A spate of injuries and loss of form has affected the dynamics of the Fantasy Premier League season with many heavy-hitters and bargain strikers now dropping out. Kevin De Bruyne, Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane have got injured in consecutive game weeks and now, the likes of Patrick Bamford, Che Adams have also dropped form and it is wise to set up the 3-5-2 formation.
Bruno Fernandes(£11.3m) blanked after becoming the most-captained player ever (2.7million) against Sheffield in GW 20, however I urge you to keep the faith against Arsenal. Football Castle provides the best replacements and bargain additions for Game week 21 which kicks off on Saturday, 30th January at 11:00 AM (GMT)
Goalkeeper
Alphonse Areola(£4.5m) looks set for a clean sheet against West Brom this weekend having impressed with his shot-stopping in recent weeks. The Frenchman has conceded more than once only twice (two goals) in the last seven GWs, earning a respectable seven bonus points as he is becoming a reliable asset.
Captaincy picks
Son Heung-Min(£9.8m) is behind only Bruno Fernandes for FPL points this season despite blanks in the last three GWs. Given Harry Kane’s injury against Liverpool, the South Korean will become the focal point and take Tottenham’s penalties from now on. Needless to say, he usually performs well in Kane’s annual absence.
Son’s explosiveness, reliability and the injuries or form of the other big-hitters makes him the prime captaincy pick and trust the 28-year-old to deliver against Brighton. My advice is to give the armband to Son, but don’t sell Bruno😉
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İlkay Gündoğan(£5.7m) is the most transferred-in player ahead of GW 21 with seven goals in the last eight games. His unprecedented goalscoring form and the fact he is City’s penalty-taker make him a prime captaincy pick. With Bruno Fernandes going off the boil having blanked in four straight game weeks, the onus is on Gündoğan to be a shrewd captaincy pick.
Joao Cancelo(£5.9m) and John Stones(£5.2m) make up the top three most transferred-in players alongside Gündoğan and are also set to deliver against Sheffield then Burnley.
Bargains
The current injury crisis caused by the wear and tear of post-pandemic football has hit managers hard and the situation requires a lot of shrewd additions and unearthing gems amongst the low-priced players. Here a few midfielders and attackers who are effectively replacements.
Callum Hudson-Odoi(£5.7m): As indicated in the gameweek 20 tips the 20-year-old is set to enjoy a new lease of life under Thomas Tuchel given he was Chelsea’s most in-form player.
Hudson-Odoi was the most influential in an ultra-attacking wing back role against Wolves on wednesday night and Tuchel is expected to change shape against Burnley. Nevertheless, Hudson-Odoi looks set to deliver and his clean sheet probability is hard to ignore.
Michail Antonio(£6.4m) has hit the ground running with two goals and an assist in three starts since returning from injury. The Englishman is reliable and should perhaps replace Patrick Bamford(£6.7m) who is the most transferred-out player having blanked in the last three games.
Antonio’s pace, strength and intelligent movement would cause Liverpool’s weak backline problems all night as his record against top six teams is another incentive.
Tomáš Souček(£5.3m) is fast becoming this season’s FPL legend with his brace against Crystal Palace making it seven goals and one assist for the midfielder. His 96 total points have yielded 13 bonus points and his aerial prowess would be key against Liverpool’s impromptu backline.
Phil Foden(£6.3m) surprisingly blanked in the 5-0 win over West Brom, however, Foden managers are advised to keep the faith as the youngster is due a big points haul in upcoming games against Sheffield and Burnley.
James Maddison(£7.2m) is in supreme form with three goals in his last four games. The absence of Vardy puts more impetus (and penalty duties) on Maddison’s shoulders and he is set to star against expansive Leeds. Harvey Barnes(£6.8m) is another wise choice given his recent form of three goals and two assists in the last six game weeks, he is set to lead the counter attacks against Leeds and must be backed to perform.
James Rodríguez(£7.7m): The Colombian sparkled with a brilliant right-footed goal against Leicester and is gradually getting back to his best after injury. Same can be said of Dominic Calvert-Lewin(£7.6m) who scored in the FA Cup on his return from hamstring injury, Everton’s attacking duo are set for an explosion against Newcastle and could be inspired additions against the Magpies who are winless in 11 games.
Calvert-Lewin, who has scored five times in the last four against Newcastle, is now a hot prospect due to the returns of Lucas Digne(£6.0m) and Rodríguez. Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane’s injuries have lessened the striker options and DCL is a sure pick.
Southampton vs Aston Villa looks set to be another open game after a 4-3 thriller in favour of Southampton in the reverse fixture. The Saints and Villans come into this after defeats to Arsenal and Burnley respectively and attacking returns are expected from the likes of Danny Ings(£8.4m), James Ward-Prowse(£6.1m) for Southampton and Jack Grealish(£7.7m), Ollie Watins(£6.2m), and Bertrand Traoré(£5.9m).
