RADIO
Welcome to Gameweek 35, RotoBallers! Like the previous campaign, we are continuing our soccer coverage to include the great game of the Fantasy Premier League. So even if you are a seasoned veteran or a rookie navigating your first 38 gameweeks, we will set you straight. We're here to provide advice to help you snag those weekend-making green arrows and avoid the doom and gloom of a red arrow.
Gameweek 35 kicks off less than 48 hours after gameweek 34 ends, so there's little time to assess our options. It's a single gameweek for all 20 teams spread across three days, but FPL managers must also consider the final three weeks of the season especially with some teams having double gameweeks. With a tight turnaround, we may not get all the manager news we want. So FPL managers must do their best and try to navigate any news coming from the final midweek fixtures.
The Gameweek 35 deadline is 9:00 am Eastern on Saturday, May 6. Also, check out the rest of our excellent soccer coverage as the team gets you all set for every English Premier League and UEFA Champions League slate from a DFS and betting perspective.
And of course, #FPL can translate into #DFS, all of which we have plenty of at @RotoBaller https://t.co/U9pKeHkJYv pic.twitter.com/z2ubf1KeKj
— Jamie Steed (@Baseball_Jimbo) February 4, 2023
RotoBaller FPL Staff Roundtable - Gameweek 35
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 Blank Gameweek 35!
Kieran Trippier has two attacking returns in his last 13 games. Do you think managers can swerve the highly-rostered FPL stud for the final four gameweeks?
- Euan Leith: If you are leading your mini-league, I would keep Trippier. However, if you’re chasing then I would ditch him after Newcastle’s double gameweek in 36. The Magpies have one clean sheet in their last 13 games and they’re winning games by scoring boatloads of goals (13 in the last three games).
- Jamie Steed: The two games in gameweek 36 make me want to keep him around and he's got pretty nice opponents in Leicester City and Chelsea after that so I don't see any reason that he needs to be ousted. But at this stage of the season, you've gotta do what you've gotta do so keeping him isn't a given.
If managers have any chips left to play, when is the best time to activate them?
- Euan Leith: At this point, I would save it for the double gameweeks in 36 and 37. If you have the Triple Captain chip I would be tempted for Isak or Wilson next week. And if it’s the Free Hit then I would activate that in 37 when four teams have two fixtures.
- Jamie Steed: I'd save any Free Hit, Triple Captain, or Wildcard for gameweek 37 when four teams have two matches. If I had two of them left, I'm using one on gameweek 36 when Newcastle United and Brighton meet for an extra game. Bench Boost I'd use asap as the likelihood of you having 15 healthy and available players who start is diminishing by the week.
Julian Alvarez is the Man City flavor of the month for May. Would you bring him in for the rest of the season?
- Euan Leith: Pep Guardiola said Kevin de Bruyne is injured and does not have a set time for his return. Still, we should expect to see the Belgian in the Champions League against Real Madrid. Therefore, Alvarez could have a spot locked up for the remaining Premier League games. He’s cheaper than Watkins or Toney and others but has a higher ceiling when he starts.
- Jamie Steed: If I needed to make up ground in my leagues then I would. I still can't bring myself to trust Guardiola's lineups so I'd take a gamble on the double gameweek but I'm not convinced he starts more than three of City's remaining five games. He probably warrants a longer run in the team just for his strike against Fulham.
Simply glorious from Julian Alvarez, who restores Manchester City's lead 🪄#MCFC | #FULMCI
🎬 @SkySportsPL pic.twitter.com/Crnvhy3qWx
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) April 30, 2023
Roberto De Zerbi rotated a tired Brighton side over the weekend. Does that raise any concerns if you are tripled up on the Seagulls?
- Euan Leith: No. Brighton still has two double gameweeks to go and more games equals more points. I’ll take my chances with Mitoma and March and Estupinan down the stretch.
- Jamie Steed: The fact he rotated most of their stars already and Brighton is still batting for European qualification actually gives me a little more confidence that they won't rotate much if at all now. The bigger concern I have is how tough their remaining schedule is.
Liverpool is chasing down a European spot but doesn’t have any double gameweeks remaining. Is there anyone outside of Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold worth rostering from Anfield?
- Euan Leith: Worth rostering? Yes. Worth trusting? Probably not. With Jota, Diaz, Gakpo, and Nunez fighting for two spots, Jürgen Klopp will look to find the best frontline for next season and a lot of rotation could come over the remaining games.
- Jamie Steed: I'm still a fan of Cody Gakpo and Andy Robertson (who has two assists in his last three games). As much as I want to ride with Diogo Jota, I just don't know if he will start all of their remaining games but I'm probably more optimistic in him than the others.
Who’s keeping a clean sheet in GW35?
- Euan Leith: Justin Steele is the best bang for your buck backstop in the game and has a home fixture versus Everton on the cards. The toothless Toffees are fighting for their Premiership lives, but Brighton will shut them out.
- Jamie Steed: The appointment of 'Big Sam' Allardyce at Leeds all but guarantees their remaining four fixtures will be pretty grim watching. And first up is a trip to the Etihad to face Manchester City. I can't see Ederson conceding a goal this week. Nottingham Forest at home to Southampton also has some sneaky appeal.
Which defensive player is providing an attacking return?
- Euan Leith: This is my third week in a row going with Trent Alexander-Arnold, but he hasn’t disappointed us yet. He had another assist last weekend to become the first player to have five consecutive games with an assist for the second time in his career.
- Jamie Steed: Six assists in his last five games all but assures Trent Alexander-Arnold will finish the season leading defenders in assists and another one at home to Brentford is certainly on the cards. His new role seems to have gotten the best out of him. I still can't rule out Alex Moreno any week, especially against a Wolves team that looked like they've checked out this season.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has assisted a goal in five consecutive #PL matches for a second time (also August 2019), the first player ever to have two such runs in the competition's history 🥇#LIVTOT pic.twitter.com/2n00Ih58DQ
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 1, 2023
Who's a midfielder or forward rostered in less than 10 percent of teams that will grab us those FPL points?
- Euan Leith: He broke his foot they said. There’s no way he plays soon they said. Well, take a bow Bruno Fernandes because you are the reason for my consecutive green arrows. The Portuguese star was playing phenomenal football, but not getting the returns. Then he had an assist versus Spurs and a goal plus all three bonus points against Aston Villa. He’s currently on 7.2% of FPL teams, but that number will rise quickly before his double gameweek in a couple of weeks.
- Jamie Steed: Wolves inability to defend anything last week likely won't be repeated this weekend but I still like Jacob Ramsey (1.3% rostered) to link up with the red-hot Ollie Watkins and pick up an assist or goal. If you're one of the 20% of FPL managers rostering Watkins, pairing him with Ramsey this week could be a recipe for success.
If you could bring in any player you don't have on your team for this gameweek, who would it be and why?
- Euan Leith: Julian Alvarez is a superstar in the making, and if we get any confirmation that KDB is out for the weekend then the young Argentinian will become a high-priority transfer.
- Jamie Steed: Any of the players I've listed I'd seek to bring in if I haven't already but Alexander Isak is atop that list. Arsenal's recent inability to defend coupled with the way they capitulated at Newcastle towards the end of last season makes me feel he can completely finish any lingering hopes the Gunners had for the title. I'm happy with my forward line and looking to keep my transfer to make two next week so I'm holding pat this weekend.
Who's getting the Captain's armband?
- Euan Leith: Leeds is a sinking ship and has to travel to face Erling Haaland at home. I expect it will be another week where Haaland’s points will actually hurt our overall rank because of how many teams captain the Norwegian god.
- Jamie Steed: City's midweek trip to Madrid shouldn't see Erling Haaland rested this weekend. By the time the second leg of their semi-final comes around, City could have all but tied up the league title allowing them to rest him but I expect him to start this weekend. Given Haaland has 22 goals and seven assists in 16 home games and now faces a side that's conceded 18 goals in their last five games, he's almost a lock for a double-digit points haul.
Finally, what's your bold prediction for this weekend's slate of games?
- Euan Leith: No one will be surprised if Bournemouth continues Chelsea’s stumble to the summer, but it will still be a memorable day for the club.
- Jamie Steed: West Ham keeps Liverpool's slim hopes of a top-4 spot alive when they beat Manchester United on Sunday. I also expect Leicester to end their six-game winless away streak by beating Fulham.
Is there a question you would like to have answered every week? Hit us up on Twitter @RotoBaller. We would love to hear your feedback and ideas!
