Pro Pundits

My plan for FPL Double Gameweek 19 amid ever-changing fixture list

Fantasy Premier League managers must bide their time as the Double Gameweek 19 situation continues to swirl around them like a hurricane.

I have laid my plans for the bumper round of fixtures but am always keeping one eye on my shoulder.

In this article, I will go over my current set-up in light of the upcoming fixtures and my response to Leeds v Southampton getting postponed.

In the last week Fantasy managers have had to deal with the uncertainty surrounding potential fixture postponements and rearrangements and I must admit, it came as a relief to finally see the Blank Gameweek 18 deadline approach to take any further decisions out of my hands.

However, further chaos is just around the corner with the first Double Gameweek of the season starting just two days after the final fixture of the current Gameweek.

I have been preparing for this bumper Gameweek since I played my Wildcard back in Gameweek 16, so I thought now would be a good time to go through some of my selections and plans looking ahead. 

My plan has always been to activate my Bench Boost in Double Gameweek 19, but I think it’s worth mentioning that in this ever changing environment it’s important to remain flexible and open minded to any potential changes to the football scheduling. I certainly won’t be activating any chips or making transfers until as late as possible. Information is far more important than catching any price rises for the time being. 

I also believe that now more than ever there is a fair amount of luck involved, so don’t get too downbeat if any fixture amendments go against you.

The situation has changed somewhat since I prepped my squad in anticipation of Bench Boosting in Double Gameweek 19. The biggest problem I am faced with is the lack of Manchester City assets. Not only have City been handed a tasty looking Double Gameweek, with home matches against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, but they have arguably returned to their brilliant best. 

After brushing Chelsea aside in Gameweek 17, and a great performance at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup, a nice run of fixtures means City assets are well and truly back in our thinking. 

Like many others, I decided to triple up on Manchester City as part of my Free Hit in Gameweek 18, so I am hopeful for big returns in tonight’s match against Brighton. However, since welcoming back my Gameweek 17 team I don’t see a single light-blue shirt in the squad, and this is something I am keen to address with my transfers this week. 

Looking ahead, Manchester City’s favourable run continues in the three fixtures following Double Gameweek 19 as they travel to West Bromwich Albion, host Sheffield United and visit Burnley. I am not rushing into any decisions but I feel multiple hits could be on the cards in order to get two or three Manchester City players in prior to the Double Gameweek and as part of my long term thinking. 

So, let’s go through some of my selections and how I may decide to use my transfers.

GOALKEEPERS

I wanted to pick Sam Johnstone (£4.5m) as my goalkeeper going forward after the arrival of Sam Alladyce at West Bromwich Albion. I felt sure he would come in and tighten up their defence but heavy defeats against Leeds and Arsenal do not bode well for my decision. 

Hopefully, two weeks on the training ground since their last fixture will help improve clean sheet potential for the Baggies. 

I paired Johnstone up with the cheapest of the Double Gameweek 19 goalkeepers in Fulham’s Alphonse Areola (£4.5m). My expectations are low here but Im hoping with a combined four fixtures between them, they can at the very least rack up some save points for me.

DEFENDERS

My main issue I need to address in this area is the out of favour Fabian Balbuena (£4.4m). With two favourable fixtures in Double Gameweek 19, home matches against Burnley and West Bromwich Albion) I felt the Paraguayan could prove good value. 

It seems, however, Craig Dawson (£4.5m) has firmly locked down a place in the West Ham back-four, so Balbuena is almost a certainty to make way for me this week. This spot could be ideal to bring in the likes of John Stones (£5.0m) or Ruben Dias (£5.8m).

MIDFIELDERS AND FORWARDS

Werner, Son and Kane kept quiet as FPL's two best defences impress again

On paper, my selections back in Gameweek 16 still look alright for Double Gameweek 19. 

Harry Kane (£11.1m) was my only current single Gameweek player, although Patrick Bamford (£6.6m), Raphinha (£5.5m) and Che Adams (£6.0m) have joined that list now. 

Either way, with a difficult fixture run on the horizon from Gameweek 20, when Spurs host Liverpool and Chelsea either side of a trip to Brighton, Kane could be the fall-guy for me in order to fund signing the Manchester City assets. 

The flag on Adams is also something I need to keep an eye on too, especially as he only has one Double Gameweek 19 match now. The possible replacement players in my thoughts for forwards are Michail Antonio (£6.2m) and Ollie Watkins (£6.1m). Although I will be hoping for assurances on both Antonio’s match fitness and the COVID-19 situation at Villa Park before bringing in either player.

My current plan is to take a minus-eight or minus-twelve to bring in Antonio, Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m) and one or both of Dias and Stones. I feel this would leave me with a very strong bench boost side and in good shape going forward. I’m not usually a big advocate for taking hits but the beauty of rebuilding my squad within a Double Gameweek is I feel there’s a good chance the hits will be paid back with interest over the course of the two games. 

Having said all that, the situation has changed once again following my initial plans with Leeds and Southampton down to one match in Double Gameweek 19.

My first response to that is probably to bench my Saints assets and consider the Triple Captain chip instead but there is still plenty of time for this Gameweek to change again before Saturday’s deadline so I don’t want to commit just yet.

Thanks for reading and good luck with your plans.

1,819 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    In a draft league which GK would you rather have alongside McCarthy.

    A) Patricio
    B) Areola
    C) Johnstone

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

    2. Big Ronnie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

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

    Which is the best option;

    A) Play Rodrigo - home to Brighton

    B) DCL to Antonio (-4)

    Cheers

    Cheers

    1. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

    2. dylano21
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

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

    any help greatly appreciated; BB with these?

    R.JAMES, Son, Dallas, Bamford

    1. Congers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Easy yes

      1. kennethrhcp
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers

    2. Big Ronnie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Too many on the bench. Who's the keeper?

      1. kennethrhcp
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        martinez and johnstone

        1. Big Ronnie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          I would BB probably, could get 20+ from that lot

          1. kennethrhcp
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Thanks Ronnie!!!

    3. That Was Easy!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Is James back?

      1. kennethrhcp
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Trained I've been told... be a gamble I know

    4. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      If you weren't bench boosting, would your bench be Johnstone, Charlie Taylor, James, DCL?

      If so I'm not sure I'd BB that tbh, or are there hits/FT's also involved?

      1. kennethrhcp
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Dcl will be Antonio so he'll play

        Bench without a hit would be

        Johnstone, raphina, taylor and then 1 of james/dallas

        1. kennethrhcp
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Raphina to foden
          Taylor to stones

          That's my -8 thinking if I bb

        2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          It's a tough call - love the Antonio DCL move though

          If Leeds do well you're laughing on BB with Raphina & Dallas, and if Charlie Taylor & Reece James both play...

          1. kennethrhcp
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            I'm very doubtful taylor and james play both... will keep thinking on it

            Thanks very much for taking the time to reply (and check my current team!)

  4. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bb or nah?

    Martinez
    Dias Justin Coufal
    Son Bruno Salah Soucek
    Vardy Bamford Antonio
    (Johnstone, Lowton, Raph, Dallas)

    1. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      In thinking do it. Who knows how we'll be set up for next dgw

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

      Nah

    3. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      It's borderline.

  5. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you BB this team?

    Martinez
    TAA Cancelo Stones Tierney*
    KDB Bruno Son
    Martial Antonio Bamford*

    McCarthy* (lei) | Saka*, ESR* (NEW) | Mitchell* (mci)

    * = SGW
    0FT. 1.6 ITB.

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Nah defo not

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No

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

      LOL I keep forgetting I used BB in GW1

  6. Vyeper97
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Any love for mane here?
    Can do son and laca to mane and Watkins for -4

    1. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Have Salah and kdb?

      1. Vyeper97
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Have KDB no Liverpool players currently

    2. Big Ronnie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Have him at the moment but would prefer KDB

    3. MagicMessi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Considering him don't have Salah

  7. Big Ronnie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    1FT and £0.7m in the bank. Plan was to BB but will probably skip that now.

    Martinez*
    Robbo*, Dias*, Coufal*
    Salah*, Mane*, Bruno*, Grealish*, Soucek*
    Bamford, Watkins*

    Peacock-Farrell, Dallas, Adams, Balbuana*

    A) Balbuana to Stones or James (bench Bamford)
    B) Mane to KDB
    C) Balbuana & Adams to £4.9m def(Shaw?) & Antonio (-4, benching headache though)
    D) Save

  8. Congers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone perhaps having to bench Bamford this week?

    Don’t have enough on the bench to play the boost and now Wilson has a double all of a sudden.

    1. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Will do if I take a hit on raphina to foden

      Still might bb tho

    2. kringe
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes if not BB. Likely have the following bench.
      Martinez, Mitchell, Dallas and Bamford

  9. Tonyawesome69
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Worth BB this team with a -8? 11DGW and 4 SGW players

    Martinez
    Coufal Cancelo Stones Cresswell
    Bruno KDB Soucek Salah
    Vardy Bamford*
    (Johnstone Raphinha* Rodrigo* Holding*)

    1. KEN YA DIG IT
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      YEA,DO IT

    2. kringe
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes i would.
      I will have 5 SGW but one is Mitchell.
      Therefore not 100% yet

  10. Invincibles
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A) 6 DGWs:
    McCarthy
    Justin* Stones* Cresswell*
    KDB* Bruno* Gundogan* Son
    Kane Laca Bamford

    B) (FH) 11 DGWs:
    Mendy
    Cancelo Justin Cresswell
    KDB Salah Bruno Foden Soucek
    Cavani Vardy

  11. rubberdignerapids
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you rather play

    Dallas (vs Brighton at Home)

    or

    Pieters (double vs West Ham & Liverpool both away)

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dallas - Higher ceiling with some attacking potential. Lowton 4 points max

      1. rubberdignerapids
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks

  12. Mane Mane Mane
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is 4.0 Dallas, Wood (DGW) Bamford a good enough bench boost, if my whole starting 11 are double gameweek?

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No

      1. Mane Mane Mane
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Probably know the answer but would you take a -12 to then have areola, Watkins Antonio as my bench boost?

        1. Tonyawesome69
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Depends on who you are transferring out but prob no

          1. Mane Mane Mane
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            I would be swapping a 4.0gk Bamford and Wood

  13. That Was Easy!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    How about this -8 for 14 DGWers + BB?

    Son + Saka + Holding > Grealish + Barnes + Chilwell

    Also, seems like El Ghazi going under the radar, any reason he won't continue his form>? Looks like he may do.

  14. StoichkovFPL
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bench in GW19: Dallas, Bamford, Mitchell, Forster.

    A) bench Leeds players vs BHA
    B) make -8 to get Johnstone + New defender and BB
    C) make -4 to get James/Shaw/Justin (no GK) and BB

    1. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      It's such a hard call!!!

      B could work but we'll need leeds to do well to pay off

  15. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Wait Leeds and Sou do not have DGW?

    1. Whazza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Correct

      1. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        When did that happen man

    2. MagicMessi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yea check fpl fixtures it's gone also villa Vs Newcastle added

      1. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers

  16. potatoace
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Can someone turn down the difficulty setting for FPL220/21 please.

    1. rubberdignerapids
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Turn down the luck/bad luck setting you mean

      1. potatoace
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Random factors is set to 11 right now

  17. Thewonderfulgame
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would be VERY grateful to get some consensus around the below:

    Either bringing in:

    A) Salah and Watkins (for Son and Laca) -4

    or

    B) Salah Vardy and Soucek (for Son Rashford and Laca) -8

    obviously Vardy give me something that Watkins doesn't, but is the Soucek for Rashford trade worth it to facilitate?

    1. DuckDuckKroos
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Out of the two, I would say A

    2. Black Knights
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A is enough.

  18. DuckDuckKroos
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A little advice if you'd be so kind...

    A) Son > Mane
    B) Wilson > Antonio
    C) Neto > Grealish (covid permitting)
    D) Neto > Salah & Kane > Antonio (-4)
    E) Nuffin

    McCarthy
    Justin. Cancelo. Cresswell
    Neto. Fernandes. KDB. Son
    Wilson. Bamford. Kane
    Bench: 4.0 Dallas. Ang. Mitch

    Cheers

    1. Bram
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      D

  19. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Adams to Watkins worth a hit?

    Gives me Martinez, Raphinha, Watkins and Lowton for a bench boost

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Probably yes but it depends what the latest info with Villa covid

    2. KEN YA DIG IT
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

  20. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you BB with the following players?

    McCarthy Wood Bamford Dallas

    1. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      McCarthy straight back in ya? Forster benched?

      If yes then bb

    2. Pukki Pies
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Borderline. I think chance of other games being postponed is too high personally. If you BB and then Leeds other game gets moved, you've basically wasted it.

    3. KEN YA DIG IT
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      yea,you might not get a better bench in the future

  21. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    RMDGWFHT

    Fabianski
    Stones - Coufal - Dawson
    Salah (vc) - KDB (c) - Bruno - Foden
    Vardy - Werner - Watkins

    Button - Burke - Mitchell - Struijik

  22. Pukki Pies
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Martinez
    Chilwell, Dias, Coufal, Targett
    Son, Salah, Bruno, Soucek, Grealish
    Bamford

    Forster, Adams, Dallas, DCL

    1FT, 1.7ITB

    Not playing BB.

    A) DCL > Vardy
    B) DCL, Chilwell > Vardy, Stones/Cancelo
    C) DCL, Grealish > Vardy, Foden
    D) DCL, Adams > Vardy, Antonio (bench Targett)

    1. Bram
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

    2. rubberdignerapids
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Definitely A

    3. Pukki Pies
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      thanks, was leaning that way.

  23. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone done some solid due diligence on instagram on the Villa players to see who is isolating or not?

    Im thinking about bringing in El Ghazi for my BB.

    1. kringe
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I can only find Trezeguet so far

  24. drughi
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    5 players in the postponed leeds southampton game, zero in the added villa newcastle game. The fpl gods are smiling at me

  25. MagicMessi
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Grealesh Captian anyone ? !

    1. KEN YA DIG IT
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      risky

  26. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Unflag Che please 🙂

  27. Captain Vantastic™
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I thought BB was to be used only on dgw players? Why use on players playing just once? Can understand they have good fixture but it would be better used on dgw players?

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Just the way the cookie crumbles.

    2. Chris_H
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      The issue sometimes is you spread you budget too thinly across 15 DGWers for the sake of it and then you're left with "too balanced" a squad for subsequent fixtures - there's always one or two SGW players who will do well too.

      1. joey
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        In a way I was looking forward to using BB so I could cheapen my bench and reduce the chance of me making the wrong benching decision which I seem to most weeks. The Villa postponement fudged me though, had to FH and now only have 1 transfer with DCL and Brewster up top as well as Dallas, Bamford and Dier with singles. I'd happily play Bamford and Dier regardless but I'm not wasting BB with Brewster in the mix. Can do Dallas and DCL to Stones and Watkins but that doesn't give me enough to replace Brewster with someone decent, much less someone decent with 2 games.

  28. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    What about my heavy Arsenal bench? Not sure it would get any better than this??

    DDG
    Dias Cancelo Coufal Yedlin
    Salah De Bruyne Fernandes Soucek Bamford Antonio(-4)

    Martinez Lacazette Smith-Rowe Tierney

    1. MagicMessi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Against Newcastle home feels wrong to bench ! BB justified
      I have Tierney ESR Holding bench

  29. rubberdignerapids
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Lookman (Chelsea and United at home)

    or

    Antonio -4 (Burnley and West Brom at home)?

  30. Werner Bremen
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Kane to Vardy for a hit, surely?

    1. OptimusBlack
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I think No

    2. rubberdignerapids
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Am still looking at this, but Kane against a toothless Sheffield could easily outscore a Vardy double gw