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Welcome to the Gameweek 12 FPL Staff Roundtable, RotoBallers! We've survived another international break, which is when the season gets really fun. Between now and January 1, there are eight gameweeks to be played. Buckle up!
All eyes will be glued to Portman Road on Saturday afternoon as Manchester United plays its first game under Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese manager hopes to get off to a good start in the Premier League as the Red Devils try to kickstart a charge up the table.
The Gameweek 12 deadline of the 2024/25 Fantasy Premier League season is Saturday, November 23, at 6:00 a.m. ET, when Enzo Maresca returns to Leicester City with his new squad, Chelsea. Also, check out the rest of our excellent soccer coverage as the squad gets you all set for every EPL and UCL slate with our DFS lineup picks and betting picks.
Fantasy Premier League Staff Roundtable - Gameweek 12 Preview
The Staff Roundtable is an attempt to get you inside the minds of our FPL writers. 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 Gameweek 12!
Coming Back From The Break
After several FPL stars sat out the international break. Who do you expect to hit the ground running this weekend?
Euan Leith: Mohamed Salah (£12.9m) leads the game with 107 points and has the easiest away fixture in the league at Southampton. The Egyptian sat out the entire international break because his country has already qualified for AFCON 2025, and the Saints will need to say a prayer or two to keep him off the scoresheet.
Jamie Steed: Martin Ødegaard (£8.2m) missed seven games before returning to get an assist against Chelsea. The Gunners missed their skipper, but he looked close to his best in his first game back. Two weeks off may have helped Ødegaard to come out flying this week.
The FPL Manual (Wale): It’s been a while since we saw Chelsea’s talisman Cole Palmer (£10.9m) go on a feast for goals and assists as he did against Wolves and Brighton in previous gameweeks. I believe the early withdrawal from the England squad will help Palmer stay fit and focus on helping the Blues defeat Leicester City in the early kick-off this weekend.
New Man In Charge at Old Trafford
Will Ruben Amorim get the best out of fellow countryman Bruno Fernandes?
Euan: Bruno Fernandes has 50 points this season, and 27 of them (54 percent) have come in the two games since Erik Ten Haag was relieved of his duties at Man United. If he can produce like that under an interim manager, imagine what he can accomplish with the former Sporting Lisbon head coach.
Jamie: It remains to be seen. I'd back the former if you ask me what’s more likely between him thriving or continuing to struggle. How Manchester United is set up and plays will be key to how Fernandes fits into their system. I’d certainly be willing to gamble on him coming good.
Wale: Of Course, Yes. Ruben Amorim has heavily favored a 3-4-3 system during his time at Sporting Lisbon, which largely involves high pressing, quick counters, and forcing the opposition to make errors. This new shape will favor the Man United skipper, as I expect Fernandes to adapt quickly to Amorim’s tactics and improve on his newfound form for the Red Devils.
Ready to lead the team under a new era at @ManUtd 🫡
Does Bruno Fernandes get a place in your midfield? 🔥#FPL pic.twitter.com/tYEY71nF3E
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) November 18, 2024
Feeling Blue
Man City and, in turn, Erling Haaland are struggling. Do you expect these woes to continue?
Euan: Things can only get better for Man City, and this is just a (slightly prolonged) dip. The club is still in the running for all the major trophies, but the absence of Rodri has clearly been felt. When Kevin de Bruyne (£9.4m) and Phil Foden (£9.2m) return to match fitness, I expect the Cityzens to return to top form.
Jamie: No, because we’ve seen something similar before. City seem able to turn up the tempo in the new year, although they seldom struggle like they have been. Kevin De Bruyne's (£9.4m) return may hold the key to City kicking up a gear.
Wale: No, I don’t think so. Seeing the reigning EPL champions struggle for this long is somewhat of an anomaly. However, this could be due to the manager not bringing in the right players to replace key assets like Julian Alvarez and an injured Rodri (£6.3m), affecting Man City’s overall output and cheer quality.
Nevertheless, with Man City rewarding Pep Guardiola a one-year contract extension. The Cityzens have not lost faith in the Man City boss and I anticipate Guardiola will re-invent his tactics again in the coming weeks and help the club push for a title challenge.
Best of the Bottom Five
Among teams in the bottom five of the league, who is the best FPL asset?
Euan: I've seen the other two answers to this question, so I'll go a bit different with Liam Delap (£5.6m) from Ipswich Town. The 21-year-old has six returns in his last six games (five starts), and he'll meet three bottom-half teams in the next four weeks at home.
Jamie: I’ve been rocking with Rayan Aït-Nouri (£4.7m) for most of the season. But Matheus Cunha (£6.8m) has also excelled despite Wolves’ struggles. With a friendly fixture list in the coming weeks, Cunha is a great play.
Wale: I prefer Wolves’ forward Matheus Cunha (£6.8m). The Brazilian international has been a key player in creating and scoring goals for his team, accumulating 27 FPL points between Gameweeks 9 and 11.
Wolves' favorable run of fixtures has heightened Cunha’s appeal in the eyes of FPL managers, and I anticipate he could double his FPL returns in the next four-to-five gameweeks.
Is there a better differential forward in #FPL right now? pic.twitter.com/nTtlfdOQJB
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) November 15, 2024
Festive Fixtures are Coming Fast
There have been three international breaks before Gameweek 12, but the next break isn’t until Gameweek 29 in March. How can managers prepare for the upcoming fixture crunch?
Euan: Now is the time to build depth in your FPL squad. There are a limited number of transfers available to us, so making sure everyone on your bench gets a lot of minutes is key. You don't want to take hits to take out an injured premium asset when you can just wait it out and sit him for a week with a suitable bench replacement.
Jamie: It’s important to look ahead, especially with the transfers rolling over continuously. Some sides will have nine matches in all competitions between now and Christmas. So, keeping up to date with injury news is critical in the coming weeks.
Wale: It's always a pleasant feeling knowing we have uninterrupted Premier League action for a while. I believe the best approach to prepare for this run of games will require patience, possibly rolling over a few transfers and staying up-to-date on team news and injury updates, as a few players may be rotated or feel fatigued during this period.
Which run of fixtures stands out to you the most? 🧐#FPL pic.twitter.com/Y29fP199tt
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) November 18, 2024
Who is Keeping a Clean Sheet in Gameweek 12?
Euan: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I rolled with Liverpool at home versus Aston Villa in Gameweek 11, and I'm backing the Reds to repeat on the road versus Southampton. The Saints have scored the second-fewest goals (four) at home this season.
Jamie: West Ham United has been blanked in its last two games and has only scored three goals in its last four, one of which was a highly controversial penalty. They visit a Newcastle United side that has only conceded three goals in five home games, so expect the Hammers to blank again.
Wale: I will be backing Chelsea to keep a clean sheet this weekend. Their next opponent, Leicester City, is ranked 13th for goals scored in the league, scoring only two in their last three matches. This could favor the Blues as they will likely secure their third EPL clean sheet against the Foxes.
What Defensive Player is Providing Attacking Returns?
Euan: With Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.0m) on the sidelines, I expect Arne Slot to give Andy Robertson (£5.9m) free reign down the left side of his defense while Connor Bradley (£4.7m) stays back to assist the center backs. The Scotsman scored his first national team goal in five years over the international break.
Jamie: With many defensive injuries, Jurriën Timber (£5.5m) will be relied upon to play every game in the coming weeks. Assuming he starts at right back, the return of Ødegaard will bring more creativity down that flank, and Timber may well benefit from that more than anyone.
Wale: Aston Villa attacking wingback Lucas Digne (£4.7m) has eight big chances created in the league, currently joint first among defenders with Ipswich’s Leif Davis (£4.5m).
It is often rare for Unai Emery’s team to not secure a win in their last five matches across all competitions. However, with a favorable home tie against Crystal Palace in the bottom three, I believe Digne will significantly contribute to Aston Villa’s goal-scoring efforts in Gameweek 12.
Andy Robertson's first Scotland goal in five years...
...and what a time to get it 😍#POLSCO pic.twitter.com/a5kaKORAt5
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) November 18, 2024
Best Midfielder or Forward Who Isn't Rostered
Who is rostered in 10 percent of teams or less who can grab those FPL points?
Euan: Mitoma Kaoru (£6.4m) has averaged 0.41 xGI/game over the last three gameweeks but has zero returns. The Seagulls are flying high after a massive win over Man City in Gameweek 11, and they'll ride that momentum against a spirited Bournemouth side. The Japanese midfielder will bag his first goal since Gameweek 1.
Jamie: Coming out of the international break, there will likely be more anomalies than usual. Chuck in the unknown of a new Head Coach at Manchester United and, I will pick Amad Diallo (£4.9m) as a bit of a YOLO. He gets a good match-up against Ipswich Town, but it’s a risky play, given we don’t know if he’ll start.
Wale: Arsenal have heavily relied on Bukayo Saka (£10.1m) for creativity this season. However, with Martin Ødegaard (£8.2m) returning to full fitness and reclaiming his spot in the starting lineup, the Norwegian could play a pivotal role in helping the Gunners secure victory against a resurgent Nottingham Forest in Gameweek 12. I will be backing Ødegaard as my top differential of the week.
Who is a Player You Want but Can’t Get for Gameweek 12 in FPL?
Euan: Jamie already mentioned him, but I quite fancy Martin Ødegaard to come back with a bang. Arsenal was slumping heading into the break, but the Norwegian grabbed an assist versus Chelsea in his first start since Gameweek 3. I'm not sure I need him in my side that badly to take a four-point hit.
Jamie: It will be a boring pick again, but I won’t be able to bring in Mo Salah (£12.9m) without dropping a couple of my other big hitters and tinkering with the team. While it may pay off, I don’t want to put all my eggs in the Egyptian King’s basket.
Wale: I’m quite nervous about not having Newcastle’s forward Alexander Isak (£8.5m), who recently picked up form for both the club and the country. Newcastle have only lost once at home this season, and hosting West Ham next, especially on the final Monday night fixture, could be quite devasting if the Swede striker scores a brace against the Hammers.
Who’s Getting the Captain’s Armband?
Euan: He's not in my squad (yet), but Mohamed Salah is my favorite captain in Gameweek 12. There's a bit of FOMO with Erling Haaland against Spurs, but I believe the Egyptian can at least match the Norwegian forward in an easier fixture against Southampton.
Jamie: With Haaland struggling and other options coming into the weekend with little yellow warning signs, I’m leaning towards Emile Smith Rowe (£5.7m). I’ve hyped up Wolves a bit, but they can’t seem to keep clean sheets. They’ve conceded two or more in four of their five away games, so Smith Rowe feels like a solid option.
Wale: Cole Palmer (£10.9m) gets the armband for me this week. He is currently ranked second for FPL points this season and is also the leading goal scorer for the Blues. I favor Palmer as an alternative captain since I don’t have Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (£12.9m) in my fantasy team.
What’s your Bold Prediction for Gameweek 12?
Euan: Crystal Palace and Wolves grab surprising road victories to vault themselves out of the relegation zone. Meanwhile, the good vibes continue for Man United in their first game with the new manager as they smash Ipswich Town by four goals.
Jamie: Tottenham does Tottenham things and is following up a home defeat to Ipswich Town with an away win at Manchester City. Son Heung-min (£9.9m) bags a pair of goal involvements like he did in this fixture last season.
Wale: Arsenal and Man City bounce back to winning ways this weekend, while Chelsea’s duo Cole Palmer (£10.9m) and Nico Jackson (£7.9m) combine for most points in Gameweek 12 and quickly become the large bandwagon of the week.
These players are in demand for Ruben Amorim's first match in charge 🔴
Have you brought in any Man Utd assets for #FPL Gameweek 12? pic.twitter.com/wAilQkWuOm
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) November 20, 2024
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