Fantasy Premier League: Gameweek Tips and Team of the Week Featuring Palmer and Jackson

Fantasy Premier League fixtures are currently arriving rapidly, with a complete midweek round approaching, making it crucial to assess the strength of one’s bench. A key lesson from the past week is to avoid over-enthusiasm for in-form budget players as captain choices; Joao Pedro, despite appearing to be a strong captain pick in gameweek 13, yielded only two points. This week’s strategy reverts to selecting a premium player for the captain’s armband. The “team of the week” is constructed based on current FPL prices, designed to fit within a £100m budget, as if utilizing a Free Hit chip. Despite the captain Joao Pedro’s low score, the team achieved a respectable 71 points, thanks to a double Manchester United clean sheet and significant hauls from Marcus Rashford (14 points), Cole Palmer (14 points), and Bukayo Saka (18 points). The latest Fantasy 606 podcast is available on BBC Sounds. Arsenal’s Gabriel has scored three goals this season. Stefan Ortega (Manchester City, keeper, £5.2m) is selected for the home match against Nottingham Forest. The success of a triple Arsenal defense against Forest at home two weeks prior informs this choice. While Manchester City’s defense has not been performing optimally recently and their play has been “pretty poorly,” they still possess “quality players” and have consistently achieved “at least 11 clean sheets per season under Pep Guardiola,” including “20 three seasons ago.” Ortega was chosen over Ederson against Liverpool, and a “decent back-up” is available. Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City, £6.2m) is paired with Ortega. He is considered City’s “best defender” and offers significant “goal threat,” with “18 shots on target,” which is the “second-most in the Premier League among defenders.” He is deemed worthwhile if his price is manageable. It is anticipated he will return to the starting lineup after being benched at Liverpool. Gabriel (Arsenal, £6.2m) is included for the home game against Manchester United. United has conceded “14 shots from set-pieces” this season, ranking as the “third-worst total in the league.” Gabriel, with “13 shots in the box and six big chances,” predominantly “headers from corners,” is identified as the league’s most probable scorer from a corner, a strategic pick for a week that may produce “few clean sheets.” An “injury doubt” is noted, but a “strong first substitute can cover that.” Leif Davis (Ipswich Town, £4.5m) is chosen for the home fixture against Crystal Palace. Davis has been featured in this team multiple times and is considered one of the “best £4.5m picks in the game” due to his “attacking threat.” Palace’s recent offensive struggles are highlighted, and Daniel Munoz’s high positioning as a right wing-back is expected to create “space down that flank for Davis.” Palmer has achieved an impressive 14 returns in 13 games, alongside 13 bonus points. Cole Palmer (Chelsea, £11m) is designated as captain for the away match at Southampton. Palmer is considered the “obvious captain choice” this week. Only Mohamed Salah and Antoine Semenyo have registered more shots from midfield than Palmer’s 38 this season. He faces a Southampton side that has conceded “235 shots” this season (the “second worst in the league”) and “81 on target” (also “second worst”). Following the “failed Joao Pedro captain experiment” last week, the focus returns to “premiums,” with Palmer identified as “the best option.” Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, £13.2m) is included for the away game at Newcastle. His “sensational” form this season makes him difficult to omit. The sole reason he is not named captain is Newcastle’s superior defensive strength compared to Southampton. Brennan Johnson (Spurs, £6.7m) is selected for the away fixture at Bournemouth. Johnson’s current form, with “six league goals” this season and “two in his past two games,” is highlighted. Spurs are anticipated to perform “emphatic” on the road “on the right day” and are expected to have “plenty of counter-attacking opportunities at Bournemouth.” Alex Iwobi (Fulham, £5.6m) is chosen for the home match against Brighton. While “all the FPL hype has been about Emile Smith Rowe,” Iwobi has “quietly become Fulham’s top-scoring midfielder.” He is in “hot form,” with “four returns in his past five games,” and faces a Brighton side that is “unlikely to park the bus.” Jamie Vardy contributed an assist in Saturday’s defeat at Brentford. Jamie Vardy (Leicester City, £5.5m) is included for the home game against West Ham, described as a “pure gut feel” pick. The rationale suggests a “poetic” outcome if he helps his side to victory with “a goal or two” in manager Ruud van Nistelrooy’s inaugural match, given Vardy previously surpassed van Nistelrooy’s Premier League record for goals in consecutive games. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa, £9m) is selected for the home fixture against Brentford. Watkins is considered a “very steady FPL pick,” having recorded “six goals and two assists” this season. His inclusion this week is particularly favored due to Brentford’s defense, which is noted as “even worse” than Southampton’s, according to the previously cited statistics. This bodes well for Watkins, who has “missed 11 big chances this season,” implying he “should have scored at least 10 by now.” Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea, £8.1m) is chosen for the away game at Southampton. The author expresses “guilt for not picking Jackson so far this season in the team of the week.” Jackson’s “three double-digit hauls this season have all been away from home,” and an “eye test shows how involved he is in almost every Chelsea attack.” Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool, keeper, £4.5m) is selected for the away match at Newcastle. Newcastle is anticipated to “struggle without Alexander Isak,” presuming the Swedish player “misses out with injury.” Marc Cucurella (Chelsea, defender, £5m) is named as the “first sub.” He is considered a “decent shout for the next few games” due to Chelsea’s “nice run of fixtures.” He recorded his “first attacking return this season last gameweek with an assist.” Joao Gomes (Wolves, midfielder, £4.9m) is chosen as a substitute for the away game at Everton. He is a “regular Wolves starter” with “two double-digit returns this season” against a “leaky Everton defence.” Dara O’Shea (Ipswich, defender, £4m) is included as a “decent budget option for third sub.” Team total cost: £99.6m. Omari Hutchinson transferred to Ipswich from Chelsea during the summer. Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich Town, £5.2m) is discussed. The “former Chelsea winger scored 10 in the Championship last season” but has only “one so far in the Premier League,” described as “a screamer against Manchester United.” With Ipswich facing “Crystal Palace and Bournemouth at home before a trip to Wolves in their next three” fixtures, Hutchinson “could be a good budget enabler.” Newcastle United’s upcoming fixtures include Brentford (away), Leicester (home), and Ipswich (away). Eddie Howe’s team is set to face “three of the league’s worst defences in their next three” matches. If “Isak is injured for a while,” Callum Wilson (£6.9m) “could be a bargain,” while Antony Gordon “could kick-start his season with this run.”