B

      2. ManofKent
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        B (but I'm waiting on Greenwood)

    25. The Wanton Trader
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      McCarthy (Steer)
      TAA / Robbo / Tierney / Dier (Mitchell)
      Auba / Son / Soucek / Pereira (Bruno)
      Werner / Mitrovic (Davis)

      I just keep flip flopping between Salah and Auba all the time.

      It’s driving me mad... 🙂

      1. n-doggg
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        I think it’s auba to start with. See if Salah pics it up, hasn’t been looking at it for a while now

        1. The Wanton Trader
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          I’ve been seeing quite a lot of comments like this recently about Salah, which is kind of what’s putting me off.

          The trouble is he can turn it on with the flick of a switch...

    26. Arron Wan Bissaka Nil
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Ryan
      Trent, KWP, Vinagre
      Salah, Auba, Son, Soucek
      Werner, Ings, Mitrovic

      Nyland, Mitchell, Bissouma, Taylor

      Any feedback?

      1. dbeck
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Looks great, any plans to get United in for GW2?

        1. Arron Wan Bissaka Nil
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Was gonna give them a few weeks to see who is the one to own, but will use Son to go either Greeny or Bruno or create money to get Martial in

    27. Lost in fantasy
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Any thoughts on Rodrigo for 6m?

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Check his stats in La Liga.

        I would rather have a non playing 4.5 on the bench to afford Wood.

        1. Goonsquad245
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Just checked them. They look OK to me unless he is the worst finisher of all time (I don’t think he is)

      2. Ron_Swanson
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Averages 6 goals a season

        1. el polako
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Raul Jimenez scored 1 goal for Atletico before he joined Wolves.

      3. Flair
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Wait and see, unfortunately. We don't know his role, whether he'll start, and the opening fixtures aren't great. He could be gold - especially if De Paul signs - with the insane amount of big chances Leeds create and his ability - he was wanted by Madrid, Barcelona, capped for Spain - however it's not worth the risk for GW1.

    28. School of Poch
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      ASM or JWP?

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

        Jwp easily the start

        1. School of Poch
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          I prefer him and it covers Southampton attack but I like the extra 0.5 ASM offers as I am planning Son>Fernandes GW2 and having 2m ITB ensures I'm not priced out

      2. n-doggg
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Am leaning towards JWP. Although is there any competition for his place? He nailed?

        1. School of Poch
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          I'm not sure

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

        JWP for me. I agree. The 0.5 cheaper of ASM is tempting, but JWP seems to be on free-kick and joint penalty duties, and on the better squad.

        1. School of Poch
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Do you prefer JWP/Mitro to ASM/Adams +0.5

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

        ASM for me.

        The only reason is that I have McCarthy and KWP. I wouldn’t want to lock in the 3rd Southampton when I will most likely need to jump on the Ings bandwagon early doors.

        1. School of Poch
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Would love to have Ings but can't seem to fit him into my plans alongside TAA, 3 premium mids and Werner - could have ASM/Adams +0.5 over JWP/Mitro though.

          1. Zladan
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Surely that is still doable?

            I currently have TAA; Salah, Auba, Alli; Werner, Vardy.

            1. School of Poch
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 6 months ago

              My current team is

              McCarthy/Nyland
              TAA/Davies/Justin/Vinagre/Taylor
              Salah/Auba/Son/ASM/Soucek
              Werner/Mitro/Davis

              2.0ITB

              Planning on Son>Bruno GW2 so need 1.5 for that
              Auba>KDB GW3
              Should have a spare 1.0m in GW4 to upgrade where necessary

              Not sure how to squeeze Ings into that setup without changing the plan

              Can either switch ASM > JWP/Armstrong or Mitro > Adams to cover Southampton and still make those moves

              1. Zladan
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 6 months ago

                I guess you’ve gone Davies a 4m defender.

                I’m now switching focus to as much cash on XI as I can.

                1. School of Poch
                  • 8 Years
                  3 years, 6 months ago

                  Are you saying switch Davies to a 4m? Would still need an extra 1.0 to get to Ings and bring in Bruno GW2

    29. SouperstarsXI
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Hi all,
      This is my first time as a subscribed member. I am trying to use the RMT tool for the first time. I am not sure why Jimenez has such a high GW1 projection (4.7) against the miserly SHU defence. Am I missing something here?

      1. Lord.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        You'll soon get used to inexplicable RMT scores

        1. SouperstarsXI
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Oh I see! That's a bummer. 🙁 Which tool do you rely on the most then?

      2. ManofKent
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        No Henderson?

        1. SouperstarsXI
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Interesting.. let's see if Ramsdale can replicate Henderson's form.

      3. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Yea youre missing that the RMT tool is crap unless you are clueless and would pick the likes of Firmino on your own.

        1. SouperstarsXI
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Yikes.. but didn't a previous article said that the RMT pick had the strongest correlation with captaincy points? Anyway, what is the FFS tool that you use the most?

    30. dbeck
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      How’s she looking?

      McCarthy
      Dier TAA Vinagre Johnson
      Auba Salah JWP Bowen
      DCL Werner

      Nyland Martial Bisouma Mitchell

      1. ManofKent
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        DCL is a punt too far for me and I wouldn't want two 4m defs, but otherwise solid

        1. dbeck
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Yeah perhaps JWP down to a 5.5m guy (Armstrong) to get a 4.0 up to 4.5 is better

          Bowen a place holder for Foden

          Everton are sorting their mid out, while bad after the restart I can see them doing well

      2. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        West Ham double up not good for ppg. Not with their fixtures.

        1. dbeck
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Johnson will be hidden on my bench and Bowen will become foden

          1. FOO FIGHTER
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Torres is Fodden's problem this season unless Fodden is somehow nailed in central midfield.

            Roulette in full force.

      3. milanista10
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Finally I see another Bowen owner.. Good team there!

        1. dbeck
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          I’m expecting him to find his way to points. I do like Antonio but worried Haller might take up some minutes

          1. milanista10
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Same here. Bowen was unlucky not to score more points in the last few games & expect him to start the season very well

      4. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        JWP, Bowen, DCL is ugly.

        If you want differentials take your pick from these instead:

        Alli, Saka, Armstrong, Mount, Nketiah, Pereira, Barnes, Podence, McBurnie, Adams

        1. dbeck
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          JWP has double the xga of Armstrong, Barnes and Podence after the restart

    31. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Sheff Utd beat Derby 2-0 in the friendly this evening
      Osborn and Sharp goals
      No goals conceded in the 2.5 pre-season games

    32. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      The most FPL thing of all time would be Lundstram scoring v Wolves.

      Every casual and his dog will have picked him. We would all lose our Vinagre CS too.

      1. Eat my goal!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Only 13.5% casuals?

        Bound to happen tho!

    33. xHaTr
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A: Egan, Saint-Maximin, Brewster
      or
      B: Lascelles, Mitrovic, Bissouma

      Starting first two of each

      1. SouperstarsXI
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        I would pick A. As a Newcastle fan, I guarantee you we will concede away to West Ham.

    34. supercolso
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Evening all,
      This one's doing my head in.

      a) Martial, Ziyech & Ali
      b)Werner, Rashford & Armstrong/Saint Maxim

      Many Thanks