Fantasy Premier League is back with a sense of normality after Covid infections forced fixture postponements and ravaged a good chunk of the last two game weeks. The midway point of the season offers an opportunity to claw back massive points after what was a shambolic consecutive game weeks for FPL managers.
Despite calls to have a circuit breaker amid rising Covid-19 cases in squads throughout the division, the fixture schedule will go on during the festive period. However, further postponements are likely and the nightmare is returning for fantasy managers who have seen three fixtures postponed at the time of writing.
Having had so many matches postponed due to Covid and weather conditions, most FPL managers will be happy with the news of the introduction of a second Free Hit chip which could prove handy in the coming weeks as it becomes available from game week 20.
FootballCastle will once again provide details on bargains and differential captaincy choices in the panicky absence of Mo Salah for game week 19 ahead of the deadline at 13:30 GMT on Boxing Day.
Goalkeepers
Aaron Ramsdale (£5.1m)
The shot-stopper has been a revelation since joining Arsenal as his eight clean sheets are the joint-most in the Premier League. Norwich have failed to score in their last three home games and Ramsdale is more than likely to keep his good form going.
Defenders
Joao Cancelo (£6.8m)
The Portuguese scored his first goal of the season which had been coming with his 38th shot so far. Cancelo joined Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold on 100 FPL points this season with a further assist and clean sheet in Gameweek 18 and he possesses long-term value having failed to start only one of Manchester City’s league games this season.
Kieran Tierney (£4.8m)
Having combined an assist and clean sheet in consecutive game weeks against Everton and Southampton, Tierney has earned 33 points in his last four matches due to his key impact at both ends of the pitch.
The Scotsman is currently an understated asset with only 6.3% ownership in FPL, the full-back’s popularity should rise ahead of an expected good outing against Norwich.
Sergio Reguilon (£5.2m)
The wing-back has been Tottenham’s top FPL performer so far under Antonio Conte having claimed 26 points against Everton, Leeds United and Brentford due to his impact at both ends of the pitch.
Reguilon also combined a goal and an assist with two clean sheets to earn four bonus points in that time and Ryan Sessegnon’s injury means the Spaniard should return to the starting lineup in GW19 against Crystal Palace.
Reguilon’s potential for returns in defence and attack could become a reliable outlet for shrewd points over the festive period.
Kostas Tsimikas (£3.7m)
The biggest benefactor of Andy Robertson’s red card against Tottenham is the cheapest player in FPL who has proven a popular replacement when given the chance this season.
Tsimikas will cover for his counterpart against Leicester City and Chelsea to offer FPL managers a rare bargain route into Jurgen Klopp’s magnificent defence.
Liverpool are yet to concede a Premier League goal in the nine matches when Tsimikas has been on the pitch since joining the club in 2020 and that run has seen him produce an assist and average 7.3 points per start in 2021/22.
The Greek is developing the reputation of an FPL superhero despite his limited appearances and that folklore could be set to continue this festive season.
Midfielders
Emile Smith Rowe(£6.1m)
The attacking midfielder is in a rich vein of form with a goal each in his last three games to take him to six goals and an assist in the last eight.
Smith Rowe has 19 FPL points in the last three games as his form threatens to peak over the festive period. Hence, Norwich provides a fantastic opportunity to continue his prolific mood in GW19.
Son Heung-min (£10.3m)
Scoring Tottenham’s late equaliser against Liverpool was a scant consolation for a wonderful performance in which he should have grabbed more attacking returns.
Son now faces Crystal Palace whom he enjoys playing against having scored his first Tottenham goal, became the highest-scoring Asian player in Premier League history and netted the first goal at their new Stadium in matches against Palace. The attacker has emerged as Spurs’ marksman while Harry Kane has struggled to find the net, he has also scored in each of his last three games to rack up 28 points and make a case as a reliable differential captain.
Gabriel Martinelli (£5.3m)
The Brazilian scored twice in GW18 against Leeds and has now provided an attacking return in five of his last six games.
After recording 15 points last time out, Martinelli will be confident of continuing his hot streak against Norwich who have the third-worst defence in the Premier League.
Forwards
Cristiano Ronaldo (£12.5m)
Newcastle are conceding goals at a rate of three per home game and Ronaldo will be hoping to haul up another big scoreline after Manchester City thrashed them 4-0 in GW18.
Ronaldo has scored three times in six away games in the Premier League and would be looking to get his first goal from open play under Ralf Rangnick.
Armando Broja (£5.1m)
A goal and assist against Crystal Palace last time out saw the striker hit a season-high 12 FPL points meaning he has now scored in four of his six starts.
Broja is averaging 6.7 points per game in those outings and his 155.3 minutes per goal ranks fourth just behind Cristiano Ronaldo at 146.9 minutes. Gameweek 19 opponents West Ham have struggled defensively in recent times with a single clean sheet in their last eight games.
The 20-year-old is more than likely to grab a goal and his ownership of only 3.8% is an ideal opportunity to get in as a differential forward.
