Blank Gameweek 29 Preview - Fantasy Premier League Predictions, Tips, and Picks for 2023-24

Welcome to Blank Gameweek 29, RotoBallers! This is our third year covering FPL, and we are bringing you more coverage than ever. We publish two weekly articles: a staff roundtable preview and our weekly rankings. Then, once a month, we have our newest report, The Watchlist, which reviews the previous month and looks ahead to the upcoming fixtures.

Twenty-eight gameweeks down, 10 to go. Due to conflicts with the F.A. Cup quarterfinals, there are only four games in FPL this weekend. Burnley-Brentford and Luton-Nottingham Forest start things before a London derby between Fulham and Tottenham on Saturday evening. Then, on Sunday, West Ham and Aston Villa battle it out as they continue to fight on the domestic and continental fronts week in and week out.

The Fantasy Premier League Blank Gameweek 29 deadline is 9:30 a.m. EDT on Saturday, March 16, when two of this week's four fixtures kick off. Also, look out for the rest of our excellent soccer coverage, as the squad gets you all set for every English Premier League, Major League Soccer, and UEFA Champions League slate from a DFS and betting perspective.

I seldom play #EPL #DFS. But when I do, I make sure I check out my @RotoBaller buddies @EuanFPL and @df_solutions
before creating my lineup https://t.co/rmQTeGmSRg pic.twitter.com/b0xGTcSxp4

— Jamie Steed (@Baseball_Jimbo) February 10, 2024

Fantasy Premier League Staff Roundtable - Blank Gameweek 29 Preview

The Staff Roundtable is an attempt to get you inside the mind of our FPL staff. Our top soccer writers will answer questions each gameweek to give you an idea of how they view the games. So, without further ado, let’s kick off Blank Gameweek 29!

 

Blank Gameweek 29 only has four fixtures and eight teams playing. What is the minimum amount of players FPL managers should have to avoid using the Free Hit chip?

• Euan Leith: You'll need at least seven players to avoid activating the Free Hit chip. However, those seven guys must be the right seven; otherwise, you'll be in for a rough week. Jarrod Bowen, Ollie Watkins, and Son Heung-min will be incredibly popular this weekend, so going without them feels like rowing up a waterfall. I'm open to taking one hit to get the right guys in place, but don't go crazy, as I don't believe this will be a high-scoring FPL slate of games.
• Jamie Steed: I’d like at least eight players. Given the teams playing, the likelihood of many FPL teams having eight starters this week is low. I’d expect most teams to be using a Free Hit if available or just sacrificing this week. The options available aren’t great, so using a wild card doesn’t make much sense, as the longer-term harm will outweigh any benefit for this week.
• Adewale Akin-Adesina (FPL Manual): Taking advantage of the Free Hit chip in GW 29 can be tricky as many managers would love to save it for later double gameweeks ahead. If an FPL manager has around eight-to-nine players available for the upcoming weekend, you can avoid playing the Free Hit chip now and perhaps take a few hits to make up a whole team or roll the transfer for GW 30.

The Scout has named 5⃣ players you must own in #FPL for Blank Gameweek 29❗

Read more: https://t.co/3HGCwT052I pic.twitter.com/A2PMjYKdYW

— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) March 12, 2024

 

Son Heung-min is banging in the points again. Is he on the same level as Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, and Bukayo Saka as a must-have asset?

• Euan: In Blank Gameweek 29, Son Heung-min is a must-have asset. However, for the remainder of the season, there will be ways to swerve the Spurs attacker. After Gameweek 32, Tottenham has the hardest schedule in the league, and it could hamper Son's point-scoring down the stretch.
• Jamie: Not quite. If we look at the Villa game, his first assist was a gift from the Villa defense. His goal and second assist came in injury time after Villa had been reduced to 10 men and basically gave up. He’s still very much a top option, but not in the elite tier.
• Tom Bellucco: As long as Richarlison is out, Son is on the same level as those other three. If/when Richarlison returns to the focal point in the middle, it seems to take away some of Son's upside.
• FPL Manual: Of course, yes. On two occasions, the South Korean forward has bagged over 200 FPL points in previous seasons, and it is nice to see Sonny spring into form again for Spurs. I was among a few FPL managers hiding under the sofa when I missed out on his 17 points last weekend, and I will be joining the bandwagon to get Son Heung-min into my team.

⚽🅰️🅰️

Thumbs up if you are a happy Son Heung-min owner 👍😃#FPL #AVLTOT pic.twitter.com/qTvkjoGLPS

— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) March 10, 2024

 

There are 10 Gameweeks left in the FPL season. Which two teams have your favorite run-ins?

• Euan: Brentford has a phenomenal run of games from Gameweek 30 until the end of the season. They play five of the bottom-eight defenses regarding expected goals conceded (xGC). If Ivan Toney can find his goal-scoring boots, he could be a keeper for the rest of the year. Chelsea avoids most top-five teams with only an away fixture versus Aston Villa in Gameweek 35 to worry about. With a lack of top competition to face, Cole Palmer should be a mainstay in our FPL squads after Blank Gameweek 29.
• Jamie: Crystal Palace's fixtures look nice outside of back-to-back games against Liverpool and Manchester City (Gameweeks 32 and 33). Eberechi Eze might be a very popular addition in the coming weeks. Man City’s run-in looks appealing, too, after their next game against Arsenal. I’d definitely want to roster three of their players for the remainder of the season.
• Tom: Brentford should have plenty of opportunities for goals with matches like Brighton, Sheffield United, and Luton Town. Nottingham Forest has some strong matchups coming up, too, but you have to factor in tough ones at Tottenham (GW32) and home against Man City (GW35).
• FPL Manual: It has to be Arsenal and Liverpool. Naturally, I would love to call Man City, as the defending champions are always a favorite year in and year out. Based on form, Arsenal has scored 32 Premier League goals so far in 2024 and are current league leaders. Liverpool, without its star forward Mohamed Salah, is also on a similar run of form with only a single Premier League loss this period. These two teams have what it takes to mount a title challenge.

 

Meanwhile, which two teams have the least favorable closing stretch?

• Euan: From Gameweek 30, Wolves meets every top-four side in the league, and three of them (Aston Villa, Man City, and Liverpool) are on the road. There are some lovely fixtures, but you'll want to say goodbye to your Wolves players by Gameweek 34. Elsewhere, Aston Villa faces the top-three sides between Gameweeks 31-37, and that is an ideal time to jump off Ollie Watkins if you are chasing down your rivals in mini-leagues.
• Jamie: Tottenham faces the current top three in consecutive weeks. They continue to score, but that is a perilous run. Aston Villa also has to face the top three. Their form has not been good, and they’ve started to score goals at home. If they progress in the Europa Conference League, I’d be even more concerned by their league fixtures than I am.
• Tom: Tottenham sets up fantastically for the next three weeks, but things get difficult quickly from GW33 to GW35. On the other hand, Luton Town starts its rough stretch next week, with trips to Spurs, Arsenal, and Man City within four gameweeks.
• FPL Manual: My answer would be Burnley and Sheffield United. With just 10 games left, both teams are wallowing at the bottom of the table with a joint 14-point tally (three wins, five draws, and 20 losses). They will need at least eight more wins to get close to the safety mark of 40 points, which is required to avoid relegation. Based on Premier League form, the Blades have only one win in 2024, while Burnley is still searching for its first win of the year.

As great as Ollie Watkins has been in #FPL, he's scored a total of 5 points in 3 games against Arsenal, Liverpool & Man City.

He's got to face all 3 again before the season ends. Maybe he's not an automatic start for every remaining game

— Jamie Steed (@Baseball_Jimbo) March 11, 2024

 

Do you worry about European rotation for the top teams, with the fixtures coming in quick succession for the final two months of the season?

• Euan: As long as the title race is as close as it is, I'm not worried about Liverpool, Man City, or Arsenal assets seeing fewer minutes in the league. Aston Villa and West Ham are the most prominent question marks as they battle on both fronts. West Ham won a European trophy last year but suffered in the league. This season is going much better. When push comes to shove, Villa will sacrifice Europe to get a Champions League spot, and West Ham will sacrifice the league to keep fighting for another continental cup.
• Jamie: I alluded to it with Aston Villa, given their squad isn’t very deep. It’s similar for West Ham, with fatigue and form more of a concern than rotation. Arsenal and Manchester City will keep running out their best lineups in the league. The concern comes from players picking up knocks and injuries in midweek. Brighton is all but out of Europe, and Liverpool can keep playing backups in Europe until the semifinals given the competition they face.
• Tom: With the title race so close and the fourth spot in the standings very much up for grabs, we should be safe to assume regular minutes for all healthy players. As knocks start, however, we'll have to be more attentive to solid teams in easier matchups.
• FPL Manual: To a certain extent, no, I'm not worried. Each manager would need their top players to be fit and available for every game remaining. I would advise FPL managers to bring in much more nailed options whose minutes are impervious to rotation.

 

Who is keeping a clean sheet in Blank Gameweek 29?

• Euan: I'm not a massive fan of any of the eight defenses on display this weekend, but I'll roll with Brentford on the road at Burnley. The Bees aren't stalwarts defensively, but they've conceded the eighth-fewest away goals in the Premier League this season. Meanwhile, Burnley has a dismal home record with 13 goals in 14 home fixtures for the Clarets.
• Jamie: With limited options, I’d take a punt on Luton Town. They host a Nottingham Forest team that’s failed to score in their last two games. Alfie Doughty will be a massively rostered player this week, so you may as well stack another Luton defender or ‘keeper and gamble on a clean sheet, too. Burnley has only scored 13 goals in 14 home games, so Brentford seems like a clean-sheet option.
• Tom: I will be a bit controversial and say everyone scores in Gameweek 29.
• FPL Manual: On paper, the bookies favor Brentford and Spurs. Nonetheless, in recent weeks, we have not necessarily been getting a lot of clean sheet points from defenders, so I'm leaning toward the claim that Brentford and Spurs could put up a stalwart defense and keep a clean sheet this upcoming weekend.

Our #FPL experts believe Mark Flekken is the goalkeeper to target in Blank Gameweek 29 🧤

Listen to the latest Off The Bench podcast now 👇

— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) March 13, 2024

 

What defensive player is providing attacking returns?

• Euan: Earlier, I mentioned Son Heung-min, Jarrod Bowen, and Ollie Watkins as essential players to own for Blank Gameweek 29. Alfie Doughty belongs in the tier below in the I-would-probably-take-a-hit-for-him category. Over the last six gameweeks, the Luton defender has led the position in crosses (74), successful crosses (24), and chances created (17).
• Jamie: It has to be Alfie Doughty this week. Forest has conceded 17 set-piece goals this season, so any set-piece taker against them is an option. Doughty has also been producing goals from open play, so he is undoubtedly a standout play this weekend.
• Tom: Pedro Porro is back in the fold and played 90 minutes last time out. Let's see if we can get him back in the mix offensively at Fulham this weekend.
• FPL Manual: My top pick would be Sergio Reguilon for Brentford. Known for his dynamic runs down the left flank and willingness to join the attack, Reguilon poses a constant threat in the final third. With Brentford facing a struggling Burnley side in the upcoming fixture, Reguilon's attacking instincts could translate into valuable FPL points, making him a prime candidate for those seeking defensive players with an offensive upside.

Pedro Porro earned a clean sheet and a bonus point in Gameweek 28. Now he's rising in price ⬆

Have you added the defender to your #FPL team recently? 🤝 pic.twitter.com/By4nS0UNde

— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) March 13, 2024

 

Who's a midfielder or forward rostered on less than 10 percent of teams that will grab us those FPL points?

• Euan: Nottingham Forest is slowly sinking into the relegation battle and desperately needs Morgan Gibbs-White to come through in the final 10 games of the season. Fortunately, the Forest midfielder has registered at least 0.39 xGI in three of his last five games and has been involved in two of Nottingham's last four league goals. Luton is conceding the fourth-most home goals in its inaugural Premier League campaign, so the Tricky Trees have a good shot at getting on the board, and MGW will be the centerpiece.
• Jamie: Rodrigo Muniz has four goals and assists in his last three home games. He’s only on 3.1% of FPL teams and has what looks like a challenging game on paper. Tottenham kept their first clean sheet in 10 games on Sunday. They had conceded two in each of their previous three away games.
• Tom: Mohammed Kudus has been consistently playing 90 minutes. West Ham will need his explosiveness on offense to keep up with Ollie Watkins and Aston Villa.
• FPL Manual: Keep an eye on Anthony Elanga for the midfield position. The Swedish international has been quietly impressive, amassing an xGI (expected goal involvement) of 0.79 in his last four Premier League starts for Nottingham Forest. As for forwards, Rodrigo Muniz of Fulham stands out. With five goals in his previous six Premier League games, the Brazilian forward is in fine form and is a good choice against Spurs, who have only kept one clean sheet in 2024.

 

Who is one player you want to have but can’t for the Blank Gameweek 29 fixtures in Fantasy Premier League?

• Euan: It will be a struggle for me to get to Mohammed Kudus in my lineup this weekend. The Ghanaian winger looks electric for West Ham, but it'll be one transfer too many for my FPL squad. A game with the high-line-playing Aston Villa feels ideal for a player with his pace and skill, but Jarrod Bowen is set to be my only Hammer for Blank Gameweek 29.
• Jamie: I can have anyone I want, given I’m going with my Free Hit. That said, I already roster Ivan Toney and think I want to stack Mark Flekken with a Brentford defender. That means I can’t go with Yoane Wissa, either. There is a case for pairing Wissa with Toney, which likely leaves me without Flekken. Either way, I’d be missing one from those pairs this week.
• Tom: Elijah Adebayo would be a fantastic value forward play on a slate like this. Unfortunately, he's still not 100% ready after his hamstring injury, so we can't guarantee a starting spot for hosting Forest. Soon enough, though!
• FPL Manual: I find myself in a fortunate position as I have decided to activate my Free Hit chip, allowing me to assemble a well-balanced squad for Gameweek 29. However, if circumstances were different, my top choice would undoubtedly be Ivan Toney, especially considering Burnley's recent struggles. I see Toney getting on the score sheet this weekend.

 

Who’s getting the Captain’s armband?

• Euan: Son Heung-min is a 90-minute man for Spurs and showed us last week that you can't count him out until the final whistle is blown. Seventeen points with two goal contributions in stoppage time is nightmare stuff if you don't have the South Korean in your team. Fulham isn't the easiest fixture in Blank Gameweek 29, but Son has the hauling potential we chase in this fantasy game.
• Jamie: Early on, I'm leaning toward Jarrod Bowen. Villa has conceded 11 goals in their last five EPL games. Both sides have big European games on Thursday, so that could hinder and help them both. Bowen is far from a safe play, and the same goes for Ollie Watkins. Ivan Toney would then be in play, given he’s had a week off between games.
• Tom: Ollie Watkins should be able to tear up a West Ham defense that can't stop a nosebleed of late. He's the easy answer despite Son Heung-min.
• FPL Manual: After his impressive performance in Gameweek 28, scoring a whopping 17 points for owners, Spurs captain Son Heung-min has reassured FPL managers of his pivotal role in leading Tottenham's attack. Without a doubt, my captaincy is on Sonny this week.

A truly Son-sational return 🤩#FPL pic.twitter.com/AonaiuI9v5

— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) March 13, 2024

 

Finally, what’s your bold prediction for Blank Gameweek 29?

• Euan: Alfie Doughty gets an attacking return versus Nottingham Forest, but that game ends 1-1 to deny him a megahaul. Timo Werner is the highest-scoring Spurs attacker despite coming off the bench as he bags a brace versus Fulham.
• Jamie: Luton Town beat Nottingham Forest, leaving the Midlanders in the relegation zone. Alfie Doughty stars with a double-digit point haul.
• Tom: There are only four matches this week, but I'll say at least three of them score four goals or more. We should expect the trend of explosive soccer matches to continue this week.
• FPL Manual: Among several predictions swirling in my mind, the boldest one would be Anthony Elanga making a significant impact by scoring a goal or providing an assist against Luton Town this weekend, provided he starts. I anticipate his performance could yield close to 10 FPL points for owners.

 

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