Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs make the Preview…

Apr 6

Gameweek 33 Preview: Fantasy Premier League #FPL

Written by John Wallin @FantasyGaffer

You may have heard, there is now a podcast as Bang Average in addition to this column; with John, Ryan and Mike talking all formats of #FPL. Go and subscribe…this will still be here when you get back.

I sincerely hope you all feel terrible about not following my advice last weekend, particularly about acquiring Alexis Sanchez and handing the armband to Aubameyang. As always, do as I do and do as I say, even when those two things are exactly contrary. Also, this dumb device where I only pick from four matches seems to working out just fine. With that in mind, the only four games that count for this column this weekend are:

Stoke vs. Spurs
West Brom vs. Swansea
Arsenal vs. Southampton
Chelsea vs. West Ham

Defender – Marcos Alonso, Chelsea

Prior to this past weekend, Alonso had seen negative net transfers in five straight weeks. That dropped his position-high price from £7.4 to £7.2. He is owned in fewer than 20% of all FPL sides and has blanked in seven on the spin (including two missed matches and three 1-point efforts). But Conte’s side face West Ham a week after the surprising Hammers hit Saints for three then get a juicy DGW in GW33. Alonso is worth the price of admission and he’s a good bet for an attacking return against Moyes’ side this week with the upside of double-figures should he post his first cleansheet since GW24.

Midfielder – Mesut Ozil, Arsenal

Ozil could just as easily be the Outsider pick this week with the £9.3m midfielder owned in just 2.4% of sides. That is more understandable in the moment as Arsenal do not feature in DGW34 and Wenger has made it very clear the Europa League is job one. Still, Ozil is likely to play again at home on Sunday against Saints and will be looking to add to his nine fantasy assists. The reality is that EVERY ONE of Eriksen / Son / Alli belong to be rated ahead of Ozil right now with each of the Spurs midfielders sitting inside the top 7 at their position – rated 5th, 6th, 7th actually. One of them make this column a little later on and Harry Kane is occupying many a Spurs spot in OFPL rosters but you could do worse than stacking Spurs midfield against Stoke City.

Forward – Alvaro Morata, Chelsea

Morata did get the opener as Chelsea slumped to a 1-3 home loss against Tottenham… West Ham had allowed 11 goals in the three matches before their 3-0 win over Saints and the scatter-shot approach to football employed by Moyes’ team is fodder for Conte’s current brand of apathetic possession coupled with a quicksilver counter-attack. If you’ve elected to run out a Firmino / Morata / Auba front three (for example) you’ll be playing a significant differential (7.6% owned) as he faces one of the softest run-ins. Hammers are followed by Saints/Burnley DGW, with Swans, Newcastle and Huddersfield still to come. It’s been a bizarre season for Morata and Chelsea and an “unexpected” 4-1 loss could be on the cards. But facing West Ham is as good a match-up for Morata as you can ask.

Captain – Dele Alli, Tottenham

‘arry Kane is back, ‘ave you ‘eard? Of course, the match against Chelsea was long settled before he made a 16′ cameo and with Stoke next in the offing it’s hard to believe Pochettino will allow the England striker go the full 90’. It is also difficult to fathom Stoke failing to mark Kane with a certain type of vigor some might feel borders on violence. 25.1% selected and likely to be heavily captained, Kane is worth fading entirely this weekend while handing the armband to the 11.9% selected Alli. three goals with two assists in his last three – 4 BPS as well – show it’s Dele who’s in scoring form at the moment. A goal, an assist and a BPS brace all incoming for the two-time Young Player of the Year.

Outsider – Tammy Abraham, Swansea

The Swans are a mess at the moment with injuries and suspensions leaving the attacking cadre significantly weakened. The issues should open the door for a first 90′ since GW19 for the on-loan striker. His summer shine is long gone and of the four goals, three assists he’s managed this term there’s just a loan assist on his ledger since GW16. But there isn’t much WBA can do right defensively. Without a cleansheet since Jan 13 and having allowed 21 goals in that span – the Baggies finally sacked a manager they never should have hired. Swans don’t have a DGW upcoming and aren’t great value in any case but the £5.4m forward is an ideal 3rd for managers looking to free up cash for Kane / Lukaku / Aubameyang / Jesus.

Draft – Salomon Rondon, WBA

Another player in fiddle faddle at the moment is the Baggies forward who can boast two goals and an assist over his last three matches. Rondon has recorded 10+ points in four on the spin for Togga managers who kept the faith. Paired now with JRod, Salomon is the better of the duo as he claims points for shots on target (eight in his last four matches), successful take-ons (a season-high five came in GW28 vs. Huddersfield) and aerial duels won (he’s won a total of 58 in an 11-match run in which he’s recorded at least one per match). He might not be a FWD1, but as a FWD2 who you can find off waivers – 51% ownership at time of writing – he’s got plenty of upside and is a solid bet to get 10+ again this weekend home to Swansea.