Just four gameweeks remain as short-term options and punts become more common for FPL managers. No doubles this week, so we’ll be focussing on sides with strong single gameweek fixtures and upcoming doubles in gameweek 35 and 36. As always, we’re using our Fixture Tracker to help guide us through.
FPL GW 35 Tips – Attack
Arsenal
The Gunners are back on track for fourth after a strange few weeks. With momentum now on their side, a distracted West Ham awaits this coming gameweek, before a double against Leeds & Spurs and fixtures against Newcastle and Everton to see out the campaign.
Bukayo Saka’s (6.8m) hauls haven’t been easy to predict of late. Consecutive blanks against Crystal Palace, Brighton, and Southampton have been followed by 21 points in two games against Chelsea and Manchester United. Yet, at his price, Saka may be worth setting and forgetting as a solid pick for the rest of the season.
Emerging as a late-season bargain, Eddie Nketiah (5.5m) may be the answer to many FPL manager’s forward issues. With Alexandre Lacazette (8.3m) out of form and out of the team as his contract runs out, Mikel Arteta has turned to Nketiah, who has duly delivered. The Arsenal manager’s recent comments only strengthen Nketiah’s place in this side following a brace against Chelsea.
Aston Villa
The Villans have been sliding down the table but have perhaps the three strongest upcoming gameweeks on paper. A trip to Norwich this coming gameweek is followed by back-to-back gameweeks featuring home and away ties against Burnley.
The paucity of forward options is perhaps Ollie Watkins’ (7.4m) biggest endorsement.Three goals in 14 isn’t exactly encouraging, but a double-figure return against Norwich in gameweek 17 is reminder of what he can deliver against the league’s poorest defence.
Philippe Coutinho (7.0m) has gone firmly off the radar but the Brazilian international is capable of ripping sides apart and could be worth the gamble. If that price point is too much to stomach for an out-of-form Villa asset, Jacon Ramsey (4.7m) has six goals including one against Norwich this season.
Norwich
As we’ve just mentioned, Aston Villa are struggling, and often Championship-bound sides start scoring once the pressure is off. With that in mind, now may be the time to take a risk on a Canary, especially with a double coming up next week.
There’s only one place with Norwich – Teemu Pukki (6.0m). The Finn has delivered attacking returns in five of his last seven games, a remarkable feat considering Norwich’s attacking figures. Pukki has hit 10 PL goals this season and could go out with a bang even if Norwich go down as expected.
Going with anyone other than Pukki in the Norwich ranks is brave, to say the least. Nonetheless, anyone determined to be a maverick will struggle to do better than Kieran Dowell (5.1m). The 24-year-old only has 33 points but 11 came in gameweek 33 against Manchester United and only 1 in 1000 FPL managers can claim to have him in their side.
FPL GW 35 Tips – Defence
Crystal Palace
The Eagles face Southampton and Watford before a double with Aston Villa & Everton followed by Manchester United on the final day. There’s certainly potential for points in that run-in, and Crystal Palace’s nicely-priced defence could prove to be useful squad options.
Joachim Andersen (4.6m), Marc Guéhi (4.5m), Cheikhou Kouyaté (4.5m), Tyrick Mitchell (4.5m), and Nathaniel Clyne (4.3m) are each solid options. There’s little to separate the five of them, so price may well be the deciding factor. In goal, Vicente Guaita (4.6m) offers an alternate route to Palace’s potential clean sheet points.
Burnley
It’s now or never for a Burnley side threatened with relegation and seven points from three suggests it very much is ‘now’. The Clarets have responded to the managerial change and will need to rely heavily on their defence to keep them up. Fixtures against Watford, Aston Villa, Tottenham & and Aston Villa (again), and Newcastle make for good reading.
Nick Pope (5.4m) isn’t kindly priced, but he’s as reliable as they come and a fine choice to see out the season if funds permit. Much the same goes for James Tarkowski (4.9m), particularly in the absence of his regular centre-back partner Ben Mee (4.6m).
Among the cheaper options, Charlie Taylor (4.4m) is the first-choice left-back, whilst Connor Roberts (4.4m) looks to have regained his place from Matt Lowton (4.4m) at right-back. Lastly, Nathan Collins (4.3m) has chipped in with a couple of goals whilst he deputises for the injured Mee.
Watford
The Hornets look set to go down and without much of a fight. Nevertheless, a must-win game against Burnley followed by a double against Crystal Palace and Everton could prove pivotal.
There are better defences to target for the run-in, but perhaps no better budget keeper. Ben Foster (4.1m) has been first-choice for much of the season and is perfect for a bench boost. The defence is far from inspiring, but if Watford are to somehow stay up, Christian Kabasele (4.3m) is the man to target, especially as a differential with a 0% ownership.
Photo by Prapoth Panchuea on Unsplash
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