GW28 Saturday review: Masterclass makes James top transfer target

An 18-point haul against Burnley has made Reece James (£6.2m) the top target for managers in Gameweek 29 of Fantasy Premier League.

In his first Premier League appearance since Gameweek 20, the Chelsea wing-back produced a goal, an assist and a clean sheet in Saturday's 4-0 win at Turf Moor.

James goal v Burnley

More than 77,000 managers have already brought in the defender despite the Blues still having the second match of their Double Gameweek 28, away to Norwich City, to play on Thursday. 

Midfield duo Kai Havertz (£7.8m) and Christian Pulisic (£7.9m) proved huge differentials for Thomas Tuchel's side, amassing 14 and 13 points respectively.

Chelsea’s subsequent schedule certainly suggests their key players can thrive in the final months of the campaign.

From Gameweek 29 onwards, only one of their remaining 11 matches scores more than three in the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR).

Joy for Aston Villa

Elsewhere, Aston Villa’s recent change of formation to 4-3-1-2 has revived their fortunes at both ends of the pitch. 

Danny Ings (£7.7m) was their top performer in a 4-0 home victory over Southampton. Playing alongside Ollie Watkins (£7.5m) in a front two, he scored once and provided two assists to earn his season-high 15 points.

Playmaker Philippe Coutinho (£7.4m) delivered a goal and an assist for 13 points, while right-back Matty Cash (£5.1m) supplied an assist to record 11 points, his second successive double-digit score.

Fraser's on form

Newcastle United pair Ryan Fraser (£5.3m) and Fabian Schar (£4.3m) continue to offer strong value in Fantasy.

Fraser produced a goal and an assist in a 2-1 home win over Brighton & Hove Albion to claim 13 points. Both his goals this season, and three of his five assists, have come in his last five appearances.

Centre-back Schar netted the Magpies’ second, taking his tally to one goal, an assist, three clean sheets and seven bonus points in his last six matches.

Crucially, Newcastle are the only DGW28 side to also play twice in Gameweek 29.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (£8.5m) also warmed up for DGW29 with another bumper haul in Liverpool’s 1-0 home win over West Ham United.

The right-back claimed an assist and three bonus points to record 12 points, his eighth double-figure return of the campaign.

Warming up for GW30

Finally, Leicester City and Brentford players stepped up their form ahead of the reduced Gameweek 30.

They are among only eight sides scheduled to play in that round of fixtures.

Kasper Schmeichel (£4.8m) and Harvey Barnes (£6.5m) each earned 10 points in the Foxes’ 1-0 home win over Leeds United.

Brentford’s Ivan Toney (£6.5m) scored a hat-trick and claimed his season-high haul of 17 points in a 3-1 victory at Norwich. 

Also in this series

Part 1: GW28 FPL stats: Coutinho justifies heavy captaincy backing
Part 2: GW28 Bonus points: Cash cleans up with maximum