The international break is finally over and fantasy football returns after two long weeks. From now on, it’s nine rounds of non-stop Premier League action which gives managers just enough time to catch up with their mini-league rivals and climb up the rankings. Game-Week 30 presents some interesting opportunities from an FPL perspective with the struggling West Brom facing the in-form Chelsea or Sheffield United travelling to Leeds. Here are our fantasy picks for the week.
GK: Edouard Mendy (CHE) – £5.2m
Chelsea are the best defence in the league at the moment and have kept eight clean sheets in their last 10 games. You can’t get a more nailed on clean-sheet this week as they take on a West Brom side that are struggling to put the ball in the back of the net.
DEF: Marcos Alonso (CHE) – £5.7m
Given that Chelsea are highly unlikely to concede at the weekend, it might be wise to double up on their defence. Alonso also provides a great attacking threat and ranks top amongst defenders for shots (13) and shots in the box (10) since game-week 21.
DEF: Stuart Dallas (LEE) – £5.1m
While Dallas is listed as a defender in FPL, he often plays as a midfielder for Marcelo Bielsa’s side and is a great option this week against a Sheffield United side that just lost their manager. Dallas has scored 5 goals and bagged 3 assists this season and has great attacking potential.
DEF: Lucas Digne (EVE) – £6.2m
While Everton have not been the tightest of defences in the league, Lucas Digne offers some great potential this week against a Crystal Palace team lacking form. Digne has eight assists this season and might start at left wing-back this week which increases his attacking threat.
MID: Raphinha (LEE) – £5.5m
Raphinha has been one of the best value picks in the game this season and has one more favourable match-up this week against Sheffield United. Raphinha got on the score-sheet two weeks ago against Fulham and has 12 goals and assists this season which makes him a great budget option for managers.
MID: Kai Havertz (CHE) – £8.2m
Chelsea have been underwhelming in front of goal under Tuchel but Kai Havertz has played out of position as a striker in their last two games and is a great differential pick. Havertz excelled as a striker in his days with Bayer Leverkusen and has looked lively in the same position with the Blues and could thrive against a struggling West Brom side.
MID: Lucas Moura (TOT) – £6.6m
With Gareth Bale in and out the side and Son injury’s concerns being a worry, Lucas Moura becomes the second-best attacking option from Tottenham and could be a great pick given that he is only owned by 2.2% of players. Despite their European form, Spurs have won 4 of the last 5 league games and face a Newcastle side that is struggling for confidence.
MID: Bruno Fernandes (MUN) – £11.5m
Bruno Fernandes is the man that keeps delivering this season and he is as close to a must-have for FPL managers. Fernandes has 28 goal involvements all season and is facing a Brighton side at the weekend that plays expansive football and is vulnerable against the bigger teams.
FWD: Kevin De Bruyne (MCI) – £11.9m
It is incredibly difficult to predict who will start for City in the league considering that the Champions League quarter-finals in mid-week are a bigger priority for Guardiola now. Nevertheless, Kevin De Bruyne does have a great chance of making the XI since he was rested in the international break and could be the best route into the Manchester City attack.
FWD: Patrick Bamford (LEE) – £6.6m
Patrick Bamford should be in amongst the FPL points again this week as Leeds take on a Sheffield side that lost their manager and were just beaten 5-0 by Leicester City last time out. Bamford has 14 goals and 9 assists so far this season and is performing like a premium asset.
FWD: Harry Kane (TOT) – £11.6m
Kane is the standout forward option in the game and has a favourable fixture this week against Newcastle. Most managers should consider getting the Tottenham striker in their team as he leads the way with 30 goals and assists this season and is likely to play every minute from now on since Tottenham have now been eliminated from Europe.
Captaincy Pick
There are quite a few captaincy options this week and managers could gamble on Havertz or Timo Werner against West Brom but the safe pick and the one I am going with is Harry Kane. Kane is facing a struggling Newcastle side and is central to everything Tottenham do offensively which makes him the number one candidate for me.
[Image Credit: Premier League]
Shivaan Shah