RADIO
Welcome to the Gameweek 21 FPL Staff Roundtable, RotoBallers! This article was published Friday morning after the Carabao Cup ties and before most of the F.A. Cup battles commenced.
These upcoming cup games will reveal a lot about the schedule in the coming weeks. Teams will have blank gameweeks, and teams will have double gameweeks. So stick around for our RotoBaller squad to cover all the news for the rest of the season.
The Gameweek 21 deadline for the 2024-25 Fantasy Premier League season is Tuesday, January 14, at 1:00 p.m. EST, when three games kick off. 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 21 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 21!
Tip of the Spear
What is the ideal front three in FPL?
Euan Leith: Alexander Isak (£9.3m), Chris Wood (£6.8m), and Joao Pedro (£5.7m) is the best attack in FPL. All three take penalties for their sides, which becomes more important when compounded by the BPS favoritism toward goal scorers this season.
Arguments can be made for Ollie Watkins (£8.9m), Nico Jackson (£8.1m), and Dominic Solanke (£7.6m), but they all have flaws. Watkins has pretty much lost his starting spot, Jackson isn't on penalties, and Solanke is part of an offense that spreads the goals around.
Jamie Steed: It depends on who you have in midfield. Ideally, you’d have a couple of the top midfielders, which would restrict your forward options. Otherwise, the ideal front three would be Erling Haaland (£14.8m), Alexander Isak, and Chris Wood.
If you can’t afford Haaland (and/or Isak), I’d suggest Matheus Cunha (£7.0m), Cody Gakpo (£7.3m), and Joao Pedro as the best alternatives.
The FPL Manual (Wale): My top three forward selections include Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo, and Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood. This strike force has accumulated a total of 109 points in their previous five appearances and remains high flyers for FPL returns this season.
Forwards in the best form, and who they face in upcoming #FPL Gameweeks 📆
Do any of them feature in your plans? pic.twitter.com/hWU9XKTkyK
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) January 8, 2025
Best at the Back
Who is the best defender under £5.0m?
Euan: After a dismal start to the season, Crystal Palace has kicked on and looks safe for another season. This has coincided with Daniel Munoz (£4.7m) returning to our FPL good books. The Colombian has excellent underlying numbers and a lovely run between now and Gameweek 28.
Jamie: I’m going to give him some love as he’s been on my team for most of the season now. Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez (£4.7m) ranks seventh at the position yet is still on only 7.5% of FPL teams. Bournemouth has a tough January to navigate, but Kerkez should have a nice end to what has been a very impressive season.
Wale: Newcastle left back Lewis Hall (£4.9m) is my favorite defender in that price category. The Englishman has amassed 42 points in his previous five matches, which is 20 more points than Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold with 22 points. Hall is presently fifth in the top FPL rankings for defenders and has been an excellent pick during the festive fixtures.
The Robot Reemerges
Erling Haaland has three goals in the last two games. Is he back on the FPL radar?
Euan: Unless you are a brave manager without Mohamed Salah (£13.6m) or Cole Palmer (£11.4m), it's hard to imagine Erling Haaland is on your FPL squad. However, City seems to have shrugged off the slump with some tactical adjustments to give its goal scorer a chance to ... score goals.
Unfortunately, just as the Cityzens return to form, their fixtures dip. After their upcoming fixtures against Brentford and Ipswich, the reigning champions will face every top-5 side above them in the table between Gameweek 23 and 28. For that reason, the Robot remains in the garage.
Jamie: He shouldn’t have been off the radar. City’s and Haaland’s form were never going to continue for much longer. That being said, if you did oust Haaland, I wouldn’t be rushing out to bring him back. Given the upcoming schedule, I’d need to see more from them in the next couple of games before I’d have the confidence to transfer in any City player. Especially one so pricy.
Wale: Last week, I feared going without Erling Haaland in Gameweek 20 and predicted he would score a brace against West Ham. Therefore, seeing the Norwegian return to his best form was no surprise.
Haaland has been on my radar for a while. The only question is: How do I fit him in without letting go of premium midfield assets like Mohamed Salah (£13.6m) or Cole Palmer (£11.3m)? Only time will tell.
A tricky set of fixtures lies ahead for Man City 😳
Will you be selling any of your City assets ahead of this run ⬇️#FPL pic.twitter.com/kZS8sKfH2e
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) January 9, 2025
Chip Strategy Season
The assistant manager chip can be activated during Gameweek 24. What are your plans for the game's newest addition?
Euan: My first reaction was to play it immediately and get it out of the way. However, with Arsenal and Liverpool losing the first leg of their Carabao Cup semifinals, I'm going to wait to figure out which teams blank in Gameweek 29 before making any concrete decisions.
Jamie: Nope. I’m not very pleased that they’re bringing it in from Gameweek 24. Gameweek 20 would have made more sense, given there would be a more level playing field in terms of remaining schedules. But, we play the hands that are dealt, so it will be something I’ll begin planning within the next fortnight as I attempt to maximize the newest chip on the block.
Wale: My initial plan is to target a double gameweek, which is more favorable for FPL points, thanks to an additional fixture. I have an eye on a couple of team managers, including Manchester City, Wolves, Liverpool, and Bournemouth.
As it stands, I’m likely to activate my assistant manager chip toward the final run-in of the season, where most teams are hunting to finish in the top six to qualify for European competitions or escape the relegation zone in the bottom three.
With EFL Cup semi-final action taking place this week and FA Cup matches at the weekend, we’ll get a clearer idea of future blank Gameweeks 🙅♂️
The Scout takes a closer look at the matches which could be affected 🔍#FPL
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) January 7, 2025
Second-Half Surprises
What is your bold prediction for the second half of the 2024-25 FPL season?
Euan: Ipswich Town does enough to survive on the back of Liam Delap's (£5.6m) performances. The Tractor Boys forward has eight goals and two assists so far this season, and I'm boldly predicting he will crack 25 attacking returns by the end of his debut season in the Premier League.
Jamie: With Graham Potter at the helm, West Ham’s results begin to improve. The biggest beneficiary is summer signing Niclas Füllkrug (£67.m). Füllkrug ends the season with 80+ points and inside the top 15 forwards for total points.
Wale: Nottingham Forest finishes in the top six and qualifies for the UEFA Europa contest, and Ipswich survives relegation while Everton goes down. Man City’s Erling Haaland (£14.8m) outscores Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (£13.6m) for most goals, winning the Golden Boot Award for a third consecutive season.
Liam Delap nets his 8th goal of the season 🔥
Have you kept faith in the Ipswich forward this season? #FPL #FULIPS pic.twitter.com/wTob6WpYoP
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) January 5, 2025
Who is Keeping a Clean Sheet in Gameweek 21?
Euan: I don't have a strong feeling about any club's clean-sheet odds in Gameweek 21, so I'm taking a cheeky punt on Spurs. Arsenal was wasteful in its midweek tie versus Newcastle, while Tottenham's newest man between the sticks, Antonin Kinsky (£4.5m), kept Liverpool at bay. It would be quite a statement for the Lilywhites to stop the Gunners from firing in a goal in the North London Derby.
Jamie: Southampton has scored just one goal in its last six EPL games. It faces a Manchester United side that beat it 3-0 earlier in the season. While United’s defense is still a work in progress, it’s challenging to see Southampton creating enough chances to score at Old Trafford.
Wale: I’ll be backing Newcastle to secure a clean sheet. The Geordies have been defensively solid during the festive fixtures, keeping four clean sheets in their previous five matches. With a home encounter against relegation-favorite Wolves, Newcastle can make it five clean sheets in six matches in Gameweek 21.
What Defensive Player is Providing Attacking Returns?
Euan: We praised Trent Alexander-Arnold's (£7.2m) after Gameweek 19 and destroyed him after a poor defensive performance in Gameweek 20 versus Man United. Despite the defensive concerns, I'm convinced he's still the best-attacking defender in the league.
The England international's 4.71 xA (expected assists) and 5.35 xGI (expected goal involvements) lead the position. His ability to unlock any defense will be key against a stout Nottingham Forest defense, and I expect Arne Slot to give him a start after resting in the cup ties.
Jamie: Lewis Hall (£4.9m) has been quietly having a very good season. He only has four assists and has yet to score, but he is still Newcastle’s highest points-scoring defender. His 48 shot-creating actions are the fifth most among all defenders, and he comes up against a Wolves side that’s conceded more goals (45) than any other side. Wolves have also allowed in at least two goals 15 times (20 games).
Wale: This week's defensive pick goes to Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhães (£6.4m). Tottenham is infamous for conceding goals from attacking set-pieces and is set to face the Corner Kings next. I anticipate him getting on the scoresheet against Spurs, rehashing a repeat of his performance in Gameweek 4.
Best Midfielder or Forward Who Isn't Rostered
Who is rostered in 10 percent of teams or less who can grab those FPL points?
Euan: With the injury bug hitting the Bournemouth frontline, I'd quite fancy bringing in Antoine Semenyo (£5.6m). The Ghana international is in 6.6 percent of FPL squads but should come into a more attacking role for the Cherries with Evanilson (£5.9m) and Enes Unal (£5.4m) on the shelf for the foreseeable future.
Jamie: If I’m expecting Newcastle to score multiple goals against Wolves, it makes sense to back its attacking players to return a solid points haul. And Jacob Murphy (£5.1m) is no exception. The midfielder has started Newcastle’s last seven EPL games and has three goals and five assists in that run. He’s become a key component to the Geordies' recent upturn in form.
Wale: With the recent change in management for West Ham, the mantle has been passed over to Graham Potter. I’m always excited to side with a potential “new manager bounce” and will tip Mohammed Kudus (£6.2m) as my top differential of the week.
With Jarrod Bowen (£7.4m) out until February, Kudus could perform at his best under new leadership and help the Hammers return to winning ways.
Jacob Murphy has blanked just once in his last 6 Gameweeks 🔥
At just £5.1m, is he the best budget pick in #FPL at the moment? 🧐 pic.twitter.com/21ZtdRLFC3
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) January 9, 2025
Who is a Player You Want But Can’t Get for Gameweek 21 in FPL?
Euan: I don't have enough transfers to rework my defense how I want, but Lewis Hall (£4.9m) has been on my radar for a while. I already have Anthony Gordon and Isak from Newcastle, so tripling up on the Geordies could cause me difficulties down the line.
If Newcastle converts its two-goal advantage over Arsenal into a Carabao Cup Final appearance, the Magpies won't have a fixture in Gameweek 29. So, I'd be bringing a third Newcastle player in just to transfer them all out in eight gameweeks.
Jamie: He’s been mentioned already, but Erling Haaland has shown signs of life lately. At any moment, he could bang in a hat trick, and Brentford's 19 goals conceded at home are fifth most in the league. I’m going to keep rolling without Haaland, but I’m confident that it will bite me at some point in the coming weeks.
Wale: One player I would love to have on my FPL team this week would be Man United’s captain, Bruno Fernandes (£8.3m). The 30-year-old Portuguese was quite influential in helping the Red Devils secure a point in Gameweek 20 against Liverpool, earning seven FPL points.
However, bringing in the midfield maestro might come at the expense of letting go of Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo (£7.8m), and I’m not sure it’s worth the transfer, especially at the cost of a four-point hit.
Who’s Getting the Captain’s Armband?
Euan: Last week, I said it's rinse and repeat with Mohamed Salah until further notice. Well, that notice arrived quicker than I thought! Alexander Isak has a home tie against a Wolves side that just shipped three goals to Nottingham Forest. The Swede could be in line for three attacking returns at St. James' Park.
Jamie: Isak feels like the obvious choice. He’s scored in seven consecutive league games, scoring nine goals with two assists in that streak. He’ll blank eventually, but I don’t see that happening this weekend. Anthony Gordon (£7.5m) would be my favored alternative, and I may still pivot to him.
Wale: This week, I’ll be handing over the armband to Alexander Isak (£9.3m). Newcastle is on a seven-game winning streak, with Isak in red-hot form, scoring in eight consecutive matches. It should not be difficult for the Swedish forward to put two or more goals past Wolves next.
Godspeed, Isak! Defy Salah’s captainers this week.
What’s Your Bold Prediction for Gameweek 21?
Euan: Everton and West Ham take advantage of the new manager bounce and grab victories over Aston Villa and Fulham, respectively. In FPL land, Bruno Fernandes, Erling Haaland, Antoine Semenyo, and Jean-Philippe Mateta all bag double-digit hauls.
Jamie: We will have a host of favorites dropping points in the midweek fixtures. Manchester City, Chelsea, Brighton, and Arsenal all fail to win while Mo Salah (£13.6m) also fails to score. Brace for chaos!
Wale: Man United will return to winning ways with a 2-0 victory against Southampton while Nottingham Forest will hold Liverpool to a 1-1 draw. For FPL returns, one of the three Arsenal Gabriels (Martinelli, Jesus, or Magalhães) gets a double-digit haul, while Man City’s Savinho (£6.5m) contributes an attacking return for a third consecutive week.
Savinho in Gameweeks 1 to 18: 4️⃣0️⃣ points
Savinho in Gameweeks 19 to 20: 2️⃣7️⃣ pointsHe's now joint-top of Man City's midfield standings in #FPL this season! pic.twitter.com/eGhw1rndHv
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) January 8, 2025
Join the RotoBaller FPL League
Fancy pitting your wits against fellow RotoBallers? Then, join our free league to compete against the team and our dedicated FPL fans. Head to the official FPL site, click the Leagues and Cups tab, and enter the RotoBaller league code: b278pa.
Go head-to-head against your friends and family in mini-leagues 🏆
Pick your squad and compete for #FPL glory now! ⬇️
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) July 18, 2024
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!
