Fantasy Premier League: Gameweek 29 Preview – Leeds United misfit Eddie Nketiah is One To Watch

Manchester City and Arsenal’s blank gameweek 28 fixture has been rearranged to take place on Wednesday, meaning this week’s Fantasy Football schedule gives us the rare opportunity of a double gameweek.

By John Mount Friday, 6th March 2020, 10:45 am

As planned, Man City will travel across town to play against Man United and Arsenal will host West Ham before the two clubs meet, meaning that both the Gunners and the Sky Blues play twice this gameweek. More games means more points, so this week’s preview will have a strong focus on these two teams. Gameweek 29 deadline: Saturday 7th March @ 11:30 GMT.

Follow the in-house Yorkshire Post Fantasy Football expert John Mount (@Gameweek38) on Twitter for more FPL insight.

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Captain Picks

Arsenal's Eddie Nketiah was a misfit at Leeds but he's one to watch in Fantasy land (Picture: PA)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.1m) vs West Ham (H) and Man City (A)

Being the league’s joint top goalscorer with 17 goals, captaining Aubameyang this week seems like the obvious choice. He’s contributed three goals and two assists over the last four gameweeks in a time period when he’s only taken nine shots, of which five were on target. Although his shooting stats aren’t amongst the best in the league, they show how clinical of a finisher he is. If you have the triple captain chip, trusting Aubameyang with it may be a wise move.

Nicolas Pepe (£9.2m) vs West Ham (H) and Man City (A)

Another in-form Arsenal player is Nicolas Pepe. The winger has bagged one goal and three assists in the last four gameweeks and no other player with a double gameweek has created more big chances than the Ivorian in that spell. With Man City’s best defender (Laporte) being out until next month, I expect Arsenal to score in both games this gameweek. Pepe can also take penalties.

Man City's Sergio Aguero is a captain's pick. (Picture: Steve Ellis)

Sergio Aguero (£11.9m) vs Man United (A) and Arsenal (H)

One goal behind Aubameyang with 16 goals for the season is the Man City talisman, Sergio Aguero. His form is the polar opposite of Aubameyang as the Argentine has contributed just one goal in the last four gameweeks but has taken 14 shots with just four being on target. Although Aguero is usually good for goals, he may struggle against Man United as the Red Devils have only conceded two goals in their last nine games in all competitions.

The Form Guide - Who’s Hot?

Marcos Alonso (Chelsea, £6.0m)

In-form: Chelsea's Marcos Alonso (Picture: PA)

With three goals in his last two games, Marcos Alonso is nicknamed ‘Goalonso’ for good reason. No defender has taken more shots than the left back in the last four gameweeks and it looks like he’s cemented his spot as Chelsea’s first choice left back. Alonso faces Everton and Aston Villa in his next two games and as well as being a goal threat, he is capable of keeping clean sheets in these games too.

Gabriel Jesus (Man City, £9.5m)

Even though he’s only started two of Man City’s last four league games, Jesus remains a potent goal threat having contributed a goal, two assists and the joint most shots on target for Man City in that time. Guardiola notoriously likes to rotate his squad so Jesus may not start both games this week but no matter how many minutes he gets, he’ll definitely have the chance to score.

Matt Doherty (Wolves, £6.2m)

Norwich City's Todd Cantwell is out for form (Picture: PA)

Doherty’s 34 points over his last four gameweeks makes him Fantasy Football’s most in-form player. The attacking right-back tops the charts for shots in the box, shots on target, big chances, expected goals and penalty area touches for players listed as a defender so with three consecutive games against bottom half opposition coming up and with Champions League football being the prize, I see no sign of Doherty or Wolves slowing down soon.

The Form Guide - Who’s Not?

Kevin De Bruyne (Man City, £10.7m)

Although he’s having a fantastic season, De Bruyne is flagged as having a shoulder injury ahead of Man City’s double gameweek and is therefore a doubt for both games. Alternatives in the City midfield are Sterling and Mahrez, who are both well capable of chipping in with goals and assists.

Todd Cantwell (Norwich, £4.8m)

With no goal involvements in the last seven gameweeks and with an upcoming blank in a couple of weeks, time may be up for the 22 year old. Owned by over 20% of fantasy managers, similarly priced midfielders that may tempt you include Foden, Djenepo and Saka.

Ones to Watch (Less than 5% ownership)

Matt Ritchie (Newcastle, £5.3m, 0.2%)

Listed as a defender, Ritchie played as an attacking right winger for Newcastle last weekend. He takes set-pieces and had more shots in the box than any other defender last gameweek. He’s been injured for a large part of the season due to an ankle ligament injury but he is gradually being phased back into the team, having played over 60 minutes in four out of Newcastle’s last six league games.

Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal, £4.3m, 1.0%)

Although it didn’t work out for him at Leeds United, Nketiah is performing well for Arsenal and has been trusted to lead the line in the Gunners’ last two league games, scoring once. He also scored on Monday in a 2-0 win away at Portsmouth so I see no reason why Arteta would drop him this weekend. He’s the cheapest available striker in the game.

Phil Foden (Man City, £5.1m, 0.3%)

Foden ran the show and picked up the man of the match award in the Carabao Cup final last week. Although he’s only completed over 60 minutes once in this league campaign, with Champions League surely being the team’s priority until the end of the season, there’s a good chance that Pep will prioritise his best players for the midweek European games, leaving a Foden-sized gap in the team for league games.

The Explainer

Transfers

After picking your initial squad, you receive 1 free transfer each Gameweek. Each additional transfer you make in the same Gameweek will deduct 4 points from your score.

If you do not use your free transfer, you are able to make an additional free transfer the following Gameweek. If you do not use this saved free transfer in the following Gameweek, it will be carried over until you do. You can never have more than 1 saved transfer. For example, since you get 1 free transfer per gameweek, if you make no transfers between gameweeks, you will have 2 free transfers in preparation for the next gameweek. You will incur a 4 point hit per transfer over your free transfer allowance.

Point Scoring

During the season, your fantasy football players will be allocated points based on their performance in the Premier League. Remember, every week your captain scores double points, so pick them wisely!

Action Points

1 For playing up to 60 minutes

2 For playing 60 minutes or more (excluding stoppage time)

6 For each goal scored by a goalkeeper or defender

5 For each goal scored by a midfielder

4 For each goal scored by a forward

3 For each goal assist

4 For a clean sheet by a goalkeeper or defender

1 For a clean sheet by a midfielder

1 For every 3 shot saves by a goalkeeper

5 For each penalty save

-2 For each penalty miss

1 to 3 Bonus points for the best players in a match

-1 For every 2 goals conceded by a goalkeeper or defender

-1 For each yellow card

-3 For each red card

-2 For each own goal