RADIO
Welcome to Gameweek 24, Rotoballers! This season, we are expanding our soccer coverage to include the great game of Fantasy Premier League. So, if you are a seasoned veteran, or a rookie navigating your first campaign, we will set you right as we look to acquire those weekend-making green arrows and avoid the doom and gloom of a red arrow.
After a two-week hiatus, the Premier League is back and with Chelsea competing in the World Club Championship, we have just nine games for this midweek slate. Gameweek 24 kicks off on Tuesday at 2.45 pm Eastern and runs across three days. Will we see Liverpool's dynamic duo of Mo Salah and Sadio Mane start following their absence to play in the African Cup of Nations? Will new managers Frank Lampard and Roy Hodgeson get off to a winning start? Will a transfer window signing get off to a perfect start at their new club? Even with one game fewer than normal, there is plenty of intrigue in this week's fixtures.
Also, be sure to check out the rest of our excellent soccer coverage as the team gets you all set for every English Premier League and UEFA Champions League slate from a DFS perspective.
RotoBaller FPL Staff Roundtable - Gameweek 24
The Staff Roundtable is an attempt to get you inside the mind of our FPL staff. Our top soccer writers - Euan Leith, Jamie Steed, Brandon Wampler, and Phil Goyette - will answer questions each Gameweek to give you an idea of how they view the games. So without further ado, let's kick off Gameweek 24!
Gameweek 23 was over two weeks ago, but do you remember how it went?
- Brandon Wampler: It was an utter bust.
- Jamie Steed: Sadly yes, a paltry 34 points of which captaining de Bruyne got me 16. Although, the league average was just 35 due to many captaining Emmanuel Dennis and his minus one point performance.
The PL transfer window has now shut. Which player on a new team are you most excited about rostering for the remainder of this season?
- Brandon Wampler: Dejan Kulusevski for sure. His dynamic wing play could provide a major offensive boost from the right side with Son on the other from Kane. Kulu is used to firing crosses into Ronaldo when he played for Juventus.
- Jamie Steed: I’m quietly looking at Donny van de Beek and Dele Alli, both of whom have joined Everton under new manager Frank Lampard. Both are attacking midfielders with something to prove and are now under the tutelage of the highest-scoring midfielder in PL history.
And is there a player who stayed put that you’re now considering adding to your team but wasn’t a consideration before the transfer window closed?
- Brandon Wampler: I am considering Jesse Lingard depending on his usage.
- Jamie Steed: Jamaal Lascelles is someone I’m considering as a cheap defensive option given Newcastle have bolstered that end of the team. Alex Lacazette is now the clear lead striker for Arsenal the rest of this season and if the young trio behind him gets firing again, he could have a decent finish to the season.
With only nine games scheduled for the next two gameweeks due to Chelsea’s participation in the World Club Championship, are you doing anything differently to compensate or counter that?
- Brandon Wampler: It will affect my roster very little.
- Jamie Steed: Not really as I am not rostering any Chelsea players. But I do have Brighton’s Robert Sanchez (whom Chelsea was due to face) so I am having to start Kasper Schmeichel at Liverpool which is not ideal.
Who's keeping a clean sheet this week?
- Brandon Wampler: Ederson will have the best chance as well as David de Gea for a close second.
- Jamie Steed: Obvious answers are David de Gea (facing a Burnley team with two goals in their last seven PL games) and Ederson (home to Brentford). But Jose Sa is a sneaky shout for a Wolves team with the second-fewest goals conceded this season, facing an Arsenal team without a goal in their last four games (in all competitions).
Which defensive player is providing an attacking return?
- Brandon Wampler: Joao Cancelo is still one of my favorite players of choice, however, Kieran Trippier is a better-valued play.
- Jamie Steed: Anyone from Liverpool. The full-backs take corners and free-kicks, the center-backs are aerial threats and Liverpool have more set-piece goals (12) than anyone else. They’re facing Leicester City who have conceded the second-most set-piece goals this season (11).
- Brandon Wampler: Dominic Calvert-Lewin is by far one of my favorite plays at forward with added offensive production in the midfield.
- Jamie Steed: Kevin de Bruyne is third in form among midfielders, with four goals, two assists and four clean sheets in his last seven games. He’ll be facing a Brentford team with 14 goals conceded in their last six games and has a chance for the midfield trifecta.
What are your transfer plans heading into this Gameweek?
- Brandon Wampler: Start capitalizing on the value from the transfer window.
- Jamie Steed: I ousted Marcos Alonso for Dan Burn. Just bench fodder but no need to keep him or any Chelsea player, plus I want to keep enough funds to bring back Mo Salah next week.
Who's getting the Captain's armband?
- Brandon Wampler: Bruno Fernandes will most likely receive the armband once again.
- Jamie Steed: Kevin de Bruyne for all the aforementioned reasons.
Finally, what's your bold prediction for this week?
- Brandon Wampler: Wolverhampton beats Arsenal 2-1 and Manchester City dominates Brentford 4-0.
- Jamie Steed: Coming after the short break and an FA Cup weekend, there will either be under 18 total goals or over 31 in the nine games.
Is there a question you would like to have answered every week? Hit us up on Twitter @RotoBaller. We would love to hear your feedback and ideas!
