Pro Pundits - Lateriser

India’s reigning FPL champion answers Double Gameweek 26 questions

Fantasy Premier League managers are always full of questions whenever there’s a Double Gameweek and this week we face the biggest in the game’s history.

Given that my season is down in the dumps, I thought I would take some of these questions and try to help you guys instead.

Let’s get started…

QUESTION ONE

Who are the Bench Boost enablers and cheap defensive options? Also can you look into how defence is the only differential currently in the game as the template grows stronger?

(from @fplmasalah)

Hi Nehal, thank you so much for the question. When it comes to enablers and cheap defensive options for the Bench Boost, there are lot of options that have come to the fore recently. 

Two teams that have two fixtures in Double Gameweek 26, and have displayed some really strong performances of late are Fulham and West Brom. 

The Baggies have a great run of fixtures in the next three Gameweeks where they face Brighton and Hove Albion (home), Everton (home), Newcastle United (home) and Crystal Palace (away). 

Sam Allardyce’s men are 11 points off safety at the moment and what this tells me is that in these next four games, they have to go the win and try to accumulate three points. 

The way West Brom played against Burnley while they were down to ten men really caught my eye. I have been really impressed by their new forward Mbaye Diagne (£6.0m) who seems to be getting a big chance every game he’s playing.

In the last four Gameweeks, out of all the players costing £6.5 million or less, Diagne is top of the table for big chances and xG non-penalty. I like his fixtures, his underlying numbers and the recent form for the team. I also prefer Diagne to Fulham’s Josh Maja (£5.5m) primarily because of the fixtures Maja has after Double Gameweek 26 where he faces Liverpool (away) and Manchester City (home) in Gameweeks 27 and 28 respectively. 

In defence, I quite like the look of out-of-position defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles (£4.6m) who is finding himself in the box very often for this West Brom team. He could have easily had a goal and assist in the Burnley match.

Gameweek 21 Scout Picks features another Man City triple-up

Fulham’s defensive numbers have been very impressive as well which is why Alphonse Areola (£4.5m) is my favourite budget goalkeeper option for the Bench Boost. 

In the last six matches, Fulham are amongst the top five defences in the league for shots in the box conceded. They have kept four clean sheets in the last seven games and, in general, have tightened up at the back. In addition, Areola has a match in Blank Gameweek 29. 

Fulham’s motivation cannot be questioned at the moment. Scott Parker has galvanised his troops and they are in the midst of a very interesting relegation battle. They are going to treat each match as a cup final which is why I like the budget picks emerging in defence and in attack.

With regards to your comment where defence is the only differential in the game at the moment, I strongly disagree. Son Heung-min (£9.5m) is owned by 51% of the game and has scored only one goal in his last eight Premier League starts. The likes of Harvey Barnes (£6.9m) and Kevin De-Bruyne (£11.8m) are still owned by under 20% of the game. Harry Kane (£11.1m) who has a good looking Double Gameweek in 26 and some decent follow up fixtures is still under 30% owned. 

While I agree that there are a lot of good differential picks emerging in defence and that it has been very difficult to beat the template this season, it is not the only place to make ground.

QUESTION TWO

How the top 10k FPL managers set their teams up for Double Gameweek 24

What is the best time for using the Free Hit Chip?

(from @m7mdi_Rm)

My Wire co-host and fellow Pro Pundit Zophar has looked at this in detail. You can read that by CLICKING HERE.

QUESTION THREE

Double Gameweek 26 Scout Picks built on Man City and Everton assets 3

Rank these defenders considering fixtures: Marcos Alonso (£5.7m), Lucas Digne (£6.1m), Ricardo Pereira (£5.9m), Luke Shaw (£5.1m), John Stones(£5.2m)/ Ruben Dias (£6.1m)

(from @FPLfrasier)

There is a lot of interest in defenders at the moment which is why I thought I would take this question on. So here’s what I think. 

First up, I would have one of the Manchester City defenders as my pick. Despite Pep Guardiola mentioning that he’s going to constantly rotate his team, Dias looks fairly nailed-on and is still very cheap for what he offers. 

The way Manchester City are playing at the moment, it will be a surprise if they don’t keep a clean sheet. They have four games in the next two Gameweeks and you would expect them to shut their opponents out in at least three of them. 

I really like Shaw right now. I have been talking about him for a long long time. The Manchester United man is the cheapest defender of all those you have mentioned and his underlying statistics are off the charts. 

Salah and Fernandes blank again as focus shifts to defensive assets 8

In the last six matches, Shaw is second for chances created among all outfield players in the league not. Not just that, his delivery has a lot of quality, he’s on set pieces and in the last two games in particular, he’s been coming a lot closer to goal. I would not be surprised to see Shaw get a goal as well very soon. I’m not particularly worried about his rotation threat either. 

My third preference is potential out of position Pereira. He looked great against Aston Villa and there is a lot of upside with this pick playing on the right-wing for Leicester City. They have good follow-up fixtures after the Double Gameweek as well. 

My fourth preference is Digne and surprisingly Alonso is my least favourite option primarily because of what I saw at the weekend. Thomas Tuchel was visibly not happy with Alonso’s performance in the draw with Southampton and if we are to jump on Alonso, I think the right thing to do would be to judge his performance in two very difficult games in Double Gameweek 26 and if he comes through that unscathed. Chelsea have good fixtures after that so it’s a matter of one or two Gameweeks where Alonso could move from my fifth choice to first or second based on how he does in the over the next few days

QUESTION FOUR

What should I do with Danny Ings (£8.5m)?

(from @tanyasharma)

It does not look very encouraging for Ings at the moment does it? Personally I think there is enough upside in removing him for Double Gameweek 26 considering one of his two fixtures in Double Gameweek 27 is against Manchester City.

The moves to make would be either an upgrade to a trigger-happy Harry Kane (who is a real captaincy option for me) or a downgrade to a fit Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.7m) who has a very good set of fixtures in Double Gameweek 26. 

That’s it from me for this round of The Burning Question. I hope you enjoyed this article.

For more discussion, you can watch the latest episode of the FPL Wire linked below where we had both Tom Freeman and Zophar on a Wildcard, which made for a really interesting episode.

804 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Chief Break-Everything
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Rangers!

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

    Is this worth it?

    Ings/Bamford/Dallas > Kane/DCL/Burn (-8)

    Leaves my BB active with:

    Martinez* Areola*
    Cancelo* Stones* Targett* Burn Amartey*
    Salah* Bruno* Son* Gundogan* Raphinha
    Kane* (c) DCL* Watkins*

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

      I wouldn't

    2. FCSB
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Don’t think it’s worth bb

  3. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bamford to Watkins for a hit is going to backfire massively, isn't it?

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

      Nah

  4. Ha.
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who scores more?

    A. DCL and Barnes
    B. Kane x2

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

      A

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

        I'm leaning this way

        Also doesn't look like Grealish is out for long and so could swap Barnes back to him after the next few

  5. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    If you have to pick one to play this week:

    1. Bamford
    2. Raphinha

    Would be the 11th man, the rest DGWs

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

      2

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

    No Grealish. Still worth doing Antonio to Watkins (-4) on my BB?

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

    BB or TC here? *=sgw 1ft 0.0itb

    Martinez
    Cancelo Stones Taylor
    Salah Son Bruno Gundogan
    DCL Bamford* Ings*

    Ramsdale Soucek* Holding* Dallas*

    A) Ings, Soucek, Holding to Diagne, Barnes, Dier -8 and BB

    B) Ings to Richarlison/Watkins and TC Bruno probably

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

      You could probably have 3 SGW and BB.

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

        Yes but that's the case in any of the remaining gameweeks anyway if i don't use it this week? So thinking a -8 for a few more double gameweekers. Less chanse of a complete noshow too with the doubles.

  8. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hey fam! Is this worth -12 for Bench Boost?

    Antonio Coufal Tarkowski Bamford to Watkins Dias Digne Maja.

    Gives me the following team

    Martinez Areola
    Cancelo Dias Maguire Digne Targett
    Salah Bruno Son Gundogan Raphinha
    DCL Watkins Maja

    1. Gives me 3rd City player in Dias with two back to back DGWs.

    2. Gives me Digne for amazing DGW this week and possibly GW28 as well.

    3. Maja gives me a DGW26 as well as BGW29 player.

    4. Watkins becomes my 3rd Villa player with couple of DGWs coming up and a player for BGW29.

    5. Will probably get 3 players who play in BGW29 with three FTs from GW27 to GW29. ( Mostly Bamford, Dallas & Dunk for DCL, Maguire & Cancelo/Dias)

    6. No WC, No FH remaining. BB & TC remaining.

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

      -12 pretty much negates the value of BB

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

        I got 8 points on my BB. Literally anything can happen!

    2. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nope.

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

      -12 just seems outrageous.

      If you aim to get a reasonable 20 points on a BB, then you’ve basically negated it.

  9. Chief Break-Everything
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez
    Cancelo Stones Dallas
    Son Salah Bruno Gundogan Raphinha
    Kane Bamford

    Johnstone Deco-Reid Mitchell Coufal 0FT 1.8ITB

    A) DCL - Bamford -4. My ML rivals have both.
    B) Reid- Watkins -4 for an extra DGW player & differential
    C) Coufal - Shaw -4
    D) Ashaddappayouface

  10. jg7u
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I'm using my bench boost chip. Is any defender worth getting in with a - 4 for Dallas? Max price 4.9.

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nope

    2. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I don't think there is.

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

      DGW's cloud so much judgement. Dallas is a strong hold.

    4. cruzex
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      show me your team pls

  11. Nespinha
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pick one option from A and B please:

    A1) Lookman + DCL
    A2) Barnes + Diagne

    B1) BB with Areola, Bamford, Raphinha, Dallas (-4)
    B2) don't BB, use TC (DCL or Salah)

    1. Iwantmorepointsthanks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A1)

      If that's your actual bench it's fine to play it now

  12. stepper1971
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you BB this team or TC, and if TC Bruno, Salah or Kane (assuming Pep roulette)

    Pope
    Cancelo - Stones - Mee - Keane
    Bruno - Salah - Gundo
    Watkins - Kane - Ings

    Bench McCarthy - Raphina - Cresswell - Soucek

    BB, TC and wildcard chips left.

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

    This is killing me, please help:

    Martinez
    Cancelo Stones Robertson
    Salah Fernandes Gundogan Raphinha
    Bamford DCL Kane

    Pope Soucek Coufal Ferguson

    1FT, 0.8itb

    1. Ferguson >> Konsa [10DGWs] (play Bamford, bench Raphinha)
    2. Robertson >> Digne [9DGWs] (play Bamford and Raphinha)

    Thanks

  14. built_this_city
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Guys - keep Cancelo or Dias?

    1. Dr Jekyll
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I suspect Cancelo will be rested at least once so I've kept Dias
      I've got rid of Foden as he's unlikely to play twice .

  15. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Thanks for answering my Ings question LR.
    Unfortunately, I already have DCL and can't get to Kane without selling Son.....!

  16. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What should I do here?

    Martinez
    Digne Cancelo Tarkowski
    Bruno Sterling Son Gundogan Raphinha
    DCL Bamford

    Pope Ings Mitchell Coufal 1FT 0.5 ITB

    A) Son and Ings to Kane and Barnes (-4)?
    B) Sterling, Raphinha and Ings to Foden, Barnes and Kane (-8)
    C) Something else

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

      Ings+Tarkowski->Kane+4.3

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

        *no money for that move.

    2. mwa1t
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Sterling>Lookman/other budget mid, Ings>Kane

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

        Sterling to Barnes is doable

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

      Ings+Tarkowski+Pope->Kane+Holgate/Aina/Konsa+3.9?

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

        Cheers - the extra -4 on a non playing option stings a bit. Appreciate the input.

    4. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A with Sterling surely?

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

        Probably right Rafa

        1. RAFA THE GAFFA
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Reckon below mate? I think Ings >> Kane is a no brainier. Can then do Soucek >> Barnes or Coufal >> Digne? Or both for -8 haha. Or I could WC and get Salah and Martinez too and tidy a few things up

  17. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I don't understand the logic of taking -8 /-12 in order to bench boost. Surely you're just covering yourself if even that after taking the hits. Doesn't sound like good business to me.

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

      Have to look at the transfers individually though as is the case in all gameweeks.

    2. im1974
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Let the idiots do it. I fully expect negative BB stories...

  18. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is it worth to do any of these transfers and bench Dallas?
    a)Ogbonna->Reguilon(-4)
    b)Ogbonna->Mings(-4)
    c)Ogbonna->Evans(-4)

    Johnstone
    Mee/Dallas/Dias
    Sterling/Barnes/Fernandes/Raphinha/Gundogan
    Kane/Dcl

    Pope/Bamford/Coufal/Ogbonna*
    0ft 0.6itb

    1. Boom XhakaLacaSaka
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A) but think dallas has more chance scoring more then mee

  19. Saka Punch
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hey guys, is Dunk -> Reguilon/Pereira worth a -4?

    1. Boom XhakaLacaSaka
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No

  20. Stimps
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Lowton to Dunk (-4)?

    1. Boom XhakaLacaSaka
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No

  21. GreennRed
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is there any chance more games will be added to the 4 in GW29?

  22. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Thoughts on this WC draft?

    Martinez
    Digne Dias Cancelo
    Salah Bruno Barnes Gundo
    Kane DCL Watkins
    3.9 Raphinha Rudiger Struijk

  23. cruzex
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    If I don't activate BB this GW when is the best time to activate it in the future?

    1. mwa1t
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Whenever your bench has decent fixtures, only upside this week is potential for dgw players on the bench

    2. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Any other week depending on fixtures of your players

    3. im1974
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      When you have a good bench. It’s not difficult

  24. Boom XhakaLacaSaka
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Final call after watching Leicester last night which trio would you rather have in your 11

    A) Kane, Lookman, B Mee
    B) Barnes, Son, A.Robinson

  25. Bobby's Teeth
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hi legends,

    On WC and would appreciate you ripping this team to shreds:

    Martinez
    Pereira Stones Digne
    Kdb Gundo Bruno Barnes
    DCL Kane Watkins

    Bench: Areola Raph Konsa N. Phillips

  26. Uns95
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    On a wildcard: Martinez + Cancelo, or, Ederson + Digne? I already have Stones.

    My only slight worry is Cancelo starting both games vs Ederson guaranteed starts and feel like Digne could do well this week.

  27. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Ings+Soucek >> Kane(C)+Barnes (-4)? And bench Bamford?

    Pope
    Dias, Cancelo, Tarko
    Son, Bruno, Gündo, Raphina
    Kane, DCL, Bamford
    (McCarthy, Dallas, Coufal, Soucek)

  28. leonickroberts
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pope
    Cancelo Dias Shaw
    Fernandes Sterling Salah Barnes Raph
    DCL Bamford

    (4.0, Dallas, Coufal, Brewster). Wildcarding next week. 9 playing twice, but worried about losing ground unless I have 10/11.

    a) Raph > Lookman (-8)
    b) Raph > Traoré (-8)
    c) Bamford > Watkins (-8)
    d) Stick

    First to 3 wins.

  29. tim
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I wonder is its took risky to go without Salah on WC?

    Sterling could take his place and Shaw one of city defs in my WC team.

  30. B0mberr
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Digne in for a -4 or just keep Kabak?