The week in Fantasy Premier League: Kane quarrels, saving Salah and Double Gameweek differentials
Owning Harry Kane has been a frustrating experience for Fantasy Premier League managers at times this season, but nobody was prepared for this.
Transferred in by over 100,000 managers, everything seemed to be going to plan as he duly notched against Stoke, before confusion reigned just minutes later.
GOAL Stoke 1-2 Spurs (63 mins)
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 7, 2018
Eriksen scores his second goal of the match as his free-kick evades everyone#STKTOT
The goal (and all-important FPL points) were eventually awarded to , before Kane’s bizarre crusade to take a goal from a teammate revealed the full extent of his lust for a third .
The men in robes at the aptly-named eventually agreed, but it all came too late for over 1.7 million FPL managers to benefit.
Lot of talk this morning of Harry Kane trying to overturn the decision to award Christian Eriksen the 2nd goal vs Stoke in #GW33.
— FPL Juninho (Chris) (@FPL_Juninho) April 9, 2018
Even if he somehow gets them to overturn it, it’s not going to change anything FPL wise.#FPL Rules👇 pic.twitter.com/dofO3vnYPF
The fact that it happened in what was one of the lowest-scoring weeks of the past five seasons, only rubbed salt in the wounds of owners.
The average score this GW is 32.
— FPL Intellect (@FPLIntellect) April 9, 2018
The only lower average in the last 5 seasons came in BGW28 (19 pts) in 16/17, in which only 4 matches took place. In GW 29 of 13/14, the average was 29 pts. That would make this GW the lowest avg GW in the last 156 GWs apart from BGW28 of 16/17!
Everyone else breathed a sigh of relief, while simultaneously heaping the kind of unrelenting ridicule on the Spurs striker man we’ve seen since the days of .
Flip sake. He was my captain. Those points could cost me our league!
— Matty Hillis🍞 (@MattyHillis1) April 11, 2018
Although he certainly took it to new levels, the fact that is obsessed with records and personal achievement won’t come as a galloping shock to anyone - what was far more revealing was the reaction of another Golden Boot contender.
😂😂🤨🤨🤷🏼♂️
— Jamie Vardy (@vardy7) April 11, 2018
No, not him...
What to do with Mo Salah?
Despite being on course to become the all-time leading FPL points scorer, the absence of against Everton was enough to spook managers into making him the most-sold midfielder in the game this week.
One expertly-taken goal against Man City and a solitary word in a rare personal tweet later, and many were wondering if they had made the right decision.
Wooooooow really ?
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) April 11, 2018
It will be a long goodbye for some, as they comfort themselves by bringing the ghost of Salah into their Free Hit squad for when he faces doomed .
Given Klopp's unapologetic rotation in the 2016 Europa League campaign, it’s almost certain that Salah's minutes will be managed in some way - but this may not fully kick in until as late as GW36.
Liverpool's place in the top four is not quite as secure as some may think - if Chelsea can win while Liverpool draw over the next three games (hardly unthinkable, even given Chelsea's form), victory in the pair's GW37 clash at Stamford Bridge would give the Blues a shot at securing fourth place in the final game of the season.
Having returned an average 9.5 points in home matches this season, the top-scoring player in FPL could ironically become a differential for those willing to go against the grain and captain him this week.
Going to captain Salah. He’s the exception to the never captain a SGW player rule. Feels right
— #FPL Lion (@FPLlion) April 12, 2018
Selling him by makes sense, but keep your options open for what could be his glorious GW38 swansong in your FPL team (particularly if Harry Kane’s aura manages to score another few goals). With almost two weeks to recover for any Champions League final, he’ll be looking to finish in style against Brighton at Anfield.
😂😂😂 If this isn't reason enough to own both Kane and Salah, I don't know what is. We have a golden boot battle on our hands. Probably the most exciting thing left to decide this season 💪💪 https://t.co/RLIuo29Qcv
— Nick Pasquet (@Nick_FootballPA) April 11, 2018
For those who waved goodbye to the Egyptian King, for the time being at least, can now look forward to the feeling of seemingly boundless potential a Double Gameweek player can bring.
Choosing the best Double Gameweek players
Unfortunately, the excitement of DGW34 won’t last long for some managers who have already used their F, followed as it is by a blank for all DGW teams other than Burnley.
Those Free-Hitting this week can roll the dice on triple Man United cover and have the option of what could be a season-changing differential captain in the form of 3.6%-owned .
Moving on to the midfield players.
— FPL Aditya (@AdsIyer) April 12, 2018
1. Alexis Sanchez#FPL #GW34 #DGW34 🙂⚽️ pic.twitter.com/J3XlDcDarS
One clean sheet in their last eight fixtures doesn't inspire confidence, but the price is right for defenders like and as they prepare to face Burnley and Southampton - teams who have both failed to muster an average of one goal scored per game this season.
In a strange quirk of fixtures, also face Burnley and Southampton, and could be afforded one last chance to redeem themselves against the goal-shy sides.
Short-term punts on the likes of , , and are also viable options.
Charlie Austin #VS Romelu Lukaku#FPL #keystats pic.twitter.com/opJwai0Kuy
— Ste #FPL 🎯 (@fplcloud) April 10, 2018
For those Free Hitting in , it’s smooth sailing as players from , , , , and all provide the promise of two Double Gameweeks.
The idea that a scorned will develop a new-found greed is probably a bit fanciful, but he has been in impressive form, regardless.
Christian Eriksen's last six matches:
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) April 11, 2018
14 chances created
21 attempts
10 on target
The Dane is a man in form ahead of @SpursOfficial's #FPL Double Gameweek, says The Scout: https://t.co/78l34h0WxM pic.twitter.com/kDPDgv0ojl
QUICK TIP
Squad rotation will become a factor for teams still involved in cup competitions - look for those red spots in ’s latest spreadsheet to see which players could be particularly vulnerable, and when.
As promised...
— Ben Crellin (@BenCrellin) April 10, 2018
Here's my updated "Rest Times" spreadsheet, which shows the number of days' rest each team will have between fixtures:
I'm assuming that Arsenal will reach the Europa League SFs and that Liverpool will play their Semi Final on the Tue & Wed (instead of Wed & Tue). pic.twitter.com/cU6zVrVuvg
BUY
After months in the FPL wilderness, early-season favourite has fought his way back into our plans in recent weeks.
The consummate ‘flat track bully’ will fancy his chances against an improving but ultimately hapless West Brom team, as well as a Bournemouth side who haven’t enjoyed a clean sheet at home since last November.
TRY
Burnley have recovered their form in recent weeks and are now in the pole position to achieve their first taste of European football for 50 years (unless Southampton win the FA Cup).
With Ben Mee possibly out for the rest of the season with a shin problem, has become a bargain-basement option for their relatively kind, blank-free season run-in at a time when team value tends to take a hammering.
GOODBYE
Now without a league win for almost three months, there is little to suggest that Stoke will hang on to their Premier League status.
might be worth holding as an out-of-position cheapie, but without even the false promise of a Double Gameweek in the offing, it’s time to jettison any remaining Potters still lingering around your squad.
Top of the League
A stellar 51 points, in the context of the week, saw and his side extend their lead at the top of .
Points from captain , and a long-overdue attacking return from Azpilicueta did the business. Still to play his second , and chips, a spot in the world’s top 10 could yet be in reach.
Just one point separates and in second and third.
