The business end of the season promises bountiful points for Fantasy Premier League managers as another bumper game week awaits.
Post Pandemic football has brought about the biggest double game week ever as 14 teams have two fixtures in double game week 26. Top of the pick are leaders Manchester City, in-form Leicester City and a Tottenham team with a point to prove (against Burnley and Fulham) following a dismal recent run.
While you ponder which FPL chips to scramble points in this upcoming frenzy, Football Castle provides the best picks and captaincy tips for the double game week 26 deadline at 11:00 GMT on Saturday 27 February 2021.
Goalkeeper
Man City look to extend their 18-game winning run in home games against West Ham and Wolves and Ederson(£6.1m) would look to continue his run of clean sheets to add to his 15 this season.
Defenders
Ricardo Pereira(£5.9m) Recently returned having injured his ACL before lockdown and is becoming a smart selection having started in each of Leicester’s last four league matches. James Justin’s season-ending injury has thrust Pereira back into the limelight and the team’s good form bodes well for him to get back to his sensational FPL form.
Everton’s good form and confidence-boosting Derby win at Liverpool has thrust Lucas Digne(£6.1m) back into a top pick with upcoming games against Southampton, West Brom, Burnley and Crystal Palace. The Frenchman signed a new contract in midweek and looks set for returns at both ends of the pitch.
Differential picks
Leeds assets delivered a rousing end to DGW 25 with popular captain Patrick Bamford(£6.9m), Raphinha(£5.4m), and Stuart Dallas(£5.0m) all scoring against Southampton on Tuesday night. The Whites face a mouth-watering fixture against Aston Villa, it is a single fixture in an avalanche of doubles but a tasty differential as Bamford scored a hat trick in the corresponding fixture.
In-form Harvey Barnes(£6.9m) goes into DGW fixtures against Arsenal and Burnley with three goals and four assists in his last five games. Leicester’s top-scoring midfielder in FPL gains more importance in James Maddison’s likely absence and Leicester’s flying form would see him get chances.
Captain picks
Kevin de Bruyne (£11.8m) Returned to the starting lineup last week at Arsenal and was given a full rest in the Champions League Round of 16 in midweek. The Belgian would have gathered match fitness after his recent injury and should return to star in City’s consecutive double game weeks at home. De Bruyne is 7.65 to score first against West Ham
İlkay Gündoğan(£6.1m) is as much an FPL jewel as KDB due to his run of 10 goals in the last 13 games. His return from injury increases the threat due to his Belgian teammate’s presence as his devastating runs forward would be a welcome sight in DGW 26.
The risk of rotation might not be able to deter Gündoğan, however, as his one appearance in the last double game week (19 points) showed.
Mohamed Salah(£12.6m) is the league’s top scorer and is on penalty duties against Sheffield (without their first choice centre-backs) and Chelsea after a rare full week of preparation. The Egyptian has maintained his scoring form despite Liverpool’s winless run and that seems set to continue in DGW 26.
Ollie Watkins (£6.5m)
Aston Villa’s fixtures stand out as they face two of the most porous backlines in the division in Leeds and Sheffield United. The Villans are without Jack Grealish but their 10-goal top scorer is set to star; Watkins has four goals in his last seven games.
Harry Kane (£11.1m)
Since returning from injury, Kane has had the joint-most shots on target (13) in the league. The Tottenham marksman has scored six goals and registered three assists in his last four matches against Burnley and was on target in the 1-1 draw with Fulham in December. Kane is 3.95 to score first against Burnley after getting a midweek rest in the Europa League victory.
Son Heung-Min(£9.5m) is also a hot captaincy pick with DGW fixtures against Burnley and Fulham. Spurs have won only one of their last seven domestic fixtures and would be keen to bounce straight back against lower-ranked teams. Son and Kane were rested in the big win over Wolfsberger and are set to deliver attacking returns.
Bruno Fernandes(£11.6m) is the most reliable captaincy pick this season and DGW 26 is no different, the Portuguese averages more than nine FPL points per match across the last five Gameweeks. Although Chelsea have conceded only twice in eight games under Thomas Tuchel, Fernandes also faces the league’s second-leakiest defence in Crystal Palace with a chance to wipe off some attacking cobwebs after the Chelsea game. Man United are 3.30 to beat Chelsea away
