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Welcome to Gameweeks 18 and 19, Rotoballers! Just like the previous campaign, we are continuing our soccer coverage to include the great game of 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.
With the crowded festive schedule well and truly underway, we wanted to combine Gameweeks 18 & 19 to ensure all your FPL bases were covered. Gameweek 17 welcomed us back with several surprises and disappointments, and these upcoming matches will have more of the same. And don't forget that Gameweek 19 features the first Double Gameweek of the season, with Chelsea and Fulham playing two games.
The Gameweek 18 deadline is 1:15 pm Eastern on Friday, December 30, and the Gameweek 19 deadline is 11 am Eastern on Monday, January 2. 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.
RotoBaller FPL Staff Roundtable - Gameweeks 18 and 19
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 Gameweeks 18 and 19!
FPL is back! What are your GW17 knee-jerk reactions?
- Euan Leith: Maybe I didn't need to go as big up top as I did. With Darwin Nunez, Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane leading my squad, over 30 percent of my budget is invested in three players. If I took some money out with Aleksandar Mitrović, Eddie Nketiah, or Anthony Martial instead of Nunez or Kane, my team would be better balanced.
- Jamie Steed: My primary knee-jerk reaction is that Newcastle United (and Miguel Almiron) is the real deal, and every FPL manager should be loading up with three Newcastle players no matter what their position
For all our worries, Arsenal looked great on the offensive end. Are you ready to reinvestment in the Gunners?
- Euan Leith: I am ready to get back the Gunners, but I'm not sure how. I have Gabriel Martinelli, and I think Bukayo Saka would be next on my wishlist. However, with the January transfer window right around the corner, Eddie Nketiah's days of leading the front line could be numbered. So give me Saka long-term and Nketiah if I need to save some money upfront.
- Jamie Steed: Without tooting my own horn, I was always invested in Arsenal's forwards, with Saka, Martinelli, and Nketiah starting for me in Gameweek 17. Nketiah is too cheap to pass on given Arsenal's attacking talent around him, and he certainly knows where the goal is, so any number of the Gunners players are worthwhile rostering.
Mo Salah grabbed the points, but Darwin Nunez ended with 1.15 expected goals. Is there room for both on our FPL sides?
- Euan Leith: Sure, but you'll have to sacrifice other premium assets. I'm on #TeamNunez right now as Kevin De Bruyne occupies my Mo Salah spot. The Uruguayan continues to get in great positions, and I'm keeping the faith that he'll find his finishing touch soon enough. Unfortunately, Liverpool is still too inconsistent to invest over 20 percent of my FPL budget in them. Especially with Manchester City's KDB and Erling Haaland staring me in the face.
- Jamie Steed: There is, but it depends on who else you have and are comfortable starting. The fact that Salah is the second highest scoring midfielder despite struggling most of this season highlights his value. I'd be keener on getting Salah in my side and only squeezing in Nunez if I could without leaving me short elsewhere.
Reece James went down with another injury against Bournemouth. Who are some of your favorite replacements for the attacking wing-back?
- Euan Leith: I would immediately look at James' teammate, Marc Cucurella. He will pick up some of the set pieces left behind. Outside of other Chelsea players, Ivan Perisic for Tottenham is in the same price range or you can move down another £1 million to Manchester United's Diego Dalot if he is deemed fit by this weekend's games.
- Jamie Steed: Kieran Trippier is only £0.1M more than James, so he's the obvious pick if you are one of the 33% of teams without him already. Otherwise, I'd be more tempted to pay down and use the ~£1M elsewhere, so Aaron Cresswell appeals there.
Chelsea and Fulham have a DGW in 19. Who would you prioritize to get in from each London side?
- Euan Leith: Kai Havertz returned from Qatar and was extremely impressive after the restart. The American in me was pleased to see Christian Pulisic get a fair shake under Graham Potter for the first time. For Fulham, I would prioritize Andreas Pereira for his value, but Mitrovic wouldn't be far behind. You'll have to monitor his yellow card status beforehand as the Serbian is one yellow away from a one-game suspension.
- Jamie Steed: Chelsea is facing Manchester City in one of those games, so I'm not going out of my way to roster any of their players, especially with such sketchy form. Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrović is an excellent play if you've kept away from him this year, while Andreas Pereira is a great cheap midfield option.
Who's keeping a clean sheet in Gameweeks 18 or 19?
- Euan Leith: I don't see Man City conceding any goals to Everton in GW 18, and Crystal Palace will still be reeling from their ridiculing restart. So watch out for Bournemouth to keep the Eagles grounded. For GW 19, Southampton welcomes Nottingham Forest to southern England. The promoted club has scored one goal away from the City Ground all season. Meanwhile, Emmy Martinez will be back for Aston Villa against Wolves and looks to get their defense back on track.
- Jamie Steed: Newcastle in GW18 with a defense overshadowed by their recent attacking exploits but has only conceded five goals in eight home games. In GW19, Manchester United host Bournemouth with United looking to keep a fifth consecutive home EPL clean sheet and Bournemouth having failed to score in four of their eight away games. So even with their defensive personnel issues, please give me all the Manchester United defenders for that game.
Which defensive player is providing an attacking return?
- Euan Leith: Andy Robertson looks like the more dangerous Liverpool wing back right now. The Scotsman will provide an assist against Leicester City and reward those FPL managers who took a punt on him over Joao Cancelo or Trent Alexander-Arnold.
- Jamie Steed: I'll keep going with Trippier (who picked up another assist on Monday) to add to his four assists this season. I can see Liverpool tormenting Leicester City on Friday, so any of their defenders have appeal. Manchester United's defenders will not only fancy a clean sheet at home to Bournemouth next week, but they'll also like their chances of scoring against the team that has conceded the most goals from set pieces this season.
Who's a midfielder or forward rostered in less than 10 percent of teams that will grab us those FPL points?
- Euan Leith: Mason Mount feels slightly overlooked already. He's on 7.1 percent of FPL squads and returned with a goal and two bonus points against Bournemouth. An upcoming fixture with Nottingham Forest before the double gameweek makes the England international a profitable option for the festive season.
- Jamie Steed: I mentioned Jarrod Bowen as a pivot from other midfielders in his price range and I expect his form to pick up as he's been showing signs of life lately and has a decent pair of games. Nketiah is only on 2.6% of the teams so it is an easy discount option to start.
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: Mohamed Salah or Mason Mount would be at the top of my wishlist. Both came flying out of the gates for the restart. Easy fixtures versus Leicester City and Nottingham Forest will provide plenty of returns for the talismanic midfielders.
- Jamie Steed: No one stands out, although I see Harry Kane bagging a goal or two against Aston Villa. I would need to dump Erling Haaland to put him on the team, and that's not happening without an injury.
Who's getting the Captain's armband?
- Euan Leith: Erling Haaland is the most likely player in the league to grab a hat trick and feels as safe a bet as anyone to grab at least one goal versus Everton.
- Jamie Steed: I'm expecting Haaland to continue his insane goalscoring record at home. So I will likely go with him, but I'm also tempted to pivot to Trippier as a much lesser-captained player and try to go against the grain.
Finally, what's your bold prediction for this weekend's slate of games?
- Euan Leith: Bournemouth grabs a crucial win over Crystal Palace, and Arsenal stumbles in the title race with a draw against Brighton. Oh, and Darwin Nunez outperforms his expected goal mark.
- Jamie Steed: Nottingham Forest starts the year with at least a point against Chelsea, and Everton finds themselves in the relegation zone following a fifth consecutive EPL loss.
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!
