The first double gameweek of the Fantasy Premier League season is upon us, with 16 matches taking place in gameweek 19.ย
We’ve looked back at the film, combed through the statistics, and found the players you really need to own that aren’t named Bruno Fernandes. (I mean, you surely have him already, right?)
Subscribe to The Fantasy Faithful podcast, where this week myself and Harry Diamond went into even greater detail on the most essential players to own in gameweek 19.ย
Join our fantasy league:ย qcey3l
The best FPL players to own in DGW19:ย
Kevin De Bruyne
If there’s one premium player you need in GW19, it’s Kevin De Bruyne. Manchester City have had an odd season by their standards, but a convincing 3-1 victory over Chelsea in GW17 showed that they are still a force to be reckoned – and the Belgian playmaker is their talisman.
With Sergio Aguero on the bench and Gabriel Jesus unavailable, De Bruyne was playing as a false nine and looked very dangerous, providing a goal and assist at Stamford Bridge. That brought his tally for the campaign to three goals and eight assists.
โจ Kevin De Bruyne past six GWs (league rank) โจ
???? Key Passes: 17 (2nd)
???? Big Chances Created: 5 (1st)
???? Expected Assists: 2.76xA (1st)
???? Shots: 16 (=10th)
???? Big Chances: 4 (=8th)
???? Expected Goals: 2.22xG (=10th)And all with a game less played than most. #fpl
— FPL Ste (@fplstephen) January 5, 2021
Phil Foden potentially provides much greater value at ยฃ6.2, but he’s not as nailed on to start as you would imagine De Bruyne is. The PFA Player of the Year is also a great pick going forward, given how good City’s upcoming fixtures look.
DGW Fixtures:ย CRY, AVL
Fantasy Premier League: Five essential tips ahead of DGW19
Danny Ings
It had been a little while since we got to enjoy Danny Ings at his best, a knee injury curtailing his great form in the Premier League. But then the Englishman popped up with an unbelievable finish against Liverpool and it reminded us why he’s one of the best forwards in FPL.
The Southampton striker has only played in 12 matches, but has seven goals to his name. We believe there are definitely goals there for the taking against both Leicester and Leeds.
DGW Fixtures:ย lei, lee
FPL Podcast: Who are the must-have players for DGW19?
Jamie Vardy
Speaking of English striker who are valuable FPL assets, Jamie Vardy is one of the best options for the DGW, but he might be going under the radar oddly enough.
The Leicester City star is once again banging on the door for the Golden Boot award, having scored 11 goals this season. No one in the Premier League can better his big chances (18) or expected goals (10.49xG), but it should be noted that he’s scored a whopping six penalties.
With just five goals from open play, his numbers may be inflated and the air could fall out at any moment. However, he keeps managing to get goal involvements (he also has eight assists) and is one of the most feared players for managers who don’t own him.
Vardy isn’t being touted too widely for the DGW, but he could be a cheeky differential for captaincy.
DGW Fixtures:ย SOU, CHE
Tomas Soucek
Cementing his status as an outright FPL legend of late, Tomas Soucek should prove to be a very popular pick in GW19.
The Czech bulldozer, who has scored five times this season, provides the best value for money among midfielders, costing just ยฃ5.2. He is revelling in the so-called Marouane Fellaini role under David Moyes, particularly at set-pieces where he poses such a threat.
West ham United undoubtedly have the best fixtures of any side in the DGW, facing relegation candidates Burnley and West Brom at home. Either of these matches could easily end in a goalless draw, but it would be foolhardy to ignore Soucek on that basis.
DGW Fixtures:ย BUR, WBA
FPL Podcast: The best strategies for the blank and double gameweeks
Patrick Bamford
Update: Leeds United’s fixture with Southampton has been rearranged since this article was published.ย
This writer has derided ‘Bamfraud’ on The Fantasy Faithful podcast all season long, but even I have to admit that Patrick Bamford is a Premier League level striker. The Leeds United forward has 10 goals already, the sixth-most in the top flight, as well as five assists.
Only four teams have scored more than Leeds’ 30 goals in 17 games, while they top the league for chances created with 196. Not bad for a promoted team, eh?
It also seems as if Bamford is on penalty duty now, having taken their most recent spot kick against Burnley. His price has shot right up this season, but at ยฃ6.6 he still represents great value – and will be finding his way into my Free Hit team this week.
DGW Fixtures: BRI
Harry Kane or Son Heung-min
What’s that I hear you say? Tottenham Hotspur are only playing one match in GW19? Let me tell you reader: I don’t care. Now let me tell you why.
Harry Kane and Son Heung-min have been arguably the two most outstanding players of the season thus far, and while they have struggled more recently, they got back into form by grabbing a goal and assist each in the 3-1 win over Leeds United.
Son Heung-min and Harry Kane top the charts for goals scored vs xG since the start of the 16/17 season.
World class ???? pic.twitter.com/cNzxQqTCll
— COYS.com (@COYS_com) January 7, 2021
But the most attractive thing about this pair is their opponents: Sheffield United. While the Blades haven’t been getting tonked on a weekly basis, they are enduring an awful campaign, sitting on two points after 17 matches.
The two teams styles match up perfectly for Spurs, who have punished sides who play a high line this season. If this was a normal gameweek, you would probably be captaining one of Kane or Son – so why ignore them? Have at least one in GW19.
DGW Fixtures: shu
Differential Pick: ฤฐlkay Gรผndoฤan
If you need a pick that will set you apart from all of your mates in your mini league, then look no further than ฤฐlkay Gรผndoฤan. The German has been in sensational form lately, scoring three times in Man City’s last four league games.
Gรผndoฤan is the top scoring City player in that time, and he also has the most shots in the box and big chances. He seems to have nailed down a spot in midfield and has never looked better in a sky blue shirt.
KDB ???????? Sterling ???????????????????????????? Gundogan ???????? since GW13
Shots 13 v 7 v 10 ????????
SoT 5 v 4 v 5 ????????????????
SiTb 5 v 6 v 7 ????????
BC 3 v 3 v 4 ????????
xG 1.74 v 1.76 v 2.05 ????????
BCC 5 v 4 v 0 ????????
xA 2.62 v 2.25 v 0.59 ????????
Min 356 v 360 v 344 ????????????????????????????
โฝ 1 v 1 v 3 ????????
????๏ธ 2 v 3 v 0 ????????????????????????????
Pts 25 v 26 v 33 ????????#FPL Stats @FFH_HQ pic.twitter.com/0u6ksOvYFc— FPL Banger Podcast ????๏ธ (@FPL_Banger) January 4, 2021
DGW Fixtures:ย CRY, AVL
Note: All stats relate to matches pre-GW18.ย
Read:ย How to master FPL: 15 tips to help you dominate Fantasy Premier League
See Also:ย 20 of the best FPL team names you should consider this season
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