Open Thread: FPL Friday
If you’re not a subscriber than you are not aware I announced a new regular column as part of this stack this week with the publication of a Top 100 Rest of Season ranks. I will be updating this Top 100 ROS list twice a month, or perhaps a bit more frequently as injury, suspension or transfers merit. I believe this will help nearly every reader of this stack and will get you direct answers more quickly than I can answer my DMs. If you’re at all interested,
So this week there’s little chance we’ll answer every question before the pick-up of action when Newcastle v. Leeds kicks up. But that match is one of the key games which I’m watching carefully this week. Callum Wilson’s absence stripped Newcastle of any reasonable chance against Manchester United last weekend, as Joelinton replaced the more experienced, dynamic forward. The lack of good hold-up play and absence of a decent service for Allan Saint-Maximin meant there was a lot of effort expended but only one assist. ASM has to be one of the biggest upside plays this week at home and against the second worst defensive side in the league by expected goals allowed (9.0).
The other side of the attacked ledger is equally as import - Leeds may be on the road and with a bad defense but they get to face the absolute bottom team by xGA. Newcastle’s 9.1 xGA is just as poor as their visitors and the two sides are also bottom in actual goals allowed (11 for Leeds, 12 for the hosts).
Rumors have both Jack Harrison and Raphinha out for Leeds, but I’ve not seen either confirmed out yet. That’s important to watch and at least we’ll get the benefit of the early kickoff to cover two of the most important attacking assets of the weekend. This also makes the potential replacements in the Leeds front four worth streaming this weekend.
As a reminder, if you have an injury question you need answered check with Ben Dinnery’s injury table. If you have a ranks question, I’m not going to be answering many at the top end because there is plenty of information in the two other posts I published earlier this week.
What do we do with Chilwell? I’m an 8 team OFPL and can hold him for a little bit, but it gets tough when other injuries start to creep up. Trade value is almost zero at this point and dropping him seems hard to swallow since I drafted him pretty high.
Good evening gaffer. In a 12 team fantrax league. With a mid of buendia,asm,madders, tielemans,plm and Lookman. Since buendia is going to join up with the squad only tomorrow as will be assessed. Is it wise to play PLM ahead of him? Since he plays the early kick off and my other options are lookman (and zouma who plays united). And Is it worth holding onto lookman if he doesn't start this GW?? Maybe drop him for someone like Mac allister,kante or Westwood? Also who would you start this GW? Pepe or trincao? Other fwds are jota and Mane. Thanks in advance and sorry for the bombardment of questions 😂