Fantasy Premier League: Double Gameweek 29 Staff Roundtable

Welcome to Double Gameweek 29, RotoBallers! Like the previous campaign, we are continuing our soccer coverage to include the great game of the Fantasy Premier League. So even if you are a seasoned veteran or a rookie navigating your first 38 gameweeks, we will set you straight. We're here to provide advice to help you snag those weekend-making green arrows and avoid the doom and gloom of a red arrow.

The international break is finally over, and we can return to the comfort of our FPL teams. We jump back into the mix with 12 teams playing twice in the gameweek. However, Arsenal and Manchester City are two of the eight teams that will only play once during this period. It will bring many lineup headaches for FPL managers, but the RotoBaller team is ready to guide you toward a green arrow.

The Double Gameweek 29 deadline is 6:00 am Eastern on Saturday, April 1. Also, check out the rest of our excellent soccer coverage as the team gets you all set for every English Premier League and UEFA Champions League slate from a DFS and betting perspective.

And of course, #FPL can translate into #DFS, all of which we have plenty of at @RotoBaller https://t.co/U9pKeHkJYv pic.twitter.com/z2ubf1KeKj

— Jamie Steed (@Baseball_Jimbo) February 4, 2023

RotoBaller FPL Staff Roundtable - Double Gameweek 29

The Staff Roundtable is an attempt to get you inside the mind of our FPL staff. Our top soccer writers will answer questions each gameweek to give you an idea of how they view the games. So without further ado, let's kick off Double Gameweek 29!

The final international break of the season is over. Did you learn anything from the hiatus?

• Euan Leith: Taking anything from an international break is tough. However, Harry Kane reminded us to think twice before dropping him from our FPL squads. Two goals in two games are par for the course for the England forward. Of course, he'll be a popular option to drop if Erling Haaland is healthy for Gameweek 30, but I don't think that's such a good idea.
• Jamie Steed: Nothing of note, except that many England fans failed to realize how good Bukayo Saka is. Many supporters seemed a bit surprised at how well he performed in England’s two games when in reality he’s been playing better than that for well over a year at Arsenal.

One of the biggest stories from the break was Erling Haaland’s health. What will you do with the Norwegian moving forward?

• Euan Leith: I'm sweating just typing this, but... I do not have Erling Haaland on my team right now. I subbed him out for Ollie Watkins in Gameweek 28, intending to get him back by Gameweek 30. It's terrifying, especially considering the Norwegian is so deadly at home and faces a leaky Liverpool side. Still, I'm sticking to the plan and going without him for one more week. So as far as I'm concerned, I hope he skips this upcoming fixture and gets ready for the following week.
• Jamie Steed: It’s “touch and go” whether he plays this week, according to his father, so it doesn’t sound like he’ll miss more than one game, if any. And with what I intend to do this week, he would likely find himself on my bench anyway. So as long as it’s not a lingering issue, I’m not worrying about him.

Double Gameweek 29 has 12 teams playing twice. Which three clubs are you targeting for their two fixtures?

• Euan Leith: Brighton, Manchester United, and Chelsea are my top three picks. Brighton has many options all over the field for our FPL teams, and it'll be hard to narrow it down to three choices. Rashford is a mainstay in most squads, but Bruno Fernandes and Luke Shaw will be picked up for the upcoming double. And Chelsea is on an upward trajectory, with Ben Chilwell, Kai Havertz, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Reece James as enticing options from Stamford Bridge.
• Jamie Steed: Clear number one for me is Brighton, as they have so many good options. You need to get three of their guys in your lineup this week. Next for me is Chelsea, as although I’m still not convinced by them, two home games against sides that do leak goals are appealing. And then it’s a coin-flip between Manchester United forwards and Newcastle defenders for the third pick.

Which popular player with two fixtures are you not interested in bringing aboard?

• Euan Leith: I'll give you a squad, not just a player. I can't trust Liverpool. They give us a masterpiece versus Man United and then burnout against Bournemouth. Now, with Man City and Chelsea as their double gameweek, I'm supposed to trust Mo Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Darwin Nunez, or Cody Gakpo? No thanks.
• Jamie Steed: It might come back to bite me, but I’m not high on Mo Salah this week. Two away games, at Manchester City and then at Chelsea, make me feel like he will be a trap. If he finds himself on the scoresheet once this week, I think FPL managers should be satisfied.

On the flip side, which single-game player has a chance to shine in this gameweek?

• Euan Leith: Any Arsenal player, but I know Jamie will get to them for y'all. So I'll recommend the man I talked about at the top, Harry Kane. While Everton has been slightly better since their managerial change, Tottenham will also get a Conte-is-gone bounce. The Spurs looked miserable at times this season, and the goals haven't been flowing. If the difference in tactics can get Son, Richarlison, Dejan Kulusevski, and Kane flowing in the right direction, then it could be a double-digit haul in the making for the Spurs captain.
• Jamie Steed: I mentioned him in the opener, but Bukayo Saka has been in scintillating form, which carried over into the international break. I expect him to still provide a good return at home against Leeds United this weekend.

Who's keeping a clean sheet in Gameweek 29?

• Euan Leith: Manchester United is a risky pick with a road game at Newcastle and a home tie versus Brentford. They should be able to squeak out at least one clean sheet without Casemiro in the lineup. However, that could adversely affect Bruno Fernandes' attacking prospects. I probably won't bring in a United defender for a hit, but if I gain a game from selecting Luke Shaw, I'm all for it.
• Jamie Steed: West Ham has been considerably better at home than away. They have back-to-back home games against Southampton and Newcastle, so I expect them to keep a clean sheet. Nottingham Forest at home to Wolves this week also appeals, but their away form is so putrid you’ll also have to suffer their midweek game at Leeds.

Which defensive player is providing an attacking return?

• Euan Leith: With two bites at the apple, it feels like Ben Chilwell will get something extra for our FPL sides. He's averaging 6.3 points per game over his last three fixtures. Plus, two home tilts versus Aston Villa and Liverpool is one of the better double gameweeks available.
• Jamie Steed: Ben Chilwell seems like the obvious play alongside Kieran Trippier. But my favorite play this week is Pervis Estupiñán, with the Brighton fullback having two decent matchups with a chance to add to his five assists this season.

Who's a midfielder or forward rostered on less than 10 percent of teams that will grab us those FPL points?

• Euan Leith: He's right under the threshold at 9.8 percent, but James Maddison is my pick. Over the last three games, he's the eighth-highest for non-penalty expected goal involvement among midfielders but only has one attacking return. I'm not a massive fan of the "he's due" argument, but... he's due! 
• Jamie Steed: Alexis Mac Allister is rostered less than his three Brighton midfield teammates but has more expected goal involvements (xGI) than the trio this season and has two goals and an assist in his last three games. He is Brighton’s penalty taker and facing a Bournemouth side that’s conceded the second-most penalties this season is an added bonus.

If you could bring in any player you don't have on your team for this gameweek, who would it be and why?

• Euan Leith: I have three Brighton players and wish I could have four. I would love to swap Pervis Estupiñán with Jamie's favorite non-Arsenal player, Alexis Mac Allister. Alas, I cannot. So instead, I wouldn't mind getting Evan Ferguson of the Seagulls on my squad. He scored for the Republic of Ireland during the international break and is incredibly cheap at only £4.6 million.
• Jamie Steed: I’m using my Wildcard this week so I can have whomever I want. But I will miss out on one of the Brighton players, so Solly March is set to be the player I don’t have this week and will regret it.

Who's getting the Captain's armband?

• Euan Leith: Unless we receive a negative injury update on Marcus Rashford, he'll get the armband for his double gameweek.
• Jamie Steed: Given the build-up, Mac Allister is set to be my captain this week. It has to go on someone with two games, and it’ll be either the World Cup winner or Kaoru Mitoma.

Finally, what's your bold prediction for this weekend's slate of games?

• Euan Leith: Liverpool's been getting up for big games all season. They do it one more time against Man City to give Arsenal a chance to extend their lead at the top even more. At the other end of the table, West Ham escapes the relegation zone (for now), and Everton fans peak at the train schedules for Championship games next year.
• Jamie Steed: I think Leicester City finds themselves in the relegation zone after this week; however, the fact that the bottom nine teams are separated by four points and five of them have a double gameweek means things aren’t going to become any clearer down there. Liverpool will come away with either six points or nothing from their two games, but I have no idea what is more likely with them!

Is there a question you would like to have answered every week? Hit us up on Twitter @RotoBaller. We would love to hear your feedback and ideas!