Fantasy Football Tips Gameweek 12

Fantasy Football Tips Gameweek 12

Welcome to Fantasy Football Tips Gameweek 12

We all know who our most prolific poster is on here. Barely a comment goes by without Smash responding to it. And we all love him for it. He does however go away on a much deserved holiday on Wednesday and so in anticipation of this, and potentially not being able to respond for a while, he has left us with more words than most of us will be able to muster between us in the IB. Jamaica? Nah, she wanted to, honest guv…

Goalkeepers
Aaron Ramsdale (4.7)

Since coming into the Arsenal team in GW4 Aaron Ramsdale has only conceded four goals, picking up an impressive four clean sheets. During this time only Manchester City have a better xGC rate than Arsenal. He missed the first three game weeks and is now the third highest scoring goalkeeper behind Mendy and McCarthy. At only 4.7 he might be the keeper to own. Arsenal face Liverpool (A), Newcastle (H), United (A), Everton (A)and Southampton (H) so the fixtures do get tougher now but Arsenal are looking pretty solid in defence.

Alex McCarthy (4.6)
The second highest scoring goalkeeper is Alex McCarthy; yes you read that correctly. The Saints man only has six points less than Mendy at Chelsea now. Like Ramsdale, McCarthy has five clean sheets in his last six matches and in a Southampton goal he will also need to make saves. Saints face Norwich (A), Liverpool (A), Leicester (H), Brighton (H), Arsenal (A). Fixtures are quite tough now but with Saints playing well if he does pick up a clean sheet he could be getting double figures in these sort of matches.

Vicente Guaita (4.5)
I’m going to stick with the cheap goalkeepers for my final pick. Those looking for a keeper will likely be searching for a Sanchez replacement. Vicente Guaita is the fifth highest scoring goalkeeper and Palace have had a tough run of fixtures to start the season. Behind the obvious three teams; City, Chelsea and Liverpool, Palace have the fourth best xGC rate of 13.1 which is really impressive considering who the Eagles have played so far this season. They also have four clean sheets in the opening ten matches. They now have a long run of good fixtures; Burnley (A), Aston Villa (H), Leeds (A) , Man United (A), Everton (H), Saints (H) and Watford (A). Don’t be surprised to see the Palace goalkeeper leading the way for FPL points for goalkeepers after this stretch of games.

Defenders
João Cancelo (6.4)

It’s not KDB, it’s João Cancelo (6.4) who tops most of the stats for Man City in the Premier League so far this season. He’s perhaps been unlucky not to return more FPL points.

✅ Mosts shots
✅ Most passes
✅ Most touches
✅ Most duels won
✅ Most through balls
✅ Most tackles made
✅ Most interceptions
✅ Most final ⅓ passes
✅ Most aerial duels

Joao Cancelo (£6.4m) is now the top-scoring defender and the second highest overall points scorer this season. He was the top scoring player this GW with 17 points, after coming away with a clean sheet clean sheet, two assists and maximum bonus points. The warning signs were there after the Portuguese full back registered three assists in the Champions league prior to this match. The signs are there that there is more to come. he’s yet to score in the league this season but has registered more shots (26) than any other FPL defender this season. Manchester City can keep clean sheets vs anyone and this should continue as they play Everton (H), West Ham (H), Aston Villa (A), Watford (A), Wolves (H), Leeds (H) and Newcastle (A).

Reece James (5.9)
Reece James has only completed 90 minutes four times this season but he’s still the third highest FPL points scoring defender. In these four matches he had a quite ridiculous 18, 13, 21 and 7 points. Tuchel said he sees the Chelsea wing backs as more like midfielders this year and he wants them to score goals. The Chelsea man has been directly involved in 4 goals in his last 4 Premier League games [3 goals, 1 assist]. Last match he created 5 chances and had two shots in the box. Having watched the game he was also unmarked in the box on several occasions so owners can count themselves as being unlucky he only returned 7 points. The Chelsea defence itself has also been impressive so far this season with 7 clean sheets (1st), 16 big chances conceded (joint 4th), 9.2 mins per chance conceded (3rd), 113 chances conceded (3rd) and expected goals conceded of 11.79 (3rd). I also like the idea of a double up with Ben Chilwell (6.0) who has returned 8, 15, 12, 8 and 2 since coming back into the Chelsea team.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (7.7)
This might seem like a fairly obvious pick but the English right back TAA still has less than 30% ownership. Some people think they can go without while some will say he’s essential. Whatever your view point the points keep ticking over after he returned his fourth double digit score of the season. Only Salah and Cancelo have more FPL points this season and there is clearly great value with the defenders this season. For defenders he’s coming out on top in most departments; 6 big chances created (1st), 30 chances created (1st), 40 corners (2nd), 17 goal attempts (2nd) and Expected Assists 4.10 (1st). In fact only Bruno Fernandes has created more chances and his expected assists rate is the best in the game. Liverpool defensively have been strong this season with most stats being in the top three snd have six clean sheets so far this season.

Liverpool face Arsenal (H), Southampton (H), Everton (A), Wolves (A), Aston Villa (H) and Newcastle (H) so they do have a good run of games coming up.

Sergio Reguilón (5.0)
Spurs highest points scoring defender is Reguillon with 41 points so far. Antonio Conte is the new Spurs manager and is expected to make Spurs a much more defensively solid team. He’s got off to a good start with a clean sheet at Everton, Conte is famous for his wing back system and has a long history of his wing backs getting attacking returns Moses, Hakimi, Alonso etc etc. Against Everton Reguilón was the most advanced Spurs player. He had the highest number of touches in final third and Had the only big chance of the game to score which was created by Kane. Reguilon: “I have to arrive in the box, help the strikers, score goals, give assists.” Spurs play Leeds (H), Burnley (A) , Brentford (H), Norwich (H) and Brighton (A) so the fixtures are certainly there for Spurs.

Tariq Lamptey (4.4)
Tariq Lamptey finally came back from injury at the weekend and we have been waiting a long time for him to do so. He was extra lively like usual without returning any FPL points. The former Chelsea defender got into some threatening positions, narrowly failing to divert a cross home and had a weak shot on goal when he could have done better. Brighton have four clean sheets (5th), 133 chances conceded (8th) 7.9 mins per chance conceded (8th), and 16 big chances conceded (5th). Lamptey is a cheap attacking defender in a pretty solid Brighton defence. His total of eight penalty box touches was only beaten by two other FPL defenders in Gameweek 11 and the heat maps show that against Newcastle Lamptey was one of their most advanced players.

Tino Livramento (4.5)
Unless you have been living under a rock you probably know who this guy is. The new 4 million starting golden defender, the new John Lundstram. He’s the 7th highest scoring defender; the perfect bench fodder…. Although he’s better than that… and you probably should be starting him now! Plays Norwich next and he’s only blanked once in his last 8 matches. Fantasy gold!

Midfielders

Sadio Mané (11.9) and Diogo Jota (7.5)

The reason we don’t own Mane (just 4%) ownership is because Salah is the better option right. Why not double up and go with both? Most of the premium players are blanking and Mane is the third highest midfielder in the game. This really should be more as he’s missed a lot of big chances this season. A haul is coming and it’s just a matter of time. Mane has had 37 goal attempts (2nd), 31 shots in the box (2nd) 76 pen area touches (2nd) xG 6.39 (2nd) and 6 big chances missed (1st). Liverpool have scored 31 goals so far, more than any other team, with the goals predominantly coming from the front three. Liverpool face Arsenal (H), Southampton (H), Everton (A), Wolves (A), Aston Villa (H) and Newcastle (H) so I’d expect a lot more goals to be scored. If you can’t afford Mane (not everyone can) why not go for Diogo Jota (7.5). Firmino is out injured again with a hamstring injury and won’t be back after the international break and could miss the next six Liverpool matches which makes Jota’s place pretty secure. Despite not featuring every GW he has an xG of 3.82 (7th best) and 135.8 mins per xGI (10th). When in the team Jota is a great FPL option.

Heung-Min Son (10.3)
Nuno is gone, Spurs have a new manager, and it’s none other than Antonio Conte. The rush is on to get a Spurs player as they have a great run of fixtures now to target. Spurs play Leeds (H), Burnley (A), Brentford (H), Norwich (H), and Brighton (A) so we would expect them to score some goals. Against Everton the South Korean did not even have a shot on goal but in the two games under Conte so far he has been their most attacking player. Son has four goals and two assists so far making him the fourth highest scoring midfielder in the game and with these fixtures we would expect him to add to his tally. We know he’s one of the best finishers in the league so if Conte can get Spurs creating chances again Son will be in the points.

Raphinha (6.6)
Raphinha has now scored five of Leeds United’s 11 Premier League goals this season, If Leeds score, and they usually do, then the Brazilian is likely going to be involved. Raphinha (£6.6m) has now scored in consecutive Gameweeks, and his combined 57 shots and chances created this term is only bettered by Mo Salah (69) and Bruno Fernandes (65). He has an xA of 2.38 which is fifth best overall. If only Leeds could get Bamford back fit again. The fixtures do look quite difficult now though as they face Spurs and Brighton away before home games vs Brentford and Palace.

Leandro Trossard (6.4)
We all love an out of position player in FPL and in the last two matches Trossard has been playing as a striker; scoring 9 points against Liverpool and 10 points against Newcastle. Among FPL midfielders in 2021/22, Trossard is joint-fourth for shots in the box and overall goal attempts, joint-second for shots on target, and fourth for penalty box touches. Trossard might even be on penalties now after scoring one against Newcastle. Brighton play Aston Villa (A), Leeds (H), West Ham (A),Southampton (A) , Spurs (H), and Wolves (H) so Trossard has a mixed bag of fixtures.

Jarrod Bowen (6.3)
I’ve not seen one team with Jarrod Bowen in it but that’s not surprising considering he has less than 2% ownership so Bowen truly is the definition of a differential. Whisper it quietly but Jarrod Bowen has now provided at least a goal or assist in six of his last seven appearances. That’s now eight attacking returns for West Ham; two goals and six assists, more than the popular Antonio and Benrahma picks. During this time only some guy called Mo Salah has a superior expected goal involvement (xGI) total during that time. 19 chances created is also the 12th best in the league. Since GW 7 only Salah, James and Chilwell have more FPL points than Bowen. He’s also on his fair share of set pieces which is a massive weapon when he’s aiming for the likes of Soucek, Zouma, Rice, Ogbonna and Antonio.

Conor Gallagher (5.8)
What an impact Conor Gallagher had had on loan at Crystal Palace this season, he has been quite simply superb! I look forward to seeing him back at Chelsea next season. Still a relative differential at only 13% ownership which is surprising considering he costs less than 6 million and he’s the second highest scoring midfielder in the game on 62 points. For midfielders he’s had 23 goal attempts (12th), 17 chances created (12th), 3 big chances created (4th) and an xGI of 4.93 (6th). He does seem to be a set and forget midfield player as he’s now registered three double digit returns, 15 points (West Ham A), 13 points (City A), and now 11 points (Wolves H). That’s the definition of fixture proof considering those fixtures are difficult. Palace now have a long run of good fixtures Burnley (A), Aston Villa (H), Leeds (A) , United (A), Everton (H), Saints (H) and Watford (A). If he can return like that against against West Ham and Manchester City imagine the damage he can do with these fixtures. Alternatively Wilfried Zaha (£7m) made it five attacking returns in his last six starts with another goal.

Emile Smith Rowe (5.8)
Three goals in three games now for Emile Smith Rowe. He’s added goals to his game this season and he’s now the fifth highest scoring midfielder in the game. In fact he had four goals and two assists in his last six Premier League games. However Arsenal do now have a tricky run of games as they play Liverpool (A), Newcastle (H), Man United (A), Everton (A), Southampton (H) and West Ham (H) so we will find out where Arsenal are as a team after this lot. Arsenal are now unbeaten in eight league matches. ESR has also been called up to the senior England side for the first time so confidence will certainly be sky high.

Forwards
This might be a struggle here considering the forwards that returned this GW. Over the weekend, amongst all forwards, only Teemu Pukki (£5.8m), Adam Armstrong (£5.9m), Matej Vydra (£5.2m) and Divock Origi (£4.9m) found the back of the net. Not exactly your household names there. In fact three defenders have outscored the top scoring forward so far this season Michail Antonio.

Michail Antonio (8.2)

Michail Antonio has done some quite staggering point dodging over the last two Gameweeks, having failed to record a goal or assist despite West Ham hitting seven past Aston Villa and Liverpool combined. I think he’s been unlucky personally when a player is through on goal you expect him to shoot and not pass and this has stopped Antonio recording a few assists. On top of this he’s always in the camera shot when a West Ham player scores which is always a good sign. Only the Liverpool duo of Mane and Salah have had more goal attempts than Antonio’s 36 this season and a higher xG of 5.80. He’s also fourth for opposition pen area touches with 67 and he’s even tenth best for creating chances for his teammates with 21 and the quality of chances he creates is superb as he’s created five big chances (3rd) so he can easily get assists as well as goals. Antonio does have a rough set of fixtures coming up though; Wolves (A), Man City (A),Brighton (H), Chelsea (H) and Burnley (A), but does this really matter with the red hot form the Hammers find themselves in?

Jesus (8.7)
Jesus seems to have cemented himself into the Manchester City team playing off the right flank. Jesus has started nine of City’s first 11 matches and He’s the third highest scoring forward in the game. For forwards he’s created 17 chances (3rd), 3 big chances (3rd), had 55 pen area touches (3rd), 20 goal attempts (12th), expected goal involvement of 4.07 (8th) and xAssist of 1.6 (3rd). The fixtures are really good from an attacking perspective as City face Everton (H), West Ham (H), Aston Villa (A), Watford (A), Wolves (H), Leeds (H) and Newcastle (A). Looking at the stats though you might be more likely to get assists than goals from Jesus.

Callum Wilson (7.3)
The old band is back together. Eddie Howe is back in management taking over at Newcastle which reunites him with Fraser and Wilson from his Bournemouth days. Callum Wilson is back from injury again and he has scored over 50% of Newcastle’s goals. Two goals in four upon return. One of those fixtures was Chelsea. Four goals in total in just seven games. In the next four Newcastle have some juicy fixture as they play Brentford (H), Arsenal (A), Norwich (H) and Burnley (H). The Newcastle striker has less than 2% ownership so could be a nice differential considering all the other strikers are struggling to deliver. Howe also likes to play attacking football which will only help Wilson.

Teemu Pukki (5.9)
The forwards have been so bad this season that yes that’s correct I am picking a Norwich striker here. There is an argument to be made that we should just go cheap up top with Pukki being just that. Pukki has an xG of 3.47 (5th for strikers) which is higher than Kane, Jimenez, Toney and Jesus. Is it Pukki party time? Possibly yes, Norwich have just sacked their manager and there could be a bounce. They play Southampton (H), Wolves (H) and Newcastle (A) in the next three so if Norwich stand any chance of staying up this season they really need to get the Pukki party going again!

The Premiums: Ronaldo (12.4), Lukaku (11.5) and Kane (12.2)
Surely it’s just a matter of time before one of our faltering forwards starts performing. It’s hard to say which one it’s going to be but it might be a good idea to be flexible and to be able to get one of them. Kane (12.2) has the fixtures to turn his season around as Spurs play Leeds (H), Burnley (A) , Brentford (H), Norwich (H) and Brighton (A). There is not a lot of form or stats to back this up only that Spurs should improve under Conte and Kane was one of the highest points scorer in FPL last season. Kane’s worst 2 PL seasons have resulted in 17 & 18 goals, he has 1 so far in 10 matches. Surely he comes good sooner or later.

Romelu Lukaku (11.5) is expected to return after injury after the international break. Chelsea have scored 27 goals so far this season the second most behind Liverpool and with Chilwell and James supplying the ammunition Lukaku should start scoring sooner or later. Just three goals scored so far but with Chelsea being top of the league and reasonable fixtures of Leicester (A), Mann United (H), Watford (A), West Ham (A), Leeds (H) and Everton (H) Lukaku will be eager to get back to scoring goals.

There was great expectation when Cristiano Ronaldo (12.4) arrived back in the Premier League but Manchester United have really struggled to supply Ronaldo with the chances he needs to score goals. He has two double digit returns so far against Spurs and Newcastle. He has an xG of 4.32 (4th) behind just Salah, Mane and Antonio and 28 shots (28). United now have Watford (A), Chelsea (A), Arsenal (H), Palace (H), Norwich (A) and Brentford (A) so the fixtures are there for Ronaldo to score some goals.

Thanks for reading Fantasy Football Tips Gameweek 12. This article was written by Smash

Follow @Chrismartin1984