RADIO
Welcome to Double Gameweek 34, 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, which reviews the previous month and looks ahead to the upcoming fixtures.
Thirty-three gameweeks down, five to go. It's the most significant double gameweek of the season! FPL managers have been preparing for it in one way or another. Whether activating a chip or taking a hit, this week's FPL Roundtable from the FPL crew has you covered.
The Fantasy Premier League Double Gameweek 34 deadline is 8:30 a.m. EDT on Saturday, April 20, when two games kick off. 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 34 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 34!
Liverpool and Arsenal both dropped points over the weekend. Does this change your thinking regarding their FPL appeal?
- Euan Leith: Arsenal was eliminated from Europe on Wednesday, and Liverpool is unlikely to recover from a three-goal deficit against Atalanta. As a result, the league is all these two teams have left to win this season. I expect both squads to go full tilt toward the title until the bitter end. I'm almost more tempted to get their assets down the stretch now.
- Jamie Steed: Not really. I always expected them to drop points before the end of the season. Liverpool missed a handful of chances again, but sooner rather than later, they’ll score plenty. And Arsenal were excellent in the first half of their game with Villa. They, too, failed to take their chances and got punished. My feelings toward them both remain the same.
- Tom Bellucco: I'm having a tough time trusting any Arsenal players just because of their balanced play, but it doesn't have much to do with them dropping points over the weekend. Liverpool is all systems go.
Who's relying on Saka to finish the season in style for @Arsenal? 🌶#FPL pic.twitter.com/fEr3FdRFGK
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) April 17, 2024
Seven teams play two fixtures in Double Gameweek 34. Which team has the best set of games?
- Euan: Crystal Palace is getting all the hype after an impressive performance against Man City and a shock win over Liverpool. The Eagles have several options for Double Gameweek 34 and two fixtures against leaky West Ham, and Newcastle should convince FPL managers to invest in the London side.
- Jamie: Crystal Palace has impressed me since Oliver Glasner took over. They get two home games. First, they face a West Ham side that will have played newly crowned Bundesliga champions, Leverkusen, on Thursday. Then, there's a Newcastle team that’s kept two clean sheets on their travels all season. On average, both opponents have conceded more than two goals a game away from home.
- Tom: Crystal Palace has two home matches against questionable defenses in West Ham, and Newcastle has to take the cake.
Which team has the worst set of games?
- Euan: Bournemouth has two challenging away games versus Wolves and Aston Villa in Double Gameweek 34. I recommend most FPL managers find a way to get Dominic Solanke in their lineup for the week, but I wouldn't pick any more Cherries for my FPL starting squad.
- Jamie: Bournemouth has the unenviable task of going to Wolves and Aston Villa. Wolves have taken 24 points from their last 13 home games after losing their first two this season. Villa’s three home defeats have come against sides currently in the top-7. It’s difficult to see Bournemouth getting more than a point and a goal or two in their two games. And a clean sheet is unlikely.
- Tom: Bournemouth on the road against Aston Villa and Wolves has me worried about production for the Cherries, though I would not be overly surprised to see them notch a goal in each of those matches. It feels like a tough ask going on the road twice in a short period.
Who is your favorite player with a single game this week?
- Euan: Assuming the social media dram doesn't get him benched, Alejandro Garnacho versus Sheffield United is my favorite single-gameweek player. The Argentinian midfielder has been a revelation on the wing for Manchester United this season, scoring seven goals and six assists in 24 starts. The Blades have conceded the most goals (84) in the Premier League this year, and this is a chance for the Red Devils to boost their European hopes.
- Jamie: Bruno Fernandes has seven goal involvements in his last seven games, including four goals in his previous three appearances. His actual goal involvement is finally catching up to his xGI and he will spearhead Manchester United’s attacks against Sheffield United. Regardless of the single game this week, he's still well worth starting.
- Tom: Erling Haaland has started to show some form again, so he becomes the easy answer in Man City's away match at Brighton.
Bruno Fernandes is a latest #FPL price riser! ↗
After four attacking returns in the last three Gameweeks, are you looking at the @ManUtd midfielder as an option for your team? 🔴 pic.twitter.com/SIeNjhBfxJ
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) April 17, 2024
- Euan: The Free Hit chip is active. The current plan is triple Liverpool, triple Arsenal, Triple Palace, plus Dominic Solanke up top and Rayan Ait Nouri along the backline
- Jamie: Yes, I’m deploying my Wildcard. I was tempted to hold off, as I could have fielded a team of nine players with two games. However, three injuries in my defense and a goalkeeper no longer starting mean I need to make multiple changes, so the timing couldn’t have been any better.
Who is keeping a clean sheet in Double Gameweek 34?
- Euan: Andre Onana has been in fine form since a rough couple of months to start his Man United campaign. Sheffield United has scored the fewest goals (13) away from home this season. United concedes many shots, but even that defense can dull the Blades' attack.
- Jamie: West Ham looked tired and devoid of ideas against Fulham on Sunday. With another energy-sapping Europa League game on Thursday, Palace should be able to take advantage and repel the Hammers at home.
- Tom: Everton at home against Nottingham Forest might have a chance, though having a second match against Liverpool ruins that a bit. Man United hosting Sheffield United is probably the next best bet.
What defensive player is providing attacking returns?
- Euan: Andrew Robertson has returned to his usual attacking self along Liverpool's left side, but the final results still escape the Scotsman. In the last two games, Robbo has produced 0.31 and 0.26xA (expected Assists), respectively. With two fixtures versus Fulham and Everton, FPL managers should expect Robertson to get back in the FPL points.
- Jamie: It feels weird mentioning him here, but I choose Ashley Young. The veteran Everton full-back takes some free-kicks and corners while ranking second on the team in crosses and third for completed passes into the opposing penalty area (from open play). Only Arsenal have scored more set-piece goals than the Toffees, and their opponents, Nottingham Forest, have conceded the most.
- Tom: Fabian Schar continues becoming increasingly involved in offensive play for Newcastle. He'll have a decent chance to be in the mix again at Crystal Palace this week.
4-0 TO NEWCASTLE. 😳
Fabian Schar gets on the scoresheet with a towering header to make a bad day for Tottenham even worse. pic.twitter.com/jNqHQSRBBa
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 13, 2024
Who's a midfielder or forward rostered on less than 10 percent of teams that will grab us those FPL points?
- Euan: The entire RotoBaller team loves Crystal Palace this week, so I won't stop the good times flowing. Jean-Philippe Mateta has four goals in his last seven matches and is coming off a game against Liverpool, where he produced 1.13 xG (expected Goals). If the French forward continues to have those kinds of underlying numbers, he'll bag at least one goal in Double Gameweek 34.
- Jamie: I’ve already mentioned Palace as my favorite two-game option this week. And I was shocked that Eberechi Eze is on less than 5% of FPL teams. I expect that to change as the week progresses. He’s been Palace’s best player when he is fit and is primed for a big week.
- Tom: Carlton Morris should get plenty of chances for Luton against Brentford this week. Can he convert them? I'll go for a "yes" at just 6.4% at the moment.
Looking to add a forward to your team ahead of Double Gameweek 34? 💥
The Scout has highlighted Matheus Cunha and Jean-Philippe Mateta as potential options. Will either earn a space in your #FPL attack? 👇
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) April 18, 2024
Who is one player you want to have but can’t for the Double Gameweek 34 fixtures in Fantasy Premier League?
- Euan: I'm a sucker for Double Gameweeks, but I quite fancy getting Bruno Fernandes on my team sooner rather than later. Liverpool, Arsenal, and Crystal Palace have enough attacking options for the transfer of the Portuguese talisman to wait. However, he could be in my FPL squad soon after Gameweek 35.
- Jamie: Sticking with the Palace theme, as well as Eze, I want Jean-Philippe Mateta. However, I will also roll with Dean Henderson and Tyrick Mitchell to double up on a possible clean sheet. That might change if I go with Ben White and David Raya instead. Mateta is my FOMO play, but that could quickly turn into Mitchell or Henderson.
- Tom: With two matches, I may have been just tempted enough to slot Martin Odegaard into my starting lineup this week. But he has a knock, so his status for the first match is unknown. As such, it's probably safer to steer clear.
Who’s getting the Captain’s armband?
- Euan: Unless Mohamed Salah plays 120 minutes in a Liverpool loss on Thursday, the Egyptian King is getting the armband in a double gameweek.
- Jamie: After hyping him and Palace up, I need to put it on Eze. I’ll make my transfers as late as possible so things can change. For now, Eze is my choice.
- Tom: This is a perfect Mo Salah spot. Coming off a rough week, chasing down Man City and a Double Gameweek. Salah is an excellent option for Captain this week, much like many other weeks.
Finally, what’s your bold prediction for Double Gameweek 34?
- Euan: The title race takes another swing as an exhausted Man City squad drops points versus Brighton. Everton gets a crucial victory over Nottingham Forest in the relegation battle, and Eberechi Eze is the gameweek's highest scorer with three attacking returns.
- Jamie: After losing their FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City, Chelsea bounce back and end entirely Arsenal’s feint title hopes. Liverpool will also drop points in their two games, all but sealing another title for Manchester City. And with the bottom six all in action against each other, Brentford distances themselves with a win at Luton Town in which Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbeumo, and Yoane Wissa all tally a goal involvement.
- Tom: Crystal Palace scores at least five goals combined over their two matches against the Hammers and Magpies. Who scores? It could be anyone's guess, but Eze gets at least two.
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!
