FPL double gameweeks: Liverpool & Everton’s great value, consider Dimitri Payet & Hector Bellerin

Gameweek 31: How the team did

A manager’s view on Gameweek 31 might be summed up as either successful or woeful, primarily based on whether they owned and captained Tottenham’s Harry Kane.

The Spurs talisman scored a brace and bagged an assist to give him 16 points, 32 for those like the 101 team who captained him. This decision, supplemented by defenders Kevin Wimmer (6) and Ashley Williams (8) (my transfer from last week to replace Vincent Kompany) both keeping clean sheets, assists from Gylfi Sigurdsson (5), Alexis Sanchez (6), Dele Alli (6) and Jamie Vardy (5), and goals from Riyad Mahrez (9) made it a very good week indeed.

In fact, the only outfield players failing to make a decent return were Sergio Aguero (2) and Mesut Ozil (3). But as the 101 team never considered dropping these two stars for the gameweek, it’s hardly a big deal.

We had decided to take advantage of the attractive fixtures of our front eight by playing the ‘All Out Attack’ chip. Because of Ozil’s lack of returns, as well as Danny Simpson’s clean sheet away to Crystal Palace (he was on our bench), the chip didn’t really come off. But the logic behind using remained sound – we wouldn’t have wanted to drop any of the front eight of Ozil Sanchez, Alli, Maherz, Siggy and Vardy, Aguero and Kane.

Our final score was 85 points, significantly higher than average of 56 (and the average score of the Top 1000 players which was 76 points).

We moved up 30,000 places and lie 84,500 overall – our highest position of the season.

101 Great Goals League

The top 2 in our 101 Great Goals League continue to fiercely battle it out.

Last week’s leader Bacuna Mata-ta lost points by making two transfers (although he made them back by transferring Vardy out for Kane) and ultimately scored 78 points. However, top spot was regained by Patryk Koczanoski’s Albatross F.C. who scored 81 points – although this could have been even higher had David De Gea (7) and Chris Smalling (5) not been left on the bench. Patryk is now at a mightily impressive 126th in world.

Babu SiNur keeps pace with the leaders to stay in 3rd place and lies 16 points off Patryk.

The Approaching Double Gameweek – The different teams and their run in

Last week we looked at some general ideas about planning for the double gameweeks.

This week we’ll look at some of the different teams’ fixtures and potential players to bring in.

While some teams such as Chelsea, Sunderland and Norwich have a double gameweek later in the season (GW37) we’ll be focusing on planning for the upcoming gameweeks of 33, 34 and 35.

Next week we’ll look at different strategies for using our chips (for those who still have them) to best take advantage of the double gameweeks.

The Premier League teams can be divided into different groups in terms of their upcoming fixtures:

The regulars: no doubles no blanks – Leicester, Spurs, Southampton, Stoke, Swansea, Bournemouth

These teams simply play once a week until the end of the season. Players such as Kane, Vardy, Mahrez, Alli, Sigurdsson and even Marko Arnautovic have been in good form and there is no reason to think this should change.

While managers – especially those with a wildcard – may want to try and maximise players who have a double gameweek, the above players are still likely to consistently bring in good returns. Certainly managers should think twice before taking out moderately priced Spurs and Leicester players such as Mahrez, Alli, Wimmer or Simpson / Fuchs.

One Double Gameweek (34), no blanks – Arsenal, City, Newcastle, West Brom

Arsenal have highly attractive fixtures in a DGW 34, entertaining Crystal Palace and West Brom at the Emirates.

Striker options may be problematic with Arsene Wenger rotating Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck. Meanwhile in defence, Per Mertesacker (5.2), Laurent Koscienly (6.2) and Gabriel (who is only 4.3) seem to also be rotating which makes choosing one of them a gamble. The best fantasy options for the Gunners seem to either be in midfield – with Ozil (9.7) and/or Sanchez (10.8) or at full back with Nacho Monreal (5.8) and Hector Bellerin (6.3) providing strong potential for points.

Manchester City have two tricky away games against Chelsea and Newcastle. 101 doesn’t recommend going near City’s defence as Kompany’s absence (and rotation) makes points difficult to come by. If Kevin De Bruyne (10.2) returns from injury he may be worth a punt, while David Silva (9.9) and Yaya Toure (8.5) are expensive options that haven’t performed so well this season. In fact, other than Sergio Aguero (13.6) we don’t think there are any ‘must haves’ from City’s double gameweek fixtures.

Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle team play Swansea and City at home. Before his injury on international duty, the 101 team would have recommended keeper Rob Elliot (4.0), but now his probably replacement Karl Darlow (3.9) is also worth considering – especially for those bench boosting in GW 34. Midfielders Gini Wijnaldum (6.8) and Jonjo Shelvey (5.3) might also be worth a look, although the 101 team think better value can be found elsewhere.

West Brom play Watford at home before travelling to Arsenal. We don’t think their attack or midfield offer good options (although Salomon Rondon at 6.6 offers a differential), but Craig Dawson (5.1) or Jonny Evans (4.5) in defence offer good options for the double gameweek.

The big advantage of players from these teams is that in addition to playing twice in GW34 they don’t blank in GW35.

Two Double Gameweeks (34 & 37), no blanks – Liverpool

Liverpool players are swiftly turning into fantasy gold as the Reds have two double gameweeks (Bournemouth home, Everton away in GW34 and Watford home Chelsea home in GW37) before the end of the season without having any blanks.

Of course, there is the fear that Europa League commitments will affect their league performances. And fantasy managers face a big challenge knowing which Liverpool players to bring in.

In attack, Daniel Sturridge is unlikely to start both games, while Christian Benteke and Divock Origi both left Belgium’s camp with knocks, and are unlikely to get more than half an hour (if that).

Meanwhile in defence Martin Skrtel’s (5.3) return means he is competing with Dejan Lovren (4.8) and Mamdou Sakho (4.7) for two spots, while Jon Flanagan (4.4), Alberto Moreno (4.6) and Nathaniel Clyne (5.2) are battling it out for the two full back places. The place where value can definitely be found is in midfield where Philippe Coutinho (8.1) and Roberto Firmino (8.3) are both in great form. And of course Simon Mignolet (4.9) is probably a safe bet as well.

Two Double Gameweeks, one blank (35) – Man United, West Ham & Watford in GWs 34 & 37: Crystal Palace in GWs 33 & 34

Less attractive than Liverpool players but still worth taking a good look at are those teams – like – who have two double gameweeks but a blank during the week of the FA Cup semi-finals.

Man United have a two great home fixtures against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace in Gameweek 34 (and visit Norwich and West Ham in GW37) although it’s difficult to know which players to pick. The only nailed on starters in the defence seem to be De Gea (5.7) and Smalling (6.5) although both are on the expensive side.

In our opinion the only midfielder worth considering (and even then more as an enabler) is Jesse Lingard who comes in at 4.3 and may well give decent returns over two games. It might be worth gambling on Anthony Martial (7.6) or Marcus Rashford (4.5) in attack but neither have performed consistently and Wayne Rooney’s potential return may alter how United line up.

For those who can afford him, West Ham’s Dmitri Payet (8.3) would be a great addition ahead of the double gameweeks. The Hammers play Leicester away and Watford at home in GW34 and have two home games against Swansea and Manchester United in GW37.

For those with less of a budget, Michail Antonio (5.4) has been on fine form recently, although in GW31 he ended up playing right-back, which somewhat stunted his attacking potential. If James Collins is fit, he may represent a good option at the back at 4.3.

Watford’s forwards Troy Deeney (5.2) and Odion Ighalo (5.8) represent good value ahead of Watford’s games away to West Brom and West Ham in GW34. Watford’s defence has been relatively solid this year so Craig Cathcart (4.6) and Nathan Ake (4.4) may represent good options, but bearing in mind Watford have two away games which take place just before their semi-final means we recommend looking elsewhere.

Crystal Palace players are harder to choose bearing in mind their disastrous form in 2016. Those wanting to gamble may want to consider Yannick Bolasie (6.0) although safer options probably lie in defence with Joel Ward and Damien Delaney available for 4.3, and keeper Wayne Hennessey costing 4.2. Bearing in mind that most of these teams have the FA Cup semi-finals immediately after GW34, so they may well rest key players.

Three Double Gameweeks (33, 34 & 37), One blank (35) – Everton

Just to make things even more complicated, there is an additional group comprising just Everton – who have THREE double gameweeks with a blank in between.

The obvious choice for Everton is striker Romelu Lukaku (8.9) who has been in fine form this season. Other great options would be Ross Barkley (7.1), or the cheaper option of Aaron Lennon at 5.6, as well as defensive options of goalkeeper Joel Robles (4.3) and defenders Phil Jagielka (5.1) and Seamus Coleman, who represents a slightly better attacking threat and comes in at 5.8.

One word of warning. Choosing too many players from Man United, West Ham, Watford, Palace or Everton may decimate a managers’ team for gameweek 35 when they all have blanks.

Gameweek 32: Looking Forward & early wildcard

The 101 team had planned to wildcard in GW33 before the onset of the double gameweeks.

However due to Jack Butland’s injury – as well as the fact we had made an early transfer before the internationals to bring Bellerin in before his price rose – we have decided to play it one week earlier than planned. This is not ideal, but we think its worth doing this rather than taking a four point hit. We’ll update more later in the week with details of our new-look team.

Our Fantasy Premier League articles are written by @CalevBenDor. The code to join the 101GG Fantasy Premier league is 144814-39315.