Fantasy Football Tips Gameweek 1 – Keepers and Defenders

Welcome to Fantasy Football Tips Gameweek 1 – Keepers and Defenders. A run down of the best picks from the group of goalkeepers and defenders. I plan on going down through the price points and giving you my picks for the best options at each one. We will start at most expensive and work our way down starting with the men between the sticks.

Goalkeepers –

5.5 Million – There are only three options at this price point so I’ll discuss them all. They are Alisson of Liverpool, Ederson of Man City and Nick Pope of Newcastle. We know their merits and how two of these can be considered as some of the best in the world. They all play in top teams with Newcastle and Man City boasting two of the best defences in the league last season. I hope Liverpool will improve in defence but it will be difficult. Last season saw Alisson be a saviour for the Reds on multiple occasions. If this happens again next season then Alisson could be once again in to beat his 107 saves from last year. Alisson offers BPS opportunities with double digit scores in the last 4 seasons. Something else Alisson offers are the odd attacking return. He has had one in 4 of his 5 seasons at Liverpool with 3 assists and that 1 amazing goal! Ederson is Alisson’s compatriot and also plays for the best team in the league, if not the world. This does have a downside though as Ederson is pretty much a 2 point or 6 point player, he doesn’t tend to get BPS, doesn’t have to make saves so there really isn’t much to offer here except a nailed player in that City side. Lastly, we have Nick Pope… honestly don’t bother. He’s great but there’s better out there. Actually, that last sentence can be put to the three of these options. I wouldn’t (and haven’t) considered any of these boys as there are more valuable routes to the same defences.

5.0 Million –
There are a few options at this price point but really only three of them I’d consider. These three are Aaron Ramsdale, David Raya and André Onana. Starting with Ramsdale we all know he is a great keeper who helped his team get 14 clean sheets and didn’t miss a single game. This enabled him to get 143 points. Arsenal obviously had a fantastic season last year with a brilliant defence and attack. They pushed City for a large part of the season but dropped off. They have signed Declan Rice and Justin Timber so that provides Ramsdale with even more protection in front of him and should mean he can better the clean sheet tally of last season. For only this price point he is a nice option into the Arsenal defence for a nailed-on player.

Now David Raya I would consider but there is a big cloud hanging over that Brentford team. At the start of the summer, the Bees were actively looking to sell the best keeper in FPL last season. There was talk of a move to Spurs, United, Chelsea but now those moves seem dead in the water with Spurs and United signing new shot-stoppers and Pochettino seemingly happy with Kepa. Brentford did bring in highly rated Mark Flekken from Freiburg for that no.1 spot. It is unclear who has the gloves right now so it’s maybe best to avoid the Brentford goal keeper and move outfield for defensive cover until more is revealed. There are talks now about Arsenal looking at buying Raya, which if you ask me is a strange, strange transfer. I can’t really comprehend why Arteta wants the Spaniard and I don’t know why Raya would go there unless he has been promised to replace Ramsdale. I won’t say more as I don’t really know what to say about it!

The other keeper I will look at here is the new Man United recruit, André Onana. The Champions League finalist who has had quite a footballing journey already at only 27. Banned from football, storming out of the World Cup and then being vital to Inter Milan. Onana was only added to the game and within 2 days his selected ownership flew up to 14.3% of managers. I’ll be honest I wasn’t too impressed by him whenever I say him play. Only 8 cleansheets in Italy last year in 24 games. I have seen United fans say DDG was a fantastic shot stopper who was bad with his feet whereas Onana is known for great footwork but isn’t the best shot stopper. The footwork would allow him to get more BPS chances but I reckon United score a lot of goals and that would mean it’s less likely for Onana to get among the bonuses. The big plus though is the Cameroonian will be the no.1 and a cheaper route into that United defence compared to the 5.5 defender in this article. I have watched the highlights of 2 United friendlies and in the first one Jude Bellingham chipped Onana as he came flying off his line which was bad judgement in my eyes. In the next game though, Onana had some brilliant distribution and could grab an assist or two this season with the long balls.

4.5 Million –
Mark Flekken I have mentioned already and he is the player I currently have in my team. I would like for David Raya to leave and there is still time but maybe I will have to take my own advice and avoid these players until more is revealed. The 30-year-old Dutchman is highly rated over in Germany where he arrives from Freiburg. 13 cleansheets from 34 games and being the number one I can’t imagine he will be happy playing second fiddle so it is difficult to know who starts. I like the idea of Flekken with the opening Brentford fixtures but we might be wiser to just wait and see. I have mentioned about the odd Raya transfer and the friendlies do make it seem that Flekken is number 1 but what the friendlies have also revealed is Flekken isn’t living up to his reputation. I, and others, haven’t been impressed by him and he is getting further away from people’s teams.

I was going to mention a Brighton keeper in this section but they are even more confusing than Brentford when it comes to who has the number one spot. Robert Sanchez lost his place last year, Jason Steele played brilliantly yet they have gone and signed Bart Verbruggen so honestly I don’t know who starts therefore I am avoiding. There is a slightly more expensive option into this defence that we are all on anyway so don’t stress about the double up would be my advice.

The final 4.5 I’d consider is Sam Johnstone at Crystal Palace. He took the number one jersey from an injured Guaita and held onto it when the latter returned. Big Woy seems to like Johnstone and he could keep the starting spot getting 3 clean sheets in 9 games at the end which is good returns of 1 in 3. Also getting 5 bps in those games. Palace have a mixed bag of fixtures to start but they have improved immensely defensively under Roy Hodgson which hopefully will continue.

4.0 Million –
I won’t spend much time here as this is a price point that people just pick one and hope they play or, more importantly, hope they don’t drop in price. The man that most have selected for this position is Alphonse Areola who sits in over 30% of teams. The reason for this is most believe he takes the jersey from the 38-year-old Fabianski. There is no guarantee that this happens but it could. The downside to owning Areola and hoping he starts is if he doesn’t and with such a high ownership, there will be casuals who drop him and his price could plummet. If you are going with one of the above names I mentioned that you know will play then you could be better picking a 4.0 who isn’t owned by many, if any, managers.

Two such 4.0 options are Tom Heaton (0.3%) and Caoimhin Kelleher (0.4%) the reason I select these two specifically is there is a small chance they could become starting keepers. Heaton at Luton if he gets that move away from Old Trafford and Kelleher at Wolves who he has been rumoured to join. Unless these moves happen then I wouldn’t pick either of these as they take up a valuable United or Liverpool spot. Instead Matt Macey currently at Luton and owned by 0.9% might be a better choice.

Defenders –

8.0 Million –
The lone man at the top, Mr Trent John Alexander Arnold. The highest priced defender in the game by some margin and for very good reason. He is just a cheat code for managers. Even in the poor season that Liverpool had and the poor start Trent had, that move into the middle of the park towards the end of the season was magical. It just allowed Trent to explode! He ended up with 2 goals and 11 assists, a total of 2.36 xG, 9.26 xA and 11.62 xGI over the course of his 34 starts. If you break this down to per 90 minutes it is 0.07 xG and 0.26 xA for 4.79 points per 90. Now Liverpool do have their defensive struggles as I alluded to earlier but Trent is there for the vibes of attacking threat. He doesn’t worry about defending because we all know it is the weakness of his game. There are points on offer for Trent with Bournemouth (H), Villa (H), Wolves (A), West Ham (H) in first 6 all having attacking and defensive potential. Big issues are the away trips to Chelsea and Newcastle in the first three which aren’t the best and might not offer defensive points but there could be attacking returns against the more attacking sides as there tends to be more space for Trent to hit with his phenomenal passing ability. Most people can’t decide whether to go with or without Trent but I think I’m currently in the ‘own from the start’ camp… just as I am wavering.

6.5 million –
We only have two options here who are Andy Robertson and Keiran Trippier. Trips was THE MAN to own in FPL last season! Getting a monstrous 198 points, an ever present right back for the Geordies with 1 goal and 9 assists. He was a bargain at 5.0 and that is obviously why he has been given a 1.5 million price rise this season. However, I don’t think he’s the man to pick right now. At 6.5 he might prove too expensive compared to last season. Will he be able to replicate his exploits? I doubt it. Plus, we need to remember Newcastle will now be competing on four fronts with the addition of Champions League football. At 32 years of age, Trips might be given more rests next season depending on Howe’s priorities. I wouldn’t go there. Similarly, with Robbo I wouldn’t bother especially if Liverpool stick with the inverted Trent and back three formation which means Robbo is pushed into that defensive back three role and gets forward less. This pretty much kills his FPL output for me.

6.0 million –
Once again, we only have 2 options here and they are Virgil Van Dijk and Joao Cancelo…. I’m going to move on now because there is no point going here as there are better options in TAA and City defenders I am about to discuss.

5.5 million –
We shall start with the champions and they actually have two 5.5 options for us Rúben Dias and John Stones. I have focused on Stones due to him being given that new inverted defender/defensive midfielder role at the end of last season. In the preseason friendlies, he has continued to be played there and has already scored a goal in those games. Last season saw him grab 93 points from 21 starts. With the signing of Kovacic, there is the possibility that Stones will be moved out of that DM slot but I still think he will start. It is Peptation and we all get burned by it so this could all end up as egg on my face when he doesn’t even play GW1. Going off his stats of 4.54 points per 90, 2 goals, 0.05 xG, 2 assists and 0.05 xA, I do like this player as a pick and currently have him in my team. Whether I swap to the more nailed Dias is an option but Stones has the bigger goal threat. City do have some of the best fixtures out there so having a double or triple up on their players seems like a solid gameplan.

We shall now hop across the city to Luke Shaw and the aforementioned more expensive option in that United defence. Shaw was in a lot of teams before the arrival of Onana and then suddenly people switched to the keeper to save that 0.5. I haven’t had Shaw in a single draft to be honest and I don’t think I will as I have my eyes on other players. I do however feel the left back is a better option to Onana and well worth the extra 0.5. He grabbed 124 points last year which was 4.38 per 90, 1 goal and 4 assists. I think United will score more goals this year with the signing of new striker, Hojlund, and the fact Ten Hag has a full season under his belt. If United score I can see Shaw being involved in a few of those. The fixtures are a bit of a mixed bag in the first five with away trips to Spurs and Arsenal plus the visit of Brighton. If going for a United defensive player I’d place Shaw higher on the priority list over Onana.

The final 5.5’s I shall discuss are Ben Chilwell and Reece James. My preferred choice out of these two is the left back. He only managed 70 points last season but only started 15 games. Plus Chelsea were abysmal last term. I’m expecting a massive improvement under Pochettino. Chilly still managed to get 4.44 points per 90, 2 goals and 1 assist during that terrible season. He has been linking well with Nkunku in preseason. There is a tough fixture to start the season when Liverpool make the journey down south to the capital but from GW2 to GW8, Chelsea have lovely fixtures and with the new manager at the helm, the left back could be end up being someone we are all scrambling for. The other flank sees Reece James for the same price but he is made of glass. Gets long term injuries all the time, but also gets little niggling injuries that keep him out too so I prefer the left back to his club and country teammate.

5.0 million –
This man is the third most owned player in FPL this season behind Haaland and Saka and that is Brighton defender Pervis Estupinan. What a player he was last season collecting 128 points, 4.31 points per 90, 1 goal, 0.06 xG, 7 assists and 0.13 xA. Brighton’s opening fixtures from GW1-3 are fantastic and a home visit from new boys Luton couldn’t be a better way to start the season. However, from GW4 onwards the fixtures get tough and with European football this season there could be rotation and tiredness. I know I will be looking at selling Estu after those opening fixtures so it does feel like a transfer waiting to happen. There is also the worry that with MacAllister and Colwill gone and Caicedo looking like he might be off, Brighton will be massively weaker in stopping goals. We might have to rely on Estu for attacking returns.

Someone who is also nailed but has a team that’s improved there middle and defence rather than weaken it is Gabriel of Arsenal. For me, he is the best option at that Arsenal defence with 146 points, 3.86 points per 90, 3 goals, 0.13xG, 0 assists, 0.02 xA in last season’s games. He is also in one of the best defences from last year. I don’t see him losing his place and for the same price as Ramsdale there is more attacking threat. The signings of Justin Timber and Declan Rice should help improve the chance of clean sheets even more so Gabriel’s appeal has only improved. Something else to note, Arsenal do not leave London for the first three gameweeks with 2 home fixtures and a London derby v Palace in Selhurst.

Someone I’m very much interested in is Alexandre Moreno at Villa. Last season the left back only started 14 games but got 72 points which is better than Chilwell, nearly the same amount as Stones and half of Gabriel. 3 assists and 7 clean sheets with an xG of 0.59, a xA of 2.57 and a xGI of 3.16 he could make a mockery of his price tag. He is currently injured so keep an eye on this but if he shakes it off then he has a great fun of fixtures to December bar Liverpool and Newcastle in the first three. I’d keep an eye on him and he’s one of my first differential picks of the season (plenty more to come!)

Much like buses you wait and wait then two come at once, my 2nd differential pick of the season is Pedro Porro. The Spurs right back who is basically a winger. A new manager, new keeper behind him and the freedom to get forward. Similarly to Moreno, he only had 13 starts but in that time, got 59 points, 3 goals and 3 assists. This is brilliant returning and hopefully he can continue it. If you thought Moreno had great xG, xA and xGI then Porro betters that with 1.81, 2.29 and 4.10 respectively. Ange Postecoglu will start life at White Hart Lane with two fixtures against Brentford and Man United so Porro might not be a player to start the GW1 draft with but it does give us a chance to see what Spurs offer this season.

4.5 million –
Probably my favourite 4.5 defender is Rico Henry, 112 points, 3.11 pts per 90, 0 goals, 0.04 xG, 3 assists, 0.08 xA, fantastic fixtures to start. Him and Pinnock are both priced the same amount and Pinnock does have the better goal threat but I’m a sucker for a full back and Henry offers that. Personally think both men are nice options so it’s whichever style you prefer when it comes to these two Bees. I have mentioned already the goalkeeper situation so there is a slight unknown quantity around the Brentford defence but not enough to scare me off.

Levi Colwill – 46 points, 3.37 points per 90, 0 goals, 0.1 xG, 2 assists, 0.02 xA, back from a successful loan at Brighton and looks like he might get straight into the Chelsea team. A brilliant player who has recently won the U21 Euros with England. I’ve already given the benefits of Chelsea’s fixtures under the Chilwell section and with Poch, the new manager, there should be ample opportunity for the young Englishman to stamp his name on the starting XI. He is a pick I quite like if you are looking for a cheap route into a hopefully stronger Chelsea team.

I shall finish this section with two players from the same team and competing for the same position. Spurs leftbacks Sergio Reguilón and Destiny Udogie are both 4.5 but it is unknown who will get the starting nod on that left flank. Both were out on loan last season Reguilón was back in Spain with Atlético Madrid making 11 appearances but getting no goals or assists. Udogie was on loan at Udinese and had a much better time playing 33 games, getting 3 goals and 4 assists. On that basis, the young Italian should get the nod over his Spanish competition. Only time will tell how Spurs line-up, play and defend under Ange but if they are looking solid then one of these left backs could be a cheap option for your team.

4.0 million –

Jordan Beyer – See my Burnley article for the run down on the cheap centre back.

George Baldock – See my Sheffield article for the information about this Greek international right back.

Bell (see my Luton article on more about this lad) since that article however they have signed Issa Kaboré who is a right wing back which is what they sorely needed. There is talk on twitter that the Kaboré gets the starting spot and this does appear the case in the last friendly but I still want to see if Ogbene gets a chance in that spot. I am feeling like that is less likely to happen though and Kaboré does feel like the starter there. It won’t matter much as we likely won’t want a Luton player but if the Burkinabe right back gets the nod then he should be a more attacking option compared to Bell.

Malo Gusto is a pick more so as a wait and gamble. If you don’t mind having a player who is not going to play regularly sitting on the bench then Gusto is your man. I mentioned Reece ‘Jelly Legs’ James and his terrible injury record so it is only a matter of time before Gusto is called upon to replace the injured James. You could be ahead of the curve if you pick this man from the start but it does mean taking a Chelsea spot if you want three of them.

Thanks for reading Fantasy Football Tips Gameweek 1 – Keepers and Defenders. This article was written by Matt.

Follow @FantasyFooty247

VOTE ON THIS WEEK’S CAPTAIN POLL

FPL FIXTURE TRACKER

Both leagues will be shut to new entrants as of 01/01/24.