RADIO
Welcome to Gameweek 32, RotoBallers! This is our third year covering FPL, and we are bringing you more coverage than ever. We publish two weekly articles: a staff roundtable preview and our weekly rankings. Then, once a month, we have our newest report, The Watchlist, which reviews the previous month and looks ahead to the upcoming fixtures.
Thirty-one gameweeks down, seven to go. Gameweek 31 ended on Thursday, and we have another quick turnaround ahead of Gameweek 32. We saw Bukayo Saka, Erling Haaland, and Kevin De Bruyne all get well-deserved breaks from the action in the midweek games. However, it's doubtful that the rotation roulette is over. FPL managers should look to build a strong bench over the next few weeks as the fixtures become more critical and more congested.
The Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 32 deadline is 6:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday, April 6, when Crystal Palace hosts Man City. Also, look out for the rest of our excellent soccer coverage, as the squad gets you all set for every English Premier League, Major League Soccer, and UEFA Champions League slate from a DFS and betting perspective.
I seldom play #EPL #DFS. But when I do, I make sure I check out my @RotoBaller buddies @EuanFPL and @df_solutions
before creating my lineup https://t.co/rmQTeGmSRg pic.twitter.com/b0xGTcSxp4— Jamie Steed (@Baseball_Jimbo) February 10, 2024
Fantasy Premier League Staff Roundtable - Gameweek 32 Preview
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 Gameweek 32!
Who is keeping a clean sheet in Gameweek 32?
- Euan Leith: Man City plays at lunchtime on Saturday versus Crystal Palace. However, it also has a vital Champions League tie with Real Madrid during the midweek. The Citizens will be all business versus the Eagles. A couple of quick goals and then shutting up shop allows Pep Guardiola to start preparation for Madrid as soon as possible.
- Jamie Steed: There isn’t a standout option this week, even amongst the top teams. I do like Everton as a sneaky option at home to Burnley. They’ve gone 13 games without a win, but their 17.6 xGA (expected goals against) at home is the sixth best this season. Burnley has lost five of its last eight away EPL games, scoring six goals and blanking on three occasions. It has a total of 5.9 xG (expected goals) in those games, so it has struggled for chances on its travels.
- Tom Bellucco: Spurs at home against Forest seems to be the best spot for a clean sheet. The others that spark my interest are Everton to hold Burnley scoreless and perhaps Chelsea to blank Sheffield United on the road.
Three sides kept clean sheets tonight 🛡️
Did any of your defensive assets return for you? 👀#FPL pic.twitter.com/Tl5MFYb8If
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) April 3, 2024
What defensive player is providing attacking returns?
- Euan: With all of Man City's injuries, Josko Gvardiol feels like a safe bet to stay in the starting XI. At times, the Croatian defender plays left winger for his new club, and the stats back it up. Over the last six games, Gvardiol's 0.23 non-penalty expected goals per 90 minutes (NPxGI/90) is 20th among defenders. Unfortunately, there were zero goals and zero assists in that span. Regression to the mean has to happen sometime, and there's no time like the present against Crystal Palace.
- Jamie: I was a week early when predicting an attacking return from Rayan Ait-Nouri in Gameweek 30, only for him to score in midweek instead. That strike on Tuesday was his third goal involvement in his last five games. With Wolves attacking injuries, Ait-Nouri is getting forward more. Saturday’s opponents, West Ham United, have conceded the joint third-most away goals this season (32).
- Tom: James Tarkowski has not been able to find any goals or assists of late, but he has been handling the ball a decent amount in the offensive end for the Toffees. This matchup in GW32 is as good a time as ever for the Englishman to create a few goal-scoring chances and maybe convert.
Who's a midfielder or forward rostered on less than 10 percent of teams that will grab us those FPL points?
- Euan: Nicholas Jackson burned a lot of FPL managers in the early part of the season and was primarily dumped by the masses after his poor finishing. Fast forward five months, and the Senegal forward has a chance to return to our good graces. Over the last six games, Jackson's 0.64 NPxGI/90 is eighth among forwards with at least 15 minutes per appearance. An upcoming run of Sheffield United and Everton will give the 22-year-old several chances to add to the nine goals and three assists he's already bagged this season.
- Jamie: Brennan Johnson has started just three of Tottenham’s last five games. Yet, he’s got two goals and four assists. He faces his former team, so we get that narrative, too. Nottingham Forest hasn’t kept a clean sheet in its last 10 away league games, conceding 23 goals in those games. The Welsh international is only rostered by 1.0% of FPL managers.
- Tom: Harvey Barnes deserves a mention here! He played 90 minutes last time out in a draw with Everton, and his impact in the previous match and a half since his return from injury while filling in for many injured Magpies has been admirable. Barnes should get plenty of run again, this time on the road against a vulnerable Fulham back line.
Who is one player you want to have but can’t for the Gameweek 32 fixtures in Fantasy Premier League?
- Euan: As I've just wild-carded, I'll be trying to roll my transfer and set up for some of the upcoming doubles. However, Phil Foden would be at the top of my shopping list. The English midfielder just produced another hat-trick on Wednesday night and is in the middle of a breakout campaign. He was the only one out of himself, Erling Haaland, and Kevin De Bruyne to get minutes against Aston Villa, so prospective new managers should be wary of Pep Roulette with Phil Foden in the coming weeks.
- Jamie: Rodrigo Muniz has six goals and one assist in his last four starts at Craven Cottage. While he’s struggled on the road, his record at home makes him a great option this week. With Newcastle’s defensive injuries and the fact they have the joint third-worst defensive record along with West Ham, Muniz is an excellent option. Having already added Mo Salah to my team for the run-in, I am not inclined to take a hit to roster him.
- Tom: This is another chance to shout out Elijah Adebayo for Luton, who is out another month or so with a hamstring injury. A matchup at home against Bournemouth would have been a juicy spot to fire up the athletic striker in hopes of a header in the box or a back post run.
Phil Foden's hat-trick against Aston Villa means that he has produced his most-ever attacking returns in an #FPL season 🔝 pic.twitter.com/k8ov7DhWXz
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) April 4, 2024
Who’s getting the Captain’s armband?
- Euan: Cole Palmer is destroying the promoted teams this season, and I expect him to do the same on Sunday evening. He'll face a soon-to-be-relegated Sheffield United squad, and the English midfielder could produce his 10th double-digit haul of the season and fourth in his last five games.
- Jamie: All my midfielders and forwards have away games this weekend. Thankfully, Cole Palmer gets Sheffield United. They may have won plaudits for giving Liverpool a scare on Thursday, but they’ve still averaged three goals conceded per game at home. Palmer is an easy option for me this week.
- Tom: Let's go back to the well. It's bound to work eventually, right? Erling Haaland should be as fired up as ever after recent criticism of his play and a match off from his manager. Haaland should eat up the Crystal Palace backline with extra motivation to quiet some doubters.
A moment of appreciation for Cole Palmer's #FPL form 🥶
Predict his points tally against Man Utd 👇🔮 pic.twitter.com/2rIQa1ctJf
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) April 4, 2024
Finally, what’s your bold prediction for Gameweek 32?
- Euan: While Arsenal hasn't lost in 2024, Brighton can give them a massive scare at home. As a result, the Seagulls get a deserved point off the Gunners as they cause chaos in the title race. Elsewhere, Liverpool gets revenge on Manchester United and avenges its FA Cup defeat from a few weeks ago. Finally, Luton and Burnley get three points to keep their Premier League hopes alive.
- Jamie: Brighton stuns Arsenal and all but ends their title hopes, with Danny Welbeck finding the net against his former team. Luton Town and Bournemouth play out a five-goal thriller, with five different players getting on the scoresheet. And Everton keeps the only clean sheet of the weekend.
- Tom: Tottenham gets back on track after dropping two points at West Ham, winning in blowout fashion at home against Forest by a score of 5-0.
Is there a question you would like to have answered every week? Hit us up on X @RotoBaller. We would love to hear your feedback and ideas!
