Dugout Discussion

Rodríguez returns on Everton bench as West Ham recall Coufal

Everton and West Ham’s matchday squads are beginning to edge closer to full-strength as of their Gameweek 17 teamsheets.

James Rodríguez (£7.7m) returns for the first time since Gameweek 11 although is only fit enough for a place on the Toffees’ bench.

For now, Bernard (£5.8m) occupies his slot on the right-hand side of Everton’s attacking midfield, joined there by Gylfi Sigurdsson (£6.8m) and Richarlison (£7.8m).

How long until Rodríguez will be ready to start games regularly again remains unclear but Fantasy managers will certainly have him on their radars.

However, anyone invested in Michael Keane (£5.1m) will be disappointed by Carlo Ancelotti’s team selection in Gameweek 17, with the centre-back named on the bench for the first time this season.

Mason Holgate (£4.8m) tucks inside from his recent right-back role to staff the heart of the defence with Yerry Mina (£5.6m) with Seamus Coleman (£4.8m) making his first start since Gameweek 8.

It is a similar story with West Ham who, once again, feature Michail Antonio (£6.2m) on the bench, which makes for a seventh successive start for Sebastien Haller (£6.1m), but suggests they could be back to full-strength soon.

Fantasy managers will certainly have their eye on that situation, especially with West Ham’s appealing fixtures in Double Gameweek 19, where they host Burnley and West Bromwich Albion.

David Moyes has recalled Vladimir Coufal (£4.7m) to the line-up, having rested him against Southampton but Issa Diop (£4.3m) and Fabian Balbuena (£4.4m) remain out of the starting XI, Craig Dawson (£4.5m) impressing enough in his Gameweek 16 audition to keep his place.

Everton XI: Pickford; Godfrey, Mina, Holgate, Coleman; Doucouré, T Davies; Richarlison, Sigurdsson, Bernard; Calvert-Lewin.

West Ham United XI: Fabianski; Cresswell, Ogbonna, Dawson, Coufal; Rice, Soucek; Benrahma, Fornals, Bowen; Haller.

1,770 Comments Post a Comment
  1. ViperStripes
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    FH not worth it this week got 8 playing.

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      7 here, but will be 8 when I use one of my 2 FTs. So agree. Probably more powerful to use it in a DGW down the line now.

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

        I'm considering FH19

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

      Agreed.

      Not wasting a FH this week on a few fringe players. Already have KDB Bruno Son + United & City defence!

      FH better served to maximise a DGW later in the season!

    3. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah with 8 for GW18 I’d keep the FH for the FAC QF / SF blanks later in the season in that case.

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

    Randolph starting, congrats on the hattie DCL!

  3. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Richarlison+DCL on my FH eyetest tonight

  4. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Let's go DCL, it's your time to shine.

  5. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    -8 hit for DGW or give up from BB?

  6. NABIL - FPL otai
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    DCLLLLL

    Practicing harder

  7. Patio Kev
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Wow Fabianski injured in warm up, that’s unlucky for a keeper.

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

    IfI only have 5 for BGW, I should already hit FH button right? To catch price rises/drops

  9. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Fabianski injured in warm up

    1. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Seriously?

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

        no joking, this is serious business

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

      Really????

      Jesus I ummed and erred over bringing him in for pope for 48 hours and held off.

      What a day!

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

      Great news for me as a Coufal starter and DCL seller :s

    4. Herman Toothrot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Just bought him for Mendy

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

    Don't panic if you click on updated Pick Team tab rather than points tab. Most of the games are not cancelled.

    🙂

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

    Show me your FH teams!

    1. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Can I show my wildcard team?

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

        Ofc!

    2. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Going with 8 players no chip.

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

        Well played

    3. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Martinez
      Bellerin Holding Cancelo
      Bruno Rashford Son KDB El G
      Richarlison DCL

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        You can compare this to a early july gw1 rmt it needs some work.

    4. WVA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Not free hitting

      Martinez
      Taylor Holding Stones
      KDB Bruno Son Grealish
      DCL Brewster
      Johnstone Bamford Salah KWP Coufal

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

      9 players for me (including Burke) No FH is I’ll use it later.

    6. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Have a look at my GW11 team then

      https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/7842/event/11

    7. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Leno
      Tierney Stones Bailly
      Grealish KDB Son Fernandes Zaha
      Aguero DCL

      Bench : Lewis Mitchell Davis

  12. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    What is this I hear that Randolph is starting?

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

    Randolph is 4.4

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

      And nowhere near as good as Fabianski.

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

        And faces West Brom and Burnley.

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

          This is important alright but he can't fill Fabianski's gloves for me. Hopefully Caoimhín will be filling his Ireland gloves soon too.

      2. El Presidente
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        He's not but he's not a terrible keeper. He'll do just fine.

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

          He's decent, I prefer Fabianski though. Allardyce has money to spend, Dyche has money, finally, from new owners, so WestBrom and Burnley mightn't be quite the soft touches if they do some early transfer business. Sounds like we've buried Fabianski! He could be back next game.

    2. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Worth a BB spot in dgw19?

  14. fedolefan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Is Smith Rowe the best of the 4.4m mids?

    1. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Could be

    2. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yep but Arsenal likely to sign a CAM in January, might be okay for a few weeks but I’d stretch to Bissouma (4.5m) if possible

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

    Have balbuena for my 19bb

    Already have a hit scheduled

    Do I go for another hit to remove him for Dawson or Burnley defender?

    Or hope balbuena plays 1?? Thanks

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

      Got weeks to worry about it.

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

        And worry about it I will!!!

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

          Best tip - post about it in GW19.

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

    Fabianski punters in tears.

    Randolph essential for DGW

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah. Good option for a BB if Fabianski is out for a while.

      DGW19: WBA, BUR
      GW20: cpl
      GW21: LIV
      GW22: avl
      GW23: ful
      GW24: SHU

      Great fixtures other than GW21 from DGW19.

  17. FPL_WILDCARD
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    I currently have 7 players (two of which are Kilman & Davis) for GW18. I could -4 to bring in KDB/Sterling and Wilson to give:
    Dias, Kilman, Dier
    Bruno, Sterling/KDB, Grealish, Son
    Wilson

    Or would it just be better to FH? I can't work out if there would be a better blank gameweek to free hit down the line...

  18. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Got these for next gw, enough to save FH? Got 1FT also

    Martinez
    Stones holding
    Kdb Bruno son
    Kane davis

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah save I'm going with

      Martinez
      Stones Holding Taylor
      KDB Bruno Son Grealish
      DCL Brewster

    2. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I believe 8 players is good enough.

      1. Rhodes your boat
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Me too, not many others I’d want

  19. Rash
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Looking at my team now, I'm unsure whether its worth using FH for the blank or just take a hit or 2?

    Martinez
    Cancelo dias targett
    Son bruno
    Kane brewster

    Johnstone
    Coufal
    Chilwell
    Salah
    Raphinha
    Soucek
    Bamford

    2.3itb

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

    What kind of injury to Fabs?

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

      Unknown beyond injured in warmup

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

        Cheers.

  21. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Not so sure about double west ham defence for dgw if Fabianski is out

    1. Runaway
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Even one is questionable imo 🙁

    2. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Just Soucek for me

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

    Chances Fabianski was caught coughing and the match could be called off.

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

      ?

  23. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Martin sighting!!!!!

    Come on Randolph get a red!

  24. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Fabianski transfer going well

  25. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Someone surely late wildcarded with Fabianski Balbuena where you at?

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

    Sterling or KDB for GW18? Or add both by removing Rashford? Got 2 freebies...

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

      Monday ftw.

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

        Love the name change TM!

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

        True.. Anything could happen.

  27. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Fabianski injured

    replaced by Randolph

  28. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    First FH draft

    Leno
    Tierney Stones Bailly
    Grealish KDB Son Fernandes Zaha
    Aguero DCL

    Bench : Lewis Mitchell Davis

  29. Patio Kev
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Fabianski 4.8% TSB and at £5.1m you suspect most owners won’t have another playing keeper.

    Randolph is a £4.4m not a £4.0m and only 0.2% TSB.

    Third Choice David Martin is £4.0m and much more popular at 7.3% TSB so would assume most Fabianski owners have Martin as their back up not Randolph.

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

      The days of having the backup keeper to your main for a safe start died with covid

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

        Lots of Fabianski owners will have a dgw19 keeper like Johnstone for BB

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

      brought him in on WC, and played him ahead of Martinez so it could be a blessing in disguise for me

  30. Ziyech on the Bench
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone wildcarding 18 to bench boost 15 dgw players?

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

      Considering it but seeing how the matches play out first and taking the time to think

      1. Ziyech on the Bench
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks

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

      You want 11 players from City/Villa/Utd and Burnley?

      1. Ziyech on the Bench
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Hey TM! No I will be preparing for gw 19 full 15 dgw bench boost, looking at 6 players for 18 probably with captain Kdb or sterling

      2. Ziyech on the Bench
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        This is my draft:

        Martinez / Johnstone

        Coufal, Maguire, justin, alioski, stones

        Sterling, KDB, bruno, soucek, raphina

        Vardy, Antonio, bamford

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

      im thinking same thing, but maybe a Burnley defender and Villa, Grealish/El Ghazi/Watkins aswell to get about 9 players blank week.

    4. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Just pulled thw trigger