RADIO
Welcome to Gameweek 5 of the FPL season, RotoBallers! This is the third year covering FPL on the site, and we are bringing you more coverage than ever before. We will publish the Gameweek Preview, consisting of a Staff Roundtable and our weekly rankings every week. Then, once a month, we will publish our newest article, The Watchlist, a review of the previous month and a look ahead to the upcoming fixtures.
Four gameweeks down, 34 more to go. It's a full slate on Saturday with an early game, five-afternoon games, and a nightcap between Newcastle and Brentford. Then Sunday's contests feature Bournemouth-Chelsea and Everton-Arsenal before a Monday night clash at the City Ground between Nottingham Forest and Burnley.
The Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 5 deadline is 6:00 AM EST on Saturday, September 16, for the Wolves-Liverpool game. 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.
Fantasy Premier League Staff Roundtable - Gameweek 5 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 5!
Son Heung-min fired in a hat trick against Burnley. If he continues to play centrally, is he a must-have FPL asset?
- Euan Leith: There are quite a few players I would like to roster from Spurs, and Son Heung-min is top of the list. He's followed closely by James Maddison and Destiny Udogie, but the South Korean is the flavor of the week. Unfortunately, he was pictured with an iced knee after a national team training session, so I'll hold off on bringing him in until Ange Postecoglu gives him the all-clear.
- Jamie Steed: I wouldn’t say he’s a must-have. It was one game against a Burnley side that looks out of depth early this season. I’m not dismissing it, though, and it will be interesting to see if they bring Richarlison back in and how they work their front line.
Joining new sides in their droves 🚪
Have you brought in any of these three in-form stars for #FPL Gameweek 5? 🌟 pic.twitter.com/N4V3TzY8jp
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) September 11, 2023
Newcastle’s fixtures finally flip this month. Who is the most valuable player at St. James’ Park?
- Euan: It's still Keiran Tripper. The Englishman trails Pervis Estupinan in chances created this season 12-10 and feels like a buy-low. Other FPL managers are drawn towards Fabian Schar and Sven Botman, but I continue to believe in Trippier. He was the top-scoring defender in last year's game, and these upcoming fixtures will return him to form,
- Jamie: Their best two FPL assets are guys yet to start a game. Callum Wilson and Harvey Barnes have combined for four-goal involvements this season. Given they have come off the bench in every game so far, I think it’s time they make the starting XI, and both are on my Watchlist.
On the other side of the fixture ticker, Brighton’s matchups are rough. Would you hold onto any Seagulls?
- Euan: As I mentioned earlier, Pervis Estupinan leads all defenders with 12 chances created this season. However, Brighton never looks likely to keep a clean sheet, leaving us relying on attacking returns from the Ecuadorian. While he's done the job early on, the tap could be turned off at any moment. I'm holding him, but he could be on the chopping block whenever a Wildcard is activated.
- Jamie: I would, as they showed last year, that they can compete with the so-called bigger teams. I wouldn’t rely on them, and it might limit my exposure, but I don’t see any reason to swap out any Brighton player from your squad.
Nottingham Forest stunned Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and frightened Man United at Old Trafford. Do you have any interest in their players?
- Euan: I want to believe, but the only area I can myself having a Forest player is along the backline. Matt Turner is my backup goalkeeper (I'm playing him this week), and a double Nottingham defense feels like a massive risk without a ton of reward. Taiwo Awoniyi is in my thoughts, but our eight attacking spots are already so valuable that we want to play them every week. I don't believe Awoniyi is that sort of player despite his early-season form.
- Jamie: I was in on Taiwo Awoniyi and Morgan Gibbs-White coming into the season and noted I’d be looking at them after the first few games when their schedule eases. Awoniyi especially looks like a great option up front.
Some new options for your #FPL team 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sBJed9HEfP
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) September 5, 2023
The three promoted teams have combined for zero Premier League points. Would you target them in a week-by-week strategy?
- Euan: Many managers saw what Raheem Sterling did to Luton and took a punt on Jarred Bowen in Gameweek 4. While he did score, seven points are not worth the cost of using a Free Transfer. If you have a player with all three sides in the next five (AKA Newcastle), bringing in an attacking asset for the medium term is a great idea.
- Jamie: They will improve,, but I’d look to start my players when facing all three. Defensively, none have shown enough to make me not start players against them. Conversely, Gustavo Hamer is a talent and looks at home in the Premier League. I struggle to find a way to fit him into my midfield, given the depth at the position. He is an excellent differential, though.
It may be worth investing in some of these teams over the next few Gameweeks 👀
How many players from these sides feature in your #FPL squads? pic.twitter.com/eWhkFtb6Wm
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) September 14, 2023
Who is keeping a clean sheet in Gameweek 5?
- Euan: Burnley has scored a consolation goal in two of their first three Premier League games, but they won't get another one versus Nottingham Forest. Matt Turner has a great game against Chelsea in Gameweek 4. If the American can hold the Blues out of the net on their ground, then I trust him to replicate that performance at home versus Burnley.
- Jamie: Tottenham should have no problem dispatching Sheffield United, and a clean sheet is on the cards. They’ve kept two from their first four games and don’t have the distraction of midweek European games, so they can focus on the league and play their strongest side.
Which defensive player is providing an attacking return?
- Euan: Pedro Porro is another Tottenham defender on my Watchlist. In three appearances, the wingback has an assist, a clean sheet, and two big chances created. Sheffield United is having an uninspiring start to their Premier League campaign, and I don't see them dealing with Destiny Udogie or Porro all that well.
- Jamie: I’m going with Ben Chilwell this week. Chelsea still needs to find some attacking continuity, and his set-piece delivery could unlock things. Bournemouth conceded more goals (21) from set pieces last season than any other team. They’ve already conceded two such goals this season.
Who's a midfielder or forward rostered on less than 10 percent of teams that will grab us those FPL points?
- Euan: Alejandro Garnacho should find his way back into the Man Unites starting lineup this weekend against Brighton. With Antony and Jadon Sancho missing for different reasons, the Red Devils need someone to fill the void on the wings. Garnacho is £4.9m and should start in a high-scoring affair versus a leaky Brighton defense.
- Jamie: I’ve already mentioned him, but Taiwo Awoniyi looks in an ideal spot to continue his fine start to the season. Forest faces a Burnley side that’s conceded three or more goals in all three games they’ve played. Going back to last season, Awoniyi has scored nine goals in his previous eight EPL games (seven starts).
Who is the player you want to, but can’t, have for the Gameweek 5 fixtures in Fantasy Premier League?
- Euan: In Gameweek 4, Dominik Szoboszlai scored his first Liverpool goal in a 3-0 rout over Aston Villa. The Hungarian bossed the midfield for the entire game and picked up two bonus points. At £7.0m, Szoboszlai is a discounted route into the Liverpool attack and is more likely to start over Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo, or Diogo Jota.
- Jamie: Mo Salah has a goal or assist in all four games this season. He’s had five goal involvements in his last six EPL games against Wolves (five starts). Wolves conceded four goals at home to Brighton and shipped in three second-half goals against Crystal Palace last time out. Salah will tally a goal or assist again this weekend, but I can’t afford to bring him in without serious tinkering and taking a minus-points hit.
Who's getting the Captain's armband?
- Euan: It hasn't been a blistering start to Bukayo Saka's 2023/24 FPL campaign, but his 6.2 points per match is still the ninth-highest in the game. Saka's Gameweek 5 opponent, Everton, has been abysmal to start the season and will allow Arsenal to score early and often this weekend.
- Jamie: I like Moussa Diaby this week. He’s been impressive without having quite the number of goals or assists to show for it. He’s still got three goal involvements, and Palace showed some defensive frailties last time out against Wolves. Diaby could exploit them and provide an excellent return.
💬 Sam Bonfield (@FPLFamily)
"I am looking carefully at Aston Villa – their fixtures are brilliant. I am looking to double my investment in Villa by adding Matty Cash (£4.7m) alongside Moussa Diaby (£6.6m)" pic.twitter.com/jWOwfJhwkD
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) September 13, 2023
Finally, what’s your bold prediction for Gameweek 5?
- Euan: Man United beating Brighton at home shouldn't be a bold prediction, but that's how it feels right now. Brighton is an offensive juggernaut, and United are missing several key pieces in attack and defense.
- Jamie: Can West Ham United slow down the Manchester City juggernaut? Providing they don’t concede early, their counter-attacking play might lead to an upset result. And I fancy Luton Town to get their first point(s) of the season away to a Fulham side with the highest expected goals against (11.7 xGA) in the league this season.
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!
