After all the recent excitement surrounding the double game-weeks, it’s back to normality for us FPL managers. Game-Week 27 was a goal-fest with Harry Kane, Bruno Fernandes, Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan all registering double-digit hauls. However, it was the fourth game in a row that Manchester City failed to keep a clean sheet and it might be the right time to dump your City defensive assets in favour of other options.
There are some interesting match-ups this week with the in-form Chelsea facing the struggling Leeds and Manchester United hosting West-Ham United. With that in mind, here are our picks for game-week 28.
SCOUT: Ilkay Gundogan is now the best-value #FPL midfielder of 2020/21 based on points per million#FPL #MCISOU pic.twitter.com/0JfLBO4Iej
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) March 10, 2021
GK: Emiliano Martinez (AVL) – £5.4m
Emiliano Martinez has been the best goal-keeping asset in the game this year and is topping the charts with 149 points. Villa have kept 14 clean-sheets this season and face a struggling Newcastle attack that has been plagued with injuries this week, giving Martinez a good chance of keeping another clean-sheet.
DEF: Cesar Azpilicueta (CHE) – £5.7m
In fantasy terms, the one player who has excelled under Tomas Tuchel is Cesar Azpilicueta. The Chelsea captain has started every game since Tuchel arrived and is averaging 6.6 points per game in that period. Chelsea has a great defensive record under the German, having only conceded 2 goals in 9 games.
DEF: Ricardo Pereira (LEI) – £5.9m
While Leicester hasn’t been great defensively in the last couple of weeks, they have a good chance of keeping a clean-sheet this week against a struggling Sheffield United attack. Also, Ricardo Pereira has occasionally played at right-wing under Brendan Rodgers and offers a good chance of attacking returns.
DEF: Ainsley Maitland-Niles (WBA) – £4.6m
Ainsley Maitland-Niles is a great budget pick in defence and offers great upside considering that he is playing in central midfield for West Brom. The Baggies have kept two clean sheets in their last three games and are facing a Crystal Palace side that has only scored two goals in their last seven games.
MID: Ilkay Gundogan (WBA) – £6.2m
Ilkay Gundogan has continued his goal-scoring form for Manchester City after registering another 10 points in game-week 27. Gundogan is the best-value asset in the game right now and has the highest points per million amongst midfielders in the game.
MID: Mason Mount (CHE) – £7.0m
Mount has had two double-digit hauls in his last three starts for Chelsea and is expected to start against Leeds at the weekend after being rested against Everton. Mount could be in for another monster score this week against a Leeds United side that has the 2nd worst defensive record in the league
MID: Bruno Fernandes (LIV) – £11.5m
Bruno Fernandes is the best fantasy asset in the game right now and his selection is a no-brainer. He is the highest-scoring player in the game with 206 points and has scored three goals in his last three appearances at home.
MID: Kevin De Bruyne (MCI) – £11.8m
Kevin De Bruyne rewarded the owners who have shown faith in him throughout his dry spell with a brace against Southampton in game-week 27. He was also substituted on 71 minutes against Southampton in mid-week which indicates that there are high chances he will avoid Pep Roulette and start again at the weekend against Fulham.
FWD: Ollie Watkins (AVL) – £6.6m
Ollie Watkins was desperately unlucky not to score against Wolves last week after taking 6 shots in the entire game and hitting the woodwork for the 7th time this season. Nevertheless, Watkins has another favourable fixture this week against Newcastle United and his chances of a return will be boosted by the return of Jack Grealish after injury.
FWD: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (EVE) – £7.7m
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has disappointed his owners over the past few weeks after blanking in his last three games. However, there are hopes he can turn it around this week in a favourable fixture against Burnley at home.
FWD: Harry Kane (TOT) – £11.3m
Harry Kane had a monster haul in game-week 28 where he scored two and assisted two to register 19 points. This week Kane plays Arsenal in the North London Derby, a fixture he has a great record in having scored 11 times against the Gunners over the years.
Captaincy Pick
The captaincy is a tricky choice this week with Fernandes, De Bruyne and Kane all being viable options for managers. My pick is Kevin De Bruyne based on the fact that he plays Fulham, a team with a much weaker defence than West Ham and Arsenal which gives the Belgian the best chance to score points.
[Image Credit: Premier League]
Shivaan Shah