Some of the world’s top Fantasy managers on the big dilemmas ahead of Gameweek 35
With Fantasy Premier League managers facing several difficult decisions on who to buy, keep or sell ahead of the Gameweek 35 deadline at 18:30 BST on Friday 1 May, some of the world’s top Fantasy managers offer their advice.
Cole Palmer (Chelsea) £10.5m
Pras (@Pras_FPL): I am quite tempted to move Palmer to Bukayo Saka (£9.8m), but I think it’s a move that can wait a week. Gameweek 35 is sandwiched by two European ties, and since Palmer plays a Nottingham Forest team involved in Europe, and Saka could also have minutes managed between Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League matches, a Palmer sale in Gameweek 36 makes a lot more sense to me.
Verdict: Hold for GW35, sell for GW36
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) £9.8m
Pranil Sheth (@lateriser12): Saka had an encouraging cameo against Newcastle United and Arteta spoke about how keen and motivated he was for the final leg of the season. If his minutes look decent in the Champions League, Saka is an enticing differential punt, given his ownership of just seven per cent, especially with the home game against Burnley in Gameweek 37 given goal difference and goals scored could come into play in the title race.
Verdict: Consider buying
Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) £8.8m
Az Phillips (@FPLBlackbox_Az): Aston Villa are so close to securing Champions League football for next season and it will be fascinating to see how they line up against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday given it sits in between their European semi-final tie against Forest. The defeat at Fulham would have hurt, and I expect Villa to go full strength until qualification is mathematically confirmed, which means Watkins should continue leading the line given his great form.
With Spurs and Burnley his next two opponents, this is a good opportunity to buy Watkins (especially if you are on a Wildcard), and then you could look to move him on ahead of Gameweek 37, where Villa have two tough games, may have cemented Champions League football and may even have a UEFA Europa League final to look forward to as well.
Verdict: Buy
Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal) £8.8m
Tom Johnson (@FFScout_Tom): With Kai Havertz (£7.3m) limping off early in Gameweek 34, Gyokeres’ minutes look secure for the time being. The Swede, owned by only 12 per cent of managers, could well be a powerful differential in mini-leagues, especially in Gameweek 37 against Burnley. Buy if you are chasing.
Verdict: Buy
Joao Pedro (Chelsea) £7.6m
Harry Daniels (@FPL_Harry): Even despite Chelsea’s poor form, Joao Pedro is probably the only Chelsea player that I would consider for the run-in. The Blues are still fighting for European qualification and he seems to provide the most goal threat.
Verdict: Hold
Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest) £7.6m
Lee Bonfield (@FPLFamily): In great form and playing for a team that are still fighting for Premier League safety, Forest will need Gibbs-White to keep delivering. He’s also playing for a place on the plane to the FIFA World Cup. With out-of-form Chelsea and Newcastle up next, he’s a buy.
Verdict: Buy
Rayan Cherki (Man City) £6.5m
Ben Crabtree (@FCCrab_Dogg): Cherki is a buy. He’s had a good season and is peaking at the right time, making his minutes much less of a concern. Given the price difference, he looks a better option than Antoine Semenyo (£8.2m).
Verdict: Buy
Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace) £6.3m
Lee Bonfield (@FPLFamily): Sarr is a buy after Palace’s Double Gameweek 36 was confirmed. The fixtures are pretty tough between now and the end of the season – and the Eagles would be forgiven for prioritising other competitions, given how well they are doing in Europe. But given the extra fixture, he’s a buy.
Verdict: Buy
Harry Wilson (Fulham) £6.0m
Utkarsh Dalmia (@ZopharFPL): Wilson has a tough fixture this week against Arsenal, but the final there games of the season should have plenty of goals, with the Cottagers playing Bournemouth, Wolves and Newcastle. They have plenty of motivation as well, with a European spot in sight.
Verdict: Hold
Noah Okafor (Leeds) £5.6m
Tom Johnson (@FFScout_Tom): Okafor is very much a hold. A home fixture against Burnley is favourable for any attacker. However, I would be hesitant to buy him. The Swiss international has been substituted before 75 minutes in each of his last five starts in all competitions. The exception being if you have built up four or five free transfers then he isn’t a bad one-week punt, before potentially transferring him out for a player with a Double Gameweek, such as Sarr.
Verdict: Hold, but probably don’t buy
Pedro Porro (Spurs) £5.2m
Sam Bonfield (@FPLFamily): Spurs need goals if they are to stay in the Premier League next season. With Xavi Simons (£6,6m) out with an ACL injury and Dominic Solanke (£7.3m) also subbed off through injury in the win against Wolves in Gameweek 34, Porro is likely to be increasingly important to the Spurs’ attack. While the defensive numbers aren’t great, with just one clean sheet over the last six Gameweeks, his attacking threat, alongside his set-piece responsibilities and potential for defensive contribution points, make him a hold for managers who brought him in for Blank Gameweek 34.
Verdict: Hold
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Everton) £5.1m
Sam Bonfield (@FPLFamily): Everton are in a great position to secure European football for the new season and Dewsbury-Hall is the Toffees’ joint top-scorer this season, with eight goals. Meanwhile, his total of 14 attacking returns is five more than any other Everton player. They also have nice fixtures to end the season after hosting Manchester City in Gameweek 35, facing Palace, Sunderland and Spurs.
Verdict: Buy