'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAJAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQb/2gAIAQEAAAAAhnTUv//EABQBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAX/2gAIAQIQAAAAH//EABQBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP/2gAIAQMQAAAAP//EACUQAAEDAgMJAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIBAwQABQYRFBIhIzZBcnOywf/aAAgBAQABPwAsH6dJMMrjaJs0OM3HaAlTY6kLuSZqn2m8KXoAEBuuBAEdyA7bEIx7l09N8yRfHK9WaSv/xAAbEQABBAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAAERIQMFQf/aAAgBAgEBPwDJsDCIFrvq/8QAFxEAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECA//aAAgBAwEBPwC9aaR//9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hello and thanks for coming back to read my picks to help you achieve FPL Legend status (or at least just improve your squad!)
I had a good week in GW23 and have climbed to 51k in my overall rank. Following this weekend’s FA Cup fixtures, the landscape of the season has altered slightly. Spurs and Arsenal can now focus their attention on their Premier League and European exploits. Everton, Newcastle, Burnley and West Ham went crashing out of the Cup, whilst Brighton and Wolves have replays to contend with.
The other big news this week is the confirmation of a Double Gameweek for Man City and Everton in GW25 – so I’ve previewed a couple of their assets this week on page 2.
Trending
Check out the next page for the Pundit's views on who you may want to consider instead.
Fantasy Premier League 2018-19: 3 Players to avoid for the coming weeks
#1 Jamaal Lascelles – Defender (£4.6m)
Goals: 0
Assists: 1
Season Points: 59
Upcoming fixtures: MCI (H), TOT (A), WOL (A)
Owned by 2.8% of FPL managers the Newcastle centre half brought in 11 points this week for his highest haul of the season – and also earned @PlanetFPLPod host James a big Mac!
However Newcastle have a really tough run for the next 3 before their fixtures open up from GW27 to GW31, so I’d avoid their assets for now.
#2 Ryan Fraser – Midfield (£6.1m)
Goals: 5
Assists: 9
Season Points: 114
Upcoming fixtures: CHE (H), CAR (A), LIV (A)
Fraser has started all except 2 games this year for Bournemouth and has had an excellent campaign. He has only returned once in the last 5 games though with 1 goal and 1 assist in their 3-3 draw against Watford in GW21.
His xG90 has dipped to 0.14 but his xA90 remains top of the midfield category. If you have him, you could hold for now but I wouldn’t be bringing him in with those tough fixtures and a lack of form.
#3 Felipe Anderson – Midfielder (£7.2m)
Goals: 8
Assists: 3
Season Points: 110
Upcoming fixtures: WOL (A), LIV (H), CPAL (A)
West Ham are a real up-and-down team this season. A victory over Arsenal followed by a loss to Bournemouth, where Anderson was owned, really epitomizes that. He’s had no returns in his last 4 games which displays a player out of form. The 4 games prior to that period yielded 3 goals and 2 assists.
His xA90 for the last 4 games has been 0.12, which is lower than his season average of 0.20. West Ham also play Liverpool and Man City in their next 5 games, apart from having away trips to Wolves and Crystal Palace, so they do not have the easiest run. In my mind, there are some other options in that price bracket if you go up past £8.0m or go below the £6.5m mark.
Also see : Fantasy Premier League , Fantasy Premier League Tips
Fantasy Premier League 2018-19: 3 Players to consider for the coming weeks
#1 Ederson – Goalkeeper (£5.6m)
Clean Sheets: 10
Assists: 1
Season Points: 96
Upcoming fixtures: NEW (A), ARS (H) & EVE (A), CHE (H)
A lot of talk is going on now about building for the double gameweek in GW25 so I wanted to be sure to give you someone to keep your eye on. A big part of the talking point is ‘Pep-Roulette’ which is the real-life predicament that we have no idea who Pep is going to choose from week to week. I previewed Sané for GW23 and he did the business so he’ll still be in my squad for the foreseeable future and is still a good pick for a City attacker.
One thing is for sure, you’ll need at least 1 City asset against a depleted Arsenal and a downbeat Everton. Ederson is as assured as a City-asset as you can get. City have also kept clean sheets in their last 6 games in all competitions which they’ll need to continue if they’ve any chance of catching Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.
I’ll also take this chance to remind you of his assist in GW2 against Huddersfield.
#2 Gylfi Sigurdsson – Midfielder (£7.3m)
Goals: 9
Assists: 3
Season Points: 111
Upcoming fixtures: HUD (A), WOL (H) & MCI (H), WAT (A)
As much as I wanted to pick Richarlison, I think his lack of form makes Gylfi the man to go for if you’re wanting a pick from the blue half of Merseyside!
He’s been wrestled off a few set pieces by Lucas Digne of late but his eye for goal as well as potential penalties makes him a good pick. He’s got a goal, an assist and 2 bonus points in his last 2 games and is in-form as well. He has the tendency this season to be streaky (scores in 3-4 game clusters and then blanks for a little while) so hopefully we’re catching him on a hot streak.
He averages 2.25 shots per 90 over the last 4 (as well as 2.50 h90 over the season), as well as 1.75 key passes per 90. Let’s just hope he doesn’t ruin Ederson’s clean sheet if you decide to bring him in too.
#3 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Attacker (£11.3m)
Goals: 14
Assists: 5
Season Points: 136
Upcoming fixtures: CAR (H), MCI (A), HUD (A)
I was honestly going to save this pick until after the City game but I’d be tempted to jump on now to get ahead of the game. That’s because Auba has a nice tidy block of fixtures with 3 out of his next 5 games at home against teams that love to concede goals -- Cardiff (44 goals conceded), Southampton (40) & Bournemouth (42) as well as Huddersfield (40) away. Only Burnley (43) and Fulham (51) have conceded more goals in the Premier League this season.
He’s the league's 2nd highest goalscorer and the top-scoring forward for this season – 4 more points than Harry Kane (2nd) and 22 more points than Callum Wilson (3rd)
He has an xG90 of 0.67 (Salah has 0.72 and Aguero has 0.71) and has averaged 3.25 Sh90 in his last 4 scoring 1 goal and 1 assist. He’s planned to come into my squad for GW26.
Pundit tips
Assets at the double. Make sure you plan effectively for the double gameweeks – and when I say effectively, I don’t mean bring loads of players in.
I believe many people will kneejerk and rush to bring in City & Everton assets for GW25. My opinion is that 2 or 3 assets is the optimum number. Why? Because it’s easy to get out of. Let’s not forget – a double = a blank. They both blank in GW27 (league cup final) which means you’ll need to either bench their assets or move them out for that game. To make it simple, here’s what I’d do:
· If you own 0 players from either club – bring in 1 (or 2 if you have 2 FT’s)
· If you own 1 player from either club – bring in 1 (or 2 if you have 2 FT’s)
· If you own 2 players from either club – bring in 1
· If you own 3 or more from either club – hold off and bank your transfer.
You don’t want to be in a position where you need to start taking hits to move those players out. Plan sensibly please, folks!
You can find me on Twitter @FPL_Jim, where you can send me any questions, send me a direct message if that's your thing and I'll always get back to you.
