RADIO
The RotoBaller Soccer staff gathers around the penalty box for their weekly FPL roundtable discussion. This week, the team discusses the main questions surrounding Gameweek 33 of the 2021-22 Fantasy Premier League season.
Welcome to Gameweek 33, 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.
Double Gameweek!!! Yes, it's finally here. The much-anticipated Double Gameweek 33 is on our front door and ready to kick us to the couch and watch 12 games of Premier League action. It all starts on Saturday, Apr 16, with Spurs facing Brighton, bright and early. Therefore, our lineups will lock at 6 am Eastern, so get those transfers finalized on Friday night. After that, there are another 11 games, including massive clashes between Liverpool-Man United and Chelsea-Arsenal.
Also, 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 33
The Staff Roundtable is an attempt to get you inside the mind of our FPL staff. Our top soccer writers - Euan Leith, Jamie Steed, and Brandon Wampler - 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 33!
Gameweek 33 comes around with seven teams on a double gameweek. So who are your top two teams, and your favorite player to target from them?
- Euan Leith: I've been eyeing Leicester City for a few weeks now, and I'm ready to get a Fox in my squad. James Maddison is the standout pick, but Harvey Barnes or Youri Tielemans are options if you need to save some extra cash. I'm also fond of Newcastle for Gameweek 33 with Chris Wood and Fabian Schar as the ones to watch. A tired Leicester City and an up-and-down Crystal Palace await them for the double.
- Jamie Steed: Leicester City have two nice games on paper, and I really like their forwards. I’m plumping with Kelechi Iheanacho as my pick, but like Harvey Barnes, James Maddison, or Youri Tielemans. I’m also edging Arsenal as my other favorite, with an away game at Southampton (who lost 6-0 to Chelsea last week) and Chelsea on Wednesday, who have their FA Cup semi-final on Sunday.
- Brandon Wampler:
On the other side, which team with a double gameweek is the biggest trap?
- Euan Leith: It feels crazy to say this, but the team with Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo is the biggest trap. Manchester United will have back-to-back doubles if Chelsea wins their F.A. Cup semifinal on Sunday. I'm still not interested because this team hasn't looked like a 'team' for several weeks. Plus, three of those games will come against Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal, and all three of those sides are better than United.
- Jamie Steed: Brighton has two terrible games, so I don’t think they can really be a trap. So, I’ll go with Manchester United. They have Norwich City then Liverpool, and there’s every chance the player(s) you pick won’t start against Norwich, then put up a blank against Liverpool.
- Brandon Wampler:
Chelsea is out of the Champions League. Does that make you more likely to trust their players down the stretch?
- Euan Leith: Yes! It's made Mason Mount a higher priority for me in Gameweek 34 and beyond as Chelsea plays three double gameweeks in a four-gameweek stretch.
- Jamie Steed: Yes, after this week. The FA Cup represents their only hope of silverware, but they still need to secure third place, so the next four weeks I believe they’ll have a more settled side.
- Brandon Wampler:
Forwards are beginning to crop up as the season winds down. Who would you rather roster out of Ivan Toney, Chris Wood, or Wout Weghorst until the end of the season?
- Euan Leith: Toney for the rest of the season, but Chris Wood for Gameweek 33 if you're on a Free Hit.
- Jamie Steed: Ivan Toney. I have zero interest in any Burnley player, and Chris Wood is still yet to score from open play. Since Christian Erikson joined, Toney has been much better and is a clear first choice of the three.
- Brandon Wampler:
The debate a few weeks ago was pairing Dejan Kulusevski with Son Heung-Min or Harry Kane. However, does it feel like getting all three in your squad is becoming essential?
- Euan Leith: It hurt not to have Son Heung-Min on my team last week, but I'm perfectly fine with two Spurs assets for the remainder of the season. Especially with an incredibly tough double gameweek in 36 against Liverpool and Arsenal.
- Jamie Steed: No, they have certainly hit a purple patch scoring 25 goals in their last seven games. But their expected goals (xG) is half that number, and last week their xG was 0.88 despite scoring four. They will still score goals, and that trio will be responsible for 95% of them but temper expectations.
- Brandon Wampler:
Who's keeping a clean sheet this week?
- Euan Leith: Martin Dubravka and David de Gea will keep one clean sheet in their two games. So either keeper is worth a look this week.
- Jamie Steed: Manchester City. They’ve kept a clean sheet in their last four home games against Brighton, and that trend should continue.
- Brandon Wampler:
Which defensive player is providing an attacking return?
- Euan Leith:
- Jamie Steed: Outside of the obvious names, I’ll go with Aaron Cresswell.
- Brandon Wampler:
- Euan Leith: You thought Son's 21 points last week were spectacular? Mo Salah had 28 at Old Trafford the last time these teams met. Bruno Fernandes is also worth a shout as the only premium asset likely to see 180 minutes in his double gameweeek.
- Jamie Steed: There aren’t any with a double gameweek, so I’ll side with Mo Salah. His form hasn’t quite been up to his ludicrously high standards, but he’s got seven goals and one assist in nine games against Manchester United, who are in disarray right now.
- Brandon Wampler:
What are your transfer plans heading into this Gameweek?
- Euan Leith: My finger is hovering over the confirm button, but here's where I stand. Maddison in for Raphinha, Fabian Schar for Matt Doherty (get well soon), and Anthony Gordon for Ryan Fraser. I may wait on the Gordon for Frase transfer as it's an unnecessary -4, but that's what's going through my head right now.
- Jamie Steed: I made two, bringing in Iheanacho and Gabriel Martinelli (both having two games) for my Aston Villa duo of Coutinho and Watkins, who have no games. I’m also using my bench boost with nine of my squad having two games this week, and for the first time in weeks, I have no injured players.
- Brandon Wampler:
Who's getting the Captain's armband?
- Euan Leith: James Maddison is my favorite double gameweek player to get the C, and Mo Salah is my favorite single gameweek candidate.
- Jamie Steed: I’m torn between Martinelli and James Ward-Prowse (who never scores when I do give him the armband). It’ll be a last-minute decision.
- Brandon Wampler:
Finally, what's your bold prediction for this week?
- Euan Leith: I'll take a vague approach to this one, but Arsenal and Spurs will be tied on points after Gameweek 33.
- Jamie Steed: Leicester City picks up six points, scoring six goals in two games. Brighton goes pointless and goalless in their two games. Burnley picks up two points and scores two goals in their two games.
- Brandon Wampler:
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!
