Fantasy Football Tips Gameweek 31

Welcome to Fantasy Football Tips Gameweek 31

Goalkeepers

Nick Pope at 5.4 is my top pick here. Burnley play City (A) and Everton (H) in GW31, they travel to Norwich in GW32 and then have another double in GW33 with West Ham away and Saints at home. They even have another double GW to reschedule. There could be some clean sheets here but there should also be plenty of saves and Pope is a magnet for those bonus points.

Kasper Schmeichel (4.8) is the most nailed Leicester defensive asset. The defence is now pretty much all fully fit with Evans, Fofana, Castagne and Justin all returning to training so it might suddenly prove difficult to pick a Leicester defender so why not just go with the keeper. Two clean sheets in their last four games and with Evans and Fofana returning to the defence should make Leicester stronger defensively. They still have two further double game weeks to be arranged. They play United (A), Palace (A), a double of Newcastle and Everton (A) in GW33 and Villa (H) in GW34. There could be rotation in the defence so Schmeichel might be the safest in terms of game time.

Dubravka (4.4) is a good value pick. Newcastle have massively improved in recent weeks and have only conceded very late goals in their last two games so have been unlucky not to come away with clean sheets. They play Spurs (A), Wolves (H), a double GW33 Leicester (H), Palace (H) and Norwich (A) in GW34. Alternatively Foster (4.1) is just cheap and plays.

Defenders

Reece James (£6.2m) has been back training and is expected to return this week. James is the best attacking asset from Chelsea and yes he’s a right wing-back. In the Premier League this term, he has averaged 0.79 attacking returns per 90 minutes, a figure that only Mason Mount (£7.5m) can better in the Chelsea squad. James has five double digit returns in just 13 starts, to put this into context Raphinha a midfielder at a similar price has yet to even return a double digit score. Chelsea have only conceded 19 goals this season (2nd best) and have conceded the third least amount of goal attempts. Basically you are getting Chelsea’s best attacker, and a defender for a top three defence for just 6.2 million.

Trevoh Chalobah (£4.7m) has played every minute of the league campaign in March. He should prove good value at that price and is a lot cheaper than Rudiger (6.2). Chalobah also has a bit more to his game than the clean sheets with three goals and an assist to his name.

Connor Roberts (£4.4m) has now started 10 Premier League matches for Burnley in a row, establishing himself as the first-choice right-back for Sean Dyche. Once you gain a place under Dyche you likely keep it as he likes a settled side. In that time, he has produced one assist, four clean sheets and three bonus points. With five games in three game weeks the Burnley man might be worth a punt.

Robertson (7.3) is the in form FPL defender currently with 10 cleansheets, 10 assists, and 1 goal in his last 14 PL games. His assist at the Emirates took his tally to 11 for the season, which is level with the more popular Alexander-Arnold. So do you double up with TAA? I don’t see why not. 46 chances created this season puts Robertson behind just TAA for defenders this season. Matip at just 4.9 is the cheaper alternative. I’m not sure fixtures really matter for Liverpool but they play Watford (H), City (A), United (H), Everton (H) and Newcastle (A).They also have a DGW to come as their Aston Villa match needs to be re-scheduled.

Manchester City assets are going under the radar. João Pedro Cavaco Cancelo is (6.9) and is certainly no longer a rotation risk. They have the best defence in the league, they have conceded the fewest goals, the fewest shots on target, the least amount of big chances and have the best xGC rate in the league. Lots have sold Cancelo, for example. Pep Guardiola’s side have a soft run-in, facing just one top-six opponent in their remaining nine matches. Rotation should be kept to a minimum as they go for the title. Now might be the time to bring Cancelo back as he’s the stand out defender for City. He’s 13th among all outfield players for goal attempts this season. That’s 19 more than TAA who sits second. Cancelo also had nine attacking returns and 15 clean sheets himself this season. Alternatively Stones at (5.8) looks great value and certainly is a goal threat from those KDB set pieces.

Matt Doherty (4.8) has out of nowhere become the number one RWB at Spurs. Emerson Royal has been poor all season and after a few decent performances it’s now Doherty’s shirt to lose. When he plays Doherty has some of the best attacking stats for a defender going. Conte does have a habit of rotating his wing backs but that’s fine if you have a bench. Spurs play Newcastle (H), Aston Villa (A), Brighton ( H), Brentford (A), Leicester (H) with a double GW to come so the fixtures are good. Since coming into the side Doherty has returned 18, 14, 1, 6 and 2 points.

Ben White is still offering tremendous value this season at 4.5. 13 cleans at that price is very impressive and is an underrated pick. Arsenal play Palace (A), Brighton (H), Saints and Chelsea (A) in GW33, United (H) and West Ham (A).

Midfielders

Kai Havertz (7.9) is currently the first choice number 9 at Chelsea. Lukaku seems to be taking a back seat. Havertz has started the last four games in the Premier league scoring 7, 12, 14 and 2 points. We love an FPL midfielder playing as a striker and Havertz is just that. Even if Lukaku gets a game Havertz can play just behind. During those four games as a striker only Kane, Son and Toney have a higher xG. Maybe he’s just starting to perform at his international levels, 23 Games, 18 of those as a starter Havertz has had 18 attacking returns. For Germany Havertz is averaging a G/A every 75 minutes. Chelsea have a great run of fixtures coming up as they play Brentford (H), Saints (A), Arsenal (H), West Ham (H), Everton (A) and have three double game weeks to still be scheduled.

Phil Foden (7.7) has established himself in Manchester City’s first choice eleven this season. He’s started nine of City’s last ten matches and has completed the full 90 minutes in six of these. Seven goals and four assists have been ok this season and his ownership has fallen to just 5%. In the last six game weeks out of all players in the game Foden is 7th for xG and 4th for midfielders for xGI. He has even has found himself at times playing in the number 9 position for City this season. The fixtures are good for the rest of the season now and City should score some goals in these fixtures as they play Burnley (A), Liverpool (H), Brighton (H), Watford (H), Leeds (A) and Newcastle (H).

James Maddison (£6.8), when fit and / or not in Brendan’s bad books, has been in red hot form. He now has 7 goals in his last 14 Premier League appearances. During that time he has also produced five assists and earned 13 bonus points. Harvey Barnes (£6.6m) has also been a consistent performer of late, having returned either a goal or assist in 10 of his last 14 Premier League games. Both are good options going forward. Leicester have three double game weeks to come this season. They play United (A), Palace (H), a DGW of Everton and Newcastle (A), Everton (A), and Aston Villa (H). With all the fixtures to come I don’t mind the double up.

Dejan Kulusevski (£6.3m) has been a revelation at Spurs following his January arrival. He seems to have cemented his place on the right of the front three, the Swede has scored twice and also supplied five assists in seven starts. He is currently averaging 5.2 points per match. Kulusevski is 6th for midfielders for xGI over the last six game weeks and 4th for xA over the same period. At times Son has even come off before Kulusevski which goes to show how much Conte already trusts him in that starting eleven. Spurs play Newcastle (H), Aston Villa (A), Brighton (H), Brentford (A), Leicester (H) with a double GW to come so the fixtures are good.

Gabriel Martinelli (£5.3m) has now started the last 13 Premier League matches he has been available for Arsenal, returning four goals and two assists. His minutes-per-expected goals (xG) figure is better than all of the other Arsenal midfield regulars this season and seems tremendous value at that price. Martinelli even made his Brazil debut in the 4-0 win World Cup qualifier win against Chile so his confidence will be sky high. Arsenal are in great form having won six of their last seven matches. They also have something to play for as they aim for that Champions League place. Arsenal play Palace (A), Brighton (H), Saints and Chelsea (A) in GW33, United (H) and West Ham (A) and also have a further DGW to come.

Anthony Gordon (£4.5m), is probably the best bet for an asset from Everton. DCL and Richarlison are not really options at their price currently. Gordon has had the most shots, created the most chances and has the highest xGI out of all the Everton players since Frank Lampard took charge. Everton have a double this week as they face West Ham and Burnley. They also have two double game weeks to come.

Strikers

Only Harry Kane (12.5) is really scoring any points in the forwards category. If you don’t own him I’m not sure what three forwards you do or would want to own instead. Kane only has one blank in his last seven game weeks with four double digit returns. Spurs play Newcastle (H), Villa (A), Brighton (H), Brentford ( A) and Leicester (H). They have a good run of fixtures for the rest of the season and Kane is the only forward returning any points currently. It’s not surprising to see Kane top all the stats charts for forwards, in fact no player in the game has had more shots than Kane in the last six game weeks. He’s even 4th overall for chances created over the same period. Only Salah and Mane has a higher xG than Kane for the season which is quite remarkable considering no one owned him a few months ago. Harry Kane is back!

Alexander Lacazette (8.4) is still the mid priced striker to own. For strikers over the last six game weeks for strikers he’s 2nd for xG, 2nd for goal attempts, 6th for chances created and he’s on pens for Arsenal. Arsenal play Palace (A), Brighton (H) a double GW of Saints and Chelsea (A) and United (H). Arsenal also still have another double GW to come. There really is a lack of forwards this season.

Che Adams (6.9) has quietly had a decent season for Southampton, scoring seven times and creating four assists. He has 36 Shots in the Box with an xG of 6.40, and has created 25 Chances with an xA of 4.33. Southampton are an attacking team and Adams is the first choice striker there on current form. Southampton play Leeds (A), Chelsea (H), a double of Arsenal (H) and Burnley (A), Brighton (A) and Palace (H). The fixtures are generally good and they have the double GW coming up so Adams could prove to be a nice differential.

Wout Weghorst’s (6.4) statistics are dire. 0.23 xG per 90 and only 2.50 touches in the box per 90 is not exactly the encouragement you need to bring him in. So why tip him? Well he has a lot of games with a double vs City and Everton this week and a double GW in 33 with West Ham away and Southampton home. He also has a game vs Norwich in GW32. However in the 9 games he’s played so far, apart from the goal and the assist vs Brighton, he’s not really done anything. At Wolfsburg though he managed 59 goals and 19 assists, with an xG of 60.56 and an xA of 14.20.

Juan Camilo Hernández Suárez (5.0) is a cheap playing forward who I like as an option. He’s cheap enough to bench most weeks and with no strikers performing he could enable a strong 4-5-1 formation. Three goals and one assist in his last three games should see him keep his starting place. Watford fixtures are mixed with Liverpool (A), Leeds (H), Brentford (H), City (A) and Burnley (H) with a future double GW to be arranged.

Thanks for reading Fantasy Football Tips Gameweek 31. This article was written by Smash.

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