RADIO
Welcome to Gameweek 25, RotoBallers! This season, we are expanding our soccer coverage to include the great game of Fantasy Premier League. So, if you are a seasoned veteran, or a rookie navigating your first campaign, we will set you right as we look to acquire those weekend-making green arrows and avoid the doom and gloom of a red arrow.
Gameweek 25 kicks off less than 40 hours after gameweek 24 ends so we're in for a rapid turnaround. With Chelsea competing in the World Club Championship, we have just nine games for this weekend plus a bonus game between Manchester United and Brighton in midweek. Gameweek 25 kicks off on Saturday at 7.30 am Eastern and lineups will lock at 6.00 am Eastern so be sure to get your lineups in place early, ideally by Friday night unless you want to get up before the roosters awaken.
Also, be sure to 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 perspective.
RotoBaller FPL Staff Roundtable - Gameweek 25
The Staff Roundtable is an attempt to get you inside the mind of our FPL staff. Our top soccer writers - Euan Leith, Jamie Steed, Brandon Wampler, and Phil Goyette - will answer questions each Gameweek to give you an idea of how they view the games. So without further ado, let's kick off Gameweek 25!
How did Gameweek 24 work out for you?
- Jamie Steed: A solid 62 points, which came from just 10 players due to a myriad of injuries I've somehow managed to accumulate.
- Brandon Wampler: Thanks to Kevin de Bryune and Phillipe Coutinho my week was much better than gameweek 23.
With Mo Salah returning from the African Cup of Nations. Given the recent form of Kevin de Bruyne, which of the two most expensive midfielders would you rather have the rest of this season?
- Jamie Steed: Right now, it’s de Bruyne. But I suspect Manchester City’s focus will turn to the Champions League when that restarts and de Bruyne may be used more sparingly given they have the Premier League title nearly wrapped up already, leaving Salah a safer option week-to-week.
- Brandon Wampler: I would rather have Salah especially for this next stretch of fixtures that provides the Reds with a friendlier schedule. He will also be motivated after AFCON.
On the topic of expensive midfielders, which midfielder priced at £6m or less that you would roster that allows you to afford Salah and/or de Bruyne?
- Jamie Steed: I’m not a huge fan of his, but Daniel James has been playing upfront and is in decent form for an improving Leeds team so the opportunity alone is worth consideration. Arsenal will surely get back scoring goals soon and their attacking trio of Emile Smith-Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard are all appealing too. Smith-Rowe will likely fill in for Martinelli next time out due to the latter's suspension and it'll be interesting to see how the trio gets used the remainder of the season.
- Brandon Wampler: Dejan Kulusevski immediately stands out because of his accomplishments with Juventus. Cristiano Ronaldo played a similar style as Harry Kane and Kulsevski already knows how to provide the support. Maxwel Cornet is another option that shoulders the majority of the offense for Burnley. Francisco Trincao could also be a sleeper option with Adama Traore now gone, someone will need to fill that wing support for Raul Jimenez.
Looking ahead, Gameweek 26 currently has 14 games scheduled. How much focus are you placing on your transfers with that in mind?
- Jamie Steed: There are still 14 more games needing scheduling so I’m looking to hold on to my wildcards. To maximize gameweek 26, I’m looking at only transferring in players who have two matches scheduled for that gameweek, providing it’s not a detriment to this week or next.
- Brandon Wampler: There is not as much of an emphasis with the wide range of outcomes that could come from Gameweek 26. However, I will at least acknowledge the prime matchups that will go into my transfers this week. The lesser matches will not have as much of an impact though.
Who's keeping a clean sheet this week?
- Jamie Steed: Allison and Ederson both face the league’s lowest-scoring teams. At the cheaper end, Robert Sanchez looks a solid play given Watford have just one goal in their last four EPL games and new manager Roy Hodgson isn’t renowned for open and attacking football.
- Brandon Wampler: Ederson will shut down Norwich for a floor shutout.
Which defensive player is providing an attacking return?
- Jamie Steed: Outside of the usual names, Aaron Cresswell appeals. He takes set pieces for West Ham, who have multiple aerial threats and Leicester City can’t help but concede goals from set plays.
- Brandon Wampler: Joao Cancelo could pay dividends tenfold depending on how City plays away to Norwich. Trent Alexander-Arnold is also in a tremendous matchup and Lucas Digne will have a chance to shine too with less ownership.
- Jamie Steed: It’s hard not to keep riding de Bruyne, but I also think Bruno Fernandes and Ronaldo can have big games at home to a Southampton team that has conceded the most away goals in the league this season.
- Brandon Wampler: My favorite midfielder is tied between de Bruyne and Salah but because of the upcoming fixtures, Salah takes the cake. If I had to pick a forward, it would be Dominic Calvert-Lewin. He is still getting back to full fitness, but this is the best support he has ever had and it is only a matter of time until he blows up.
What are your transfer plans heading into this Gameweek?
- Jamie Steed: I have two Arsenal players in the squad (who don’t have a game) but I want to keep them both for their double matchweek starting next weekend so will look to bring in someone playing this week and has a double-header in gameweek 26 also.
- Brandon Wampler: Prepare for the next few weeks and make some "risky" additions that could pay massive dividends.
Who's getting the Captain's armband?
- Jamie Steed: I’m going to keep riding de Bruyne for as long as his form continues (five goals, two assists and five clean sheets in his last eight games).
- Brandon Wampler: It will be between Salah and de Bruyne.
Finally, what's your bold prediction for this week?
- Jamie Steed: There are some really tight games on paper this week and I can see Leeds upsetting Everton on the road. While I don’t believe Norwich will get anything from their game against Manchester City, I predict it will be a tighter game than most think it will be and will only be decided by a one-goal margin.
- Brandon Wampler: Newcastle continues winning ways with a 3-1 over Aston Villa and both City and Liverpool shutout their respective opponents Norwich and Burnley 4-0 and 3-0.
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!
