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Welcome to the Gameweek 8 FPL Staff Roundtable, RotoBallers! A second international break halted any momentum we had. However, it may have also given many FPL managers a chance to take stock and look to bounce back from a rough start to the season.
Two weeks ago, the top three all won. On a strange Sunday, Chelsea lost ground on the trio when it was held at home to Nottingham Forest. Manchester United claimed a valuable point at Aston Villa, and Tottenham blew a 2-0 lead at halftime against Brighton, losing 3-2 to the Seagulls.
The Gameweek 8 deadline of the 2024-25 Fantasy Premier League season is Saturday, October 19, at 6:00 a.m. EDT, when Tottenham hosts West Ham United in a London derby. Also, check out the rest of our excellent soccer coverage as the squad gets you all set for every EPL and UCL slate with our DFS lineup picks and betting picks.
Fantasy Premier League Staff Roundtable - Gameweek 8 Preview
The Staff Roundtable is an attempt to get you inside the minds of our FPL writers. 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 Gameweek 8!
With another international break behind us and one more to come in November, are you planning on doing anything different over the next four weeks?
Euan Leith: I’ve gone against Erling Haaland (£15.4m) the last two weeks and it’s worked out well. I won't be trying it for a third week in a row. Mohamed Salah is out and the Norse God is in.
Starting to question Erling Haaland following his two blanks? 🙅♂️🙅♂️
On the latest #FPLPod, @LaurensJulien and Sam, from @FPLFamily, both believe it would be wrong to get rid of the Norwegian 🇳🇴
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) October 12, 2024
The FPL Manual (Wale): Working with a new philosophy; if it’s not broken, don't fix it. My current team has been quite decent dipping in and out of the top 1m rankings. My current plan is to steady the ship before Christmas and maintain a better standing in my various mini-leagues.
Jamie Steed: It feels like we’re in a bit of a holding pattern. There isn’t much of a chance to make up ground or have a surge, which could be derailed by the internationals in November. I will look to try and hang onto some transfers having used my Wildcard.
Bukayo Saka limped out of England’s defeat against Greece. If he were to miss time, who are you looking to replace Saka with?
Euan: If managers have the budget, Cole Palmer (£10.8m) is the top choice. Otherwise, I’d take a look at Bryan Mbeumo (£7.5m) if he’s not already a mainstay in their squads.
Wale: Arsenal’s top FPL scorer, Bukayo Saka (£10.1m), is still worth a hold. Current reports indicate that he should be fine for the weekend as he returned to the Arsenal base. I have no plans on replacing Saka. However, should he miss the Bournemouth game this weekend, I will rely on my bench for points in his stead.
Jamie: How do you replace the irreplaceable? If you don’t have Cole Palmer, he’d be the obvious choice, provided you have an extra £0.8m available. Alternatively, replacing him with another Arsenal attacking midfielder and saving some money would be my preferred course of action.
Most big chances created in Europe's top five leagues since the start of last season:
◎ 27 - Bukayo Saka
◎ 26 - Mohamed Salah
◎ 25 - Cole Palmer
◎ 25 - Miguel Gutiérrez pic.twitter.com/2hS7xsNOj1— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) October 14, 2024
Liverpool’s next four games come against sides currently in the top six. What are you doing with any Liverpool players you currently roster?
Euan: Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.1m) is the top-scoring defender in the game. He’s not going anywhere. However, with a tough schedule, the midfielders and forwards will get rotated. I’ll avoid the Anfield attackers for now.
Wale: Despite the swing in fixtures for the Reds, Liverpool's still a title contender and a favorite for FPL returns during this run. However, for its players, Luis Diaz (£8.0m) will likely be making way due to possible rotations. I will hold onto Trent Alexander-Arnold for attacking returns in Liverpool’s defense.
Jamie: This run of games has come at a rough time as I’d have seriously looked at bringing in Caoimhin Kelleher (£4.4) for the next few weeks. I don’t think I’ll be moving on from any Liverpool player, but I wouldn’t be transferring any in until after the next international break.
The league table is starting to have a familiar look about it. What team in the bottom half of the table has the most fantasy-friendly fixtures over the next four weeks?
Euan: Everton has the least sticky fixtures over the next month. The Toffees face two of the three promoted squads in the next three game weeks. Dwight McNeil (£5.7m) is the best of the bunch.
Wale: It’s a bit strange seeing Crystal Palace in the bottom three as the Eagles are still without a win in their opening seven matches. Nonetheless, with a swing in fixtures for Crystal Palace, I see the Eagles turning their fortune around in future gameweeks.
Jamie: I’m going with bottom-of-the-table Wolves. Yes, it has Manchester City this week. But I mentioned in preseason how it had an atrocious schedule to begin the campaign, which then eased after this week. I expect it to get out of the relegation zone soon and should have some fantasy-friendly players between now and Christmas.
With the usual suspects in midfield having great starts to the season, who is the one midfielder yet to reach the 30-point mark who you are highest on over the remainder of the campaign?
Euan: Dejan Kulusevski (£6.2m) has only scored 24 points this year, but it should be a lot more. The Swedish midfielder produced at least 0.24 xGI (expected goal involvements) in four straight for Spurs. Those outputs should begin to flow once Son Heung-min (£9.8m) returns to bolster the attack.
Wale: My pick would be Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva (£6.5m). With three assists to his name, he's started six out of seven EPL matches. The Portuguese midfielder is high on my watchlist thanks to his total of 19 chances created and 1.48 xA (expected assists). I believe Silva could be a key FPL asset down the line for City in the coming weeks.
Jamie: I’m delving deep and picking Southampton’s Tyler Dibling (£4.6m). He’s already rostered by 3.1% of FPL managers because of his price. That enables you to bring in multiple big-priced midfielders to supplement him. Dibling has been a bright spark for the Saints. If they can find the net more frequently, Dibling could end the season with double-digit goal involvements.
Highest rated 18-year-olds in Europe's top five leagues this season (200+ mins):
◎ 6.91 - Warren Zaïre-Emery
◎ 6.87 - Paul Wanner
◎ 6.78 - Juma Bah
◎ 6.73 - Rabby Nzingoula
◎ 6.61 - Tyler Dibling pic.twitter.com/QDlMi1h1GA— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) October 14, 2024
Who is keeping a clean sheet in Gameweek 8?
Euan: Nottingham Forest has been mighty impressive at the City Ground this year despite a recent defeat to Fulham. They get back to their sound defensive ways with a clean sheet versus Crystal Palace.
Wale: I believe Arsenal has been very unlucky not securing a clean sheet in its last two home games in Gameweeks 6 and 7. The next game against Bournemouth should be a good time for Mikel Arteta’s dark arts to bring in those clean-sheet points for our FPL teams.
Jamie: Nottingham Forest hosts Crystal Palace on Monday night, and the home team is my pick this week. Palace hasn’t found any attacking consistency, having blanked twice already. Its 2.71 xG (expected goals) away from home is the second lowest in the league.
What defensive player is providing attacking returns?
Euan: Diogo Dalot (£5.1m) has one attacking return to his name this year, and a battle with Brentford could produce another. The Bees have, at times, been brutal at the back. Combine that with United’s four clean sheets this season and the Portuguese defender has double-digit upside.
Wale: Antonee Robinson (£4.7m) has been quiet since his attacking contributions made between Gameweeks 1 and 3. The American international has been solid for his nation in recent games and I back Robinson to produce an attacking return in the home tie against Aston Villa.
Don't Sleep on Antonee Robinson 😴
The USMNT and Fulham fullback has Liverpool and Man United hot on his trail, and @herculezg tells Rog that it’s time for America to take notice.
Check out the MiB x Vamos USMNT Special, Presented by @PrizePicks pic.twitter.com/vchiU0WVyk
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) October 15, 2024
Jamie: I mentioned Ipswich Town’s Leif Davis (£4.5m) a fortnight ago and he let me down. But I’m ready to go again. Everton’s conceded the fourth-most away goals so far, so he gets a good opponent. And Davis has more shot-creating actions (28) than any other defender this season.
Who's a midfielder or forward rostered on less than 10 percent of teams who will grab us those FPL points?
Euan: Everyone (including me) is touting Erling Haaland as a must-have asset for Man City’s next two games versus Wolves and Southampton. However, let’s not forget about Phil Foden (£9.2m). The English midfielder is in 5.6% of squads and is a great differential for the next two weeks.
Wale: Ipswich Town's leading goalscorer, Liam Delap (£5.6m), has been on a streak of form for the Tractor Boys, scoring four goals in the league. Three out of those goals were scored while playing at home, with the next clash against an Everton side that has conceded 14 goals in seven matches. Delap is my top differential to root for in Gameweek 8.
Jamie: As much as I hate backing any Manchester United player right now, Rasmus Højlund (£6.9m) is my pick. Brentford’s 8.13 xGA (expected goals against) away from home is the fifth-highest in the EPL. United simply has to win and a fully fit Højlund could help keep Erik Ten Hag in a job a little longer.
Who is one player you want to have but can’t for the Gameweek 8 fixtures in Fantasy Premier League?
Euan: Kai Havertz (£8.3m) has been out of my grasp all year. The German was rested/injured over the international break and should come back ready to fill his boots versus Bournemouth.
Wale: After his 25-point haul in Gameweek 6, I’m still yet to make room for Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer (£10.8m). I'm feeling a bit relaxed because of the next matchup against Liverpool; however, you cannot predict when Palmer will go big again. I hope he stays quiet when the Blues face Liverpool at Anfield.
Jamie: With two transfers available, I can add almost anyone I choose. The problem is that I currently have three players with little yellow triangles beside their names. I may have to move one or two of them out. That will likely mean I can’t bring in the in-form Facundo Buonanotte (£5.0m) to pair with Jamie Vardy (£5.7m) against a leaky Southampton defense.
Facundo Buonanotte registered his 4th attacking return of the season in Gameweek 7 👍
No midfielder priced at £5.0m has scored more points than the Leicester man 🦊#FPL pic.twitter.com/0Y7HCSQIyw
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) October 9, 2024
Who’s getting the Captain’s armband?
Euan: I’ve won Norwegian Roulette against Haaland the last two weeks, but the odds keep getting smaller each time I play. I’m bringing in the Robot and giving him the armband against Wolves.
Wale: I've been unlucky giving Erling Haaland (£15.4m) the armband between Gameweeks 6 and 7. However, I’m anticipating a different outcome when Manchester City faces Wolves next. I'm entrusting the armband to Haaland once more, and hoping he scores a brace to cover for previous weeks.
Jamie: There’s no way Erling Haaland blanks for a third straight game. Away from home, some of his FPL managers may look at alternative options and Haaland may have the lowest captaincy he’ll have had so far this season. The last time he faced Wolves, he scored four goals, so a repeat of that wouldn’t go amiss.
Finally, What’s your bold prediction for Gameweek 8?
Euan: Two of the top four teams lose to cause a little chaos at the top. Meanwhile, Southampton suffers a defeat against relegation rivals Leicester City and the hot seat goes up a level for Russell Martin.
Wale: Crystal Palace finally gets its first win of the season, coming at the expense of a strong Nottingham Forest side. Additionally, Brennan Johnson (£6.6m) scores against West Ham, extending his recent goal-scoring record for Tottenham.
Seven goals in seven consecutive matches for Brennan Johnson. Incredible. 🤯
📸 @Cymru pic.twitter.com/CLjrdkzZuA
— Premier League (@premierleague) October 11, 2024
Jamie: Kaoru Mitoma (£6.6m) stuns the Magpies with two goal involvements and his first double-digit return of the season. And Brentford will fail to score in the first two minutes of its game this week!
Stick around for more 2024-25 Fantasy Premier League content coming soon. Hit us up on X @RotoBaller. We would love to hear your feedback and ideas!
