RADIO
This article provides a preview of what Gameweek 15 has in store for fantasy managers, including top captain selections and strong picks for the weekly FPL Challenge game.
Gameweek 14 was action-packed as we witnessed 35 goals scored across all 10 Premier League games. Aston Villa and Man City got back to winning ways, Mohamed Salah contributed yet another double-digit FPL return, while Erling Haaland remains goalless since Gameweek 11.
The FPL Challenge --- Goal Diggers series introduces this week's new task titled "Big Spender," where players costing over £9m earn double points. As always, we’ll offer weekly breakdowns of the top assets to target and help you maximize your points potential.
The Gameweek 15 deadline for the 2024-25 Fantasy Premier League season is Saturday, December 7, at 6:00 a.m. EST, when Everton and Liverpool clash in the Merseyside Derby. Also, check out the rest of our excellent soccer coverage as the squad gets you all set for every EPL and UCL slate with our EPL DFS lineup picks and betting picks.
The Premier League table after matchday 14... pic.twitter.com/n7wRvkhJXG
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) December 5, 2024
Gameweek 15 Tips
Target Chelsea, Man United, and Brighton Assets
With three consecutive wins, 10 goals scored, and a surge to second place in the league standings. Chelsea has firmly established itself as a title contender this season. On the other hand, Man United and Brighton will be eager to bounce back following midweek defeats, aiming to reignite their form as the festive fixtures approach.
With this in mind, FPL managers are advised to prioritize bringing in assets from Chelsea, Man United, and Brighton for Gameweek 15. According to goal projections, Chelsea and Man United are each expected to produce 1.90 xG (expected goals) in their upcoming fixtures, while Brighton leads with an impressive 2.10 xG.
💹 PL GW15 matchups
First look at projected goals and clean sheet odds for this weekend's round of Premier League games, via spread betting markets pic.twitter.com/oMFpExOUIa
— Rob T (@robtFPL) December 4, 2024
Recommended players for attacking returns:
- Chelsea: Cole Palmer (on pens) and Nicolas Jackson.
- Man United: Bruno Fernandes (on pens), Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo.
- Brighton: Joao Pedro (on pens), Kaoru Mitoma, and Georginio Rutter.
Recommended defenders/goalkeepers:
- Chelsea: Marc Cucurella
- Man United: Diogo Dalot and Andre Onana
- Brighton: Pervis Estupiñán and Bart Verbruggen.
Desperate Hammers: Eyes On West Ham's FPL Assets
Last week, we speculated Leicester City could get on to winning ways, especially with the announcement of Ruud Van Nistelrooy as the new boss. Indeed, the Foxes got their fifth win of the season against West Ham in Gameweek 14.
This time, the tables have turned, but not in West Ham's favor. The Hammers are eager for positive results, as fans are distraught following Julen Lopetegui's appointment. West Ham needs to win their next match against Wolves, or else the manager could get sacked.
NEW: West Ham have decided to offer Julen Lopetegui more time as Head Coach.
The club appear to have decided in favour of giving him another game at least.
Talks with other managers hasn't gone as well as played with only short-term deals being on the table.@ExWHUEmployee pic.twitter.com/Zqo8WcVpOC
— Central (@WestHam_Central) December 5, 2024
Given their favorable run of fixtures, West Ham may be the team to target going forward. The Hammers' projected goals of 1.85 xG in Gameweek 15 hints at the London side returning to winning ways shortly. Additionally, their next opponent, Wolves, has conceded eight goals in their last two matches.
A crucial run of fixtures for @WestHam ⚒️
Any of their assets catch your eye? 👀#FPL pic.twitter.com/7jybcGitMO
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) December 3, 2024
FPL managers should keep an eye out for key fantasy assets such as Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who are the usual assets to rely on for potential attacking returns.
Gameweek 15 Top Captain Picks
The weekend fixtures present a list of fascinating options for your captaincy choice. Players like Erling Haaland facing Crystal Palace, Jarrod Bowen at home to Wolves, and Man United's skipper Bruno Fernandes against Nottingham Forest all present strong cases. However, my top three picks would be:
Mohamed Salah (£13.3m) - Liverpool
With 13 goals and eight assists to his name, Mohamed Salah continues to dominate the fantasy landscape, topping the FPL rankings with 151 points and an impressive average of 10.8 points per match. The "Inevitable One" has cemented himself as the ultimate perma-captain option for the foreseeable future.
Salah's track record against Everton, with seven goals and an assist in his last 11 outings, coupled with his recent form, makes him the standout captaincy pick for Gameweek 15. Trust the Egyptian King to deliver yet again!
The #FPL points rankings make for some very interesting reading 🇪🇬👑
151 - Salah
150
149
148
147
146
145
144
143
142
141
140
139
138
137
136
135
134
133
132
131
130
129
128
127
126
125
124
123
122
121
120
119
118
117
116
115
114
113
112
111
110
109
108
107 - Palmer pic.twitter.com/SlhuvkvcTq— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) December 5, 2024
Cole Palmer (£11.0m) - Chelsea
Despite a modest seven-point return in Gameweek 14, Cole Palmer's underlying stats reveal his potential for more. The Englishman recorded an impressive 2.15 xGI (expected goal involvement), six shot attempts, and a non-penalty expected goals tally of 1.83 npxG.
Chelsea's upcoming clash against Tottenham—a team the Blues have beaten three times in their last five outings—presents a promising opportunity. With Spurs' recent inconsistencies, Palmer is a strong contender for the captain’s armband once again in Gameweek 15.
Most Premier League goals and assists since Cole Palmer made his Chelsea debut in September 2023:
◎ 48 - Cole Palmer
◎ 46 - Mohamed Salah
◎ 42 - Erling Haaland
◎ 40 - Ollie Watkins
◎ 38 - Bukayo SakaTwo from a half-century in #CFC blue. 🫶 pic.twitter.com/IA7tS1WbTy
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) December 5, 2024
Ollie Watkins (£9.0m) - Aston Villa
Ollie Watkins delivered a stellar 12-point performance in Gameweek 14 against Brentford, reinforcing his status as a home-ground talisman with five of his seven league goals scored at Villa Park.
A first double-digit haul since Gameweek 6 for Ollie Watkins 😱
What are your initial plans for the @AVFCOfficial forward in Gameweek 15...He faces Southampton at home 🧐 pic.twitter.com/EwriDVcGB6
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) December 5, 2024
With Aston Villa boasting the highest goal projection for Gameweek 15 at 2.35 xG, Watkins emerges as a compelling captaincy option. His home advantage, newfound penalty duties, and a favorable matchup against Southampton only strengthen his appeal.
💹 PL: GW15 player goal projections
First look at top projected scorers for the weekend's round of PL games, via spread betting markets (all markets assume a start) pic.twitter.com/eZr9gG4ttU
— Rob T (@robtFPL) December 5, 2024
FPL Challenge: Goal Diggers
The FPL Challenge section for the 2024-25 season is back, and RotoBaller remains your go-to source for valuable insights on selecting the right assets for any challenge.
The 14th challenge, "Red Hot Deal," focused on selecting a team of 11 players with a budget limit of £75m, where Man United players earned double points. This week, we have a new task, and our objective is to help you maximize points for each task presented.
In case you missed it, here's a summary of what to expect from the FPL Challenge: Goal Diggers event.
Fantasy Challenge is LIVE for 2024/25 🚨
Build your squad for Gameweek 1 now 👇#FPLChallengeAccepted
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) July 24, 2024
The Goal Diggers is a five-gameweek run that pushes fantasy managers to research bargain hunters and super savers. This series covers five tests focusing on earning points through different players and play styles.
- Gameweek 12: Economize - The budget is set to only £45m.
- Gameweek 13: Haaland or Salah? - Liverpool and Man City players earn double points.
- Gameweek 14: Red Hot Deal - Man United players earn double points.
- Gameweek 15: Big Spender - Players costing over £9m earn double points.
- Gameweek 16: Bargains - Players costing under £6m earn double points.
Goal Diggers FPL Challenge: Big Spender - Players to Target
Week 15 of the FPL Challenge highlights selecting a team of 11 players with a budget of £100m. The task this week is to stay within our budget constraints while fitting in a few premium FPL assets costing £9m and above.
RotoBaller's top picks for this week's Challenge are:
- In goal, Andre Onana presently ranks first among goalkeepers with 64 points, boasting six clean sheets in the league, and has a strong likelihood of keeping a clean sheet against Nottingham Forest.
- In defense, Jurrien Timber, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Lucas Digne are excellent attacking wingbacks likely to offer attacking returns against their respective opponents.
- In midfield, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Bruno Fernandes, and Mohamed Salah come in. Three out of these four picks are priced over £9m, which meets our weekly objective. The Egyptian king, Mo Salah, takes the spotlight as our captain of the week.
- For the forwards, Yoane Wissa, Nicolas Jackson, and Ollie Watkins complete the attack, forming a solid trio to round off our lineup in a 3-4-3 formation.
Feel free to select any other top FPL Challenge alternatives that are not mentioned above. Best of luck to everyone participating in this week's challenge!
Join the RotoBaller FPL League
Fancy pitting your wits against fellow RotoBallers? Then, join our free league to compete against the team and our dedicated FPL fans. Head to the official FPL site, then click the Leagues and Cups tab and enter the RotoBaller league code: b278pa.
Go head-to-head against your friends and family in mini-leagues 🏆
Pick your squad and compete for #FPL glory now! ⬇️
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) July 18, 2024
Stick around for more 2024-25 Fantasy Premier League content coming soon. Hit us up on X @RotoBaller. We would love to hear your feedback and ideas!
