One of the fastest growing fantasy games is the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) - a season-long version of fantasy soccer for the English Premier League (EPL). With almost six million players this year, the FPL game is becoming a fixture for soccer enthusiasts across the globe.
Here at RotoBaller, we will try to give you the best analysis possible so that you can beat your friends and take on the rest of the world by managing your team in the fantasy version of the beautiful game.
Here is the team analysis and lineup picks for fantasy drafts heading into Gameweek 38. At the end of the day, remember to make the decision you feel is best for the team. Good luck, and enjoy!
The Ones To Buy This Week - Fantasy Premier League
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - F, Arsenal (Price: 10.7M)
As of writing this article, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is coming off of a brace against Burnley during the team's final home match under charge of esteemed manager Arsene Wenger. Aubameyang has eight goals and four assists on the season since joining in January and is Arsenal's main attacking threat. In fact, there have only been three games in which Aubameyang has not scored or assisted one of his teammates, making him virtually matchup-proof. Arsenal will want to give Wenger a good send-off and will hope to decimate a mid-tier Huddersfield side. Look for Aubameyang to end the season with a bang, making him a premier addition for fantasy players going into the final game of the season.
Olivier Giroud - F, Chelsea (Price: 8.3M)
Another forward for a big club (and a formal Arsenal man himself), Olivier Giroud has been in fine form for his new side since taking over the starting spot from Alvaro Morata. Giroud has 3 goals in his last four games and has been a catalyst for Chelsea's late season push for a Champions League spot. Watch for what Giroud does in the Huddersfield game, as his form could catapult his price up. However, with a price of 8.3M and the potential for a top-scoring gameweek in the weekend, Giroud becomes a fantastic option on the elite tier of strikers that is available for less than the rest of the best group at his position.
Wilfried Zaha - M, Crystal Palace (Price: 7M)
Crystal Palace are unbeaten in their last five games, having just ensured that Stoke City are relegated from the Premier League. The main man of their late season resurgence is Wilfried Zaha, who has four goals and three assists since GW32. Zaha is the team's main attacking threat and has been performing like a top-tier midfielder for the last few weeks, making him a very solid option for fantasy owners due to his price going into the final gameweek. Keep Zaha in your lineup consideration; he faces a bottom-of-the-barrel West Brom side in the final game of the season, making him a top-level addition for your fantasy roster this weekend.
Offload Him Now
Ben Davies - D, Tottenham (5.8M)
It's difficult to trust Pochettino's lineups at the back this late in the season. Davies has been in a solid rotation with fellow fullback Danny Rose in recent weeks, making his floor each week incredibly low. Davies is a solid player and could very well play this Sunday against Leicester, in which case he is a fine defender to start as Tottenham are favorites to win. However, Leicester are no pushovers, and the threat that Rose has to take Davies' spot in the starting lineup makes him a risky play, especially at his price point. Look elsewhere this weekend when you are choosing which defenders to transfer/start.
Potential Replacements: Chris Smalling (5.6M), Alfie Mawson (5.1M)
RotoBaller Weekly XI
Team (Prices May Be Over 100M):
GK: Nick Pope (5M)
DF: Jan Vertonghen (6.1M), Aaron Cresswell (4.9M), Kevin Long (4.1M)
MF: Raheem Sterling (9.1M), Eden Hazard (10.5M), Dele Alli (9M), David Silva (8.3M)
FW: Gabriel Jesus (10M), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (10.7M) , Olivier Giroud (8.3M)
Analysis:
Keeping a 4-3-3 from last week and loading up top with Aubameyang, Giroud Jesus, you are sure to have top class firepower with consistent production going into the week. Furthermore, the addition of upside in defense paired with top-club players going into the final week allows for top level creative ability/points generation across all three portions of the pitch. Jesus, Aubameyang, and Giroud are all expected to provide points this weekend, and the group of midfielders have been performing very well in recent weeks; they all have a good chance to do the same this weekend (or provide one or several assists).
That's all for this week - good luck!