The week in Fantasy Premier League: NavasGate, differential captains and rethinking extra Double Gameweek players
Despite developing probably the most transparent bonus points system in the history of fantasy football in general, the FPL has endured its fair share of conspiracy accusations this season.
This reached new heights in GW30 when something of a statistical anomaly saw makeshift Man City right-back and all-round non-entity collect maximum bonus points, courtesy of a few successful tackles and the like.
Needless to say, some in the FPL community werenât too happy about it.
Jesus I would be pissed if I was an Aguero owner right nowđđHow did Navas get 3 bapsđ¤Ł#FPL
— Sky Kangaroo (@Sky_Kangaroo) April 2, 2017
Navas takes the 3 bonus points, despite receiving a YC and failing to score or assist. Bit late for April Fools isn't it @OfficialFPL? #FPL
— FPLtips (@_FPLtips) April 2, 2017
Navas:
— GadFly* đť (@FPL_Fly) April 2, 2017
Can't be tackled if you don't touch the ball... pic.twitter.com/RNh3XFsmL1
But life goes on, and a whirlwind week of fixtures seems to have thrown up a new problem for us to consider.
Time to start picking differential captains?
Despite his recent return to form, the age of is most likely over. Still, even without the Argentinean marksman at his best, a cosy consensus usually emerges from the FPL chatter (not always with the desired result).
However, the last two Gameweeks in particular have seen a noticeable lack of certainty among managers when it comes to who trust with that all-important armband, as can be seen in the recent captaincy stats for live teams.
GW30 saw captaincy long-shots like , and emerge as the outstanding choices. The week after it was the turn of , and to shine.
A perfect storm of circumstances has brought us here. Injuries to and , âs suspension, as well as a drop in form for the likes of and have us all second-guessing ourselves.
SCOUT: Lukaku disappoints with back-to-back blanks - he's now scored just once in his last 7 GWs away from home #FPL pic.twitter.com/M5p865sErn
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) April 5, 2017
The one remaining traditional big-hitter,, remains a threat - but isnât helped by âs lack of goals.
Quick note about GW32 captains
— FPL Guidance (@FPL_Guidance) April 6, 2017
Lukaku, Ibra, Vardy & Sanchez will have 2 more days rest compared to likes of Hazard, Alli, Costa & Kun#FPL
The truth is that this temporary shove out of our captaincy comfort zone could be a blessing in disguise for many a struggling FPL manager.
Captaining the same player as your mini-league leader is the one tactic that practically guarantees failure to make up ground, and so it should be avoided anyway. The home stretch is the perfect time to roll the dice here anyway, because of its tendency to produce big scores from unexpected places.
So donât be afraid to take a chance on that in-form player with the deceptively low pricetag - it could be the making of your season.
The false promise of the âDoubleâ Double Gameweek teams
As we probably all know by now, there are three teams with two Double Gameweeks on the way -, and - and we should know when those fixtures will be happening later today (Friday).
"The remaining postponed matches are to be confirmed on or around Friday 7 April 2017."
— Ben Crellin (@BenCrellin) March 20, 2017
The Gameweek 32 deadline is on Saturday 8 April.
But with each passing week, the likelihood of finding a reliable points scorer (much less an obvious Triple Captain candidate) among this lot seems to be getting ever more remote.
A goal and assist have put Southampton defenders and on the radar, but they remain part of a defence that looks so fragile it could conceivably finish the season without another clean sheet to its name.
Romeu suspended for
— FPL Stag (@FPLStag) April 6, 2017
WBA (A)
MCI (H)
4th PL interceptions (Mids)
3rd PL tackles
Most SOU passes, minutes, touches
Clean sheet chances âŹď¸ pic.twitter.com/tovWHgqB0j
Updates on the fitness of remain suspiciously vague and despite flashes of brilliance, the likes of Long, Tadic and Redmond will only break your heart in the long run.
One intriguing under-the-radar option for your fifth midfielder spot has arrived, however, in the form of .
The 22-year-old has earned a regular place, as well as his share of free kicks and corners, and would be a welcome arrival off your bench for those Double and Gameweeks.
Arsenalâs 3-0 victory over a demoralised outfit offered some encouragement - but finding a player to hang our FPL hats on here isnât getting any easier.
Unpredictable gametime sees Giroud and Welbeck effectively cancel each other out, and Gunners defenders are way overpriced for the points you could reasonably expect from them.
A smattering of recent goals has prompted some optimistic mutterings about and , but these two are not easily trusted.
Of most concern, however, has been the alarming dip in the output of .
Inexplicably shunted out to the left and possibly playing through the pain of injury, the unsettled Chilean has gone from presumptive Triple Captain to a possible placeholder. One more week, Alexis...
Elsewhere, gave those investing in Man United assets an unpleasant glimpse into the future as the supposedly undroppable was duly rested.
Already prone to constant tinkering at the best of times this season, Mourinhoâs comments about Europa League rotation are a further cause for concern.
Although you would think Unitedâs lone goalscoring threat should remain somewhat immune, we must face the grim reality that is really the only risk-free FPL option available at Old Trafford.
The takeaway? Donât let anyone tell you that you HAVE to buy players with two Double Gameweeks - especially when there are some great options in the teams who can still look forward to one.
Standout picks in Double Gameweek teams
Top of the pile here are obviously Tottenham - the form team in the league are on a real title charge and have the fixtures to rack up some big scores.
and are looking more essential by the week.
.@Dele_Alli has been involved in đ goals in 10 #PL appearances for @SpursOfficial in 2017 - 8 goals & 2 assists #BURTOT pic.twitter.com/9e3yUGrLhS
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 1, 2017
and have rewarded those who jumped on the bandwagon early, but be warned - if you donât already own them, now is not the optimum time to invest.
Daily Mirror report Harry Kane could return from his ankle ligament injury this weekend against Watford. #THFC pic.twitter.com/lK5CZdrZHa
— Hotspur Related (@HotspurRelated) April 5, 2017
Another top team looking forward to an obliging run of fixtures - for the rest of the season, in fact - is Manchester City.
The Sky Blues have been off-colour this season, and their defence is a lost cause, but those who can say âGoodbye Gylfiâ to fund an early move for could have a real season-changer on their hands.
will continue to have his devotees, but we know what happens around Easter, right?
.@gabrieljesus33 is happy to be back training! He's ALWAYS smiling! đ¤Łđ
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 4, 2017
Gallery đ¸ âĄď¸ https://t.co/YJ8djMXN0F #mcfc pic.twitter.com/ZcJwYl4Auz
Over at Leicester, five goals in his last five league games has seen owners happily re-evaluating his status as their short-term punt, despite the daunting prospect of four away matches in a row.
Was planning on selling Vardy as his next 3 fixtures aren't great, but with Everton hardly having any defenders (Williams susp. now)..#FPL
— Culer-o Uno (@Pedri_In_Motion) April 6, 2017
Teammate is dirt cheap and scored or assisted in three of his last four games.
The last outstanding DGW candidate has to be . Still kindly priced and with a relatively low ownership, heâs been a real live wire for a resurgent Palace side.
Heâll need to be at his best in the weeks ahead though - even Big Sam is under no illusions about the uphill task facing them.
SA: It's not "arguably" we've got the hardest run-in, we *have* got the hardest run-in.#CPFC đŚ pic.twitter.com/JbIsP68oNL
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) April 6, 2017
QUICK TIP
Try not to worry too much about price fluctuations at this stage - they become less relevant as the end of the season draws closer (by which time it wonât matter what your team value is!).
Perhaps it was the skewed sense of time created by the midweek fixtures, but thousands were transferring in players like ,, , for GW32 before they had even played their GW31 fixture!
Now is the time of the season to enjoy that cash youâve (hopefully) built up and use it to buy fit, regular players on the morning of the Gameweek, with all that valuable injury and fixture information at your disposal.
BUY
Even a premature return for Harry Kane canât dent the stock of at the moment. Scoring returns in his last five matches donât even tell the full story, having narrowly missed so many chances along the way.
Premier League goals this season:
— SPORF (@Sporf) April 5, 2017
â˝ď¸ Dele Alli - 15
â˝ď¸ Sergio Aguero - 15
â˝ď¸ Eden Hazard - 13
â˝ď¸ Sadio Mane - 13
Unbelievable form đłđĽ pic.twitter.com/UmcIHvxEyl
Ignore him at your peril.
TRY
Tipping a player who has blanked in his last three might raise a few eyebrows, but it wouldnât do justice to the performances has been putting in of late. He still had six shots in the box during that recent barren run, and donât forget those 28 points he scored in the three games before that.
Sure, heâs a poor manâs Eden Hazard, but heâs quick, direct and itâs surely only a matter of time before his effort is rewarded with those sweet, sweet FPL points.
GOODBYE
The absence of and has led to a real dearth of premium-priced defenders - but do we really need them anyway?
The closing stretch of the season isnât exactly known for its tense 0-0 scorelines - relegation strugglers and top-four contenders alike go for broke and everyone else switches off a little.
Chief culprit here though is .
Clean sheets are a defenderâs bread and butter - and there comes a point where those âattacking potentialâ magic beans just donât cut it anymore.
Top of the League
no pressure to hold onto my lead there Ken!! đđđđ
— Brian Haugh (@Hauzinho13) March 31, 2017
Pressure? What pressure?
A healthy 63 points in GW31 has given and his a bit of breathing space at the top of the Official Irish Examiner League (join code: 251768-521616). As his opponents count their blessings that he didnât shift the armband to Alli or Eriksen, what will it take for one of them to dislodge him?
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