Dugout Discussion

Watkins leads Villa line as Barkley benched for Leeds trip

Ollie Watkins (£6.5m) leads the Aston Villa attack for their first Double Gameweek 26 match: a trip to Leeds.

Any pre-deadline rumours about an injury for the forward were assuaged as he was named on the team-sheet this afternoon.

Dean Smith has still tweaked his Villa side though, moving to a 4-3-3 which involves a drop to the bench for Ross Barkley (£5.9m), who has failed to impress of late.

Anwar El Ghazi (£5.3m) and Bertrand Traoré (£5.9m) flank Watkins while Jacob Ramsey (£4.5m), Marvelous Nakamba (£4.3m) and John McGinn (£5.5m) comprise the central midfield trio.

Matt Targett (£4.9m) is the most fashionable member of Villa’s back-four with 13.4% ownership while the 0.4%-owned Ahmed El Mohamady (£4.3m) offers a differential route at right-back.

Leeds assets may only have one fixture in Double Gameweek 26 but they do come into the round full of confidence.

Marcelo Bielsa makes just one change from the win over Southampton, affording himself the line-up that won the second half 3-0 on Monday night.

Hélder Costa (£5.0m) comes in for Jack Harrison (£5.5m) on the left-hand side of midfield while Pascal Struijk (£4.0m) continues in the holding role.

Patrick Bamford (£6.9m) remains in 52.7% of Fantasy Premier League teams worldwide, Stuart Dallas (£5.0m) still backed by 21.0%.

Double Gameweek 26 Line-ups

Leeds United XI (4-1-4-1): Meslier; Dallas, Cooper, Llorente, Ayling; Struijk; Costa, Roberts, Klich, Raphinha; Bamford.

Aston Villa XI (4-3-3): Martínez; Targett, Mings, Konsa, Elmohamady; Ramsey, Nakamba, McGinn; El Ghazi, Watkins, B Traoré.

Double Gameweek 26 so far…

West Bromwich Albion recorded a much-needed second clean sheet of the campaign as they beat Brighton 1-0.

Crucially, it makes for back-to-back shutouts for the first time this season, good news for those who invested in either the out-of-position Ainsley Maitland-Niles (£4.6m) for Double Gameweek 26.

The Arsenal loanee was deployed on the right-hand flank of attacking midfield once again and enjoyed a decent chance to score in the first half.

Still, it was an interesting afternoon for Sam Johnstone (£4.5m) owners. They benefitted from the Baggies’ clean sheet and also secured a raft of extras, two for saves and two bonus (provisional).

However, his Double Gameweek 26 score could have already stood at close to 20 points had Brighton’s penalties gone a different way on Saturday.

Pascal Groß (£5.8m) and Danny Welbeck (£5.5m) both missed spot-kicks but each of them struck the woodwork, denying Johnstone the chance to earn a Fantasy reward in each instance.

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883 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    El Ghazi Goal, Watkins assist

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Slippy pitch AA

  2. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    ELGHAZI GOAL
    WATKINS ASSIST

  3. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    El Ghazi G
    Watkins A

  4. Hy liverpool
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Ollie assist

  5. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    I guess it's important to remember that even if we're having a bad gameweek that someone out there somewhere has a Gross and Welbeck double up

    1. MoSalad
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Hahaha got to be the minority

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Thinking of the positives, trying to remember there is always someone worse off

  6. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Bench boost off to a great start with Sanchez, Dallas

  7. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Watkins A. Thank you hindimonkey.

  8. mezza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Get in Ollie

  9. MoSalad
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Watkinnnssss booommmmmm!!! All those trolls looking stupid!

  10. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Yes get in!!

  11. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Watkins. Yeah!

  12. Silecro
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Waaaaaaaaaaatkinsssssss AAAAAAA

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Assisted the assist of the assist of the assist of the assist of the assist of the assist?

  13. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Clinical assist from Watkins.

  14. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Pitch is a mess.

    Bamford to Raph nearly identical a few mins earlier.

  15. sminkypinky
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Watkins with an assist already. Now for Leeds assets. Let the goals overflow!

  16. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Dallas fail

  17. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Injured Watkins assists, nice!

  18. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Yes Ollieeeee!

    A goal now lad!

  19. ivantys
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Villa playing better again without Barkley

  20. GOTHAM City F.C.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Any chance of a second whistle?

  21. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Dallas Bam Raph BB

    Wonderful

    1. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Same here, Cancelo too

      1. Stupendous
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Cancelo Guido Bam Raph Dallas so far

        Stones at least

    2. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      What watkins has to do with bamford and Raphinha?

    3. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      They're in my 11. No benchboost.

  22. HonestBlatter
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    DALLAS FAILURE

  23. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Did Watkins score a hat trick in the first 5 mins?

  24. Liberate HK - antichinazi
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Dallas goal needed

  25. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Got excited for a moment seeing "El..... goal", then realised they have El Ghazi as well as El Mohamady

  26. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Watkiiins you ledge!

  27. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Leeds pitch is an absolute disgrace.

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      This

    2. sminkypinky
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Agreed.

    3. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      It’s Spurs pitch that’s why!

  28. Amey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Watkins assist from "OUT" !

  29. Esalman
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    So glad kept Watkins on WC

  30. sminkypinky
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    I don’t get that Leeds pitch. It’s been like that for several games now. Time to hire new staff.