Frisking the Fixtures

Which Blank Gameweek 29 teams have the best fixtures beyond this weekend?

There’ll likely be hundreds of thousands of Free Hit chips being played this weekend, as Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers attempt to navigate around a four-match Gameweek 29.

We’ve already devoted plenty of coverage to the optimum Free Hit squads but not every FPL boss will have this chip in hand.

Others still in possession of the Free Hit will be waiting for another Gameweek to deploy it, meanwhile.

So for those looking at Blank Gameweek 29 assets as more than just a one-week punt, it’s worth taking a closer look at the games beyond this weekend.

We’ll be back over the international break with a more in-depth frisk of the fixtures once the other dozen clubs return to the fold.


GAMEWEEK 30-38 FIXTURES

THE GOOD

ARSENAL

Injury latest as Tierney misses Arsenal's Blank Gameweek 18 fixture

Arsenal’s fixtures stand out in particular from Gameweek 31 onwards, with six of their final eight matches against clubs in the bottom half – although the flip side to that argument is that these Premier League strugglers will be scrapping for their survival.

Fantasy managers without a Wildcard intact may well look upon the likes of Kieran Tierney (£5.2m), Bukayo Saka (£5.3m) and Bernd Leno (£5.0m) not just as one-week-only punts but also longer-term holds, with even the Gameweek 30 home clash against a sub-par Liverpool not the fearsome test it once was.

The downside with Arsenal assets, of course, is rotation risk.

In between Gameweeks 24-28, Arsenal faced Benfica twice and Olympiacos in the Europa League.

Only Leno and Granit Xhaka (£5.2m) have escaped a benching in the league over that period, with Aubameyang and Saka most notably rested in the win over Leicester City at the back-end of February.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Kane, Son and Salah blank as FPL Double Gameweek 26 limps to its conclusion 2

The chief reason that Spurs don’t feature higher up the Season Ticker is that they blank in Gameweek 33 thanks to the clash with the EFL Cup final.

Their outstanding fixture from that weekend, a home match against an out-of-sorts Southampton, is yet to be rescheduled, but there is a strong possibility that it could fall in Gameweek 32 given that subsequent free midweeks would be scarce if they continue to progress in the UEFA Europa League.

Spurs assets are a god-send for those using their Free Hit chip in Gameweek 33 but even for the rest of us, fixtures against less-than-watertight defences in Newcastle, Sheffield United, Leeds United and potentially Saints stand out between now and Gameweek 35 and are worth navigating around that blank.

The Lilywhites have become flat-track bullies of late: they have lost their last seven matches against clubs in the top half, with all of their victories from Gameweek 11 onwards coming against Leeds (12th), Sheffield United (20th), West Bromwich Albion (19th), Burnley (15th), Fulham (18th) and Crystal Palace (11th).


THE MIXED BAG

LEEDS UNITED

Leeds assets look ideal for Gameweek 31 Wildcarders.

The Whites can be lumped on for a Blank Gameweek 29 clash with an admittedly improved Fulham, with a tasty-looking Yorkshire derby against a desperate Sheffield United following after the international break.

Stuart Dallas (£5.1m) and co can then be cast aside, benched or at least whittled down to one or two representatives before they return with a vengeance in the final three Gameweeks.

ASTON VILLA

Aston Villa have more games to play (11) than any other team in the division, with an as-yet-unannounced Double Gameweek clash involving Everton something to look forward to.

The downside is form, with Villa sitting in the bottom half over their last six, eight, 10 and 12 matches.

And the fixtures themselves are not great, with eight of their remaining 11 matches against teams in the top half.

The clean sheet prospects of Emiliano Martinez (£5.4m) don’t look too great in those games, given that he has kept just one shut-out against a team currently in the top eight.

FULHAM

Fulham haven’t been beaten by any club outside of the top eight since Gameweek 9 and they’ll face seven such ‘also-rans’ between now and the end of the season.

It’s the Cottagers’ much-improved defence that has really demanded FPL attention of late, with five shut-outs arriving in their last eight.

There are a number of fixtures that scream ‘clean sheet possibility’ in their run-in, starting with a double-header against Villa and Wolves – who are scoring at a rate of less than one goal per game over their last 12 matches – after the international break.

The elephant in the room is Gameweek 33, when they blank.

With some of us needing to bench Manchester City and Spurs assets in that round of fixtures, there’ll be little room to accommodate an Ademola Lookman (£5.0m) or a Josh Maja (£5.5m) if managers are planning to hold for Gameweek 35.

Those FPL bosses using the Free Hit in Gameweek 33, however, will not have such an issue.

WEST HAM UNITED

 1

West Ham’s fixtures are Jekyll-and-Hyde in nature, with their next four at the London Stadium all against top-half clubs and their next five on the road at the homes of bottom-half teams.

They have one of the best run-ins in the division from Gameweek 34 onwards, with their trickiest test coming against Chelsea in Gameweek 33 – again, handing an advantage to those on a Free Hit that particular weekend.


THE BAD

BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION

Brighton may have the stand-out Gameweek 29 fixture but their schedule looks iffy beyond that, particularly from a defensive perspective, with six top-half clubs and Leeds United to follow.

The likes of Joel Veltman (£4.4m) and Robert Sanchez (£4.5m) are at least benchable at their prices, and can be wheeled out for, at the very least, the Gameweek 33 clash with Championship-bound Sheffield United.

Fantasy managers without a Wildcard remaining will probably want to go easy on the Albion assets this weekend, then, lest they want a bench-full of Seagulls or resign themselves to using free transfers to move Brighton players on in future.

NEWCASTLE UNITED

Newcastle United players are being widely overlooked by FPL managers anyway in the run-up to Gameweek 29, with even the non-playing Riyad Mahrez (£8.1m), Mason Mount (£7.0m) and Kelechi Iheanacho (£5.6m) attracting more transfers in than the most-bought Magpie.

There is little that appeals beyond this weekend, too, unless we are looking way ahead to the final two Gameweeks of the campaign and meetings with two relegation rivals.

A trip to Burnley in Gameweek 31 is punctuated by six clashes with top-half clubs, although talisman Callum Wilson (£6.5m) is expected to be fit again after the international break and offers security of starts when rotation will be rife elsewhere.

595 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 11 days ago

    Tierney or Dunk?

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      Tierney

    2. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      Depends on chip situation. If on FH Dunk. If long term transfer Tierney looks good.

    3. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      This week only Dunk purely on the higher chance of CS. Tierney for more weeks specially with no WC soon.

  2. Sarri-ball
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 11 days ago

    Any midfielder in for gw29 1 week punt

    A) augbam
    B)Bale
    C) lingard
    D left field pick

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      Lookman

      1. Sarri-ball
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 11 days ago

        Intresting pick

        1. Weak Become Heros
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 11 days ago

          Im not on FH so will want to bench my pick going forward. Nothing really stands out for me.

          1. Sarri-ball
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 11 days ago

            Yeah my bro got lookman. Rafina will become my 5th mid play when need so not sure want lookman aswell. Good pick tho

    2. West End Exile
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      Raphinha

      1. Sarri-ball
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 11 days ago

        Yeah own him

  3. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 11 days ago

    Tosin or Anderson? I’ve run the stats and there isnt much between them in regards to shots in general and shots in the box

    Anderson seems a better technician on my eye test, who do we think?

    1. Sarri-ball
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      Toss a coin or go with gut. Similar output

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      Leeds are vulnerable to headers from set plays principally no?

      Andersen has 3 attempts
      Tosin has 15 attempts

      Andersen attempts are 50% out of the box - mostly from set plays. Tosin is 16:4 ahead on attempts in the box.

      1. Weak Become Heros
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 11 days ago

        Thanks mate, I assume thats the season right? I’ve been checking over the last 4-6 gameweeks and it seems a lot closer, maybe down to Fulhams nee set up? You think Tosin is still the pick?

        1. pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 11 days ago

          Oh - yep this is season form

          Haven't thought to check last 6 game weeks. Is there a change in the pattern? If so then go with it perhaps.

          Andersen looks a far better player and has the option of returns from assists too in his locker or a direct fk. Adarabioyo - who I've been touting loads - has a really patchy record of actually getting all those attempts on target so maybe he's optimistic,

          Don't know how this stands up but with defender returns I prefer to look at the season and not recent form. It was on that basis I'd have got Dunk over Veltman. Better over the season while Veltman had one great recent match that may be distorted the picture. But as I say I don't know if that principle stands up.

          1. Weak Become Heros
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 11 days ago

            Appreciate the detailed reply mate - good luck.

  4. arkom
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 11 days ago

    Martinez
    Dallas / Requilon
    Rapinha / Lingard / Son
    Kane / Watkins

    Dias / Cancelo / Digne
    Bruno / Gundogan
    DCL

    2 FT
    1,5£ ITB

    A) Son, Cancelo & Digne --> Auba, Cresswell & Dunk
    B) Bruno, Cancelo & DCL --> Auba. Cresswell & Antonio
    C) Other?

    Whether it's worth to even switch off Everton players.. If double gameweek is coming?!

    1. jimmyharte
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 10 days ago

      Id swerve Auba

  5. Exotica
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 11 days ago

    My team now
    Martinez (Foster)
    Dallas Targett Burn (Stone, Dias)
    Jessie Raphinha Son (Gundogan, Bruno)
    Bamford Kane Watkins

    is it worth -4 for swap Son to Bales, othewise after this gw i will get KDB instead of Son??

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      Id leave him - are you sure you dont want Son for the newcastle game?

      1. Exotica
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 11 days ago

        i would love too but seem like he will not recovery and fit to play against newcastle

        1. Nomar
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 11 days ago

          https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2021/march/jose-s-latest-on-heung-min-son/

          I own Son but I am going to swap him for Bale with one of my 2 FT. I doubt he plays and even if he does, Bale has been the bigger threat lately anyway.

  6. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 11 days ago

    I think Fulham will beat Leeds and finally move out of the relegation at the expense of Newcastle.. Leeds are so overhyped and Bielsa the most overrated manager in world football

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      Agree with the fact Fulham will win. Check out Leeds record away in London...

    2. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      1-3 it is then

    3. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      I get the feeling Brighton and Newcastle are going to somehow pull off enough points to stay up and Fulham will end up going down.

      If they do stay up they need to address their goal scoring issues otherwise I could see what’s happened to Sheffield United this season happen to them next term.

      1. Eat my goal!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 11 days ago

        It’d be great to see them stay up - target them all year

    4. Hangman Page
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      Bielsa is a bit like a challenging album that inspired other more successful bands (Pep, Poch) rather being amazing in its own right. He’s the Trout Mask Replica of football management.

  7. Donny_Rover
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 11 days ago

    Wildcarding in GW31, who would you bring in with 2 transfers? Only 1 FT but happy to take 1 hit...

    Martinez (Meslier)
    Coufal Dunk (Dias Cancelo Shaw)
    Raphinha Son (Fernandes Salah Gundo)
    Kane Watkins (DCL)

    Current thinking is Tierney or Reguilon in for Cancelo and Maupay or Bamford in for DCL.

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      I would do cancello to tierny, I wouldn’t lose dcl as he has a great fixture in 30

      I might just do that, play 8 and then get double Chelsea for free in 30

  8. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 11 days ago

    bottomed sorry 🙂

    Hi all,

    Salah & Son > Auba & Bale for free?

    have 2FT's

    might do Gundo > Lingard for a - 4 as well but got lots of funds invested in Gundo.

    Thoughts?

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      Son is definitely out isn’t he? If not Son > Bale is a tricky business especially if that’s long term move.

      1. the dom 1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 11 days ago

        short term until Son is back...

        1. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 11 days ago

          Could work mate but I feel it’s a waste of transfer

    2. Sarri-ball
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      For me son to bale would work if happy to keep bale prob not worth it if want son back as looks like will miss 1

      1. the dom 1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 11 days ago

        Got no funds tied up in Son so easy sideways transfer lol

  9. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 11 days ago

    Dunk worth 0.6 more than Veltman? Not on FH and no WC.

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      I don’t think so because if you have

      United def
      1 or 2 city def
      Wh def

      I don’t see when you will play him except this week and maybe 33, will be benched more often than not so I would just get the cheaper of the 2

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 11 days ago

        Correct, in that case BJA def is less appealing than the like of Tierney or Regulion although I feel both are not guaranteed starts. Tricky.

  10. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 11 days ago

    With 8 (potentially 7 with Burn) players for BGW, 1FT. Looking at potentially moving DCL out.

    Martinez
    Burn Struijk
    Bale Raphina Aubameyang
    Kane Watkins

    Dcl > Antonio/Bamford for free? Wary of 3 Leeds moving forward.

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      I’m not a lover of the move Because dcl has a great fixture in 30

      1. John Nerdelbaum
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 11 days ago

        Bamford has a Sheffield United in freefall

    2. John Nerdelbaum
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      I'd go Bamford of the two. More for Sheffield United than Fulham

  11. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 11 days ago

    FH is a must hold then right?

    1. Sarri-ball
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      I think so my plan was always gw33 now talk of possible bigger gw35 so happy 2 wait.

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      I am holding but not sure why it’s a must

      1. OverTinker
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 11 days ago

        DGW 35 could be big one

        1. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 11 days ago

          Well need 2 FH chips then as I will use mine in 33

          1. OverTinker
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 11 days ago

            Why not in 35?

    3. Sarri-ball
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      I feel by gw33 april 24th will know about may fixtures so can make call then

      1. OverTinker
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 11 days ago

        Yes now I can happily keep the FH - earlier I was so confused

    4. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      The way this season is panning out something will happen in 35 and loads will click FH early only to discover the time to play it was in 37/8/

  12. Sarri-ball
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 11 days ago

    Regullon a good pick for run in or a rotation nightmare with europa later stages

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

    https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jack-grealish-injury-latest-update-20201060

    Jack back hopefully this weekend. Kept him till now. Would be another player at least.

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      This is exciting hope for AVL assets to ‘live’ again

    2. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      Should I do DCL to Shitekins then

    3. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      That was patient!

      Is there a possibility Dean Smith pulls a Mou and holds him back so he doesn't go with England? But could be a great differential and I'm now much happier with my Watkins.

  14. Sarri-ball
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 11 days ago

    For weekend and need for benchboost gw30 after that when and if needed own banford/rafina no fulham

    Fulham defender
    Or
    Leeds defender

  15. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 11 days ago

    Which move for a hit?

    Martinez | Forster
    Reguilon Veltman Coufal
    Son* Auba Saka* Lingard
    Kane Bamford* Antonio
    ¦ Holding Cancelo Bruno

    A) Son -> Bale
    B) Saka -> Raphinha

  16. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 11 days ago

    Can't believe it's come down to auba vs bale vs lingard for me!

    1. Sarri-ball
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      Similar lol. Im edging augbam. C mins they get 2night.

      1. Hangman Page
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 11 days ago

        You’re edging Aubameyang? Is this why he got disciplined the first time?

        1. lespaul
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 10 days ago

          lol

      2. waltzingmatildas
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 11 days ago

        Yeah already have antonio/coufal and son/Kane. Just not sure on mins as you say

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      Down to Dunk v Veltman v Tosin/Andersen here 🙁

      1. waltzingmatildas
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 11 days ago

        So exciting!

  17. melvinmbabazi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 11 days ago

    Thoughts on what to do this week? 0.6 ITB 2FT WC31

    Martinez
    Dallas Veltman (Shaw)
    *Son Raphinha (Bruno) (Gundo)
    Kane Bamford Watkins

    McCarthy Sterling Stones Tarkowski

    Cheers

    1. John Nerdelbaum
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 11 days ago

      Probably a good opportunity to move on Sterling (if you don't want him long term) or Tarkowski
      Tarkowski > Dawson?

  18. KirkhamWesham
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 11 days ago

    Is it worth taking a hit this week?

    Meslier
    Dallas Cresswell Dunk
    Raphinha Bale(C) Son x x
    Watkins Kane

  19. trinzoo
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 11 days ago

    Martinez
    Reguilon / Dallas / White
    Lingard / Raphinia
    Kane (C) / Watkins

    2FT, no WC

    Cancelo / KDB > Tierney / Auba?