RADIO
Welcome to Double Gameweek 25, RotoBallers! This is our third year covering FPL, and we are bringing you more coverage than ever. We publish two weekly articles: a staff roundtable preview and our weekly rankings. Then, once a month, we have our newest report, The Watchlist, a review of the previous month and a look ahead to the upcoming fixtures.
Twenty-four gameweeks down, 14 to go. It's the most significant double gameweek of the season (so far), and plenty of players are on the Gameweek 25 menu. Most FPL managers will flock towards Man City and Liverpool assets, but Brentford and Luton Town offer some discount doublers. Man City kicks off their double game with a revenge game for Cole Palmer on Saturday night, while Liverpool starts the week with a lunchtime tie away at Brentford.
The Fantasy Premier League Double Gameweek 25 deadline is 6:00 a.m. EST on Saturday, February 17, when Brentford entertains Liverpool. Also, look out for the rest of our excellent soccer coverage as the squad gets you all set for every English Premier League, Major League Soccer, and UEFA Champions League slate from a DFS and betting perspective.
I seldom play #EPL #DFS. But when I do, I make sure I check out my @RotoBaller buddies @EuanFPL and @df_solutions
before creating my lineup https://t.co/rmQTeGmSRg pic.twitter.com/b0xGTcSxp4— Jamie Steed (@Baseball_Jimbo) February 10, 2024
Fantasy Premier League Staff Roundtable - Double Gameweek 25 Preview
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 25!
Should FPL managers be aggressive and take hits to bring in players with two fixtures for Double Gameweek 25?
- Euan Leith: If you have set yourself up for this week, you should trust your process and try to roll the transfer. Liverpool and Luton both blank in Gameweek 26, so don't be afraid to bring in a single gameweek player either as they will play the same number of fixtures over the next two gameweeks, but the points will be spread out.
- Jamie Steed: I don’t like doing it. There’s no guarantee the players you’re bringing in for the two games will play in both. And looking at the fixtures, only Liverpool and Manchester City players you want to have three of. Given Liverpool’s rotation of their forward line and the way Pep rotates, there are few certainties to playing both games, so taking a minus isn’t something I’d consider.
- Tom Bellucco: Managers behind in the standings should take an aggressive stance in bringing in double gameweek players. Those who like their current place in the standings can afford to be more conservative and stick with the players they trust, even if they only play one match this week.
With Blanks and Double Gameweeks coming, #FPL managers are turning to their remaining chips to help maximise their returns 🍟
The Scout takes a look at the best strategies when playing your remaining chips ⬇️#FPL
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) February 13, 2024
Is Double Gameweek 25 the best opportunity to play the Triple Captain chip?
- Euan: Last season's fixture congestion meant plenty of chances to play the Triple Captain chip. Things are different this season, and Man City may not double again until Gameweek 37, when the league could be wrapped up, and other cup finals are a priority. The only other option currently available for using the chip is Dominic Solanke in Gameweek 28. Still, two home ties for Man City are too good of an opportunity to pass up.
- Jamie: It’s certainly the best time to do it so far. And with Manchester City’s fixtures, using it on one of their stars this week certainly makes a lot of sense. Regarding other double gameweeks, you could use your Bench Boost or Free Hit, so the Triple Captain option is ideal for weeks like this.
- Tom: With Man City at home twice in this Double Gameweek 25, I'm hard-pressed to think of a better situation for which you should save that chip. Play it!
Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are injury concerns for Liverpool. Are they inside your top three Liverpool assets for Double Gameweek 25?
- Euan: It's been confirmed that Trent Alexander-Arnold won't play in the Carabao Cup final on Feb. 25 after Double Gameweek 25. Mohamed Salah has popped up in training videos, but FPL managers shouldn't expect more than 100 minutes from the Egyptian King. That leaves Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez as the top two options for Liverpool, with Conor Bradley, Virgil Van Dijk, and Luis Diaz battling it out to be the final Anfield asset in your squad.
- Jamie: Yes, as I like to look longer-term than just this week. It will be interesting to see how the Liverpool front three pans out with Salah in it. He’ll be sure to play on the right, so the likely rotation between Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, and Cody Gakpo will cause headaches.
- Tom: Unless we hear more before Saturday morning, it's tough to trust either one in such a pivotal production spot. My top three assets are Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, and Luis Diaz.
Mohamed Salah involved in Liverpool's training session today 🕵️♂️#FPL https://t.co/hd0iTtDPoR
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) February 13, 2024
Who is your favorite Double Gameweek 25 player from Brentford or Luton Town?
- Euan: Ivan Toney is on penalties and free kicks for Brentford, plus he plays in Gameweek 26 and 29 when many others do not. He's a great long-term buy but also costs £8.2m. If you can't get to the polarizing English striker, Jamie's favorite defender, Alfie Doughty, is £4.6m and an excellent attacking defender. With Luton having a double gameweek this week and Gameweek 28, he would be worth a blank fixture in Gameweek 26.
- Jamie: Despite having two challenging games, I’d lean into Ivan Toney. It's purely down to the fact he’s capable of scoring goals against any team (and he scored a brace at Manchester City last season). Brentford has beaten plenty of the big teams at home, too, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he scored against Liverpool and repeated the feat at Manchester City midweek.
- Tom: Elijah Adebayo and Carlton Morris hold the most upside for a Luton side that has impressed offensively. For Brentford, it's Ivan Toney as the clear leader at the forward position. The Bees need him to step up offensively to keep up with two high-powered offenses in Liverpool and Man City.
Cole Palmer plays Man City and then blanks in Gameweek 26. Is it time to sell the Chelsea midfielder?
- Euan: I have several fires (Trent Alexander-Arnold and Josko Gvardiol) to put out along my backline, so Cole Palmer will stay in my team for one more gameweek. However, a tough fixture versus Chelsea followed by a blank in Gameweek 26 and a potential blank in Gameweek 29 makes Palmer a prime candidate to sell. At £5.9m, he is an easy player to buy back, but you may have to eat some of your budget if you bought him around the £4.7m mark earlier in the year.
- Jamie: I’m not, nor would I recommend it. He’s still priced at just £5.9m, and if, like me, you can only get £5.4m for selling him, who will you bring in to replace him? There’s every chance he gets a goal or assist against his former club, and then he’ll have a double Gameweek at some point to make up for next week’s blank. I’d be more concerned about his three subsequent fixtures following Gameweek 26.
- Tom: Based on how many Chelsea offensive players rotate in and out of their lineups and how inconsistent they are with their offensive production, this seems like a prime spot to sell Palmer in favor of a player with two matches this week.
Already transferred out by 157,131 #FPL managers ahead of a tough run of fixtures 🔁
Are you going to be sticking by Cole Palmer over the next few Gameweeks? 🔵 pic.twitter.com/7gzEe7CgoT
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) February 15, 2024
Who is keeping a clean sheet in Double Gameweek 25?
- Euan: Arsenal traveling to Burnley is the low-hanging fruit. The Gunners have conceded the fewest goals in the league (22) and the fewest goals on the road (11). Meanwhile, Burnley has scored the second-fewest goals at home this season (13) and hasn't collected three points in a Premier League game since Christmas.
- Jamie: Considering my last two picks combined to concede seven goals, I’m not sure I’m the best person to ask right now! As I have to pick, I’m going with Newcastle United. While they have been leaking goals of late (16 in seven games since their last clean sheet), Bournemouth’s only scored four in their previous five games. The Cherries have failed to score more than one in any of them, so give me the Geordies to get back to a solid defensive platform.
- Tom: Newcastle is due for an excellent defensive showing against Bournemouth. Other than that, I'm not sure I'd be willing to bet on any clean sheets, considering some of the better matchups also include a second match.
Kieran Trippier has already recorded a season-best return of assists 🅰️
There are still 14 Gameweeks for him to add to his tally 😮💨#FPL pic.twitter.com/Mhke4nocSJ
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) February 14, 2024
What defensive player is providing attacking returns?
- Euan: From Gameweeks 15-21, Kieran Trippier bagged four FPL points. Since Gameweek 22, the English defender has 20 points. After a dip in form, he is back on the menu as one of the best assets in the game. Newcastle plays Bournemouth in Gameweek 25, and I expect Trips to grab an attacking return and a sneaky clean sheet against a trending-down Cherries side.
- Jamie: We’ve seen Arsenal’s devastating set-piece prowess recently, with West Ham United being the latest victims. Burnley’s conceded 12 goals from set-pieces so far (only Nottingham Forest having conceded more with 15). Seven of the 12 set-piece goals conceded have come at home so I like Gabriel to find the back of the net again for the Gunners.
- Tom: If it's not broken, don't fix it. Kieran Trippier gets another strong matchup at home. He should put a handful more balls into dangerous areas in Gameweek 25.
It's been a hectic spell for Gabriel owners 😅
Have you stuck by the defender through two big #FPL hauls in recent Gameweeks? 💰 pic.twitter.com/G9M9ln6beF
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) February 15, 2024
Who's a midfielder or forward rostered on less than 10 percent of teams that will grab us those FPL points?
- Euan: There's a new wave of optimism around Manchester United, and now is the time to jump on Alejandro Garnacho (7.7 percent). The winger has started every game since Gameweek 11 for the Red Devils and is forming a solid partnership with Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford. The 19-year-old has accumulated at least 0.23 GI in eight consecutive contests and five attacking returns in his previous six games.
- Jamie: Gabriel Martinelli was a popular choice before the season started. He now finds himself on just 6.0% of FPL squads. After a sluggish start to the season, he’s beginning to find some form, with three goals and one assist in his last five games (four starts). He would’ve had another assist on Sunday if not for a brilliant save, and now he faces a Burnley side with the worst home record (five points) and second-most home goals conceded (27).
- Tom: Carlton Morris seems like a tremendous low-owned option for those moving off of struggling players who may have a blank in Gameweek 26.
Who is one player you want but can’t have for the Double Gameweek 25 fixtures in Fantasy Premier League?
- Euan: Kevin De Bruyne. I think he will get less than 180 minutes, but he can do significant damage in whatever amount of time Pep Guardiola gives him. Man City needs their talismanic Belgian to stay as healthy as possible for the run-in, and putting unnecessary minutes on his legs is a risk.
- Jamie: I’ve just mentioned Martinelli and Leandro Trossard would be in the same boat as him. I’ve got two transfers available this week, but I want to maximize the Liverpool and Manchester City double Gameweek while keeping one back to get through next week. While I may bring one of the Arsenal pair in, one misses out. That will likely be Trossard.
- Tom: Mo Salah is the easy answer here. He has two perfect matchups, and a return to Liverpool would be a fantastic time to hop back in on one of the best players in the world. Unfortunately, the injury concerns and lack of full minutes leave much to be desired.
Who’s getting the Captain’s armband?
- Euan: Erling Haaland is getting the armband, and it's very likely the Triple Captain chip will be activated. There won't be many opportunities better than this one to play the chip, and an in-form Haaland is too good to pass up.
- Jamie: It has to go onto one of the Manchester City stars. Phil Foden makes the most sense, given he’s been scoring and assisting plenty (eight goal involvements in his last seven EPL games). My concern is Foden, Erling Haaland, and Kevin De Bruyne all played the entire match at Copenhagen on Tuesday, so I suspect one or two of that trio will sit out one of their games in the coming days. I already know it’ll be the one I captain, so I’ll say Foden and let everyone opt for Haaland or De Bruyne while I suffer.
- Tom: It feels silly to go anywhere other than Erling Haaland.
Finally, what’s your bold prediction for Double Gameweek 25?
- Euan: Man City ends Double Gameweek 25 three points clear of Arsenal and tied with Liverpool. With the Carabao Cup Final on the horizon, the Reds will drop points in the early kickoff at Brentford. Sheffield United and Brighton battle to a 2-2 draw, and Everton closes the gap on Crystal Palace in a sneakily important relegation battle.
- Jamie: Rodrigo Muniz makes it four goals in three games as Fulham adds to Aston Villa’s woes. And Morgan Gibbs-White inspires Nottingham Forest to their first league win in five games with a goal and an assist.
- Tom: Luton scores at least four goals in their two matches combined, and Adebayo or Morris account for at least three of them.
Is there a question you would like to have answered every week? Hit us up on X @RotoBaller. We would love to hear your feedback and ideas!
