As the dust settles on this week’s games, we must immediately turn our attention to Week 19, which begins tomorrow.
After that, with 11 days until the next batch of games, we should be able to make some calculated predictions about starting positions based on recent events.
So what should you do in the hasty turnaround of Monday’s 4pm (11am ET) deadline?
What about Foden and Cancelo?
Surprisingly, both Phil Foden (£8.2m) with Joao Cancelo (£7.3m) They have been benched for both games since the restart. The Manchester City assets are popular for their fixtures and upcoming fortnightly games, so the owners will be in for a tough time.
For Foden, I think it might be a good idea to cut the link as there are plenty of good midfield options. Bukayo Saka (£8.1m), Martin Odegard (£6.5m) with Gabriel Martinelli (£6.8m) If they reschedule their game against Everton to play in the 21st game, they are both firing and there could be a double game week. Arsenal also look solid right now and have one of the best attacking teams in the league.
Mason Mount (£7.6m) Also an option given Chelsea’s immediate double and long-term good regular run. The England midfielder has started every league game under Graham Potter since his appointment in September and is one of his most trusted players.
Saka might be a good choice (Photo: Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
I’ll wait for Cancelo though, since there aren’t that many obvious defensive options. Chelsea’s defense is unpredictable and it is almost impossible to choose a reliable man to start both games. Luke Shaw (£4.9m)plus the Arsenal and Brighton defenders, will secure a double in the near future, but they depend on the FA Cup result, so when City confirm a double in gameweek 20, it will be a big deal for them. Let’s take a bit of a bet.
I’ll give Cancelo another week.If he is substituted against chelsea, Clearly it wasn’t a fatigue issue coming back from the World Cup and for some reason he lost his place. Then we can reevaluate.
For those of us who still have the wounded Reece James (£5.7m) He’s going to have to go, as he looks set to miss at least a month, even if, as mentioned, it’s difficult to pick a linebacker due to the uncertainty of the biweekly game week.
Chelsea confirmed one of those in Gameweek 19, I’d say Thiago Silva (£5.4 million) with Mark Cucurella (£5.2m) Most likely two games. Silva has played the most minutes of any Chelsea player this season – 1,253.
Ben Chilwell (£5.8m) Back in training so will be a threat to Cucurella in the long run but I’m guessing he might not be ready to start the Premier League and might get minutes in the FA Cup away to Manchester City next Sunday . The game is sandwiched between their Gameweek 19 double, where they host Manchester City and visit Fulham.teenager Lewis Hall (£4.4m) He is also likely to get a game as he starts at left-back against Newcastle United in Gameweek 16.
If you don’t fancy a Chelsea defender, Shaw seems like the man to go.
As mentioned, he’s only £4.9m so won’t eat up much of the budget and could be on the bench for tough games against Manchester City and Arsenal in weeks 20 and 21. The main reason for his selection is the home games against Manchester City and Arsenal in the week 19 struggling Bournemouth, and his Manchester United side also have the opportunity to host Leeds United or away to Crystal Palace in the week 22 game.
Reece James injured against Nottingham Forest (Photo: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
If you don’t have any Arsenal defenders, Gabriel Magalhaes (£5.2m) Will be my pick from them. He’s nailed as a starter and has the highest goal threat from defenders. As mentioned, Mikel Arteta’s side also have the chance to play Everton in an extra game in Week 21.
The Serbian is in hot form this season, scoring 10 goals and assisting 2 times. Despite his missed penalty and lingering yellow card suspension last gameweek, I still think it’s a good time to buy. Fulham play Leicester City (a) and Chelsea (h) this week and he is one of the best strikers in the game: in the penalty shootout he will definitely start if fit, he is the ball Talisman of the team.
Anthony Martial (£6.7m) with Darwin Nunes (£9m) are popular choices, and managers will wonder whether to swap one of these for Mitrovic (£7.1m). I would probably swap the Fulham man for Martial and I think he’s the best second or third striker in the long run.
Manchester United Assets
For the first time in a long time, joint assets are an attractive option. If you’re wary of their two tough games in Weeks 20 and 21, I wouldn’t worry too much. They have a good chance of playing fortnightly and have a good defense and offense. They also have great fixtures in the long run.
Shaw and Marcus Rashford (£6.9m) Will be my first choice and definitely worth the money.
How many biweekly players should we have?
In my opinion, it’s okay to have two to four biweekly players. The best option for me would be Mitrovic as he will likely play the full 90 minutes in both games and is one of the best attacking duos between Chelsea and Fulham.
Kai Havertz (£7.8m) Also a good option, and with his recent good form, he is now expected to occupy a place in the starting lineup.
Kepa Arrizabalaga (£4.6m) Best option for Chelsea’s defense Andreas Pereira (£4.6m) Also should play two games for Fulham, very valuable.
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(Foden has not started a game for City since the World Cup. Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
