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Welcome to the Blank Gameweek 29 FPL Staff Roundtable, RotoBallers! Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Liverpool, and Newcastle don't have a fixture this weekend due to conflicts with the Carabao Cup.
Aston Villa and Liverpool preemptively played their match in Gameweek 25, but Crystal Palace and Newcastle will make up their blank gameweek in Gameweek 32. As a result, please don't transfer all your players from these teams because it's only one week among the 38 gameweeks.
The Blank Gameweek 29 deadline for the 2024-25 Fantasy Premier League season is Saturday, March 15, at 10:30 a.m. EDT, when four 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 - Blank Gameweek 29 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 29!
There are four teams without a fixture this weekend. How do you plan to navigate Blank Gameweek 29?
Euan Leith: Through a series of (somewhat) random transfers, I've managed to have 12 playing players this weekend. So the Blank Gameweek isn't a concern for my squad. However, it's not a strong starting XI, so there may be a transfer to bolster the team.
Jamie Steed: Thankfully, I can put out a full outfield without having to take a minus, use my Wildcard, or my Free Hit. I have to go without a goalkeeper this week, but I don’t see an option worthy of taking a minus on, so I’ll suffer through this week with everything in my back pocket for the final stretch.
Plenty of assets without a fixture in Gameweek 29
How many players do you have blanking? ❌#FPL pic.twitter.com/26YyQV5Fvb
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) March 12, 2025
Big Names Missing
Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak are popular players this weekend without a game. Do you plan to hold onto them?
Euan: Due to the squad I have, I'm likely holding onto both of those heavy hitters. Especially with Alexander Isak's (£9.4m) double gameweek coming in the next month. Mohamed Salah (£13.8m) is a little trickier, but I have no immediate plans to transfer out the highest-scoring FPL asset of all time.
Jamie: Yes, given I can bench the pair without causing too much harm to my lineup. Newcastle’s next two fixtures are very appealing, and it will be followed by a double game week, so it’s difficult to justify dropping Isak for the sake of this weekend’s blank.
With a Blank in Gameweek 29 for Liverpool and a mixed run of fixtures coming up, what will you be doing with your Liverpool players? 🤔
Sam Bonfield, from @FPLFamily thinks holding onto Salah will pay off but other players are a sell...
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) March 12, 2025
Holstering Their Guns
Arsenal’s title hopes are fading. Do you expect the Gunners to move their focus to their Champions League campaign?
Euan: Arsenal isn't in such a luxurious position that they can afford to turn off the tap in the league. However, a Champions League doubleheader versus Real Madrid beckons in April. I expect the Gunners to continue fighting on both fronts, but maybe a little more rotation when that UCL tie draws closer.
Jamie: Fading? They disappeared weeks ago. Knowing Mikel Arteta, I don’t expect them to give up fighting for every available point in the league. And it’s not like they have many attacking options that will be rotated right now. Maybe when Saka returns in April, he’ll be used more sparingly in the league.
But the Gunners don’t have a big enough lead over the chasing pack to forego the league altogether. They will be underdogs in the Champions League quarterfinal, so there’s no guarantee they’ll be in that competition much longer.
Relying on the Relegation Candidates
Wolves, Ipswich, and Leicester are fighting to avoid relegation. Who is your favorite FPL asset for those three sides for the remainder of the season?
Euan: When he returns from suspension, Matheus Cunha (£7.0m) will be the best asset from any of these sides. He is the ninth-highest-scoring player in the game, and if you can hold out until his return in Gameweek 32, you could have a gold mine of points for the season's final stretch.
Jamie: Cunha stands out, especially given Wolves’ remaining fixtures. Frustratingly, he misses the next two juicy matchups, but he should still have ample opportunities to rack up the points as the season concludes.
Despite the lack of returns, Ipswich’s Leif Davis (£4.3m) is still third among all defenders in the FPL Creativity rankings. I’m still rostering him as a fourth/fifth option each week. I want nothing to do with Leicester City. Once their relegation is confirmed, I expect Jamie Vardy (£5.3m) to bag a few goals, but since Ruud van Nistelrooy took over, the Foxes have looked devoid of anything positive.
Champions League Spots Showdown
Seven points separate Chelsea (fourth) and Fulham (10th). Do you expect the battle for Champions League spots to go down to the season's final day? And who would you invest in for that run?
Euan: Some teams will fade away, but it's an exciting time. My money would be on Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, and Man City claiming the final three Champions League spots behind Liverpool and Arsenal. I would invest in the blue side of Manchester for the final 10 weeks.
Jamie: With fifth place set to qualify for the Champions League, I expect that to be the only thing on the line over the final few weeks. After this weekend, Newcastle United is the sole team in the top half with only the league left to focus on.
Who is Keeping a Clean Sheet in Blank Gameweek 29?
Euan: West Ham looked rather anemic in their 1-0 home loss to Newcastle on Monday night. With a short week and a trip up north on the cards, I reckon the Hammers will stay dull in Blank Gameweek 29. This gives Everton a clean sheet as they move further away from the drop zone and closer to another season in the Premier League.
Jamie: There aren’t any standout options. Anyone facing Leicester City is an option, which brings Manchester United into play. Otherwise, Everton blanking West Ham United at home is my favourite pick. The Toffees have gone five games without a clean sheet, but the Hammers have scored only five goals in their last seven EPL games.
Newcastle are back to winning ways 😤#WHUNEW pic.twitter.com/IkZC97YEvF
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 10, 2025
What Defensive Player Is Providing Attacking Returns?
Jamie: I’ve been picking on Ipswich recently and will continue as I opt for Neco Williams (£4.4m). Despite back-to-back tough games, Williams had a shot-creating action in each of them. Forest should see much more of the ball and have more of an attacking threat this weekend, and it shouldn’t come as a shock if Williams registers an assist on Saturday.
Best Midfielder or Forward Who Isn't Rostered
Who is rostered in 10 percent of teams or less who can grab those FPL points?
Jamie: Evanilson (£5.6m) made his first start in over two months last Sunday. He was set to be out until April with a fractured metatarsal, but he didn’t show any ill effects of the injury against the Spurs. He scored against Brentford earlier this season, and being on just 1.7% of FPL teams makes him an ideal differential to replace Isak or Cody Gakpo this week.
Who is a Player You Want But Can’t Get for Blank Gameweek 29 in FPL?
Euan: Daniel Munoz (£5.0m) is high atop my wishlist, but Crystal Palace doesn't have a fixture this weekend.
Jamie: Bruno Fernandes (£8.4m) has two goals and two assists in his last three games. While he may not benefit from a wall being over 11 yards back for a free-kick again, there’s no doubt he’s been United’s talisman this season. He bagged three goal involvements in the reverse fixture, and with Leicester’s form, a similar performance wouldn’t be surprising.
He's bang in form, but who's unsure of whether to make a move for Bruno Fernandes? 🤔#FPL pic.twitter.com/2LKTKvbmeV
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) March 13, 2025
Who’s Getting the Captain’s Armband?
Euan: I'm looking at my team, and the options are Cole Palmer (£10.9m) versus Arsenal (no thanks), Bryan Mbeumo (£8.1m) versus Bournemouth (maybe) or Evanilson against Brentford (hello!). The safe play is Palmer, but he's in pretty bad form. So right now I'm leaning Evanilson after his goal-scoring return to the starting lineup.
Jamie: With so few standout options, I’m tempted to go with Everton’s Beto (£5.1m). He’s blanked in his last two games but scored five goals in his four previous appearances. He’s also played 90 minutes in five straight EPL matches, as Everton lacks an alternative striker. He should get plenty of opportunity again this week and feels like a safe(ish) option.
What’s Your Bold Prediction for Gameweek 29?
Euan: Erling Haaland (£14.7m) has everyone rushing to the transfer store to bring him in after a brace versus Brighton. Elsewhere, Arsenal builds on their Champions League momentum and defeats Chelsea by three goals.
Jamie: Bournemouth and Brentford play out a seven-goal thriller, with Evanilson and Yoane Wissa (£6.5m) both bagging a brace. Wolves fail to put daylight between themselves and Southampton as the Saints secure a draw, aided by an Aaron Ramsdale (£4.4m) penalty save.
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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!
