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. MikeLowrey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Have WC, BB and FH to use, but think I might wait:

    Martinez
    Dias Cancelo Dallas
    Salah Bruno Son Gundo Grealish*
    DCL Bamford

    (Forster Mitchel Coufal Brewster)

    A)Grealish to Barnes (-4)
    B) Coufal to Digne (-4) - Bench Grealish
    C) Grealish and Bamford to Pereira and Kane (-8)
    D) WC

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

    Went Maddison to Barnes. Hard to see Maddison getting much gametime in DGW but also expecting a bit less from Barnes without Maddison creativity. Possibly Tielemans will step up the creativity.

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

    Any Everton fan around? Is Pickford 100% nailed to play both games?
    Carlo said something about rotating GK and actually did it once if I remember correctly.

    1. marcos11
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I think he should be fine given his recent performances

      1. how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yikes. Hadnt seen that and was going to get him in today.

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

          you welcome 🙂
          (Pickford haul incoming)

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

    Start:

    1) Lowton (tot, LEI)
    2) Raphinha (AVL)

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

      Same dilemma for me, I’m on B atm

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

        Same. Average player/team playing twice, or brilliant player/good team playing once. Classic DGW conundrum.

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

    I don’t actually think that sounds great for Grealish, period of rest reccomended and close to being pain free which means nothing really

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

      Sounds like he’ll be back for 29 though which is nice for all Villa assets

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

    Who to TC?

    1.Bruno (rested 45m EL but faces Chelsea away and he dont perform good enought big teams).
    2. CL (Everton is always unknow)
    3. Salah (mb vs SHU good performing altought Liverpool are bad atm)
    4. Vardy (always does something but played yesterday and plays vs ARS and BUR)

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

      I wouldn’t go Vardy but the other 3 all have their merits.

      Would lean towards DCL due to fixtures.

    2. jimmyharte
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Wheres Kane. Has to be Kane. From what you got Vardy.

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

        no funds.. ITB 0.0
        actually not happy with the situation because in my league rivals problably going for Kane but i got Vardy last 2 weeks and i also got Pieters who got injuried and blow my plans now.

        I got DCL, Bamford and Vardy

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

      Bruno.

  7. fplking14
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Digne or Ricardo?

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

      Digne

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

        Didnt know you were on first name terms. Digne ha

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

      Ricardo. RW

      1. fplking14
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Digne has played LWB the past 2 games

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

          Pereira has Castagne behind him defending and supplying him. Rodgers could tweak that formation though.

          1. fplking14
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            He played Thomas LB to neutralise Grealish. Could he drop Thomas, put Castagne LB and move Ricardo RB?

    3. Chandler Bing
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Pereira for me

      1. fplking14
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Why?

    4. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Digne

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

      Ricardo - Leicester can keep clean sheets and he was playing a sort of Cancelo quarterback type role in the last game vs Villa

      1. fplking14
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yh but Digne has played LWB as well the past few games. Ricardo played CAM last night as well.

    6. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Ricardo

      1. fplking14
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Why?

  8. jimmyharte
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bring in one for this DGW 26!

    A) Lookman
    B) Neto
    C) Mount
    D) Eze

    Cheers!

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

      Maybe mount

  9. Igz08
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone knows future TC possibilities? I’m guessing 33/34?

  10. Chandler Bing
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you take El Mohamady out for a hit instead of Dallas? Got him on WC due to Cash's injury but apparently Cash is now back.

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

    Selling one from:

    A) Sterling - decent form but many not play both games
    B) Son - no form but should get the minutes

  12. arkom
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Most NAILED defender from Spurs is??

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

      Dier

    2. dshv
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Lloris***

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

        Martinez here

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

      Dier

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

      Kane 🙁

    5. jimmyharte
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Reggie

  13. RohanVaswani
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Worth taking a punt on kdb as captain?

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

    Martinez
    Cancelo Dias Lowton
    Grealish* Salah Bruno Gundo
    DCL Kane Bamford
    Pope - Raphinha - Dallas - Coufal 0.9itb 0ft

    A move would be a hit. Grealish injury basically screwed things up sadly.

    A. Start him and let a Leeds player come in if needs be.
    B. Bench (and again play both Leeds).
    C. Grealish to Barnes/Traore (-4) but guarantees another move for 29.
    D. Lowton/other defender upgrade (-4)

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

      c if out

  15. dshv
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    It is not so bad to go TC DCL ??

    Have bruno, don’t have Kane

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

      dcl has the fixtures, could easily match/beat kane

  16. Gizzachance
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    thoughts appreciated 1ft 0itb
    martinez*
    rudiger* cancelo* lowton*
    bruno* salah* ster* gundo* raph
    ings bam dcl*

    pope lowton dallas coufal (b boost?)
    A ings to watkins* free
    B ings and raph to barnes*and watkins* -4
    thanks

  17. jaywills
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hi Chaps

    What to do?
    Team:
    Pope (Mccarthy)
    Dallas, Cancelo, Dias, Coufal (Justin)
    Salah, Gundogen, Fernandes, Son, Raphina
    Che Adams, Antonio, Bamford.

    2 FT:

    Options:
    A) Che Adams and James Justin- DCL and Jamal Lewis in
    B) Mccarthy, Justin, Antonio out - Forster, Targett, DCL in?
    C) Antonio and James Justin out - DCL and Mason Holgate in
    D) Salah, Che Adams, James Justin out - Barnes, Kane, Digne in

    Cheers!

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

    TC this week looks decent.
    Who to give it to?
    Fernandes
    Son
    Gundogan
    ?

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

      Or even DCL??

    2. WG010692
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Son is due a goal or 2

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

        not sure i like the "due" argument. you can look at 1 goal in 8 weeks pretty badly.

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

      Bruno or DCL

    4. Ibacchus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Bruno out of those

    5. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      DCL

  19. RohanVaswani
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A) Kdb Watkins Holgate Johnstone

    Or

    B) Gundo Vardy Cancelo Martinez

    1. WG010692
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

  20. nicecat
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Start one:

    a. Rudiger (MUN h, LIV a)
    b. Benteke (FUL h, MUN h)
    c. Mitchell (FUL h, MUN h)

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

      Big Ben for the banter

  21. Cruz88
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Call me crazy, but considering a Utd defender. Do we think Shaw starts both matches this week, given that its City at the weekend?

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

      Good pick with some attacking threat.

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

      Yep

  22. VinMar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anyway i can improve Template FC on wc

    Martinez (Fabri)
    Cancelo, Stones, Rudiger, (Burn, Strujik)
    Salah, Bruno, Son, Gundo, Barnes
    Kane (c), DCL (Davis)

    0itb
    FH in 33
    No BB

    1. WG010692
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Looks good to me.

  23. Ibacchus
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hey guys,

    Really tough decisions for this week. This is my team going in to the dgw

    Martinez
    Cancelo Stones Tarkowski
    Salah Bruno Gundogan Son Raphina
    Ings DCL
    -Pope Bamford Dallas Cuofal

    1. Ings, Pope, Tarkowski for Kane (TC), Mccarthy and Adarabioyo -8. Would give me Mccarthy for the double next week and also for him to play 31/32 when Martinez faces pool and city
    2. Ings, Pope, Tarkowski for Kane, Fabri and Dunk/Keane/Targett
    3. Raphina and Ings for Barnes and Watkins and skip Kane. Would also mean less players in bgw 29
    4. Something else...

    Appreciate the help!

  24. jdogg
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A tc dcl

    B -4 for antonio to watkins and bb
    (Mccarthey mee dallas bamford)

    C neither.x

  25. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Grealish >>
    A) Bale ( would be a triple up with Son and Kane. Have Palace in 27. Play in 29 and Newcastle in 30)
    B) Traore ( Possible dgw in 28 and game in 29)
    C) Lookman ( Game in 29)

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A!

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

      D) Barnes

      1. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I hate these answers.
        If I was considering Barnes then he would be in the options.
        Thanks anyway.

        1. veedub1989
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Out of those options, A (Bale) for me. He's looked great recently.

          Lookman is an option but his games are tougher between now and GW29. I'd bring him in later if you can (that's my plan).

  26. Eirern
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A) Son + Watkins
    B) Barnes + Richarlison

    Have Kane and DCL

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

    Dunk -> Pereira (-4)

    Yay or Nay

  28. Atters
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A) Richarlison and DCL
    Or
    B) Vardy and Maja

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

  29. WG010692
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Any help appreciated;

    Mendy, Ings and Lowton -> Martinez, Kane (TC) and Mitchell worth the -8??

    Mendy - (4.0)
    Cancelo Dias Lowton (Dallas Coufal)
    Salah Son Gundo Bruno (Raphinha)
    Bamford Ings Watkins

    Cheers

  30. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is grealish to barnes worth a hit?

    If he was suspended for 1 game and I knew he'd play the second, I'd probably keep - especially with 29 in mind.

    But not sure I have faith he'll play at all.

    1. WG010692
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      With Barnes double gameweek, its only really a -2 to get him in, just depends on your GW 29 plan though.