Premier League Fantrax Waiver Wire — Weekly Picks with Insight
Note: All stats mentioned are listed as values per 90 minutes played from Fotmob
If you want to see what fantasy football “hell” looks like, look at my points-against column. I’m sitting in third, just a couple of results off the top, despite my opponents somehow scoring 500 more points against me than the leaders. I’m basically spotting the other team a 16-point head start every game week! Still, watching Arsenal’s title slip and Spurs’ slow-motion slide toward the Championship makes the medicine go down a bit easier. We have a massive double gameweek ahead for Bournemouth, Brighton, Burnley, Chelsea, Leeds, and Man City. If you aren’t loading up on these six teams, you’re playing for second place – be careful GW34 will have 6 clubs not playing.
Goalkeepers
Last weeks picks:
Bart Verbruggen | (16-17) points vs. Burnley (A)
+14% ownership change
Make that 4 for 5 suggesting Verbruggen this season and his ownership is now above 50% for the first time this season. Four saves and a clean sheet is another solid display for Verbruggen as Brighton win thier third game on the bounce.
Rating: Man of the Match
This weeks picks are:
Karl Darlow (Leeds)
- Last Game: vs. Man United (A) (10-14 points)
- Ownership: 11% of Fantrax squads
- Next Fixtures: vs. Wolves (H GW32), Bournemouth (A GW32), Burnley (H GW34)
- Interesting Stat: 62nd percentile for save percentage (67%) compared to other goalkeepers
Averaging just under 12 points a game in his last three games and helping Leeds to their first victory at Old Trafford in over 45 years, Karl Darlow could be a good pickup for the double gameweek. With Wolves at home, you’d hope he can grab a clean sheet, followed by a tough game away to Bournemouth where you’d imagine he will face a lot of shots. Given his current momentum and the extra fixtures, he’s a strong candidate to anchor your defense this week.
Defenders
Last weeks picks:
Abdukodir Khusanov | (11-13) points vs. Chelsea (A)
+2% ownership change
Another solid performance for Khusanov as Man City close the gap on Arsenal, as much as I’d like to give him a MOtM rating, I think it’s just below that. With 15% ownership, he’ll be available and worth grabbing in most leagues as Man City kick on.
Rating: That’s His Job
Konstantinos Mavropanos | (36-42) points vs. Wolves (H)
+13% ownership change
Well, I’m honestly just kicking myself as I didn’t pick him up this week and it most likely will cost me. Probably my best suggestion all year and a performance worthy of two man of the matches as Mav scored two goals and got a clean sheet. Keep him as West Ham look to keep climbing.
Rating: Man of the Match
This weeks picks are:
Jayden Bogle (Leeds)
- Last Game: vs. Man United (A) (13-19 points)
- Ownership: 22% of Fantrax squads
- Next Fixtures: vs. Wolves (H GW32), Bournemouth (A GW32), Burnley (H GW34)
- Interesting Stat: 72nd percentile for big chances created vs other full-backs
Jayden Bogle has averaged around 16 points in his last two games and looked dangerous going forward at Old Trafford, where he provided the assist for Noah Okafor’s opening goal. Leeds play Wolves at home followed by Bournemouth away for the double, and they look like a well-organized team that really plays well in the 3-5-2. That system relies on having two very good wing-backs, and Leeds really do have that with Bogle and Gabriel Gudmundsson. If you’re looking for a defender with high attacking upside for the double, Bogle is a standout option.
Olivier Boscagli (Brighton)
- Last Game: vs. Burnley (A) (20-22 points)
- Ownership: 7% of Fantrax squads
- Next Fixtures: vs. Tottenham (A GW32), Chelsea (H GW32), Nottingham Foreset (H GW34)
- Interesting Stat: 86th percentile for expected assists vs other centre-backs
At the beginning of the season, Tottenham away and Chelsea at home would look like two very difficult games. However, with the form both these teams are in, this gives a big opportunity for Brighton players this gameweek. Olivier Boscagli has averaged 15 points in his last two outings, and I can see him continuing that form. With Lewis Dunk suspended for one more game (the trip to Spurs), you’d imagine Boscagli will keep his spot, and if he keeps playing like this, he could even keep Dunk out of the side.
Also going unnoticed is Jaydee Canvot (8% owned), who has been averaging about 13 points a game over his last three as Palace start to pick up some good form—they are now unbeaten in three.
Midfielders
Last weeks picks:
Keane Lewis-Potter | (9-12) points vs. Everton (H)
+4% ownership change
Another solid display for KLP as he hits double digits for the third week running. If you’re looking for a consistent low owned midfielder, this is the guy you should try and pick up, especially with Fulham at home next!
Rating: That’s His Job
Joshua King | (1-2) points vs. Liverpool (A)
+3% ownership change
King struggled to make an impact away at Anfield as, to be honest, the whole team really struggled to create much on Saturday. It didn’t help his points score as he was taken off at half-time too. Although inconsistent this season, I’m excited to see King over the next few years develop as there’s a very talented and exciting prospect there.
Rating: Transfer List
This weeks picks are:
Zian Flemming (Burnley)
- Last Game: vs. Brighton (H) (6-8 points)
- Ownership: 47% of Fantrax squads
- Next Fixtures: vs. Nottingham Forest (A GW32), Leeds (H GW32), Burnley (H GW34)
- Interesting Stat: 80th percentile for shots and aerial duels won vs other forwards
With a double gameweek coming up, look no further than Zian Flemming, who’s always a goal threat every time he plays. He’s averaging about 12+ points a game in the last 60 days, which is pretty great, and he is still widely available. Don’t let him playing for Burnley turn you off picking him up; he could get some big points for these next two games! Facing both Brighton and Manchester City is a tough ask, but Flemming’s individual form and constant involvement in the final third make him a gamble worth taking during this double.
Ao Tanaka (Leeds)
- Last Game: vs. Man United (A) (16-20 points)
- Ownership: 4% of Fantrax squads
- Next Fixtures: vs. Wolves (H GW32), Bournemouth (A GW32), Burnley (H GW34)
- Interesting Stat: 91st percentile for expected goals vs other midfielders
Tanaka created four key passes against United and was at the heart of the Leeds attack as they dominated at Old Trafford. The team looks hungry, and that win might have been the one to keep them up this season. With a double gameweek for a player who’s always a threat, Tanaka could be a great pickup this week.
Alternatively, I also like Yeremy Pino (30% owned), as he looked very bright against Newcastle while Palace look to continue reviving their form. He’s starting to find his spark again and could be a vital part of Palace’s strong finish to the campaign.
Forwards
Last weeks picks:
Brian Brobbey | (0-2) points vs. Tottenham (H)
+6% ownership change
I feel like every time I watch Brobbey I’m always impressed with his physicality and feel like his fantasy scores deserve more than what he gets. Some players are just like that, Kai Havertz comes to mind too. Anyway, a difficult game at Villa park means looking for a different option next week.
Rating: Transfer List
Rodrigo Muniz | (7-8) points vs. Liverpool (A)
+2% ownership change
Seven to Eight points a game is solid, especially if Muniz can start adding a goal or assist to his output. Not amazing, but not bad either.
Rating: That’s His Job
This weeks picks are:
Valentin Castellanos (West Ham)
- Last Game: vs. Wolves (H) (24-28 points)
- Ownership: 39% of Fantrax squads
- Next Fixtures: vs. Crystal Palace (A), Everton (H), Brentford (A)
- Interesting Stat: 78th percentile for big chances created vs other forwards
The one thing I really like about Taty Castellanos is that he always looks hungry to score when he plays and gets himself into dangerous positions. That’s a great trait to have in a forward. With West Ham looking like the “in-form” relegation-battling side right now, Taty is relatively low-owned and could be the pickup to solve your forward line, especially since there are not a lot of other great options out there. Coming off a massive performance against Wolves, he’ll be confident he can keep this run going and pull the Hammers further away from the drop zone.
Noah Okafor (Leeds)
- Last Game: vs. Man United (A) (20-24 points)
- Ownership: 19% of Fantrax squads
- Next Fixtures: vs Wolves (H GW32), Bournemouth (A GW32), Burnley (H GW34)
- Interesting Stat: 81st percentile for expected goals vs other forwards
Noah Okafor scored two goals, the second being a great volley, to silence Old Trafford on Monday night. Now, I know we’ve been here before with recommending Okafor, but with a double game week coming up, his confidence riding sky-high makes him seem like a worthwhile gamble. The first game is against Wolves at home, where he’ll be looking to capitalize on his momentum, followed by a trip to Bournemouth. If he can maintain this clinical edge, he could be the difference maker for you this week.
Fixture Spotlight
Villa
- Last Game: vs. Nottingham Forest (A) D 1-1
- Next Fixtures: vs. Sunderland (H), Fulham (A), Tottenham (H), Burnley (A)
Villa are picking back up form, and although many of their players will be highly owned, there’s still an opportunity to pick up some differentials. I’d imagine Ross Barkley (22% owned) and Amadou Onana (22% owned) will be battling it out for the center-mid spot now that Youri Tielemans has returned to the side. Out wide, Jadon Sancho (15% owned) and Emi Buendía (31% owned) will also be looking to get minutes during this run. With Villa still competing in the Europa League, I’d imagine the lineup for the Bologna game will give us a major clue for this upcoming weekend against Sunderland. Plenty of their defenders are still available too, with Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, Ian Maatsen, and Victor Lindelöf all having below 35% ownership.
Leeds
- Last Game: vs. Man United (A) W 2-1
- Next Fixtures: vs. Wolves (H GW32), Bournemouth (A GW32), Burnley (H GW34), Tottenham (A GW35)
With the Double Gameweek coming up, there are plenty of Leeds players available, and I have already profiled four of them above. To add to those names, James Justin (22% owned) and Gabriel Gudmundsson (18% owned) are both low-owned options at the back, while Ilia Gruev and Lukas Nmecha are also sitting below 10% ownership. If you need extra numbers this week—look to Leeds!
One to Watch
Lewis Miley (16% owned) returned to the Newcastle team last week and picked up an assist in his first game back. With Bruno Guimarães still out of action, this creates a great opportunity for Miley (who looked excellent earlier in the season) to reclaim his spot. It’s a difficult game at home against an in-form Bournemouth side on Saturday, but if Miley can replicate the form he showed before his absence, he could be a vital asset for the final stretch of the season. Keep an eye on him.
Last Weeks VAR Review
| Position | Man of the Match | That’s His Job | On the Bench | Transfer Listed | Did Not Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 11 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| D | 8 | 18 | 15 | 9 | 5 |
| M | 10 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 1 |
| F | 5 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 4 |
| Total | 34 | 53 | 47 | 38 | 11 |
Man of the Match (MOTM): This player was a great pick up, scoring big and carrying your team.
That’s His Job (THJ): As Roy Keane would say “that’s his job’, putting up a decent score with no surprises.
On the Bench (OTB): this player might not have performed super well last week, but might be worth holding on to.
Transfer Listed (TL): This player wasn’t my finest recommendation.
I’ll be keeping a record to track my accuracy. This is good for you too, if it starts getting bad you know not to read anymore!
Lastly
Who are you picking up this week? Do you agree with my suggestions? Or am I way off? Finally, good luck this weekend!
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