After an international break there is always a sense of angst among FPL managers, which can lead to rash decisions and superfluous points hits. Let's calm things down a notch with some measured but whimsical advice for those of you wanting to make your Fantasy Football team great again.
Captain Marvel
Jermain Defoe (7.3) -- Sunderland | HULL (H)
Apart from death and taxes, there is one certainty in life: Hull will concede a whole mess of goals away from home. They leaked six to Bournemouth - I mean come on - and five to Liverpool. The usual captaincy suspects are tied up in big games and there's less scope for mega Fantasy scores in those. If you're looking for plump, hat-trick-type numbers, J Dizzle's your best bet. In fact, he's evens (fav) to score any time. The numbers speak for themselves. Don't do the rookie thing of captaining Aguero just because he's Aguero.
Buy Low
Chris Brunt (4.9) -- West Brom | BUR (H)
Sneaking in just under the fiver mark is a man with just three points but bags of potential. Classed as a defender but playing in an attacking midfield position, Brunt could reap uuuge rewards for Fantasy managers brave enough to give him a shot. Uuuuge.
Sometimes uuuge things come in small packages
Sell High
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (11.1) -- Manchester United | SUSPENDED
It's easy to develop unreasonable expectations. I've only just come to terms with the fact that my immense Clash Royale ranking is borderline unlikely to snag me a boatload of tang.
Unreasonable expectations is precisely what we had for Zlat man. Sure he's a born winner. Sure his finishing is erection-worthy. But United haven't got their ship together and he blanked six gameweeks in a row. That's simply unacceptable for someone demanding 11% of your entire budget.
He's suspended now, which saves you the headache. Even if you have no other players missing this week, don't be tempted to sit tight.
It's a shame he hasn't turned into the Fantasy stud we were expecting but at least we have Costa del Gol, Aguergoooal and Lukakucakes as more than able replacements - and at least my boss Clash of Clans base is sure to get me at least a date with Jennifer Lawrence.
Fool's Gold
Pedro -- Chelsea | MID (A)
I get it. Pedalo's been on a tear recently. Crushing 38 points in four weeks is elite material, and Chelski are on a destructive run that should continue against Boro. After that, though, there are tricky fixtures against Spurs and City for the Blues. More importantly, though, Pedro's not played more than 77 minutes all season. He's ritually pulled off with a third of the game left to play. Shelling out 7.2 for a player who at best won't give you the full 90 minutes is like letting someone else eat your last six Maltesers. Those last ones are the best ones and you know it. Get yer own you greedy prick.
Sunday night circa 8pm this is my resting face
You'd be better off taking a flyer on Moses for 5.6, who has missed an average of just four minutes per match over the last five games. Part the red sea, not with your cashish.
Puntsville, USA
Emre Can (4.8) -- Liverpool | SOU (A)
If you're hankering for a differential, you can do the Can Can. Two goals in his last two, a snip at 4.8 and looking like a regular starter for the League leaders and prolific scorers, you'll hardly get better value than Emre - unless you buy these socks of course:
