Pro Pundits

The best Antonio replacements ahead of West Ham’s fixture swing

Despite Michail Antonio’s (£6.6m) recent form, West Ham’s fixture swing means I am considering who to replace him with for Double Gameweek 25.

In Double Gameweek 19 he delivered 18 points for managers who decided to gamble on his fitness but there are alternatives with better fixtures now and I think this is the correct timing to part ways with Antonio.

So, in this article, I will take a deep look at the pros and cons of the players I identified as the best Antonio replacements and the two possible strategies I am considering. But first, a quick recap of how Gameweek 24 affected my team and my overall ranking…

DOUBLE GAMEWEEK 24 REVIEW

Can Jesse Lingard follow up on his West Ham debut FPL haul 10

As an alternative, I considered getting Danny Ings (£8.4m) for Antonio, who was recovering from injury and was considered a doubt for his home match against Sheffield United. I decided against this option because it was too risky to sell Antonio ahead of such an easy fixture and I wanted one more week to assess several forwards before deciding who would be the best option to replace the West Ham striker. 

Regardless of how impressive Antonio has been lately, a lack of Double Gameweeks coupled with tough fixtures and recurrent injuries, means he is one of the weakest links in my team at the moment. Considering that his ownership in the top 10k was roughly 60% in Double Gameweek 24, I assume many other Fantasy managers are in the same boat, so let’s take a closer look at some of the best forwards available right now.

harry kane fpl injury return spurs west brom gameweek 23

HARRY KANE (£11.0m) – The main appeal of Kane is the strong possibility of an excellent Double Gameweek 26, when Tottenham Hotspur will face Burnley (home) and probably either Fulham (away) or Southampton (home). Many managers are already planning on using their triple captain chip on the Spurs striker and it will be a scary proposition to go without such an explosive asset when his ownership will be so big.


However, in my case, going for Kane is only possible if I decide to downgrade one of Mohamed Salah (£12.6m), Bruno Fernandes (£11.5m) or Son Heung-min (£9.5m), which is something I am reluctant to do. After all, these three players will also probably play twice in Gameweek 26 and every single one of them can easily outscore Kane. All in all, I do not think I am willing to perform major surgery in my squad just to fit Kane in unless, of course, some of my players get injured between now and the Gameweek 26 deadline.

JAMIE VARDY (£10.1m) – Just like Kane, Vardy might be a bit too expensive to fit into my plans without compromising the rest of my squad too much but after watching another stellar performance from the Leicester City legend at the King Power Stadium against Liverpool, in which he accumulated an impressive total of 1.27 expected goals (xG) from five shots, he deserves at least to be considered for the third spot in my forward line.

However, with two away matches against Aston Villa and Brighton in either side of a potential Double Gameweek 26, there is not much else in favour of Vardy other than his impressive display against the defending champions. Will he and the Foxes be able to carry their form going forward? It is impossible to know and I think I am not willing to pay Vardy’s hefty price to find out when there are several other cheaper options with better short-term fixtures.

 1

DANNY INGS – There is a decent chance that Southampton will have two Double Gameweeks in the near future and possibly even three. As usual, whenever the Saints’ schedule looks appealing, Ings is the player to target considering how miles ahead he is in terms of attacking threat when compared to any of his teammates. Che Adams (£5.8m) was a notable exception in the first half of this season but he does not seem to be nailed anymore so everyone’s attention is back on Ings.

Looking at his schedule and the possibility of several Double Gameweeks, it is hard to argue against Ings as an option but in 2020/21, he hasn’t quite reached his levels of last season, both in underlying statistics and actual output. However, his form seems to be improving after three good performances in the last few weeks (including a goal in the FA Cup at the Molineux Stadium) and he is someone I am strongly considering as my Antonio replacement.

DOMINIC CALVERT-LEWIN (£7.7m) – After missing the last two matches due to injury and with the Merseyside derby scheduled for Saturday, Calvert-Lewin is not on my plans for Gameweek 25. Although, there is the option of benching Antonio this Gameweek and then getting the Toffees’ striker for his possibly amazing Double Gameweek 26, in which he will have two great opportunities to add more goals to his already impressive tally of 13 for the season.

There is also the chance he will get another Double Gameweek before Gameweek 29 and if it is confirmed, it will be hard to ignore the young Everton star.

PATRICK BAMFORD (£6.9m) AND OLLIE WATKINS (£6.5m) – They would be my top priorities to replace Antonio if they were not in my team already. Bamford will be my captain this week and I am happy to hold Watkins given his kind pricing and the fact that he always plays 90 minutes for an exciting Aston Villa team.

CONCLUSION

If I decide to sell Antonio this week, Ings seems to be the obvious choice. Kane and Vardy would require a downgrade elsewhere and Calvert-Lewin has a tough fixture at Anfield Road while Ings plays twice and the match against Leeds United on Tuesday seems destined for goals.

However, I am not sure Ings is the best option to hold after Gameweek 25, so there is still the possibility that I decide to keep (and probably bench) Antonio one more week and then switch him to Calvert-Lewin, Kane or Vardy ahead of Double Gameweek 26.

This will be a late decision for me, since there is still the chance that future Double Gameweeks are officially announced before Friday’s deadline. At the same time, press conferences can always throw some curveballs at us, so it is hard to know what the best course of action is at the moment I am writing this article.

If I would have to guess, I would say it is likely I will gamble with Ings this week and then try to switch him next week to Calvert-Lewin but, as we know, planning transfers beyond the current Gameweek rarely works so I will have to give this option a bit more thought.

1,460 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Earn your Spurs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    There will be more DGWs later in the season?

    1. Quan MisTaka
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nah all DGW have been played

      1. Earn your Spurs
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        OK poor phrasing - deserved a stupid reply - I was looking for when might there be more DGWs. Do you know when they will be please?

        1. Quan MisTaka
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          lol. I think I there will be quite a few, but none on this scale

    2. Sean
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      None of this scale but I think one in GW37

  2. EWH2020
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A) Targett and Rudiger
    B) El Mohamady and Soyuncu

    1. Quan MisTaka
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

  3. GOTHAM City F.C.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Lineup?

  4. Quan MisTaka
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    On WC

    Dias or Pereira.

    Already have Cancelo.

    1. coriswrasse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Both are expensive given the options that abound. Gun to the head: Dias. Mostly nailed on a damn good side.

    2. Tabasco
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Shaw or Dunk; Laporte and Aké coming back in to the mix screams even more rotation for Stones & Dias

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

    Any Gundogan news?

    1. Quan MisTaka
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Didnt fully train. Doubt for Arsenal

    2. Gomolon
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      new article on front page re gundog

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

      Check the tweets

  6. shady4revr
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez
    Struijk Mee Shaw
    Sterling Fernandes Salah Son Gundo
    Bamford Barnes
    Walton Dias Antonio Dunne

    1 Free transfer 0.7 in bank

    Confused. Help.

    1. Gomolon
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Barnes or Antonio to Watkins

      1. shady4revr
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Double gw players?

  7. Captain_Shirokov
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    grealish out would lock in using my wc

  8. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pens downs?

    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      take a pill

    2. FPL price manipulators are …
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Too early

      1. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Pens up?

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

      Pants

    4. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Lost pens

  9. Michelle Davin
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Sterling,alioski,Brewster
    To
    Raphina,konsa,Kane (-4)

    Leaves me enough to do Antonio to watkins next week

    Should be good no?

  10. stefanbkanev
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hello guys, I need your help:

    Order this 4 please:

    A) Cancelo (ars)
    B) Gundo (ars)
    C) DCL (liv)
    D) TAA (EVE)

    Other team is:

    Martinez

    Lowton, Rudiger,

    Salah, Fernandes, Grealish, Raphinha

    Ings, Bamford

    I`m currently on: D, A, B (first bench), C

    1. Quan MisTaka
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      ABCD

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B C D A

  11. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What are the chances for Villa and Spurs to have a double gw ?

    1. Quan MisTaka
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      2 minutes

    2. Captain_Shirokov
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      impossible to tell

    3. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      30%/30%/30%

  12. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    2 freakin minutes!!!!

  13. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench 1

    Mee (Pope in goal)
    Dias
    Cancelo (currently on bench)

    Is it worth playing the Dbl city defense over dbl Burnley defense?

    1. Abra Dubravka
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Bench Mee

      1. Warby84
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Or play 5-4-1 and play all...

  14. Pedram
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Grealish is out and my wild card is activated

    1. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I'm strongly considering a late WC now

    2. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Lmao

      1. Fpl Richie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Why? I have 5 doubts now

  15. Mattador
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Has there been confirmation of a DGW26? if so which teams play twice? seeing wildcard for BB next week but can't see any rearragned fixtures for that week yet? What am I missing

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Endless speculation but no confirmation.

  16. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    EVERYBODY PANIC

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I’m chill though

  17. WE GO FOR IT
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is Veltman nailed for Brighton?

  18. Abra Dubravka
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Gtg? Bench Grealish or DCL?

    Pope
    Dias, Stones, Dallas
    Salah, Bruno, Gundo, Raphinha, Grealish
    Bamford(c), Ings

    Bench: DCL, Digne, Coufal

    1. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Tough call, but play Grealish

      1. Abra Dubravka
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers mate

  19. Salalalalah
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who to captain
    a) Bamford
    b) Raphinha
    c) Ings

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

      I think B will score the most points but I'm a wimp so gone A

      1. Salalalalah
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        ya, I think b or c if you are chasing, and a if leading

    2. Abra Dubravka
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

  20. AnfieldLad
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pope
    Cancelo TAA Stones Tarkowski
    Gundo Grealish Salah Bruno
    Antonio Bamford
    (Johnson Soucek Coufal Brewster)
    2FT

    A) Gundo Antonio -> Raphinha Kane
    B) Soucek -> Raphina (bench Gundo or Stones)

  21. Holmes
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Maja aa gaya

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      For sure

    2. Thomas Shelby from Birmingh…
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Fulham Mein

  22. Sean
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Happy New Year

  23. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Saka and Justin to Raph and Brighton defender for - 8?

  24. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Everybody WC right now quickly!

  25. Kane Train
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Konsa or Targett for DGW26?

  26. Rains of Castamere
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pens down

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

    Release the Kracken!

  28. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Reset the countdown 😀

  29. Maddi Son
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Just my luck, not the DGW I was hoping for

  30. Firminooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pens up.