The upcoming period in Fantasy Premier League offers several different tactical approaches, with just one standard 10-match Week to meet the next four rounds of matches.
This weekend, in Blank Gameweek 26 (BGW26), five of the 10 most capped midfielders are without a Premier League game and will earn zero Fantasy points.
While some FPL managers play the Free Hit chip in BGW26, others want to use it in Blank Gameweek 29 (BGW29) and simply focus their transfers on the next three Gameweeks.
There is also the option to keep the Free Hit chip later in the campaign. Having bogged down their squad at BGW29 with short-term signings, managers can then use a Wildcard in Gameweek 30 to revamp their squads.
Essentially, FPL managers’ chip strategy will likely determine the best midfielders to target ahead of BGW26.
What are the best groups to target?
BGW26 schedule analysis helps identify sides with favorable matches and improve managers’ goals.
Encouragingly, four of the seven teams who have conceded at least two goals per away game are back on their travels – Fulham, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United.
Worst away defenses in BGW26
Club | Goals conceded | Clean sheets | They conceded shots in the box |
---|---|---|---|
Sheff Utd | 29 | 0 | 128 |
Fulham | 26 | 2 | 135 |
Newcastle | 25 | 1 | 132 |
Nott’m Forest | 24 | 2 | 99 |
This immediately removes the appeal of the home midfielders in each of the following games:
Brighton & Hove Albion and West Ham United’s assets should also be considered in any analysis as a result of their subsequent schedules after BGW26.
Brighton entertain Everton this weekend as well as playing Fulham and Notm Forest in the next three weeks.
West Ham United, meanwhile, have three home games in the next four Game Weeks, including meetings with Brentford and Aston Villa in BGW26 and BGW29 respectively.
Who has the biggest offensive threat?
Manchester United couple Alejandro Garnazzo (£5.0m) and Bruno Fernandes (£8.2m) have each had 29 shots in the last four Game Weeks.
The Argentine has boasted the greater goal threat of the two, however, bettering his team-mate with 17 shots to 12 and 12 shots in the box to six.
Fernandes has been the league’s leading creator during this period, with his 17 key passes matching Arsenal’s tally. Martin Odegaard (£8.4m).
Fernandes’ duties could prove to be a major weapon at Old Trafford this weekend. Fulham have conceded 30 shots from set-pieces in the league in the last four rounds of matches.
Even though Odegard has only managed four shots inside the box compared to 13 Bucayo Saka (£9.0m), the Norwegian’s appeal is boosted by his sheer numbers of chances created – his tally of five is joint first with Brighton Pascal Gross (£6.4m) over the last four Matchweeks.
Indeed, Gross’ involvement in seven big chances, tied with Saka’s, marks him as a significant value pick. His teammates Simon Adingra (£5.0m) and Kaoru Mitoma (£6.4m) have also made an immediate impact on their returns from international duty and combined for 24 points against Sheff Utd last weekend.
Neto or Huang?
Wolverhampton Wanderers Pedro Neto (£5.7m) has scored one goal and provided three assists during that term, with his 10 shots tied for third in the rating.
However, his return Hwang Hee-chan (£5.5m) for domestic action may ultimately determine the best way to invest in Wolves. The South Korean is their top scorer in domestic games this season, having amassed 58 goals thanks to six goals and one assist.
Aston Villa couple Leon Bailey (£5.6m) and Douglas Louise (£5.5m) have each created 10+ goalscoring chances for their teammates in the last four weeks.
Although Bailly’s eight shots are twice as many as Luiz, the latter was involved in four big chances to the Jamaican’s two. When his penalty kill duties are added to the equation, Luiz could be the better option of the two to help the coaches navigate the schedule.
Top players for participating in shots
Player | Shooting participation | Shots in the box | Basic passes | Big chances | Great opportunities were created |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Garnazzo | 29 | 12 | 12 | 2 | 3 |
Fernandes | 29 | 6 | 17 | 1 | 3 |
Satchel | 27 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 1 |
Odegard | 25 | 4 | 17 | 0 | 5 |
Gross | 21 | 5 | 12 | 2 | 5 |
Netto | 20 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 3 |
Bailey | 18 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 2 |
Douglas Louise | 15 | 3 | 11 | 1 | 3 |
Bowen | 12 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
Congratulations | 10 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
*rotate the mobile device to view the full table
So who are the best midfielders?
Although every move is very team dependent at such a tactical point in the campaign, the Manchester United and Wolves The assets could be the most attractive for those managers playing the Free Hit chip in BGW26.
These teams then face tough away tests at Manchester City and Newcastle respectively in Gameweek 27, which certainly reduces the appeal of retaining their elements beyond this weekend’s fixtures.
Odegard and GrossHis participation in big opportunities places them among the best options for those who intend to play their Free Hit at BGW29. This allows them to focus purely on the next three Game Weeks and essentially ignore the fact that both players may be out of contention at BGW29.
Managers planning not to use the Free Hit chip until after BGW29 should consider that Aston Villa are one of the teams with a confirmed Premier League fixture at BGW29 and should consider Villa’s potential Douglas Louise and Bailey.
West Ham Jarrod Bowen (£7.7m) and Muhammad Qudous (£6.8m) are also more than capable of finding form again, and have a place in BGW29 as well.